Kinda, but kinda not. It is done in a group setting in the way that other people you know are around somewhere, but they will know the signs to keep away and leave two people alone if they seem to be hitting it of... Which I guess involves pretty much the same things that a date would in The US. You sit/stand talking to someone where flirting is involved and you get to know them better, or in the case where you already know them you might be getting closer to kissing/making out/sex and so on, doing this with the same person for most of the night would probably count as much as a date would.

Then sex might or might not happen at the end, if it does* and you spend the night you might ask him/her to do something later that day or another day if you don't know them well if you want it to continue and if you do know them well you are either a couple of you have to have an awkward "I just don't think we should be together, but the sex was fun" conversation.

*Or no sex but you still spend the night together.