But the art of dance isn't only an outlet for weddings and business functions. In New York City, knowing how to dance can open the doors to some welcome alternatives to the bar and club scene. Both McCalla and von Sperling were able to rattle off a handful of places where more traditional dancing can be sought out around the city. From old standbys like Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing and the Rainbow Room, to any number of Salsa and Latin-themed clubs there's room to dance for those seeking it out.
"Any excuse to get dressed and have drink served to me rather than thrown at me is a delightful experience," says von Sperling. "Don't get me wrong, going to a club to bounce up and down for a few hours can be fun too, but its different, you can hear yourself think. It's a great advantage to the man."
To illustrate her point, she wouldn't let me leave without taking an impromptu accelerated lesson in swing. While I was trying desperately to catch my rock steps on the right count and keep my shoulders at a posture that harkened back to getting my height measured every year on my birthday, I realized I wasn't nearly as lost as I'd projected I would be.
Sure, every time I attempted a complicated maneuver that involved her spinning and me guiding her back to position, I was hopeless, but I wasn't too bad with my feet and I was having a good time. I might have eventually "gotten" it.
This awkwardness reflects the experience of Michael Bacarella, the student from Dance Chelsea a night earlier. Although he'd been taking lessons for a few months, he hadn't yet been outside of the studio for what he called "social dancing." Bacarella will some be ready to put on his boogie shoes, and try out that thrill ride with an attractive new acquaintance. "I was nervous at first, but amazingly, you can come pretty far in three months."
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