Don't Forget: Kizomba Workshop On January 11th!

Nate's hosting a new workshop coming up in a couple of weeks (he's not teaching it, but he will be there)!  Check it out!  It looks like fun!

Kizomba Lessons And Sessions With #Dance2HeartbeatNYC

Sunday, January 11, 2015

11:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

$20 per class, Purchase tickets online or pay at the door.  Walk-ins welcome.

Have A Happy New Year!!! A Quick Post

Happy New Year everyone!  Don't forget about our New Year's Eve Party Wednesday night starting at 8 p.m.!

Remember, there is no class on Thursday, January 1st!  However, there is a line dance workshop on Saturday, January 3rd.  Click here for details

Also, check back here on January 1st, as I will provide a link to my new website!

Hartford Ballroom's New Year's Eve Potluck Party

30 Arbor Street, Hartford CT

8 p.m.- ????

$15 per person, all forms of payment accepted, cash or check preferred.

E-mail Mark and Janice to let them know what you're bringing if you're planning on making food for the event.

Parking is located both in front of and behind the building.  If the building door is locked, enter the code 8867* into the keypad.  See you Wednesday!

Lisa's Salsa Workshop

Saturday, February 7th "Cuban Salsa Time!"

Cuban salsa has rueda, and rueda is a whole lot of fun to do!  You dance salsa with a partner in a circle with other salsa dancers; a caller calls out a pattern, everyone dances it, and frequently that pattern involves changing partners!  It’s guaranteed a good time and a whole bunch of laughs!

Location: Hartford Ballroom Dance Studio

Cost: $12 for one class, $20 if you take both.

All forms of payment accepted!  Pay when you arrive.

Workshop #1: 2:30 p.m. "Beginner Cuban Salsa And Rueda"

In this workshop, we'll be learning the basic steps of Cuban Salsa and how you apply it to a Rueda circle.  We'll also learn easy turns and partner-changing patterns within the Rueda circle.  The workshop will run for 50 minutes, with a 10-minute practice.

Workshop #2: 3:30 p.m. "Rueda Fun!"

This goes beyond the basic Cuban salsa moves of the first class.  In this workshop, we'll learn some more intermediate-level Rueda patterns, all of which are loads of fun to do!  The workshop will be an hour long, at the end of which we'll do a few songs to practice

Requirements:

• Recommended for intermediate salsa students.  Beginner salsa dancers can take the first class, but would have a difficult time with the second class. 
• No partner is required, but we need an even number of leaders and followers, so coming with a partner is recommended.
• Please wear dance shoes, or shoes with slippery soles
• Please arrive at least 10 minutes early so you’ll have time to pay before the class begins, and we can start on time.

Please Register For The Classes Ahead Of Time!   

Because we need an even number of leaders and followers, you must register ahead of time.  Click on the red button below.  It’ll take you to a ticket page.  You can select more than one ticket.  Fill out the information (name and e-mail address) and print out the ticket.  On the day of the workshops, present the ticket and pay for the classes at the door!

Registration deadline is February 4th.

If you have any questions, either call/text Lisa Spiro (me!) at 860-655-5731, or e-mail her at lisamarie@hartfordballroom.com.

The Much-Belated Monthly Calendar For What's Left Of December

Hey dancers!  I apologize that this is so late in coming, but it was hard to find time to sit down and make this list.  I blame the fact that it's officially the holiday season, and that I have a very distracting cat that I must either play with, or rescue from her own silly acts.

Yep, that's right, I had to help her down from there.

So anyway, I have finally gotten around to listing the dance events for what's left of this month.  For now, I only have the dances in Connecticut.  The dance events that are out of state I'm still working on, I might have them ready by next month.

Hartford Ballroom's December Dance Events!

 

Says to you....

Happy Holidays everyone!

I'm a little late with this post, but hey, better late than never!  Because of the holidays, some lessons and some dances have been cancelled, but we also have our New Year's Eve party!  So here's the rundown of cancellations and dance socials:

Lisa's January Workshops

New year, new workshops!  This month I am hosting a total of four classes. 

Each class costs $10 to attend, and doesn't require pre-registration or a partner.  

All workshops will take place at the Hartford Ballroom Dance Studio.

Saturday, January 3rd "A Day Of Line Dances"

1 p.m.: The Easy Ones

This is a beginner-friendly workshop, where we focus on line dances that are both fun and easy to do.  This class will be an hour long, with a chance to run through the songs again afterwards.

Line Dances We'll Cover: Cupid Shuffle, Samba Line Dance, Waltz Line Dance, Sex On The Beach, Kumbia Line Dance

2:30 p.m.: Getting Into The Harder Stuff

There are two line dances out there that I would consider to be a little difficult: the Shim-Sham and the Salsa Line Dance.  In this workshop, I plan on covering both of them.  The class will run for about an hour, with a chance to run through the songs again at the end.

Requirements? If you are a beginner, I wouldn't recommend this second class.  No partners are needed for line dances. 

Saturday, January 31st: "A Day Of Technique"

2 p.m.: "Basic Techniques For Leading And Following"

Learning the steps is tricky enough: learning how to lead the steps and follow the patterns is even harder.  This workshop is going to focus on those little techniques that we tend to overlook in a normal group class.  To keep things simple, we'll focus on techniques used in Swing, Waltz, and Rumba.  This is a class for Intermediate level students.  No partner or pre-registration is needed.

3:30 p.m.: "Reversing The Roles"

Yep!  That's right!  It's time to try swapping roles!  Leaders will try being a follower, and followers will try being a leader.  We're going to dive into the Rumba as if we're learning a totally new and different dance.  We'll start from the beginning and work our way up, and see how far we can go!

Knowing what your partner has to do helps a lot in improving your own ability to dance, so that's what this workshop is all about!  By the end of the lesson, you'll have a clearer understanding of what it's like to be on the other side, and therefore a clearer understanding of what your job is as a partner.  It'll be unusual, but fun! 

This is a workshop for Intermediate/Advanced students.  No need to bring in your own partner, nor do you need to pre-register.  The class will run for an hour, with some practice time afterwards.

Hartford Ballroom Announcements and Cancellations

Hey folks!  A quick update regarding Thanksgiving weekend for Hartford Ballroom:

1. Thursday's Classes (Thanksgiving Day) are Cancelled
2. Friday's Salsa Night (day after Thanksgiving, 11/28) is Cancelled
3. Sunday's Classes (11/30) is Still Going On!

Don't forget Nate has a workshop on the 22nd (click here for the link)!  And don't forget there are private lessons available.  Click on the button to the left to book an appointment with me, or click on the Hartford Ballroom for contact information.

Finally, as some of you already know, I'm starting to try and branch out from Hartford Ballroom a little.  I love working with my mom, but there comes a time when you are trying to make a little extra money to set aside for the future and the availability of the studio for new classes is rather limited.  So I'm looking for hall space to rent at a reasonable price.  If anyone knows of a good dance space (ie, church or town hall, American Legion, VFW, etc.) in or near the Hartford/Newington area, that is particularly available on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, I'd love to hear about it!  Leave a comment below or send me an e-mail!

That's it for now!  Dance Away!
-Lisa Spiro

It's November! What's Happening?!

Hey dancers!  It's November already!

Thank you to all those who dressed up for Halloween!  That was a lot of fun, seeing everyone's costumes!

So I haven't got the monthly calendar put up yet--look for it in a couple of days, once I have everything sorted through.  I've been a little delayed, what with Halloween, and my getting sick earlier in the week.

Don't forget about my workshop on November 8th!  For details, click here.


This Friday, Mom's guest teaching at the First Friday Swing Dance!  Come out and join us!

Dance away everyone!
-Lisa Spiro

Weekly Calendar: October 20-26

How can it be the 20th already?!

First off, Hartford Ballroom news!

A big thank-you to my husband, Dave Spiro, who filled in for Mom, Nate, and me at our 3rd Friday Beginner's Social!  We had to perform at St. Joseph's college, but we heard he did a good job hosting the event.  Thanks honey!

And thank you to those who came to watch us perform at Daniel Salazar's Noche Latina!  If you missed it, don't worry!  I'm going to post videos real soon!

Don't forget our Salsa Night This Friday!  It's always a fun time and we hope to see you there!

4th Friday Salsa Night

October 24

Absolute Beginner Lesson at 7pm

Intermediate To Advanced Lessons Interspersed Throughout The Evening

Dancing Ends When Everybody Leaves!

$10 per person

It's Salsa time!  All lessons are salsa lessons that get progressively harder as the night goes on.  A little bit of bachata. rumba, merengue, and chacha is also played to give a little something extra, but it's mostly salsa all night long until everybody leaves!

And now for events elsewhere!  They are organized by date, with the state in parentheses.  If you see a red stamp next to the event, that means we at Hartford Ballroom strongly recommend it!

Monday, October 20

1. MIT Tango Club Monday Night Practica (Massachusetts)

MIT Campus, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA (building and room is found on their website)

9-11 p.m. practica

Free

A free practica that takes place on campus.  The building and room they use changes from week to week, so double-check their webpage for exact locations.
 
2. Monday Night Practice (Massachusetts)
First Church, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
7 p.m. New School Swing Lesson
8 p.m. New School Swing Lesson
9-11 p.m. Dance
$8 general admission, $5 for students under age of 23  
This is one I found on DanceNet.

3. DancEncounters Ballroom Social Dance (New York)
215 Tremont St., Rochester, NY

7 p.m. lesson

7:45-10 p.m. dance

$8 general admission

Found through USA Dance, provided by DancEncounters.  Their floor looks nice.

4. Ensueno Tango Salon (New York City) 
Ukrainian East Village Restaurant, 140 2nd Ave, NYC
7:30 p.m. Total Beginner Lesson
8:30 p.m. Intermediate Lesson
9:30 p.m.-1:15 a.m. social dancing
$13 general admission per class, and per dance (student discounts and group packages available)
I found a postcard for this dance at MalaLECHE, I don't know much about this one but it looked interesting.
 
5. Monday Night Blues Dancing (New York)
Tango Cafe, 35 S. Washington St., Rochester, NY 14608
8:30 p.m. lesson
9 p.m. open dancing
$5 cover charge 
This dance was originally found through USA Dance.  I had a difficult time finding it on Tango Cafe's website.

Tuesday, October 21

1. Bluesy Tuesy (Massachusetts)
The Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA

7:30 p.m. lesson

8:30-11 p.m. open dance

$5 general admission for the lesson, $5 separate admission for the dance

Provided by DanceNet, this dance has been described as a blues dance.  Essentially blues dancing is a slow dance for Lindy dancers.  According to DanceNet it happens every Tuesday night.  I can't say if it's a good one to go to, but I will eventually try it out.

2. Tuesday Disco Night! (New York)

The Ukrainian Club, 402 25th St, Watervliet, NY 12189

7 p.m. workshop

8-11 p.m. dance

$10 general admission, $5 students

This dance is provided by the same teacher who hosts the above Potluck Dinner and Dance.  I can only assume by the name that it's primarily hustle.

3. Swing Dance Long Island Tuesday Dance (New York)

Huntington Moose Lodge, 631 Pulaski Rd, Greenlawn, NY
7:30 beginner lesson
8-10:30 dance
$4 members, $5 students, $6 general (prices slightly higher on band nights)
I'm not sure where in Long Island this is, but it sounds pretty casual.

Wednesday, October 22

1. West Coast Swing @ Fire And Ice Grill And Bar (Massachusetts)
Harvard Square, 50 Church St, Cambridge, MA
8 p.m. beginner/intermediate lesson
9 p.m.-12 a.m. dance
$10 general admission, $5 student (with ID)  
I've eaten at a Fire And Ice restaurant before; decent food, and an original experience!  So at least you can have a fun meal before you dance!

2. TangoCafe (New York)
You Should Be Dancing dance studio, 412 8th ave, 4th floor (between 30th and 31st st), NYC, NY
10 p.m.-2 a.m. milonga
$10 general admission (before 9:45), $12 general admission (after 9:45)
This milonga is brought to you by adam and ciko, the same people responsible for MalaLECHE.

3. Wednesday Night Swing (New York)
Kokopellis, 124 4th St, Troy, NY

8:15 p.m. lesson

9-11 p.m. dance

$10 general admission, $8 student admission

Apparently this one has a large dance floor.  Originally found through USA Dance, this includes Lindy Hop.  A $5 Drink Card is included in the admission.

4. Lindy Jam (New York)

Groove Juice Swing (Third Floor Ballroom), 389 Gregory St, Rochester NY 14620

8:45-11 p.m. dance 

9 p.m. lesson? (contradicting information)

$5 general admission

Originally found through USA Dance, this one is mainly a Lindy Hop dance.

Thursday, October 23

1. Yale Tango Club Milonga (Connecticut) Rumberos Studio, 216 State Street, New Haven, CT  9-11:30 p.m.  Free! This is a milonga my brother, the tango specialist, frequents a lot.

2. Cape Cod Tango Night (Massachusetts)
Liberty Hall, 2150 Main St, Cape Cod, MA

7-8 p.m. practica

8-9 p.m. beginner-friendly "practilonga"  
Free!

I've never heard of this dance, but it sounds beginner-friendly in general.  And it's free!

 

3. MIT Tango Club Thursday Night Practice (Massachusetts)

MIT Campus, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA (building and room changes frequently so check their website for details)

8-11 p.m. Practica

Free

The same club that brings you the Monday Night practica, this is almost identical to Monday nights.  The floor looks huge!

4. Blues Union Boston (Massachussetts)
Dance Union, 16 Bow Street, Somerville, MA 7:30 p.m. Intermediate Class 
8:30 p.m. Blues Basics class and beginner clinic 
9:30-11:30 p.m. Dance 
lesson and dance are $5 each  
I found this one on DanceNet and it sounds useful.   Apparently on the last Thursday of the month, there's what they call a "Blues Clinic": instead of the lessons, they have this one-on-one with the teachers, where they walk around the floor and help you out, and you can use it as an opportunity to practice and work with your peers.

5. Thursday Night Swing (New York)
Rocks, 77 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206
8 p.m. lesson

9 p.m.-12 a.m. dance

$5 general admission

This dance is a mash-up of lindy, east coast, and blues, and there's a bar in the next room.  Originally found through USA Dance.

6. Thursday Night Rochester Swing-In Dance (New York)

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2000 Highland Ave, Rochester NY

7:30 p.m. lesson

8:30-10:30 p.m. dance

$4 general admission

New York sure has some cheap dances!  This dance involves East and West Coast Swing, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop with a little Balboa, and Blues.  It looks like a good time.

7. Thursday Ballroom Dinner Dance (New York)
The Ukranian American Citizens Club, 1 Pulaski St. Cohoes, NY 12047

7 p.m. beginner lesson

8 p.m. dinner

$10 general admission

Found this one through USA Dance.

 

Friday, October 24

1. Ken Mercik's Friday Night West Coast Swing Dance (Connecticut)

Polish Home, 9 First Street, Windsor Locks, CT
7 p.m. Newcomer Lesson

8 p.m. Intermediate Lesson
9 p.m.-12 a.m. Open Dance
$10 for dance (newcomer lesson included), $15 for intermediate lesson and dance
A fun dance for those who like West Coast and Hustle!  The classes are usually taught by Ken Mercik, but every once in a while, there are guest teachers (such as Mario Robau and Robert Royston).  When there are guest teachers, the newcomer lesson becomes more of an intermediate lesson, and the admission prices increase by $5-10.  Check the website for guest teacher scheduling. 
 
2. Boston Swing Central (Massachusetts)

Crosby Whistle Stop, 24 Roland St, Charlestown, MA

8 p.m. lesson 

9-12 p.m. open dance

$15 general admission, $13 student/senior admission (with valid ID),  lesson included in price

Originally recommended by DanceNet, this one sounds like a fun dance for swing and Lindy Hop.  Their website is still frequently updated, and they have a live band every week.  It looks like a good time, so try it out and let me know what it's like
 
3. Fridays At Sunset (New York)
Ballroom On Sunset, 13 Sunset Drive, Latham, NY
7:15 p.m. lesson

8-10:30 p.m. dance

$10 general admission, $5 students

This one is said to have a beautiful dance floor.  Originally found through USA Dance

4. USA Dance New London (Connecticut)
East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Rd, East Lyme, CT
7 p.m. Lesson
8-10 p.m. Open Dance
$5 general admission, lesson included 
I've guest-taught at this social dance before.  It's a decent social to go to, particularly for intermediate/advanced dancers.

5. Hartford Ballroom's Salsa Night (Connecticut)
Hartford Ballroom Dance Studio, 30 Arbor St, 3rd floor, Hartford, CT

Dance runs from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with 30-minute lessons throughout the night.
7 p.m. absolute beginner lesson
7:30 p.m. beginner lesson
8:30 p.m. intermediate lesson
9:30 p.m. advanced lesson
$10 general admission 
This is a great salsa night to go to!  Lots of good salsa dancers come in, and the lessons always a fun new pattern to try out!  Strongly recommended.

 

Saturday, October 25

1. Waterford Ballroom Saturday Night Social (Connecticut)  
Waterford Ballroom Dance Studio, 86 Boston Post Rd, Waterford, CT 06385  
7 p.m. beginner lesson
7:30 p.m. beginner lesson
8-11 p.m. Dance social  
$15 general admission  
Recommended by Will Rogers, this one sounds like a friendly one to go to, for beginners and experienced dancers alike.

2. Swing City Boston (Massachusetts)  
West Cambridge Youth Center, 680 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA  
8 p.m. lesson  
9 p.m.-midnight dance
$16 general, $12 students  
This one has a live band, so it's guaranteed to be a good time!

3. Rita Giancola's Ballroom Dancing (Connecticut)
Plainville V.F.W., 7 Northwest Drive, Plainville CT  
7:30-11:30 p.m. dance  
$13 general admission  
We at Hartford Ballroom love Rita!  She is such a wonderful and strong woman!  It was at this dance that I first met my husband.  A good quiet dance. BYOB. 860-224-0543

4. Hartford Community Dance Swing Jam (Connecticut)  
American Legion Hall, 275 Main St, Wethersfield, CT  
7:15 p.m. lesson  
8:15 p.m. open dance
$10 general admission, $8 student admission   
This dance is provided by the same organization that does the First Friday Swing Dance.  I haven't tried this one yet, but it sounds like a good time.  

5. Bob's Ballroom Dance (Massachusetts)  
Knights of Columbus Hall, 96 Main Street, Peabody, MA 01960  
7 p.m. ballroom dance lesson   
8-11 p.m.  dance
price not specified  
This website looks like a flyer, which is a little unusual and vague.  The price isn't listed, but there is a phone number and e-mail address.  

Sunday, October 26

1. Yale Tango Club Practilonga at GPSCY (Connecticut)
Graduate and Professional Student Center at Yale (GPSCY), 2nd floor ballroom, 204 York Street, New Haven, CT
8-11 p.m.
Free!
Another one brought to you by Yale Tango Club.

2. Ballroom Dancing at the Roseland Ballroom (Massachusetts)
Roseland Ball Room, 174 Broadway, Taunton, MA

12:30 p.m. lesson

1-4 p.m. dance  
$10 cover charge

Originally found this through USA Dance, sounds casual

3. Dance2Swing (Massachusetts)

The Leominster Elks, 134 North Main Street, Leominster, MA

6:30 p.m. beginner-friendly swing lesson

7:30-10:30 p.m. open dance

$14 general admission if there's a live band, $12 admission if there's a DJ

Originally recommended by DanceNet, I'm not familiar with this one but in August they featured some really good bands.

4. Milonga RoKo (New York)

Manhattan Ballroom Dance Studio, 29W 36th St, 2nd Floor (between 5th and 6th Aves.), NYC, NY

7:15 p.m. lesson

8:15 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Milonga

$12 general admission, $7 student (with ID)

Recommended by my brother, this is a week Milonga that takes place in the city that never sleeps.

5. Argentine Tango Dance From DancEncounters (New York)

DancEncounters, 215 Tremont Street, Rochester, NY, Door #8

7 p.m. Introductory Lesson

8-10 p.m. Milonga

$8 general admission 

It seems like DancEncounters has quite a number of events!  This milonga sounds ideal for those who don't want to pull an all-nighter

New Hartford Ballroom Workshop! Saturday November 8th

I've been wanting to teach a workshop for ages!  And it's finally going to happen!

On Saturday, November 8th, I'll be teaching a workshop titled:

"Spins And Swivels: Tips And Tricks To Stay On Your Feet"

When: November 8th, 6:15 p.m. (right before our 2nd Saturday Social)

Cost: $10 per person (separate from our Saturday Social)

No partner necessary

Dance shoes recommended, or just wear socks.

Cash or check only, please make checks payable to Lisa Spiro

Weekly Dances: October 13-18

Hey folks!  Another week has come and gone, and now we're officially in the middle of October.  The weather is turning out to be rather lovely this week!

We've got a bunch of great dances happening this week, including Hartford Ballroom's 3rd Friday Beginner's Social!

Weekly Events: October 6th to October 12th

It's the first full week of October and we've got a lot of events to choose from!

Don't forget that this Saturday, we're hosting our 2nd Saturday social!  Lesson starts at 7:30, dance at 8.  We look forward to seeing you there (scroll down for more details)!
  

It's October! Everything That's Happening This Month

Oh my goodness it's October already!  Time for Halloween!  And there is so much dancing to do!

Weekly Dance Events: September 22 to 28

It's the final full week of September already!  And I hope you have your dancing shoes ready because it's going to be a busy week!

 

Don't forget Hartford Ballroom's Salsa Night!  Scroll down to September 26th to learn more!

The events I know of are listed first by date, then by state (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, then finally Rhode Island).  The dance theme is listed in parentheses next to the event name.

Don't forget, if you see this little red stamp, it means we recommend this event!

Dance Away Everyone!  Dance Away!

This Week's Dance Events: September 15-21

Week 3 has arrived!  And my list of events to go to just keeps on growing!

Don't forget Hartford Ballroom's 3rd Friday Beginner's Social!  Scroll down to Friday to learn more!

As always, I'm looking for more dances to post!  Especially for Connecticut!  If you know of any events, particularly for salsa and tango, please comment below (the comment box is open to the public, so you don't need to create some sort of account in order to post).

Here are the dances we got this week.  They are arranged first by date, then by state (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, then Rhode Island).  Dance type is in parentheses.

P.S.- if you see a little red stamp by the dance name, that means that the dance teachers here at Hartford Ballroom really like it and strongly recommend it!



Monday, September 15
1. MIT Tango Club Practica (Argentine Tango)
every Monday night
MIT Campus, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA (building and room is found on their website)
9-11 p.m. practica
free
A free weekly practica that takes place on campus.  The building and room they use changes from week to week, so click on the dance title to go to their website for exact locations and maps.  Today the practica will be at 36-112 (building 36 on 50 Vassar Street, room 112 on the first floor)

2. DancEncounters Ballroom Social (General) 
every Monday night
215 Tremont St, Rochester, NY
7 p.m. lesson
7:45-10 p.m. dance
$8 general admission
Okay, obviously the people who are currently checking this website aren't going to go all the way to Rochester, but I'm posting this out of principle, so tell your Rochester friends!

3. Ensueno Tango Salon (Tango)
every Monday night
Ukrainian East Village Restaurant, 140 2nd Ave, NYC
7:30 p.m. Total Beginner Lesson
8:30 p.m. Intermediate Lesson
9:30 p.m.-1:15 a.m. social dancing
$13 general admission per class, and per dance (student discounts and group packages available)
I found a postcard flyer for this event at MalaLECHE last week.  It looks interesting, and it sounds like something good for those die-hard tango dancers out there (can you imagine dancing until 1:15 in the morning on a Monday?!) Food and full bar provided.

4. Monday Night Blues Dancing (Swing) 
every Monday night
Tango Cafe, 35 S. Washington St., Rochester, NY 14608 8:30 p.m. lesson 9 p.m. open dancing
$5 cover charge
I found this one through USA Dance.  Once again, I don't think the people who are currently checking this site are going to go all the way to Rochester, but at least people know this dance is there.  Be aware that this is probably a blues dance, which I've been told is a slow dance for Lindy hoppers.



Tuesday, September 16
1. Bluesy Tuesy (Swing)

Every Tuesday night
The Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA
7:30 p.m. lesson
8:30-11 p.m. open dance
$5 general admission for the lesson, $5 separate admission for the dance

Provided by DanceNet, this dance has been described as a blues dance (once again, slow dancing for Lindy Hoppers).  There isn't much info on this one, but it happens every Tuesday.

2. West Coast Swing Potluck Dinner Dance With Workshop (Swing)
Tuedays, every 14 days
The Ukrainian Club, 402 25th St., Watervliet, NY 12189
7 p.m. Workshop
8-11 p.m. Open Dance
$15 for Workshop, Dinner, and Dance, $15 Dance only, $10 Workshop only, $5 college students

This dance asks you to bring your favorite dish, with everyone eating after the workshop.  I originally found this through USA Dance.  Unfortunately, I don't know where Watervliet is in New York, so it might not be close by for us Connecticutans.

Wednesday, September 17
1. TangoCafe (Tango) 
Every Wednesday Night
You Should Be Dancing dance studio, 412 8th ave, 4th floor (between 30th and 31st st), NYC, NY
10 p.m.-2 a.m. milonga
$10 general admission (before 9:45), $12 general admission (after 9:45)
This milonga is brought to you by adam and ciko, the same people responsible for MalaLECHE.

2. Wednesday Night Swing (Swing)  
Every Wednesday
Kokopellis, 124 4th St, Troy, NY
8:15 p.m. lesson
9-11 p.m. dance
$10 general admission, $8 student admission 
Apparently this one has a large dance floor.  Originally found through USA Dance, this includes Lindy Hop.  A $5 Drink Card is included in the admission.

3. Lindy Jam (Swing)

Every Wednesday Night
Groove Juice Swing (Third Floor Ballroom), 389 Gregory St, Rochester NY 14620

8:45-11 p.m. dance 

9 p.m. lesson? (contradicting information)

$5 general admission

Lots of dances in Rochester!  Goodness!  Originally found through USA Dance, this one is mainly a Lindy Hop dance.

Thursday, September 18
1. MIT Tango Club Thursday Night Practica (Tango)

Every Thursday Night
MIT Campus, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA (building and room changes frequently so check their website for details)
8-11 p.m. Practica
Free

The same club that brings you the Monday Night practica, this is almost identical to Monday nights.  The floor looks huge! Today it's being held at building 36, room 112 on the first floor (check their website for directions)

2. Cape Cod 3rd Thursday Milonga (Tango)

Every 3rd Thursday
Liberty Hall (unless otherwise specified), 2150 Main St, Cape Cod, MA
7-10 p.m. milonga
Free! 
A dress-up event that is brought to you by the Cape Cod Tango Club

3. Thursday Ballroom Dinner Dance (General)
Every Thursday 
The Ukranian American Citizens Club, 1 Pulaski St. Cohoes, NY 12047
7 p.m. beginner lesson
8 p.m. dinner 
Found this one through USA Dance.

 
4. Thursday Night Swing (Swing) 

Every Thursday Night
Rocks, 77 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206
8 p.m. lesson
9 p.m.-12 a.m. dance
$5 general admission 
This dance is a mash-up of lindy, east coast, and blues, and there's a bar in the next room.  Originally found through USA Dance.

5. Thursday Night Rochester Swing-In Dance (Swing)
Every Thursday Night
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2000 Highland Ave, Rochester NY
7:30 p.m. lesson
8:30-10:30 p.m. dance
$4 general admission 
New York sure has some cheap dances!  This dance involves East and West Coast Swing, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop with a little Balboa, and Blues.  It looks like a good time.



Friday, September 19
1. Hartford Ballroom's Beginner Social (General)
Every 3rd Friday  
Hartford Ballroom Dance Studio, 30 Arbor Street, 3rd Floor, Hartford, CT
7:30 p.m. Beginner Lesson
8-11:30 p.m. Open Dance
$10 general admission, lesson included 
I love this dance.  And I'm not saying this because I work here!  This dance is specifically geared towards beginners, but it's open to everyone who just wants to practice their dancing.  We give crash courses right there on the dance floor, so you're never left out because you don't know the dance.  We announce what dance form you can do for each song, and there's a beginner lesson (and I mean beginner!) at the beginner.  It's super friendly, so give it a try!  

2. Boston Swing Central (Swing)

Every Friday Night
Crosby Whistle Stop, 24 Roland St, Charlestown, MA  
8 p.m. lesson  
9-12 p.m. open dance
$15 general admission, $13 student/senior admission (with valid ID),  lesson included in price 
Originally recommended by DanceNet, this one sounds like a fun dance for swing and Lindy Hop.  Their website is still frequently updated, and they have a live band every week.  It looks like a good time, so try it out and let me know what it's like!  This week's band is The Blue Vipers Of Brooklyn

3. Mason Warrington Social Dance (General)

Every 3rd Friday 
Knights of Columbus, Binghampton, NY 
8-11 p.m.
$13 General admission, $11 USA Dance members 
The information for this one is rather vague, but according to USA Dance, it still exists. You might want to call ahead and double check the location 

4. Fridays At Sunset (General)

Every Friday
Ballroom On Sunset, 13 Sunset Drive, Latham, NY
7:15 p.m. lesson
8-10:30 p.m. dance
$10 general admission, $5 students 
This one is said to have a beautiful dance floor.  Originally found through USA Dance

5. Friday Night Salsa Party (Salsa)

Every Friday Night
Tango Cafe, 35 S. Washington St., Rochester, NY 14608
9 p.m. lesson
10 p.m.-1 a.m. dance
$10 admission with lesson, $5 dance only.   

This dance sounds like a good evening, but there isn't much more information.

6. Double Dance Friday (swing/general)

every other Friday  
Studio One RI Dance Complex, 85 Industrial Circle, Suit 4102, Lincoln, RI 02865
7:30 p.m. lesson
8-11 p.m. dance
$12 non-members, $10 member, $5 active military/students   
This sounds interesting!  Basically there are two rooms, two lessons, and two DJs. Ballroom happens in one room, West Coast Swing in the other, and you can move between rooms.  Provided by USA Dance this sounds like fun!

Saturday, September 20
1. USA Dance Greater Hartford Monthly Dance (General)

Every 3rd Saturday
Glastonbury Riverfront Community Center, 300 Welles St, Glastonbury, CT  
8 p.m. lesson
9 p.m.-12 a.m. Open Dance
$11 USA dance members, $15 non-members  
My brother and I guest-taught at this dance social about a year ago.  They have a nice large floor over there.  The dance itself was pretty good too.

2. Waterford Ballroom Saturday Night Social (General)
Every Saturday  
Waterford Ballroom Dance Studio, 86 Boston Post Rd, Waterford, CT 06385  
7 p.m. beginner lesson  
7:30 p.m. beginner lesson  
8-11 p.m. Dance social
$15 general admission 
Recommended by a student of mine, this one sounds like a friendly one to go to, for beginners and experienced dancers alike.  Thanks Will for suggesting this one!

3. Shoreline Swing Presents 3rd Saturday Swing (Swing)
Every 3rd Saturday
East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Rd, Niantic, CT
7 p.m. beginner lesson
8-11 p.m. dance
$15 non-members, $11 members, seniors, military, & students  
Found the flyer for this event at the First Friday Swing event.  Looks like it has live bands.

4. Cajun/Zydeco Dance By Hartford Community Dance (Other)

Every 3rd Saturday  
American Legion Hall, 275 Main Street, Wethersfield CT  
6:30 p.m. workshop
7-10 p.m. open dance  
$15 general admission, $10 student admission   
I've never heard of Zydeco before until someone recommended this dance.  It looks like this might be a fun dance to do. 

5. USA Dance Chapter #3011 Celebration Dance (General)

Ruth Swezey, 324 Burd Dr, Vestal, NY 13850
7:30 cocktail hour
8 p.m.-12 a.m. general dance
$22 Students, $30 USA dance member, $35 non-member 
Ooo, fancy!  Complete with a live band and professional performances, this sounds like a formal, one-time gala.  Apparently National Dance Week is coming up, so this dance is celebrating it!

6. DancEncounters Double-Dance (General/Swing)

Every 3rd Saturday
DancEncounters, 215 Tremont St., Rochester, NY
8 p.m- 12 a.m. dance
$10 general admission 
This one has two rooms for dancing!  I think one is for swing and hustle, and the other is for ballroom.  I'm not sure if there's a dance lesson or not (it wasn't specified), but apparently there are monthly themes for each dance. 

7. Central Park Tango (Tango)

Every Saturday evening during the summer season

Central Park by the Shakespeare Statue, New York City, New York
6-9:30 p.m. milonga

7:30 p.m. beginner lesson

Free!

Another Milonga that my brother recommends.  It's free, it's outdoors, which automatically guarantees a good time!

8. Robin Thomas's Nocturne Milonga (Tango) 

Every 3rd Saturday

Dancesport Dance Studio, 22W 34th St, 4th floor, NYC, NY (next to the Empire State Building)

9 p.m. lesson

10 p.m.-4:30 a.m. milonga

$12 general admission, $7 student admission

Recommended by both myself and my brother, this is a great milonga!  There are a lot of great dancers there, and the atmosphere is excellent.  You'll want to stay there the whole night!

Sunday, September 21
1. USA Dance National Ballroom Dance Week Dinner and Dance (General) 
Maironis Park
52 South Quinsigamond Ave, Shrewsbury, MA
2-7:30 p.m. with a double lesson
before September 15: $30 members, $40 non-members
after September 15: $45 members, $55 non-members
This dance is celebrating National Dance Week, with a Waltz lesson and a Rumba lesson.  There's a cash bar and a buffet dinner.

2. Ballroom Dancing at the Roseland Ballroom (General)

Every Sunday
Roseland Ball Room, 174 Broadway, Taunton, MA
12:30 p.m. lesson
1-4 p.m. dance
$10 cover charge

Originally found this through USA Dance, sounds casual

3. Dance2Swing (Swing)

Every Sunday Evening
The Leominster Elks, 134 North Main Street, Leominster, MA
6:30 p.m. beginner-friendly swing lesson
7:30-10:30 p.m. open dance
$14 general admission if there's a live band, $12 admission if there's a DJ 
Originally recommended by DanceNet, I'm not familiar with this one but in August they featured some really good bands. This week's band is Point 'N Swing Big Band.

4. Capital USA Dance Monthly Event (General)

Every 3rd Sunday
Polish Community Center, 225 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, NY 12205 
6:15 p.m. lesson

7-10 p.m. dance

$13 general admission, $10 USA members, $5 students, free for under-18s

Provided by USA dance, this one includes light refreshments and a cash bar.

5. Milonga RoKo (Tango)

Every Sunday Night
Manhattan Ballroom Dance Studio, 29W 36th St, 2nd Floor (between 5th and 6th Aves.), NYC, NY
7:15 p.m. lesson

8:15 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Milonga

$12 general admission, $7 student (with ID)

Recommended by my brother, this is a week Milonga that takes place in the city that never sleeps.

6. Argentine Tango Dance From DancEncounters (Tango)

Every Sunday Night
DancEncounters, 215 Tremont Street, Rochester, NY, Door #8
7 p.m. Introductory Lesson

8-10 p.m. Milonga

$8 general admission 

It seems like DancEncounters has quite a number of events!  This milonga sounds ideal for those who don't want to pull an all-nighter.

Okay!  That makes 34 dance events to try out!  But don't forget that I want more!

Please comment below if you have a dance in mind!

 

Please provide:

• the name of the event,
• when the event occurs,
• how often it occurs (weekly, monthly, annually),
• the location,
• the time frame (when it starts and when it ends),
• the cost(s), and
• a brief description of the event (1-3 sentences long)

Have fun and dance away everyone!  Dance Away!