Dance Venues
People frequently ask me where I go dancing. There are a lot of
venues around town. I'm going to share the ones I like.
Click on the headers for individual web sites.
Down below I'll provide information on dance classes.
This is my usual studio where I take lessons. Focus at Four Seasons
is on social partner dancing. You can take private lessons or attend
group classes.
Monday nights are Swing Night at Famous Dave's. They rotate through about
4 or 5 bands every week. My favorite band, Davina and the Vagabonds, are
there about once a month. The bands all have their own character, but it's
all danceable. The dance floor is concrete, so not the best, but great music
and great dancers. See their schedule for other nights of the week you
may want to visit.
Cinema Ballroom at Snelling and St. Claire in St. Paul holds dance
events on Friday and Sunday evenings. Friday night will include a
lesson and DJ music. Sundays is live music. The band is okay -- good
musicians although it's big band, which I rarely find as compelling as
other styles.
The Caves has Swing music every Thursday. Cover is $7. This is an
unusual venue. Decent dance floor. The music is Big Band, so it's
usually danceable, not always compelling. It can be very crowded during
the summer months.
Tapestry has swing every Thursday. This is an exceedingly popular event.
I don't tend to go very often for personal reasons, but I should just get
over it and start going again. Swing the first Saturday of each month
as well. First Thursday of each month is beginner night.
Dance Classes
I am also frequently asked about lessons. Your choices are group classes and
private lessons. Within group classes there are some free options (which are
usually introductory) and paid classes (which can be much more in depth).
Group Classes
- Wednesday Nights, 6 PM. Four Seasons Dance. Beginning swing
taught by Rebecca Abas. Intermeediate Swing taught by Krista Haskins.
At 7 PM: Beginning ballroom taught by Rebecca. Classes are
progressive within the week: introduction the first week, then
each week after that builds on what was taught previously.
This is where you'll see me Wednesday nights, either acting as
the assistant for the beginner classes or attending the intermediate
classes.
- Thursday Nights, 6:30 PM. Tapestry Folkdance Center. Lengthy
lesson followed by a dance. Best bang for buck if you like
the very large class and want ongoing group instruction. However,
you won't get any individual attention like you would in a smaller
class.
- Monday Nights, 7:15 PM, Famous Dave's in Uptown. Introductory
swing taught by Shannon and Bill Butler. This is an introductory
class, but you can frequently get Shannon to show you an advanced
move or two later in the evening if you ask nicely. Awesome blues
swing bands play afterwards until 11.
- Wednesday Nights, 8 PM, Lee's Liquor Lounge. Another introductory
class taught by Shannon and Bill Butler. Classes are followed by
bluesy swing music similar to that at Faous Dave's.
- Thursday Nights, 6:15 PM, Wabasha Street Caves. Introductory swing
class prior to big band live music playing until 10.
Private Lessons
I have taken classes with these instructors and like all of them.
Last Updated: March, 2010.
