Let me tell you a funny story: I went on a first date with a really cute guy who liked to dance. Eager to impress him, and excited to kickup my heels, I spent a week researching the perfect dance spots forour tryst. I ended up going with a friend’s recommendation for LaCaverna, a lounge/restaurant located on Rivington. She assured me that the music was good, the crowd was lively and the décor would keep the conversation flowing.When my date and I arrived, we were directed down a tunnel-like flight of stairs and—to my horror—into a large, dimly lit room where plaster stalactites hung from the top of a plaster cave ceiling. The worst part was, the dance floor was empty and the DJ was playing songs I hadn’t heard since junior high. I did a mental gasp, and tried to quickly think of a good excuse for having wound up at a dingy version of Mars 2112. Luckily, my date was a gentleman and we both laughed the experience off over a round of molten lava cocktails.
Sometimes friends don’t always offer the best advice when it comes to suggesting the perfect place to take a date dancing. But there is one thing that never lies—and that’s TV. Take shows like Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew for example. Each show is leaving its mark on the nation as ballroom dance classes are now flooded with fans and retailers are describing a new trend towards hip hop-inspired apparel. Inspiration for the perfect dancing date is right in front of your eyes and New York City has all the resources you need to make it happen. Here’s a quick guide to some of the city’s best dancing:
Make like The Knick City Dancers and sign up for two spots in one of Broadway Dance Center’s hip hop classes. The school boasts top-notch teachers and basic and beginner level classes. If you’ve been practicing the moves to Beyonce’s Single Ladies, this is the place to finally show them off.
If you were inspired when Mario Lopez and George Hamilton hit the stage in the first season of Dancing with the Stars, sign up at one of the city’s schools that boast lessons in swing, salsa, tango and merengue. Dance Chelsea offers an introductory lesson that runs through a variety of styles in one 30-minutes session. To master the moves you and your partner can commit to a longer string of sessions atDance Manhattan Ballroom Swing & Latin Studio.
Once the weather heats up you may be inspired to do a little dancing under the stars and New York’s got plenty of places for outdoor practice. Starting July 7th, head to Lincoln Center for their annual Midsummer Night Swing series. For $30 dollars you can enjoy an hour-long dance lesson,followed by live performances. This year they’re featuring Chubby Checker, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra
Written by: Libby Dowd - SpeedNY Dating Resident Blogger
