Visiting NYC, looking for open party Apr 25

[DanceOfFaith]

I'm from the Louisville area visiting NYC (Manhattan) this week. I'm looking for somewhere to enjoy ballroom dancing tonight where as a single woman who doesn't know anyone, I will still get asked to dance several times. Some areas of the country that I visit, I have to just sit since people there tend to only dance with those they know or even worse, just those they came with.

I do some limited pro/am competition, but I need my fix for social dancing even when I travel. I'm looking for somewhere that will play music for both rhythm/latin and smooth/standard and there will be a mixed level of dancers from bronze to ????---I love the challenge of seeing if I can follow a more advanced lead and really enjoy dancing with a guy who doesn't "hop" as he dances.

I've found a few places on the web, but can't tell from what I read whether they're the type I seek...and a lot of them seem to be doing mostly demos and showcases so I need some help.

oh yeah, and I'm in the 40's age group, so I need a studio where there are quite a few of us older folks!

Thanks!

[Katarzyna]

I know there is a social at steppin out tonight... I will be there... The croud there tends to be beyound college for sure... but it really varies from night to night.. sometimes might be REALLY quiet

[BallandChange]

Try this link http://njoydancing.home.att.net/index.htm

[DanceOfFaith]

Thank you both for replying! Hopefully there will be time to try to call some of the studios. I knew about Stepping Out already, but I was told that most of the evening would be taken up with the showcase--I do enjoy them, but I was hoping to get at least 2 hours of dancing tonight so I will probably pass on attending there this trip :(

[Katarzyna]

usually they ahve showcases but they don't over 30 min ... and the social lasts till 12:30

[Indiana_Jay]

DOF:

Welcome to DF, from a fellow Hoosier.

-IJ

[Chris Stratton]

Unless you have reliable information about better options (as in from someone who attends them, not from what the person who answers the phone claims) passing up something that's understandably short of your wishes may end up meaning passing up the best (meager) opportunity available. There really may not be any better options - the ballroom scene here is not really socially focused, though the salsa, AT, WCS, etc options may be more oriented in that direction.

[DanceOfFaith]

Thanks Indiana Jay!

[DanceOfFaith]

Chris,
I guess I'm a little confused as to what you meant. Not knowing how dance is treated in this particular area, but having been to competitions in several states, I've built a feeling that there are general similarities, although I'm well aware that some studios focus on entirely social or entirely comp. I am hoping to find a studio that has both social and competitive students since my experience with that type of studio has always been positive. My only concern is that I get to dance and that it's an enjoyable experience. Are you telling me that I must expect to find places in NYC that cater either to people who only know how to do a box step or gold/champ level with nothing in between? (If this sounds snotty, I DO apologize, but I can't figure out how else to ask my question)

[Katarzyna]

I usually NEVER defend Chris, but, from what he said I have no idea why you responded the way you did.. he didn't mention any of the things you talk about above

[DanceOfFaith]

Again I apologize for offending anyone, but I truly didn't know what he meant. I thought he was telling me that I shouldn't attempt to go anywhere. I was taking a wild stab at understanding and I guess I missed the boat. Must have been partly brain dead earlier....after reading again just now I guess he was referring to me passing on the showcase in the hopes of getting to dance myself. I certainly don't want to offend anyone at Stepping Out...I had marked the studio as my first choice when I planned my trip. Again, my apologies for misreading and sounding like a total nit

[Chris Stratton]

All I'm trying to say is that there really aren't many ballroom (as opposed to other partner dance) social options to pick from. So if you insist on only going to the right one, you may end up not going to any at all.

At this point in time, what NYC really has to offer to the visiting ballroom dancer on any random weekend is private lessons with many of the nation's top dancers. Coming here to social dance would need to be planned based on weekend when there is something, but even something that's been a great event in the past won't necessarily be so in any given instance.

[Chris Stratton]

Dancing wise the stepping out standard practice from 5-6 saturday can support much more than most socials. It's a mixture of fixed partnerships and those who circulate, however it could also mean a lot of time sitting waiting for someone to dance with.

[Easy]

So...where did you end up going, and was it fun?

[BM]

Oh yeah, it's the 26th, now, isn't it . . . :p

[Bailamosdance]

Where are there other, open to the public practice sessions in the area?

[Chris Stratton]

Standard rounds at ballroom off fifth (37w37th, no sign outside, just buzzer to left of door) at 4-6 on sundays. These are for partnerships only. Stepping out has the more sociable ones again on Tuesday at 9:30 (they also have latin ones sometime, but not sure when - see the fine print on their schedule).

Edit: those are practices with a specific program. Most of the studios catering to competitors are open most of the rest of the time for independent practice - DanceNY, 101, BoF, and Stepping Out (that later may require reservations at busier times?). Of course its always safer to call before showing up unless you know the studio very well.

[Indiana_Jay]

So, DoF, what did you end up doing? BTW, I tried to PM you to ask about your Indiana geography, but you apparently have PMs turned off.

[Easy]

Places that call them rounds? Whatever happend to parties? :(

[Joe]

Maybe because they do rounds of the appropriate dances...