Dance Talk

Night ClubI just read about a new movement in California- plus-sized clubs. No, not clubs as in fitness clubs, which some of the participants might need, but night clubs for people who are a little larger than most of your average Americans. And, by a little larger, I mean women who are in the 200-300 lb range. Read more

A lot of people wake up every day and go to a job at an office that, while it isn't very exciting, at least pays the bills. Of course, most of those people have interests that are a lot more intriguing than database management and how to properly program a copy machine. Beneath the thin veneer of every accountant, copywriter or sales rep could be someone who juggles torches, moonlights as a trapeze artist, or even somebody who strives to master the art of the great American pole dance. Such was the case with Seattleite Krisha CatZen, the founder of the Pole for the Soul pole dancing studio.

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Given the fact that Jamaica is roughly the size of New Jersey – that’s an approximation, so don’t hold me to that – it’s surprising that more groups didn’t find themselves switching players and singers more often. That thought is basically what the story of the Twinkle Brothers was (and is seeing as the group still tours). Read more

DancingWhere can older people go to dance? Are people in their 30's, 40's, 50's and older limited to cheesy hotel bars and the odd wedding for any dancing other than salsa or ballroom which is way, way out of my ability? These days, with Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, almost everybody (unfortunately in some cases), thinks they can dance, but the choices are definitely more limited once you reach a certain age.
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American culture has embraced ballroom dancing in fits and starts. In the jazz age nothing was more hip, then the late 50's and early 60's saw the Latin dance craze. After that the practice fell out of fashion, replaced by more trendy styles like disco and breakdancing. It wasn't until the mid-1990's that a new generation rediscovered flashy classics like the Jitterbug. These days, ballroom dancing has worked its way back into the hearts and feet of Americans young and old. In the city of Seattle there are a number of thriving schools of dance, as well as regular dancing events and venues. Read more

Michael Jackson is dead. In the BEST tribute ever, once again and without further ado, the Phillipino prisoners performing the Thriller Video.... Read more

"My mother always asked me, 'How do you know whether you will like something, if you do not try it?' " - Mandy Patinkin, offering James Caan take-out, in "Alien Nation"

My wife and I are 46. We'll have been married for 28 years this Saturday.

Last week, in the car driving home from a date, I did something incredibly naive even by male standards. I asked her whether there was anything new she'd like to try. I meant romantically new, in the original sense of the word: romance, something adventurous, new, fresh, daring.

She answered as though she'd been waiting for the question for about 27.9 years. "I want to dance the Waltz!"

:: blinking ::

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These are strange days indeed. It would seem that Seattle's popular Neighbors nightclub has run afoul of the building's owners and is engaged in a fight to remain open. Apparently the owners of the building that houses Neighbors have claimed that the building can be used for virtually anything but dancing. Strange that it took them 25 years to notice all of the illicit dancing.

A true cynic would probably see a conspiracy to evict and redevelop in an increasingly changing neighborhood - coincidentally (or not) putting another nail in the coffin of Capitol Hill's gay community.

But my guess is that the actual issue might be the incessant, suspicious, and baffling construction and reconstruction of every molecule in the club. I know of no other place that has remodeled the exact same spot in a club once every year. It has in fact become somewhat of a joke between me and my friends (who love the place) that there has to be some money laundering scheme going on there.

But who knows? Lets just keep our fingers crossed on this one.