Dancing fool

[tigertoy]

At GaFilk a few weeks ago, I actually got on the dance floor three times, and it got me thinking that (a) I would like to actually know how to dance, rather than just relying on the fact that in the sort of social dancing situations I encounter, nobody really expects me to know how to dance anyway, and (b) that if I could learn how to dance for real, and find an opportunity to do it regularly, it would be both a good form of exercise and something to do socially.

Does anyone have any advice on a good place in C-U to go to learn to dance?  It needs to be casual about dress and not hideously expensive.

And now for the real long shot, are there any women reading this who might be interested in being my dance partner?  I'm a whole lot more likely to actually do this, rather than just saying it's a good idea, if I have someone I know to do it with.

Comments

[catalana.livejournal.com]

I don't really know any place in town, but I'd be interested in hearing what you find out. Depending on how our schedules mesh, I'd certainly be interested in doing some dancing. (My boyfriend had a stroke some years ago, so he doesn't really dance much.) But obviously you might prefer someone who will be in town more permanently; I don't know where I'll be after the summer.

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

Don't know about the C-U area, but there's a Ballroom Dance club at UM. (I think it then cost $15 per semester, but has since gotten more expensive.) No, I'm not suggesting you commute -- but rather that you check with the Universities. I joined and went to a half dozen or so lessons -- and got the spouse to come with a time or 3 -- and then when I stopped being able to do that, I ... well, I didn't lose interest, but I started being more busy on Sunday evenings, and I've not made it in several years. Guess part of it depends on the sort of dancing you want to do. (I mean, for line dancing try a CW bar...) Of course, the fact that a coworker who had always seemed ... just a touch "interested" ... was also attending these lessons was incentive for me to avoid it.

G'luck.

[blur01.livejournal.com]

There is a ballroom dance team / club in CU. One of the group's founding members used to live over on High street in Urbana.

A tickle in the back of my head wants to say that the DeWan's are members.

Try

[bobmage.livejournal.com]

Central Illinois Dance Academy
2001 Round Barn Road

I _think_ that's where I got lessons with my wife, but it was 8 years ago, so I'm not sure...

[barbarakitten-t.livejournal.com]

I don't dance, but BRAVO!!!! Sounds like great fun. I don't suggest
C-street or Lava? (it used to be Bradley's) but, go you!!!!

[bammba-m.livejournal.com]

i took dance lessons from the UofI dance club (they used to have a website...ah, found it https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/DancingIllini/)

It was mostly students, but i was a non-student at the time and i think it was $20 or something stupid cheap. We wore jeans and t-shirts.

You have to switch partners to make sure the leads are true, so anyone you go with is not who you'll be dancing with the entire time. i thought this was an excellent way to pick up chicks. (Although, i went with my boyfriend at the time, and i remain striaght. There were MANY more women than men there. And because you switch off every few minutes, you get to chat with everyone.)

i had a great time taking dance lessons, and i hope you go regardless of company.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

anyone you go with is not who you'll be dancing with the entire time

I understand this; even if it's just a regular social dancing situation and not a class, I'm not assuming any romantic attachment to the person I go with, so I would expect to dance with others. (And if something romantic did develop, that would be great, but that isn't the reason I'm doing this.) Still, having someone that I know is expecting me to show up and dance with them some of the time would be a big help in getting my butt out of my chair.

[born-to-me.livejournal.com]

If I could dance, I'd dance with you anytime we were in a dancing situation... but I'm never really in those situations. And I don't think I -can- dance. I think of myself as being so physically clumsy I'm afraid to try it, to be honest. But I'd dearly, dearly love to be able to.

Bravo - I think it's a really cool thing you're doing, and probably going to be great fun.

[blur01.livejournal.com]

Anyone can dance. A good portion of it is being able to "dance like no one is watching".

[born-to-me.livejournal.com]

I'm just so self-conscious about movement that I think it would impair dancing. I tried a jazz dance class in college and quit after a few days - I was so fumble footed I couldn't just relax and do it.

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

we took a ballroom dance class - I think thru urbana park district http://www.prairienet.org/upd/ or champaign http://www.champaignparkdistrict.com/

And Contra dance is always a good idea http://www.prairienet.org/contra/