Riot and Frolic

Maybe you're a long-time member of the thriving Twin Cities ballroom dance scene, getting bored.  Maybe you've never danced a box step in your life and are wondering where, if you ever had the inkling, one would even start such an undertaking.  Maybe you're just feeling like there's no foothold for amateurs in the state of Minnesota (see what I did there?).

For your relief, I will provide a hearty list of places, businesses, and people whose MAIN PURPOSE is to serve the student population of the ballroom dance community and provide them with training, parties, fun (and nearly free, or free) events, and performance opportunities.

Major studios in the Twin Cities area:

• American Classic Ballroom
• Arthur Murray Dance Studios
• Ballroom and Wedding Dance Studio
• Cheek to Cheek Dance Studio 
• Cinema Ballroom
• Dance With Us America
• Dancers Studio
• ERV Dance Studio
• Four Seasons Dance Studio
• Social Dance Studio

Independent Ballroom Instructors:

• Jay Larson
• Nathan Daniels
• Scott Anderson
• Lisa Vogel
• Donna Edelstein
• Robert and Jennifer Foster
• Karin Rice
• Charlie Hardcastle
• Lois Donnay
• oh yeah, US… Kate and Gordon Bratt

Studios and independent instructors provide quality ballroom dance instruction.  Studios also generally offer group classes, practice parties, and a social environment.  Independent instructors often have a clientele focused on competitive ballroom dancing ("dancesport"), but teach all levels of dance, from two-left-feet to I-might-go-pro.  

Ballroom and Partner-Dance Clubs:

• Twin Cities Rebels (West Coast Swing)
• USA Dance 
• University of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club
• MN West Coast Swing at B-Dale (West Coast Swing)
• TC Swing 
• Linden Hills Dance Club
• St. Cloud Ballroom Dance Club
• Cafe Bailar

Clubs hold regular dances and/or group classes, offer a venue for meeting other dancers (or wannabe dancers), and are a low-cost option for a night out or way to practice your skills.

Venues For Dancing:

• Tapestry Folkdance Center
• Sam's Grill
• Bar Abilene
• Famous Dave's in Uptown
• Mediterrean Cruise Cafe
• Paraiso Lounge
• Loring Pasta Bar
• Starks Saloon

These locations have live bands or DJs playing ballroom, salsa, argentine tango, or swing on particular nights of the week, often for no cover charge.  Many places have a group class before the festivities begin.  

Ballroom Dance Events:

• Snow Ball Dancesport Competition 
• Beyond Ballroom Dance Company
• Star of the North Dancesport Classic
• Minnesota Star Ball
• Twin Cities Open Ballroom Championships
• Minnesota Madness
• Minnesota Blast

Any of these events are a great way to see and participate in THE GREATEST SPORT OF ALL TIME.

Still jaded at the options or prices or businesses/professionals/clubs available to help you enjoy ballroom dancing?  

Try this:

• Dancing in the Park - free.  outside.  live music.  Saint Paul.  pretty.
• Project Dance - USA Dance sponsors FREE quality group dance classes (Sundays at Tapesty Folkdance Center, 1:30 – 3:00pm, taught by YOURS TRULY for the month of July).
• Lynne's Dance News - a comprehensive and exhausting list of ALL the dance opportunities that are happening EVERY DAY.  Updated often.  

Disclaimer: I did this without the Googles, off the top of my head, with a headache.  If I somehow missed your studio/personhood/locationality, I apologize profusely.  Feel free to email me your contact info and I'll add you to the list. 

One year ago: The Garden of A Little Bit of Evil, in which the plants become cannibals.