Babalu

I just realized that I've never written about this place. And since I'm not really being productive in terms of creative ideas for funny posts lately, might at least get some useful information out there. If you've never been to Babalu, and you're a Salsa dancer, make sure you go visit. There is no reason you shouldn't -- it's free on Wednesday nights (make sure you support them though, Salsa nights almost closed down once already! Don't let it happen again).

The atmosphere at the small lounge is warm, cool, mysterious and exotic all at the same time -- whatever you make of it. That's the best thing about Babalu -- on Salsa nights pretty much anything goes. You won't feel out of place whether you're mega dressed up for a night out or stopping by after walking around Greenlake in your sweats. Whether it will be crowded or not can be somewhat predicted based on whether or not it's a special day -- like St. Patricks, Valentines or April Fool's. Otherwise there's no telling whether the place will be packed, empty or right at perfect balance.

The dance floor is pretty much stone tile, and although dance shoes are still your best bet, don't get too excited about pulling off multiple spins easily. And this is actually the one place where your favorite comfy Puma's won't work. (But Converse WILL.) Don't bother showing up anytime before 10:30, which is when things kinda start to get going. One warning I will give out is that if you don't know any favorite leads who are going, there is some serious risk you might end up sitting out and watching the entire night (unless it's the crowded night and everyone is out.) It is the hub of the Bravo dance team, and they generally tend to like to dance with each other and the people they know. As a result, at times those leads who are not part of the team might be reluctant to join them on the dance floor. But that's your worst case scenario.

Usually Babalu has at least a couple good leads who come for the entire night and dance with everyone. It's also a perfect place to meet up with friends if you need to talk -- it's never too loud. Or to bring a date after coffee or dinner and spend the night dancing with only them at a place where crowds of people don't generally show up to observe. It's located on 45th Street across from QFC and right next to Selena's. Technically 21+, I've never actually seen anyone check ID's at the door. But bring one anyways, just in case.

Selena's

A few of you might have wondered where the heck I disappeared to on Saturday nights. And the answer to that is “Selena’s” – the hotspot of Seattle’s rapidly expanding Cuban Salsa scene. (Is it just me, or did it go from just a handful of happy individuals doing Casino Rueda by Gasworks on Sundays to a packed weekly schedule of activities and events in just under a year?! But then again, I might have been oblivious while dealing with the drama on the L.A. side of things… I wish I stuck with that Rueda last summer!)

The first time I stepped into Selena’s it felt like being in another city. Heck. Another country! I knew almost no one except the girl that I came with, and everything felt different. The people were different. The music was different. The atmosphere was different. And of course, the dance itself was different as well. Knowing that it’s best to observe before you conquer, I proceeded to try and figure out who keeps the rhythm well. But smiling at my carefully selected victims didn’t help – Cuban salseros turned out to be a tight community in which you have to KNOW people. (Working on it!) So I ended up dancing with a couple of the familiar leads who have migrated over from Century for most of the night. Then the girl I came with got bored, so I felt it was my duty to find us both suitable leads to dance with. What ensued was an evening of giving the randomest people a chance and introducing them to one another if they happened to be decent dancers. Not too bad for a first time in an unfamiliar city. Oh wait. This was still Seattle.

Why do I keep going back? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s a challenge of adjusting to an unfamiliar situation. Maybe it’s the fact that I get to meet new people every time, which I love. It’s probably also the fact that I fell in love with Cuban style of Salsa. I know that most people who started dancing L.A. style don’t like Cuban. But at this point I’d have to say that I love both about the same! There’s something playful about the dance that this style brings out. It’s the way the movement flows with both dancers going off of each other’s inertia vs. a lead just spinning a follow around. It seems more natural somehow. Less formal. Easygoing. Rhythmical. Relaxed.

If I made you at least a little curious, feel free to join the fun on Saturday nights. Selena’s will be my spot for a while…

Good Old Halo

After taking a week long break from dancing and narrowly escaping the temptation of the Seattle Salsa Congress, I stepped into good old Halo, where I was planning on staying for a couple of hours to get my exercise. I was shocked to see numerous leads who attended the congress back on Monday to dance with us, mere mortals, who did not participate in the magnificent ritual. I, myself, was hoping to catch the end of congress on Sunday night, after coming back from a weekend visit to Portland. But it was not to be. Delayed by holiday traffic, I arrived home to find that I am sick with something. Whether it was a flu, a cold, or plain old allergies, I do not know. What I do know is that I had zero energy for anything but getting into bed and passing out. Luckily, that did the trick, and on Monday morning I was miraculously back to good health. But unfortunately Salsa Congress was no more...

But good old Halo was still there. So there I went, determined to dance with all the beginners who came to practice. I don't know why or how, but there were no beginners there. From the beginning to the end (two hours my butt... I ended up staying until 10:30) every single lead that asked me was awesome. I did not have a SINGLE bad dance and I danced every song except one. So here's a well-kept secret that needs to come out: if you want to partake in some good dancing without being influenced by the drama of the scene, come to Halo! Distracted by the many newly discovered places to dance at, I've put Halo on the back burner for a while. But coming back to it after getting a taste for all other venues made it just so much sweeter. I'm never leaving again!

The Magic of Teatro Zinzanni

It's so nice to be back. Back and writing (I was backed up at work -- couldn't take any breaks to write.) But more than anything, back in Seattle -- where more than one person knows me, loves me, and wants to dance with me. Over the weekend I have almost forgotten what it is like to be asked to dance... As you may guess, "Part II" of Vancouver B.C. travels isn't coming. All I can say is that the most note worthy event of the second day was the aforementioned awesome lead taking us out to dinner at a nice place on the waterfront and showing us around town. He really went out of his way to make the city more inviting... It's only because of him that we'd ever go back there for another visit.

Seattle, on the other hand, had the luck of welcoming us back with my favorite event. Perhaps that's what made coming home so much more exciting. The monthly latin dance night at Teatro Zinzanni is an event that every Seattle Salsa dancer should attend at least once. It's truly breathtaking -- at least for individuals with a creative streak and an imagination that runs for miles and miles. There is nothing similar to it in town -- the setup has a vibe that is entirely its own.

I distinctly remember the first time I walked into Teatro. The vintage circus, with it's bright velvet decorations, the lights sparkling on the dance floor, and the live music coming from a lit up stage, made me feel like I stepped out of reality and into a 1920's classic film. I stayed in awe for the entire night. Perhaps the fact that Teatro only happens once a month makes this event a little extra special. The atmosphere calls for dressing up -- preferably in red or in sparkly (or both!)

But yesterday I realized the most important thing about Teatro: it makes me relive those first few times ever that I went dancing. Unfortunately, even after as little as six months of Salsa, there is a rut that a person can get stuck in. The excitement and exhilaration of the dancing itself is replaced with the comfort of familiar leads, mixed with anxiety of not being good enough to execute an "x" amount of turns. But Teatro brings out the "first time" smile in me every time I go. Not that I don't smile anywhere else. I actually do. A lot. But this is a different kind of smile. It's the one that just naturally comes on because you're having so much fun. It's the one that you're not aware of, and are not trying to force. It's the real one.

Perhaps Teatro is also special because of the several milestones in my dance life that took place there. Like being asked to dance by one of the best leads in town for the first time. But most importantly, meeting one of my now closest Salsa friends. Who is hopefully there to stay for life. And WILL work on our friendship once the "honeymoon" phase is over ;) A combination of all these things makes Teatro almost a magic place for me. A place where a lot of good things happen in a completely different time...

A Map of Century Ballroom

If you are brand new and haven't been out yet, for goodness sake don't read this post just yet! Enjoy, for as long as you can, the blissful unawareness of any kind of division going on in the room. Once you catch on by yourself... Stop by here again and get clued in on what exactly is going on. Below, is a map of century ballroom, along with an explanation of what each section means, who dances in it, and how to behave while passing through/picking a spot to settle in. I would like to thank the contributors to this post. Adrian and Anna, without you, I wouldn't have quite been able to navigate.

Ok, so let's get right to the explanations. Of course, the map is not drawn to scale, and I have zero graphic design skill, but for its purpose, the map will do fine. Each area corresponds to the color of its letter. The light blue round things are fans. Think of them as landmarks. The areas, of course, are not exclusive to their "owners." So watch out for the creeps lurking all around the ballroom and wandering into ALL areas -- claimed or not.

A
This area runs in front of the DJ booth and up to the beginning of the stairs leading on stage. We call it the "Somos-El-Son Headquarters." It's where the performing wonders of Seattle and their friends reside. Venture in if you are a really good follow, or if you are brave out of your mind. Both instructors from the group also double as DJ's. When the stars align just right, the "mighty," perched up on his pedestal, might come down and dance with the mere mortals below. But the chosen ones will most likely be their dance partner, spouse, or student. So don't hold your breath on getting a random dance with them. Of course there's a natural explanation for the location. The team members, studio followers, friends, and family are all there to support the DJ. When neither is DJ'ing, it's out of habit. It's a tight group to get through to, but has the most awesome people in it, once you get to know them. If you stick around for long enough, the SomosElSomers will start "practicing" their routine. Watch the show while it lasts! They're magnificent! And if you ARE lucky enough to get a dance with anyone sitting and standing in a straight row from the fan to the stage stairs, consider yourself blessed.

B
This is the "Pro's Performance Corner." As the title suggests, this is where the many different Pro's abide and show off their skill. It's the home of teachers, performers, and serious Salsa addicts. If you are a visiting Pro, this is where you belong (and will most likely be taken by your hosting Pro friends). If you are not a visiting Pro, keep walking until you hit a neutral space a little further off. Because if you don't have the skills to dance with the leads in that corner, you'll walk away from their dances mortified and embarrassed. It's true that they teach that a good lead adjusts to his follows' level. But the thing is that Century is not the place where they want to adjust. It's a place where they show the world what they've got. I'd suggest practicing with them at another venue first (not SeeSound...) before accepting a dance from a Pro at Century. Otherwise you might fall on your face right in front of a heavy crowd, readily stationed in that corner to observe the Pros.

This corner also hosts "Becka Line" -- the space in which you may be lucky enough to spot a firey vixen styling with out-of-this-world energy and joy. You can't miss Becka, if she's there. Some follows are good. Becka is another level. She's the one who'll grab your attention and keep it all the while she's on the floor, making you forget why you came there. And I should probably dedicate an entire post to her, since I am having real trouble narrowing down all the good things I have to say about this amazing lady.

C
Never quite stationary, and always lurking on the lookout for prey, the Creeps tend to navigate towards this space a little more heavily than anywhere else in the room. They know that this is where the good follows wait for the Pro's to ask them. Not only that, but they've figured out that the person they are stalking WILL have to come here at some point of the night to get water. The difference between a Creep and a Pro is easily detectable. If you didn't just see this guy do seventeen spins right in front of you, and he all of a sudden grew out of nowhere in front of your face, beware! He's NOT a Pro! This area is generally safe to be in if you are there with friends who are readily available to stage a "serious conversation" as soon as they see a Creep approach. Stay away if you have a weak nervous system or trouble saying "no" to people.

D
This is a pretty large space dedicated entirely to beginners. It's unclear exactly why the beginners chose this space. But my guess is that it's because they are afraid to venture deeper into the ballroom after checking their coat and descending from the stairs. This is probably the friendliest space in the ballroom. It has no barriers or expectations. And no, not everyone there is a beginner. Some people are quite good, especially considering that a lot of students don't even find out about social dancing until after they've finished their first set of class. And most class-takers don't get the guts to go to Century until the end of their second class session. But most importantly, it's a section very dear to each and every Seattle Salsero/a's heart. Because that's where all of us started. That's where the Social part of Social Dancing plays out the most. And that's the reason that once in a while you'll see a Pro get lost in the sea of beginners. He or She is out here to reminisce about the time when it all was simple, uncomplicated, new, exciting and innocent. And to give the timid beginners a chance, because someone was kind enough to give it to them when they were just starting.

E
This is the tiny space of the Lost Cuban Dancers who are unaware that they are in a ballroom. Young and Old, (and not necessarily from Cuba -- I am talking about the style of dance, not the nationality!) they stand in front of the window and watch for passing victims. If you are aware that the dance is different than ballroom, and know how it works, definitely dance with them! But if you aren't too much into arm-twisting and repetitiveness... pass the space with your head down, avoiding all eye contact. Just look straight ahead into the next section. That's a safe one.

F
This section is safe because no one has been quite able to identify who the "owner" of it is. This is a grey area. There isn't one face that's permanently associated with the space. It hosts new people every time. I want to say that this is where the ones who came to watch the dancing, plop themselves down. Because the tables are abundant, and far enough away from the dance floor to be able to "hide-out." But it also safely hosts people who are really good, but unwilling or unable to associate themselves with any other "crowd." Pro's occasionally venture in as well, either because they need more space, or because they need a different audience. Or because they came with a girlfriend who's not as good, and don't want to embarrass her in front of the expectant crowd at their regular base, which is very nice of them. Basically, this is a very neutral space to be in. Go here if you're trying to preserve yourself as an individual. Don't go here if you're trying to get "noticed."

G
And last, but not least, welcome to the area of happy intermediates & good follows. All these people are sitting on stage or on the stairs and taking a break while chatting to each other about class and the weekend. But they are ready to get down and dance at a moments' notice. They have more skill than the beginners, but aren't quite at the level of the Pro's just yet. Some people stay in this area for life, simply because they're out to have fun, and not to perform. It's extremely non-threatening, and carries a very joyous energy. The area extends into the beginner section for a very practical reason: there's a fan over there. And everyone wants some of it.

I hope that this map helps you get a little more acquainted with the space that's central to Seattle Salsa scene. I have to say though, that this was intended to be more of an entertainment piece than rules to live by. As always, views presented in the post are solely my opinion, and don't have to be shared by anyone else. And if you read this before you became aware of it yourself, I'm sorry that I spoiled your stage of innocence. But don't worry. It only gets better from here ;)

Where To Dance?

First things first. Seattle needs a current list of venues, times, and prices. There are a couple that I haven't been to yet that I'll need to double check on. But this will give you a pretty good start. This calendar is meant to be permanent, so I'm not including special events. I'm also not including places that are straight up meatfest club kinds. So if you're into Salsa and not bump-and-grinding... no fear of ending up at one of those at these locations:

MONDAYS:

Halo
500 E. Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
7:30pm-11:00pm
All Ages Practica
$6.00 at the door, $4.00 with Century Discount Card (You get one if you sign up for lessons with Century Ballroom.)

TUESDAYS:

Cellars
2132 1st Ave., Seattle, 98121
10:00pm-1:30am
21+ ID very much required
No cover

Belletown Dance Studio
2521 4th Ave., Seattle, WA 98121
9:35pm-12:00am
All Ages
$3.00 cash only

WEDNESDAYS:

Babalu
1723 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103-6801
9:00pm-1:30am
21+ but they don't usually ID you
No Cover

Danceworks
16641 Redmond Way, Redmond, WA 98052
8:30pm-10:30pm
All Ages
$7.00

THURSDAYS:

Century Ballroom
915 E Pine,2nd floor, Seattle WA 98122
9:30pm-1:15a.m.
21+ ID required
$7.00

FRIDAYS:

Halo
500 E. Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
9:30pm-12:30am
All Ages Dance
$7.00

El Malecon
1122 Post Ave., Seattle, WA 98101-2915 (Post and Seneca, in alley.)
9:30pm-2:00am
21+
$5.00/Ladies no cover before 11:00pm

SATURDAYS:

Century Ballroom
915 E Pine,2nd floor, Seattle WA 98122
9:30pm-1:30am
21+ ID required
$10.00

Selena's
1715 N. 45th St., Seattle, WA 98103
11:00pm-2:00am (lesson at 10:00pm)
21+ ID required
No Cover unless there's a live band, in which case usually $8.00 cash only

SUNDAYS:

Century Ballroom
915 E Pine, 2nd floor, Seattle, WA 98122
1:00pm-3:30pm First Sunday of Every Month
All Ages Afternoon Dance
$5.00

Belltown Dance Studio
2521 4th Ave., Seattle, WA 98121
6:35pm - 11:00pm
All Ages Practica
$5.00 cash only

See Sound Lounge
115 Blanchard St., Seattle, WA 98121
10:30?-2:00am (not sure when they start. I've always come late... Packed around midnight.)
21+ ID required and OH they check!
$5.00 cash only