Cities that swing, salsa, tango and two-step
If you’re already missing “Dancing With the Stars,” it’s possible to get your groove back during your travels. These cities have free dance series throughout the summer and offer lessons just in case you think that you can’t dance.
Chicago
With its open-air dance floor, Chicago Summerdance is the largest social dance series in the United States. This year, the free series will take place at the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park beginning July 19, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, from 6 to 9:30 and Sundays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Each night of Summerdance kicks off with a 1-hour dance lesson taught by professionals. Visitors can expect to learn a variety of social dances, including salsa, swing and country two-step.
The final night of Summerdance moves to Millennium Park in downtown Chicago Sept. 16.
For more information, including the schedules, call 312-742-4007 or visit www.chicagosummerdance.com.
St. Paul, Minn.
The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts’ Summer Dance Series is a weekly social dance event offering free dancing and live music in Landmark Plaza in downtown St. Paul on Thursday nights all summer. The series began June 14 with reggae and Afrobeat and runs through Aug. 9 with dances including tango, waltz, funk and swing. Each week, free dance lessons begin at 6 p.m. and live music starts at 7:15.
For the schedule of dances, instructors and the bands performing, www.ordway.org/summerdance.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Every week in Robson Square in the heart of downtown Vancouver, SalsaVancouver hosts “Sunday Afternoon Salsa,” through Aug. 26. The series is run by a group of volunteer salsa enthusiasts. There is a free half-hour lesson that begins at 3 p.m., with social dancing until 7 p.m. Experienced salseros give weekly performances at 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.salsavancouver.net or www.sundayafternoonsalsa.com.
