Blues dancing on a schoolnight

I recently stumbled into the San Francisco blues scene through new friends I made at Sunday Streets, when we had an impromptu dance party on the sidewalk. That day we danced partnered up to everything from Michael Jackson, Journey, and the Verve.  It was so much fun I decided to join them at an eclectic weekly event called Shades of Blue in the Mission. (Photos by Spacecat)

Walking into a side entrance at the Polish Club that Monday night, I felt like I was walking into a neighborhood health center to donate blood, or someplace I’d find a few seniors playing cards. But though the space was rather empty when I showed up, the two rooms looked spacious with smooth, hardwood floors ideal for dancing. The guy at the front desk assured me the place would fill up by 10 p.m. So I entertained myself glancing at portraits of Polish families and munched on ginger snaps while things got rolling.

I came in in time for the lesson to refine my steps as a Follow. This entailed some awkward dancing with sweaty, clumsy men who openly admitted to their problems being assertive, or just had stale coffee breath. But I waited it out. I know from my days taking Salsa lessons that once the dance gets going, it makes these first hours all worth it. Besides, I learned some key things from a good teacher: put some weight against my partner’s hand, control the level of intimacy with my left hand, and keep my knees soft.

Blues dancing today is a free-form style with African roots that’s given birth to other dance styles like Lindy hop. At its most basic, it starts with a single two-step with one partner leading and the other following. But at its best, people add fancy turns, dips, and their own hip movements to sway to the music.

That Monday night att 9:30pm the lights dimmed, the music went on, and the music grew louder. As I walked towards the main room, several couples already made their way gracefully across the dance floor – most of them in their 30′s, some older.

I ran into my new friends little by little; apparently they show up for when the real action begins. First my teacher and I danced. By the time 10:30 came along, I was making the rounds with some of the best dancers there; you could sense who they were in a heartbeat. I wasn’t shy to ask them to dance; Leads and Follows both ask. The important thing is always to ask.

My new friend Lilly kept saying what a good follow I am. “You should dance with Samir, he’s good,” she pointing him out. So I did. “You ladies get to twirl around and look pretty,” he said, “but it takes a good five months to learn how to lead.” Samir clearly knew his steps.

This one guy Dannon in a smooth hat swayed his hips a lot. “It’s all about the hips in blues dancing,” he explained.

This one man Spyro spun me around so much, I laughed out loud. I came back for more later and he dipped me over and over.

I could see how this gets addictive, as it has for my friend Anna. She finally showed up around 11, the original Shades of Blue founder. Lately she’s been practicing leading, so we  danced. I enjoyed watching her and Lilly dance so smooth.

“You’re a natural,” they both said. “You’re just saying that!” I laughed. I explained I grew up with parents who danced to Brazilian music in the living room.

I kept running back to the Djs to learn song names; one had come up from LA for the occasion. We danced to an eclectic mix including Johnny Cash – Monday night is a ‘blues fusion’ night specifically.

It was 11:30pm when I left the small venue in the Mission and people kept going strong, even on a schoolnight.

Community dancing is a lost art in today’s culture, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Partner dancing takes some getting used to in our uptight, Puritan society. But dance is like a conversation without words. The body is as instrument, and music an energizing force.

Check out BeyondBlues.com to try out blues dancing. Twelve dollars includes lesson and dancing starting at 8, or pay $6 to just show up and dance at 10 pm. There’s Friday night and East Bay events too.

Watch these videos to see how creative blues dancing can get.