Century Ballroom: Two Can Tango (and Swing) in Seattle
Swing to salsa, tango to lindy hop, the Century Ballroom offers a chance to take lessons or just dine and dance in downtown Seattle. Located on iconic Pine Street, two doors down from the Paramount Theater, the second-floor but handicapped accessible Century Ballroom holds multiple spaces for dancers, offering lessons and events throughout the month.
Class sessions, which take place every day of the week, feature lively names such as "Tango: Volcadas & Colgadas," "Dance Belt Goes to the Movies," and "Pop Explosion." A few classes run an hour and a half, such as the Lady Gaga & Michael Jackson tribute, but the majority last an hour. Most classes come in the form of a five-week series and partners are not required except for their occasional offerings of "couples" classes. Prepay and register in order to guarantee a spot.
The dance floors include the namesake Century Ballroom, the East and West Halls, and sister space HaLo (Hallie's Loft). They vary in size and style from the East Hall's 2000 square feet of open space to the much cozier, couch-accompanied HaLo. From the spacious stretch of the East Hall to HaLo's more intimate confines, the walls throughout are decorated with artwork from local artists.
Beyond classes, Century Ballroom holds weekly practice sessions, socials, and dance events featuring live music with local bands such as Zarabanda, Glenn Crytzer and His Syncopators, and the Tallboys. On Fridays the Century Ballroom holds its View & Chew, a series of free dance-themed movies held in the West Hall.
A single cover charge allows the dance-inclined to try multiple styles of dance as well as to access the Tin Table, a small restaurant overseen by chef Travis Chase. There are happy hour offers specials, such as local Penn Cove Mussels, fish tacos, shoestring fries with truffle salt, and the Floozy Burger.
HelloSeattle Tip: Check Century Ballroom's event-packed web calendar for live swing and salsa nights or their classes page to discover upcoming swing, tango, salsa, and other dance classes.
Posted on Mar 6, 2011 by Cat Rambo
