I love to shake my shit, but I don't go out nearly enough. I ended up going into Allston tonight (one of the Boston boroughs) with a few of my friends and we went to this Japanese sushi bar that opened up into a f---ing electro club once the clock struck 11. It was INTENSE! There were dope chicks everywhere, lots of great music and plenty of people to dance with. I think the best part of the night was just getting in the middle of the crowd and anonymously dancing with chicks with no strings or expectations attached. Rockin' to the beat, yo.

So who here goes out clubbing or dancing?

I totally dig the dance scene in Boston! In particular, swing and lindy is my fav! I've also done salsa, tango, and of course everyone has gone clubbing. I can't do clubs anymore. I find them way too dull. Salsa and tango is fun, but swing is just awesome! Also, when you go swing dancing you can meet AND talk to women, AND they're not there to get drunk or just screw...

As for ages, it varies. You get the whole spectrum from college-age to "old". Also, they tend to have live bands which just makes it that much more awesome. The "bad news"... you actually have to know how to dance, or at least make an effort to learn. There's definitely a lot of creativity involved, but it's not just going out there and "doing  your own thing". You're actually dancing with a partner. You have to keep with the beat, know how to lead, etc. It's not easy, but once you get used to it, it's just the greatest thing. Anyway, to each there own, but you asked, and so there's my answer

I tend to go more to gigs and music festivals but University work seems to have demolished any remnants of  my social life lately.It's mad when I can say that I spent most of my weekend glued to a computer trying to finish off coursework...

Well I used to go clubbing a lot more when I was younger with my cousins but don't really anymore that much.

The interesting thing about clubs and dancing is that it can really free up a person's inhibitions.  I had a friend once who was the shy and quiet type.  Always kept to herself, but when you got her on the dance floor, she just lets loose and becomes a completely different person.  And she was a fabulous dancer, too, coming from a background in dance.  Must be the raw, primal instinct of rhythm, beat, and movement. :)

Back during my early college days, I was partial to the clubbing scene.  Nowadays, not so much.... I'll go on sporadic occasion when my girlfriends ask me to, but get teased whenever I decline by being called an "old lady."  Me being almost twenty-nine, they're actually a couple years older than me - but clearly into the scene far more than I've ever been. 

When I do go, I make sure to stay light on the alcohol; I'm not the sort to hold my own when partaking in a vigorous activity.  Even a highball can affect me in a powerful way.

To avatar!, I'd love to go swing dancing at some point, but I'm more inclined to just get to a club and dance freeform, you know? Like Angie said, it "must be the raw, primal instinct of rhythm, beat, and movement". Or something like that.

I only had two glasses of wine last night because I've been trying to keep things light, so my inhibitions were at normal level. Oh, Angie - can you recommend any good dance clubs in the NYC area? I'll be making a few trips there over the next few months and want to check out some places I haven't been before!

Our preferred place is "Downtime", which is located at 251 West 30th St (between 7th and 8th Avenue).  They've got live shows and a DJ dance hall, so it's definitely a great place if you're there strictly for the music and dancing.  It's been a while since I've been to "Float", located on 240 West 52nd St (between 8th and Broadway), and I'm not even sure if they're still around or not, but they had some excellent variety of dance music.  Their cover charge was awfully pricey though, like twenty to thirty bucks per person, depending on the time of night.

Also, if you're in the Times Square area and looking for a good bar/lounge/meal spot, I'd recommend "Social" on 795 8th Ave.  Comfortable atmosphere, great service, and good food.  I know Maggie and a few of the others there, and they're all awesome. :)

Not for me, especially any kind of dancing without a rigid structure.  I'm sure I could be taught the more programmatic ballroom type stuff, but club dancing is just not in me.

I don't dance. I tried it once and found myself observing the others, attempting to understand the point of such an activity. I can easily tell you my history of appearances at dances:

  1. When I was 15, my best friend convinced me to go to the Jamestown Sports Complex, which hosted dances on the gym floor on most weekend nights. That was a really difficult environment for me, because I didn't understand the activity.

  That's it.

  (The time I made an actual attempt to dance was at age 18, while I was at work. The people throwing the party wanted me on the dance floor, and my co-workers gladly prodded me. Luckily, there were enough people that after standing for a few moments, scarcity lent a hand to my existence.)

  Now that I think about it, I can recall going to a nightclub when I was 29. It was very small and a few people were dancing. I only went out because a co-worker had turned 21 and I was asked to monitor him. When I was 21, I once passed through a nightclub, because I needed to use the restroom. I really do not like those environments, with people moving about sporadically. Also, I would never drink alcohol in public, since the reduction of awareness correlates very well with easier victimization or a free ride to the police station.

Thanks for the recommendations, Angie! If I don't make it to one of the joints this weekend I'll probably make it down in a subsequent visit. I'm going to try to smoosh in some karaoke and dancing this weekend. Wish me luck.

im with jodo..

i prefer the environment of nature over some loud city establishment. even at 34, i still have no interest in going to a bar. I drink a glass of red wine in the evening, but its primarily for the high concentration of antioxidants.

I'd enjoy being lost in the forest without water for half a day more than some singles meat-market club... i cant wait to pay off the condo and move waaaaythefuck away from O'hare airport.

I don't go to clubs. I did once, this place called The Back Alley here in Calgary. What a f---ing dump. Even without that, I wouldn't have enjoyed myself much more. I have all the manual dexterity of a manatee, so dancing is out. I hate alcohol, so that's out, and the people who frequent such places usually annoy the hell out of me.

Short answer, I guess, if invited? A resounding "no".

I'll be damned. I just remembered I've been to another dance. When I was 11, my parents sent me to Camp Lakewood and I spent about 10 days there. I remember a great deal of the experience, despite the 21 year age of the memories. I was stung by a wasp, found a rock with a hole in the middle, went horseback riding and canoeing, misplaced my shoes one day and had to walk barefoot, was forced into kitchen duties (they certainly didn't advertise that), and had several disappointments, such as not being allowed to fire guns and being outvoted for hiking.

The camp directors allowed us to vote to determine the activity for the last evening. We could vote for a dance or hiking in the woods. I remember that people acted differently from what I normally observed; they seemed more energetic. I couldn't fathom what fun could be found by moving around chaotically to music on a basketball court, so I stood around and observed the behaviors. There is a memory that stands out. One of the counselors was special. He was special because the vox populi wants me to refrain from using retarded. Anyway, back when I was a kid, toy guns looked like real guns (no orange safety crap to ruin the experience). A popular water gun at the time looked identical to the machine gun Bruce Willis used in Die Hard. It even had a clip, like a real machine gun. Except it held water. So this special guy had lost the clip. He was holding a cup of water under the gun and squirting people.

I'm with Jodo, longhairmike and Idolores on this one.

I intensely dislike clubs, because I do not see the attraction of dancing.
I can see how music would make you want move around a bit, but not to the extent that is seen at clubs and such.
Besided, they never play music I like anyway...

And why would you go to a noisy bar with loud and obnoxious music if you can just stay at home/at a friend's place, play the music you like and be able to hold a conversation without having to shout?

Clubbing was a regular weekly thing with me for a while.  Sometimes twice a week.   It's always been less about dancing for me than about the music and the atmosphere.  I still go now and then but I'm no longer as inclined towards all-nighters (standard procedure for clubbing in Tokyo) and I'm not such a fan of the house and cheeky trance that are popular here.  Give me a good breakbeat and I'm there!

I dance to one song.  Drop it Like It's Hot.

*click-clock clock-click*
*clock-click clock-click*

"Eligible bachelor, million dollar boat that's whiter than what's spillin' down your throat."

For real, dude, that song is probably one of the best dance jams to bust out at karaoke. You'd be surprised - people go nuts for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXzg0D-cKds

Here you go, my brother.