Where to go and what to do

Century Ballroom has 2,000 square feet of dance floor, making it one of the largest in Seattle. It also has a full bar and a restaurant, a balcony and free lessons offered.

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[HTML_REMOVED]Century Ballroom:[HTML_REMOVED]

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915 E Pine

2nd floor

Seattle WA 98122

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Phone:

(206) 324-7263

-Lessons and events available

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[HTML_REMOVED]Experimental College:[HTML_REMOVED]

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-The Experimental College office is located in G-10 of the HUB

Phone: 206 543 4375 Information

Registration: 206 68 LEARN

-Lessons available

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"I think it is a good place for first dates or after," said graduate student Kiren Dhillon, "because you can have dinner, watch other people and dance yourselves. You could still talk, and if for some reason [the date] is going bad you can concentrate on something else."

Dhillon started going to Century Ballroom with her coworkers every week for a year, and has continued going, especially with single friends.

"The music is fantastic," Dhillon said. "They play salsa; they'll play bachata and chacha ... and also Marange."

Century Ballroom has a comfortable environment and a huge range of people, she said. It is a very diverse crowd.

"Sometimes they will stop dancing and have a performance, which is fun to watch from the balcony," Dhillon said. "Sometimes if it's someone's birthday they have a birthday dance."

Junior Alexandro Pow Sang and junior Jonathan Gottlieb, who are enrolled in UW's World Dance and Culture class, offered their opinions about what is involved for the guy in going out for a dancing date.

"The guy is the leader," Pow Sang said, so it is important that he knows what he is doing.

Both Pow Sang and Gottlieb said more experience is needed for the guy than the girl, if a pair was to go out to a salsa club.

"If the girl doesn't know much, it is ok," Gottlieb said. "The guy can teach the girl to follow."

Century ballroom offers lessons at its Halo location five blocks west of, the main building which is all ages dance most Fridays.

According to Halo's Web site, they think of it "as our living room. We have comfy couches, soft benches and cozy lights. There is no bar or cafe [HTML_REMOVED] but we have some snacks and beverages available."

So if you are looking to learn something with your significant other or if you are looking for a new activity to spice up a relationship, this is a great possibility.

There are also classes offered through the UW Experimental College, but the salsa class through the dance department isn't normally offered, said Risa Morgan, dance program adviser and administrator for the UW.

While learning salsa can be intimidating, and when you start it is hard, once you get the hang of it.

"Salsa is at the top of funness," Gottlieb said.

It is unusual to be asked out dancing, but especially if a guy knows a girl likes dancing, it can only be a motivator to take that extra step.

"I've never been asked to go dancing, [but] I would totally love it", said senior Doris Wu. "It's always ... movie or dinner or something clich[HTML_REMOVED]."

I'd be impressed if a guy asked me out dancing, she said.

"Most guys seem shy about dancing and most guys can't really dance ... It's nice to meet someone who is up for it, even if they aren't good at it," WU added.

Even if you are not very experienced, you can tell a lot about someone by the way they dance, such as by how they hold you or how they lead you.

"You can also tell if the person is self-conscious or not and their sense of humor, like how they react if they mess up," Wu said.

Salsa can become addictive, Dhillon said.

Even if dancing is too adventurous a date for you, it is still very fun to go with your friends.

People will ask you to dance and you could dance with your friends at the salsa clubs around Seattle, Wu said.

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[HTML_REMOVED]No cash? No problem.[HTML_REMOVED]

Urban Craft Uprising

Features indie crafts for viewing and sale.

December 2 & 3

11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

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Frame Up Studio

"Not So Stories" Art Opening

Beatrice Billard presents "cautionary" tales from around the world. Painted Interpretations.

Reception: Dec 1., 6-9 p.m.

3515 Fremont Ave. N.

547-4657

Runs though December

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Emma Mullen: emmamullen@thedaily.washington.edu