In its most sublime form, dancing is a sensual conversation between two people. Without words, but mere movement through space and time, two individuals call and respond to each other, riding waves of sound, and come together again and again. Without words.

Dance like no one's watching!

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Sundays

Learn to Swing Dance with the Houston Swing Dance Society at the Melody Club Ballroom, 3027 Crossview. Beginner Class is 7:30-8:30 p.m. A new series of beginner classes starts on the 1st Sunday of the month. Practice dance is at 8:30 p.m. Google Map.

Mondays

Learn to Swing Dance with Second Cup Swing "Jitterbug to Lindy." Beginning swing dance lessons at 2115Taft Coffee, 2115 Taft (between Welch and Drew), in Montrose. Classes meet Mondays, July 28-September 1, 2008. Beginner class is at 7 p.m. The first class is open to attend for FREE. Lessons are $35 for Students and Ecclesia Members; $50 for the General Public. For more information, email: hhauffe@mac.com or call 713-702-3138. Google Map.

Learn Ballroom Dance with the Rice Social Dance Society, at Rice University, in the Grand Hall of the Student Center, 6:30 p.m.

The El Orbits host Bingo Night, with ridiculous “prizes”, plus plenty of Swinging sounds and other musical curiosities! Glover Gill kicks it off at 8 p.m. sharp with an hour of Tango piano before The El Orbits take the stage from 9–11 p.m. There’s lots of room for dancing, birthday parties, and fun, so bring the whole gang! Continental Club, 3700 Main @ Alabama (in Midtown). NO COVER. Take MetroRail to the Ensemble/HCC station. Google Map.

The El Orbits, 2008

BINGO!!! Winning is the only thing that matters!

Wednesdays

Learn to Swing Dance with the Rice Social Dance Society, at Rice University, in Willy's Pub in the Student Center, 6:30 p.m. Google Map.

Thursdays

Learn to Tango (on SUMMER BREAK) with the Rice Social Dance Society, at Rice University, in the Miner Lounge, 6:30 p.m. Google Map.

Friday, July 11

The Mambo Jazz Kings set the mood to dance with the dinosaurs at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. FRIDAY, 6-10 p.m. Start the evening out right in the Grand Entry Hall at 6 p.m. with a live DJ or an IMAX® show. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the Mambo Jazz Kings live and dancing under the dinosaurs, cash bar, and complimentary appetizers. Tickets include IMAX film at 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 p.m. $13 members, $15 non-members.

The El Orbits have a very special FRIDAY NIGHT gig at Sambuca Jazz Cafe, where they Swing the tunes 7:30-1 a.m. No cover. Located at 909 Texas Avenue @ Travis (in lovely downtown Houston). Good place to have dinner too. Take MetroRail to the Preston Station. Walk south for 2 blocks to Texas Ave. then turn right. Free parking on the streets nearby. There's $8 valet parking and $5 parking in the JP Morgan Chase Bank garage across the street. Google Map.

Saturday, July 12

Demitasse dance at Té House of Tea, 1927 Fairview (@ Woodhead), in the Montrose, Houston. 9 p.m. till Midnight. No cover. Just come and be open to listen/dance and be a good customer or drop a dollar in the tip jar. Google Map.

Saturday, July 19

I'm DJ-ing the Demitasse dance at Té House of Tea, 1927 Fairview (@ Woodhead), in the Montrose, Houston. 9 p.m. till Midnight. I have the first shift, 9-10:30 p.m. No cover. Just come and be open to listen/dance and be a good customer or drop a dollar in the tip jar. Google Map.

Dancing while juiced up on Té!

Austin's Alan Haynes comes to The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club, 5731 Kirby Dr. (in The Rice Village). Only $5 cover! Show is 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Google Map.

Alan Haynes

Sunday, July 20

The El Orbits gig on the patio at Houston's best grocery store with live music, Central Market, 3815 Westheimer Rd (at Weslayan). Noon to 4 p.m. (With short breaks). FREE! There's definitely a different vibe when dancing away the afternoon. The patio is shaded (and hot!) and they have great food. Go for lunch dance it off, then get groceries! Click for Google Map.

Friday, July 25

Blues legend Texas Johnny Brown performs with his Quality Blues Band at the The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club, 5731 Kirby Dr. (in The Rice Village). 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.! Only $5 cover for Houston's Finest Live Music Venue. Google Map.

Texas Johnny Brown

Saturday, July 26

The Second Cup Swing Dance at Taft Street Coffee. Just $4.00 cover gets you access to a BIG (slick) DANCE FLOOR and music from Houston's favorite Swing DJs. Included in the admission price is an introductory Swing dance lesson from 7:15 - 8:30 pm. The dance is 8:30 pm until midnight. Taft Street Coffee, 2115 Taft St, Houston. In the Montrose area. Google Map.

Friday, August 15

LET'S GET THE PARTY STARTED with Houston's preeminent R&B/Soul party band Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. 6-10 p.m. Start the evening out right in the Grand Entry Hall at 6 p.m. with a live DJ or an IMAX® show. Doors open at 7 p.m. for Grady Gaines and dancing under the dinosaurs, cash bar, and complimentary appetizers. Tickets include IMAX film at 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 p.m. $13 members, $15 non-members. Guests must be 21+.

dance! nuz

Route 66 CLOSED

I got some disconcerting news from the Route 66 management yesterday (5/19/06). Route 66 Cafe is closing to reassess their business strategy. So there WILL NOT be a first-Friday dance at the restaurant until further notice.

The four monthly dances we had were a huge success by most measures, but the restaurant was not getting enough customers the rest of the time. Mike, the owner, was making constant personel changes to get the right mix of staff in there (which also made it a challenge for me to organize each dance). They were quite generous to us by basically letting us take over the place for one Friday night each month. When the restaurant reopens it might be quite different. Who knows what will happen.

Over the past 4 months many of you have told me how much fun you had and how you wished we could do it more often. Please contact the Route 66 management and tell them that.

Email Mike, the owner, at mike@route66cc.com (and cc: John, the manager, at john@route66cc.com). Do this ASAP.

It's important for them to hear from us to personally express our appreciation for 4 great dances. The last two dances they had the sound system working so the music sounded great (Thanks also to the best DJs: Big Band Baby, Big Steve, Platypus, and Mad Dog!). We all felt the best was yet to come.

Include in your comments what you liked about the place. Some us also returned to the cafe for lunch or dinner. Tell them that too. Please keep it positive and hopeful and wish them well.

Thanks to ya'll who supported the event. Let's hope we can dance there again soon.

Pictures from Swing Dance! at the Route 66 Cafe!

Another SUPER turnout for Route 66 on March 3rd! We had about 70 dancers swing through on Friday, including a sweet group of Aggies that drove down from College Station!

DJ Bigbandbaby kicks off the night!

It's packed!

It's packed 2!

The diehards...

Houston Swing Dance Society on TV!

The Houston Swing Dance Society was a hit on Tuesday, November 8, 2005, on KHOU Channel 11 News This Morning. All the clips are here (I'm featured in #3), courtesy of HSDS.