Shanghai dance classes are stepping out of the studios

In Shanghai's roaring past, citizens flocked to dancehalls across the city to enjoy nights of footloose fun, but today, apart from the bump and grind in the clubs, modern dance has largely been restricted to the studio. Recently though, dancers have been moving back to new but not unfamiliar locales–the bars–and are attracting crowds.

From Sunset Swings' jiving on the Pudong riverside boardwalks to Tango Shanghai's escapades at Mediterraneo and the milonga at Tangobang, dance groups have found meeting at these locations to have added social benefits as well as more practical applications.

Bob Liu from Salsa Shanghai (www.salsashanghai.com), which meets at various locations around town, says that "in [their] group, there were 12 couples who got married within four years." Quite an extreme example of why people are attracted to these kinds of dance classes, but many see these classes as an opportunity to mingle with new people in a more relaxed environment, rather than through a dating service. "Here, you have a place to dance after taking classes," says Shelley Hou, who's been dancing salsa for two years at Theater Salsa, which meets at the Broadband Shanghai Cinema Restaurant. "Unlike at a dance studio, at these sessions, students don't feel they have to leave right away." Venues without the usual restrictive timeframe afford dancers the ability to practice hours on end and enjoy perks like food and drink. Similarly, the benefits of these out-of-the-studio classes aren't only felt by the students, but also the venues, creating a combined sense of belonging. Vivian Yeh of Tangobang explains, "This is our dream, to have somewhere tango dancers feel they belong."

Even though students appreciate these new social settings, organizers are taking account of more practical considerations as well. "It's not only to do with [rising] costs," says Orchid Bae of Shanghai Swings, "but about availability and accessibility." Finding a formal dance studio whose space is suitable for groups seeking an atmosphere that is more social than professional has proven to be a challenge. "Studios in prime locations are expensive and often fully booked," Bae explains. "The ones that are more affordable are located at inconvenient locations." The locales of yesteryear provide the perfect solution.

So, with dance classes stepping out of the studio and into more favorable locations, dancers are reaping the advantages of improved social settings and increased practice time. It's only a matter of time before we see more dance classes springing up at more bars and restaurants around town.

Li-Sa Lim