NYC Dance Trip

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: This message serves to provide some information about my dance trip last week to NYC. : Having not been to NYC in nearly six years, and not having ever danced there as well, last week I took advantage of a few days off to introduce myself to the City's salsa scene. : Upon the recommendation of several Boston people, I visited El Flamingo ( 21st St and 10th Ave) on Monday night. Regretably because I took a 4:00 bus from Boston, and after checking into my hotel and eating, I didn't get to the club until well after midnight after the two bands scheduled for the evening had completed their sets. : That said, El Flamingo reminded me of a very small Roxy, complete with stage, dance floor, bar, tables on the sides of the dance floor, and a balcony, thus the comparison to the Roxy. : When I entered the room after paying my $10 admission, I saw the dancefloor filled with probably a dozen or a dozen and a half couples. And I was mesmerized by what I saw. : Each and every couple was performing the most intricate turn patterns "On 2". I immediately felt that I was viewing a scene from a (dance) movie. It seemed that every couple was dancing at the same level, which was incredibly advanced. In fact, I've never before seen so many great dancers on one dancefloor. : As a result, since I'm an "On 2" student, I felt that it was best that I watch and observe on my first dance night in the City. I also suspect very strongly that most if not all of the dancers there are regulars and know each other very well. : So while I didn't dance that first evening at El Flamingo, I left with the impression firmly planted in my mind of all those beautiful dancers executing those most intricate "On 2" turn patterns. : A few other comments about El Flamingo. Monday nights usually brings two (sala) bands to the club for an admission price of $10 (the drink minumum practice common in NYC was not in effect). Having gotten there after midnight, I can't speak to how many people would have been there earlier in the evening. By 1:00AM, only a few people were left on the dancefloor, the DJ played his last song. There didn't seem to be an official closing time other than when things slowed down to the point that no one was left on the dance floor. : Conclusion - El Flamingo is a small but roomey enough elegant dance venue. Make sure you're up on your "2" reportoire to navigate among the talented dancers there. Don't know if non "2" dancers were present earlier in the evening. : Tuesday night found me making a pilgrimage to the famed "Copa", on 34th ST & 10th Ave, five long blocks, withing walking distance of my hotel, across from the Garden(Madison Square). : I was told that Tuesday nights is the "The" night at the Copa. : Facts - Night starts from 6-8PM with a dinner buffet included in the price of admission of $5. After 8, admission is $10. So there's an incentive to come early, save a buck, and enjoy the more than adequate buffet. I didn't get there until just before 8 when they were "breaking down the buffet. It was quite crowded, obviously New Yorkers take advantage of good deals. And I assume most of these people were coming directly from work, judging by the briefcases that people were lugging into the club. : There's two floors to the complex. Downstairs is a large room devoted to non-Latin music, ie. house etc. etc. etc. So I can't report on that room. : The second floor is the Latin floor. Again, the room is similiar to the Roxy, nice size stage, rectangular dance floor, dance floor bordered on three sides by rows of tables that can reserved for $20, then a mezzanine level where on one side is a long bar. : When I arrived at 8, the room was quite filled, the last stragglers, including me quickly making it through the buffet line. The floor was filled with people dancing to the DJ. : After I finished a quick dinner, my very first dance in the City was with a young lady, on "1" at her request. Having one dance "under my belt", I proceeded to dance with a number of other ladies. As I assume is the case common in NYC, there was a nice mix of people, Latino/Anglo, young/old(er), and all levels of dance skills from beginner to Radio City Music Hall level. And contrary to El Flamingo the night before, as I asked each partner before beginning the dance, those who danced on both "1" and "2". Or better put, those who tolerated dancing on "1" !!!!! : The first of two (salsa) bands started at 9:00PM. The bands would play a set, then the DJ would come on with a mix of salsa/merengue. For some odd reason, I don't remember hearing any bachata. No importa. : I was pleased to get in a reasonable amount of dances. Most women readily accept my requests for dances. The few that did not, seemed to revel in turning down the requests of every single dude that approached them throughout the night, ala the Roxy and Vincent's. : By 1:00AM, the second band had completed their last set, the DJ came on and the dancefloor was nicely filled with couples although many people were leaving the club for the night. : I was told by a staff person that with the bands finished for the night, the DJ would probably spin for another 1.5 hours til possibly 2:30AM. I would have been quite curious as to how many dancers would have remained till then. : For I was beat and decided to leave and make the five block walk back to my hotel in the rain. : : Copa Facts - This venue has a long and fabled history so it behooves Boston salseros to not pay a visit to the "Copa". Obviously there are other big Latin nights during the week, but Tuesdays is "The" night at the Copa. : Next time, I would probably get there much earlier. I imagine that waiting in the buffet line and subsequently standing around off the dancefloor eating your dinner serves as a nice way to begin socializing with people and hooking up dance partners for the evening. : And I liked the fact that there was such a diverse group of people there. I also suspect that as is the case with every venue in Boston and NYC alike, the more times you visit, the more you'll become a familiar face at that particular venue and befriend potential dance partners. ( I saw several people from the night before at El Flamingo at the Copa.) : For more information, feel free to speak with me around town. Also visit www.latinclubs.com to subscribe to a weekly newsletter about salsa events at the clubs in the City. : Happy dancing, : Keith