RE: Socials then and now

[robert smith]

Greetings All,

I was able to get to only one of the outdoor events on 8/15, and I chose the live performance on the High Line.  While there is an entrance to the venue on W 16^th St., the gatekeepers would not allow admission unless you had already been cleared by the screeners on W 14^th St.  Arriving at the 14^th street entrance you were asked to show evidence of pre-admission registration.   I was somewhat annoyed by this, as the notification listed on the 'danceus.org'  did not mention that registration was mandatory!

I spoke to one of the ladies who was apparently responsible for the registration process and got the usual apologies about the miscommunication.  This same woman patiently guided me through the registration process, and admittance was quickly granted.  While going through the registration I overheard another participant remark that there was a lot of information being collected for admission to free outdoor social.  I had to agree; aside from the usual asks, they wanted to know your ethnicity, gender, age category and zip code, in addition to other info I refused to answer!

An associate of mine recently explained that non-profits and other groups use these opportunities to capture information which is later employed when they appeal for funding through grants and other means.  I would submit that asking for too much info may degrade the quality of data gathered if people either refuse to answer or don't answer truthfully.

Anyway, I eagerly entered the dance area and was quickly spotted by one of our longstanding classmates Kashima. We immediately had a dance and then put our heads together to survey the scene.  There was a nice-sized crowd, easily, a couple of hundred, casually dressed attendees dancing on what appeared to be a concrete floor.  The area was partially covered by a very high metal canopy, which despite the height, trapped the heat.

Los Hacheros, a local, Brooklyn based band, was in good tune playing a variety of danceable selections.  The usual complaint from the dance floor was that the selections were longer than most pre-recorded music and you were dancing for a little longer than expected.   This is often the case with live bands and after going to enough socials, you come to expect this.  

The dancers in the crowd were, as best I could determine, quite affable, and most were comfortable dancing with complete strangers.  The level of dancing was wide ranging, with the more experienced dancers making themselves apparent in various little cloches in the crowd.  As the evening ended and the band announced their departure, the crowd was able to entice them back for one more number, with the band leaving the stage a little  after 8:30p.  The DJ played until 9p, when the evening's activities promptly ended.

A satisfying evening, with some good dancing with some old and some new friends.

Upcoming on Sunday 8/18:

William Vale Hotel in Brooklyn, 111 N 12^th St.  Bklyn, 11249 ( off of Wythe )

Baila Society Beginner Salsa Class & 18th Anniversary Party At The Wil - Brooklyn, NY | DanceUs.org BAILA Society is celebrating our 18th Anniversary at The William Vale! Join us for a fun introduction to dancing New York Style Salsa. We’ll start with a begin www.danceus.org

6:30p - 9:30p 

Instruction $15 / Social to follow is FREE

Monthly Social 3^rd Sunday of the Month

@ Salsa-Salsa Studio 55 4^th Ave, Bklyn, 11217 ( Dean/Bergen)

Free Monthly Social @ Salsa Salsa Dance Studio - Brooklyn, NY | DanceUs.org Join us as Salsa Salsa Dance Studio brings back those epic socials you came to love. Music by DJ Jun DJ Andy Andy. FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE. Salsa Salsa Dance www.danceus.org

7p - 1a  FREE

See you out there,

Rob

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