Re:Death of the Neighborhood Bar
by jefftk on Sunday August 11, 2019 @12:41PM
(#20668960)
In my life contra dancing fills this role. It's a place I can go to socialize with friends and strangers, dance, and listen to live music. There are dances all over the country, and when I'm traveling for work I often look up the local dance (https://trycontra.com) and drop in. Wherever I am I have a good time.
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It is not the same. I used to go dancing for years, but most people were going to a bar after that to socialize. Some dance events are a combination of both (the milonga for Argentine tango), but I haven't seen one to replace it.
I think a country bar/dance hall/saloon is unique in this regard when it comes to social dancing destinations.
They are certainly not for everyone but I have yet to have found another type of social dancing venue that balances being a hangout spot and a place to dance.
Line dancing in particular brings something to the table outside of couples dancing that gives those not interested in the potentially-unfamiliar social situation of dancing with someone else a reason to go. I think that especially helps to keep these communities going.
Quick plug: I've been trying to catalog country venues (and their dances and songs) at https://dancedocket.com