Dance Floors in the City

Posted by Carol Coletta on July 11, 2009

The NYT story on Brooklyn's outdoor dance floor on the Gowanus Canal reminded me how much I appreciate Chicago's commitment to "13 years of free dancing in Grant Park" called SummerDance. 

Bklyn Yard is a set of dance platforms frequented by electronica fans on summer Sunday afternoons.  It seems that early parties are spreading in New York in honor of those who actually get up and go to work at regular hours.

Grant Park's SummerDance also begins and ends at an early hour, but the music is far more varied -- and so is the dancing.  SummerDance is made for adventurous people who are willing to try something new and to do it with strangers, since the band is preceded by an hour of dance instruction.  This summer, dance instruction has featured Salsa, Jitterbug, Cajun, Two-Step, Steppin' (I actually took to this quite naturally which I attribute to my South Memphis roots.), and much more.

Dancing outdoors is such a magical throwback to a simpler kind of fun.  Why don't all cities do this?