Dancin' the night away

Though Bloomington is famous for its restaurants, culture and entertainment, students often overlook another form of its nightlife -- dancing. Lessons are available in everything from ballroom to country line dancing, and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, they're a great way to have fun with a current partner or find a new one.\nArthur Murray dance studio, located off Third Street near Borders Bookstore, offers lessons in 18 different styles of ballroom dancing, including smooth dances like the fox-trot and tango, rhythm dances like the salsa, rumba and cha-cha and the popular swing dance, said Barbara Leininger, owner of the Bloomington Arthur Murray dance studio.\nStudents who enroll in one of the studio's programs will learn to dance through a combination of private lessons, group classes and weekly practice sessions designed to feel like a party. \n"Students come in, dance, have fun and practice all of the dances they have been learning," Leininger said.\nThe studio teaches everyone from beginners to advanced dancers of all ages. Leininger said her youngest student is 10 and her oldest is 91.\nDancing is a life skill, Leininger said, and she encourages everyone to try it. She said the skill of dancing can make participants feel good about themselves in a social situation and that good dancers are admired.\n"For all the guys, girls like to dance, so if you know how to dance, you'll be a popular man," Leininger said.\nThe studio offers many programs that cater to the specific desires of each student, including an introductory special that starts at $35. Visit the studio's Web site at www.bloomingtonarthurmurray.com or call the studio at 334-0553 for more information.\nStudents looking for a different style of dancing can head east on State Road 46 toward Nashville, Ind., to find Mike's Music and Dance Barn. Mike's, which is a restaurant as well, offers line dancing, ballroom and freestyle dance lessons, dance instructor Carla Willis said. Line dancing classes are held Monday nights and are available to everyone without an appointment. Admission is $5. Friday and Saturday nights are open to the public. Saturday night the doors open at 6 p.m. There is a DJ from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and then owner Mike Robertson's house band, Smooth Country, plays until about 11 p.m. \n Dancing there is both a way to have fun and a great exercise, too, Willis said. Mike's uses all kinds of music such as "club music" and "top hits" to line dance to.\n"Some people get the misconception that it's all country music," Willis said. "It's certainly not."\nMike's provides a "family atmosphere" so visitors don't have to be 21, which Willis said is good for some college students. For those who are 21, Mike's does serve beer and wine. Visit www.thedancebarn.com or call 327-0493 for more information.\nStudents who want to enjoy lively and energetic dancing on a regular basis can check out the Bloomington Old-Time Music and Dance Group. The group is a nonprofit community organization dedicated to the enjoyment of music and dance, according to its Web site.\nThe group was started in 1972 and has sponsored dances every Wednesday since then, dance coordinator Bill Baus said. There is always live music, and the type of dancing is mostly contra-dancing, which involves partners and a "caller" who calls out the names of many different types of figures. People are usually familiar with some of the figures, like the "do-si-do," Baus said. \nDances are normally held at Harmony School, 909 E. Second St. Someone is available to give newcomers a few pointers if they show up about 15 minutes early, Baus said. Admission is normally $3 for members and $4 for nonmembers, but the group offers free admission coupons for first-timers.\nBloomington Old-Time Music and Dance Group is unlike some square dance clubs that require people to pay for lessons and get certified.\n"We don't do anything like that," Baus said. "You don't have to wear funny outfits either."\nSome female members of the group tend to wear flowing peasant-type skirts so that their skirts flare out when they twirl, but not all do, Baus said. He said he usually wears shorts and a T-shirt because the energetic style of dancing can make people hot.\n"People who show up with heavy sweaters on usually shed the sweaters very fast or end up very sweaty," Baus said.\nThe group also hosts two weekend events. The smaller event, which is coming up the first full weekend in April that is not Easter weekend is called "Swing-into-Spring." The other weekend event is called "Sugar Hill," and is in August. Both events are held at a Boy Scout reservation near Lake Monroe.\nSugar Hill draws about 300 or 400 people from many different states, Baus said. People come in Friday evening and dance until about 3 or 4 in the morning.\n"People are wimpy nowadays," Baus said. "We used to dance until dawn."\nThe cost is $35 to pre-register, which includes camping, dancing and food.\nContra-dancing attracts a wide variety of ages. The group has a number of IU students who are regulars, Baus said.\n"It's funny because on holiday break periods, IU students in the group go home," Baus said. "But the kids who used to dance with the group in high school who are off in college come home and dance."\nBaus said people don't need to know anything or anybody when they first come because the group is always glad to have new participants.\nVisit www.bloomington.in.us/~botmdg/ or call 339-1210 for more information.