The Bottom Line
Social butterflies, shy introverts, it doesn't really matter what your profile is when it comes to free ballroom dancing at Parc Jean-Drapeau. All walks of life are welcome to partake in the outdoor summer lessons offered by the Société Jean-Drapeau, generally scheduled Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Keep in mind that it's a line dancing setup, thus no partners required. Bottom line? Don't knock it till you try it.
Pros
- It's free.
- No partner, dance shoes or special clothing needed.
- All experience levels -- including no dance experience -- are welcome.
- Convenient schedule (can arrive late for a class or leave early).
- Very casual atmosphere and dress code.
Cons
- The teacher can be hard to follow more than six meters away from the stage.
- Novices might have difficulty keeping up with footwork, turns and pace.
- Little to no direct teacher-to-student interaction or personalized attention.
- Might be a let-down for someone wanting to learn the steps with a partner.
Description
- Location: to the left of the Parc Jean-Drapeau Metro station's exit.
- When: every summer. Check the 2008 schedule for details.
- Crowd: mostly ages 40 and over but Sundays attract people from late teens all the way to seniors. Refreshing mix of people.
Guide Review - Outdoor Ballroom Dancing at Parc Jean-Drapeau: A Review
The first time I found out there was such a thing as free outdoor ballroom dancing in Montreal was a breezy June evening on my way to the Parc Jean-Drapeau metro after spending the day at Piknic Electronik. Some familiar faces from the Sunday rave -- under the spell of a Latin beat while attempting what I soon found out was the rumba -- lured me in.Seniors, middle age couples, twenty-something ravers stepping in almost unison to music just tacky enough to be "in," I can't quite put my finger on why I enjoyed myself so much. Inadvertently adding flaw to the line formation with my ill-interpreted cha cha, maybe it was the outdoor appeal, the motley crowd, or perhaps I just have a soft spot for dance. Any dance. But I loved the experience. And so did my companion in attendance.
Whether you've mastered the swing, have two left feet or suffer fused hip syndrome, it really doesn't matter at this event ... give it a go, at least once.
