Century Ballroom, Capitol Hill

A wrenching breakup and a shameless addiction to Dancing with the Stars lead me to the Century Ballroom for the first time. One twenty-minute East Coast Swing lesson followed by a night of social dancing and I quickly kicked my cheesy reality show habit, trading it for a new obsession: Lindy Hop. Today, thanks to six months of lessons, countless dances (some graceful and some...well...let's just say I've occasionally come away with superficial bruising) and a mild schoolgirl crush on my instructor (Oh bad boy Michael! How you twirl me!) I can officially say that my broken heart is (almost) healed. To top it off, I can even dance pretty well.

While the dress is typically laid-back Seattle casual, the vibe at the Century Ballroom recalls a time when ladies were refined, when men were gentle and actually asked questions like, "May I have this dance?" Owner Hallie Kuperman has created an environment that welcomes everybody. Straight? Gay? Single? Coupled? Underage? Klutzy? Outgoing? Shy? Yes, even you are invited to boogie. If Jitterbug (as my mother nostalgically refers to my new favorite dance) isn't your thing, try Salsa, Tango or the occasional Waltz. The recently opened HaLo, located at 500 E Pike Street, doubles your pleasure and your opportunities to perfect your partner dancing.

Century Ballroom's adjoining restaurant is quite good and definitely worth a visit. The next time you find yourself about to plop in front of the tube for yet another Project Runway marathon, why not make it work at dinner and dancing instead.

Century Ballroom
915 E Pine Street
2nd Floor
(206) 324-7263