Salsa dance studio adds spice to speed dating

Posted February 26, 2009 10:00 pm

Elena Ferrarin

Success stories aside, most singles who have tried speed dating have tales of interminable three-minute sessions marked by awkward conversations and uncomfortable silences.

Or, at best, three very forgettable minutes of predictable questions like "What do you do?" and "Where are you from?"

"Speed dating can be very stressful," said Sheri Ard of Oak Park, who has tried it in the past. "You are trying to find a topic of conversation that you have in common, and a lot of times that's impossible."

But pair up speed dating with dancing to lively salsa music, and you're sure to go home with - at a minimum - a tale of a good time, minus the uncomfortable conversation.

"You know people are here looking to meet someone, but you don't feel as self-conscious," said Ard, who wouldn't reveal her age. "You don't have to talk if you don't want do."

Latin Street Dancing, a salsa dance studio and entertainment company in downtown Chicago, has been offering salsa speed dating every couple of months since August. Studio owner Lisa "La Boriqua," a Chicago native of Puerto Rican and Irish background, said the endeavor came as a natural byproduct of something that had been happening for years.

"So many people have been meeting their sweethearts at the studio," she said. "A lot of people come here and find it easy to meet a boyfriend, girlfriend or dancing partner. It's like an underground dating service without really saying it."

So Lisa, who goes only by her first name, capitalized on that by setting up salsa speed dating as a formal, paid event. It was a hit from the beginning.

"When you are dancing, you don't even have to say 'hi,' you can just grab your partner and go," she said. "It's very difficult not to have a good time."

The first few events, Lisa assigned a number to each dancer and at the end collected each person's list of "matches," or people whom they would like to see again. Then she'd run into her office to cross-reference the lists and see which couples had mutual matches. "By the time I came out, they were already off dancing or having a drink," she said. "It's almost like they didn't need me!"

At the most recent salsa speed dating event, in late January, she did not assign numbers to the 18 dancers - nine women and nine men - certain that they would find a way to talk to each other and exchange phone numbers on their own.

That's exactly what happened to salsa speed daters Liz Spitznagel, 23, and Carlos Jaimes, 31, both of Chicago, who were among a group of six people who got together the following weekend for a few drinks. That was followed by Jaimes inviting Spitznagel and her girlfriend to a Super Bowl party. Then Jaimes and Spitznagel decided to have dinner later in the week.

So was there a romantic connection?

"I think so," Spitznagel said. "I'm normally pretty hesitant about stuff like this, but I think so. He's a good guy."

At the next salsa speed dating event in March, things will take place a bit differently, Lisa said. Dancers will have their picture taken at the beginning and will submit their e-mail addresses to Lisa, who will then let them know within 24 hours if they had matches.

But if dancers are uncomfortable doing that, they still can join in the fun without any formalities, she said.

"I think that is a terrific idea for the person who is really, really shy," she said. "But the reason for speed dating can be just to make 20 new friends, and they are off."

Salsa Speed Dating Where: Latin Street Dancing, 540 N. La Salle St., Suite 500, Chicago When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, followed by a studio party and complimentary dance lesson Cost: $25 in advance, $35 at the door To register: (312) 427-2573 or <a href="http://www.laboriqua.com/welcome/event.asp?id=155" target="new">laboriqua.com/welcome/event.asp?id=155</a> Want a Brazilian? Not, not that kind of Brazilian. We're talking about the dulcet sounds of Luciano Antonio, who plays the Brazilian jazz guitar. Antonio give a solo perform on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8:30 p.m. in the Rainbow Room at Hotel Baker, 100 W. Main Street in St. Charles. Cover is $10. For more info, see <a href="http://www.hotelbaker.com" target="new">hotelbaker.com</a>. For non-daters Head to D.O.C. Wine Bar's ladies night on Wednesday, March 11, from 7 to 10 p.m. Relax and enjoy mani's, pedi's, massages and martinis while shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "Sex and the City" play on the Tasting Room's 42" flatscreen. D.O.C., 326 Yorktown Center, will even cut you a break on cosmos and martinis - $6 instead of the normal $10. If you have a good time, then start planning ahead because the Ladies Night event will be held on the second Wednesday of the month through Dec. 9. For more info, see <a href="http://www.docwinebarchicago.com" target="new">docwinebarchicago.com</a>. Get a little culture Unwind after work with music,a variety of performances, hands-on art stations, specialty drinks and more at "First Fridays" from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 6, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. March's theme is "Constellations." Guests must be 21 or older. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $15 at the door. For more info, call the MCA box office at (312) 397-4010 or visit <a href="http://www.mcachicago.org" target="new">mcachicago.org</a>.

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