Parks, Partners Present Variety of Dancing

Seattle Parks and Recreation and partners are sponsoring 11 glorious evenings of free outdoor dancing during July and August in Freeway and Westlake parks.
 Each evening will feature one hour of instruction from 6 to 7 p.m., and two hours of dancing, from 7 to 9 p.m. on a spacious portable dance floor.
"Dancing Till Dusk" in Freeway Park made its debut last summer, and this year's program is expanded to seven Thursdays, from July 17 to Aug. 28. The rotating program will begin with blues, followed by swing, salsa, zydeco, line dancing, waltz and country western.
Each band is local and instructors are experienced. Waltz Night on Aug. 21 will be a Ball Blanc -- dancers are asked to wear something white, whether it's a T shirt or a ball gown. Dancing Till Dusk sponsors are Home Street Bank, the Metropolitan Improvement District, Laconia LLC, Horizon House, Exeter House/Skyline at First Hill, Virginia Mason, and Talking Rain.
 "Dancing for Joy!" at Westlake Park, new this year, is a spinoff of Dancing Till Dusk. Two nights of waltz and two nights of swing will take place on Tuesdays from July 22 to Aug. 12.
After the hour of instruction from 6 to 7 p.m., people can dance to the tunes of a DJ. The program coordinator is well known dance instructor Lilli Ann Carey; sponsors are Dance for Joy! and Talking Rain. For more information about Dance for Joy! call 206-264-5646.
The dance programs are one element of Mayor Nickels' efforts to enliven center city parks with more activities including book carts, street musicians, noon concerts, movies and more.