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The Healing Power Of Blues Dancing

A couple dances at the Polish Club in San Francisco, which hosts a night of blues dancing every Monday.
A couple dances at the Polish Club in San Francisco, which hosts a night of blues dancing every Monday.
(
Alexis Estrada
)

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Blues was once called the devil's music, but for many, it has transformative, healing power. Every Monday night in San Francisco's Mission District, devout blues followers descend upon the Polish Club for a night of dancing in an unconventional style.

Blues dancing, which requires participants to appear to be in love with their dancing partners — including strangers — has helped some at the Polish Club to turn their lives around. Click the link at the top of the page to hear the story of three dancers who say they've felt changed by power of the blues.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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