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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.
(
Alexis Estrada
)
Listen
4:40
Blues dancing, a deeply romantic style, asks that couples dance as though they're in love with each other, even if they've never met the person they're dancing with. For many, this community-based gathering has had life-changing effects.
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.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
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Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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