There isn’t all that much dancing at work. I walk a lot, though. Geez, I must walk to the photocopier at least four, five times a day. That’s about a 30-second walk each way, for a grand total of two or two and a half minutes of exercise. But wait, I’ve gotta count my walks to the elevator and down the street to grab lunch. Oh yeah — I swivel in my chair, too. I also reach for things: the stapler, the three-hole punch. It’s pretty intense and wild, this rigorous routine of mine.
Sometimes, though, I just want to…dance. Like Ellen, or Madonna, or some little kid who just doesn’t care…Lykke Li sings it pretty true in her song “Dance, Dance, Dance”:
Having troubles telling how I feel
But I can dance, dance, dance
Couldn’t possibly tell you how I mean
But I can dance, dance, dance
So when I trip on my feet
Look at the beat…
Lately, I’ve been tripping on the dull beat of my own daily office rituals and it’s making me want to bust a move.
(And that’s saying a lot coming from me, because I am damn uncoordinated and usually pretty shy about it.) So, in case you’re feeling just as desperate as I am for some serious dancing, I’ve put together a list of Toronto spots where I’ve had some pretty rad nights:
College
Mod Club – not just a concert venue!
Revival – check out hip hop karaoke on Friday nights (an articling student I know once saw his law prof karaoke-ing here!)
Queen West
Stones Place – personally recommended to me by a law friend of mine, and a wee bit further west than the rest.
The Drake Underground – of course!
The Social – classic hipster, scenester spot
Wellington/King West
Marben – I just went to a birthday bash here on a Saturday, and it was pretty unpretentious and fun — I had a stellar session dancing near coat check.
Brant House – though I’ve never been, I’ve heard people are pretty into this slick spot.
East of Yonge
The Courthouse – post-dinner at Terroni?
The Phoenix – a tad grungy and not the most sophisticated crowd, but there’s usually a hip-hop room AND an alternative room going at the same time!
And, of course, there’s always clubland if you’re into that. I know some doctor friends who are obsessed with Easy & the Fifth.
Or skip all the line-waiting and take salsa lessons at Lula Lounge, swing at Dance District, belly dance at Om Laila, or choose from a whole bunch of options at the Joy of Dance Centre & Teachers College.
Leanne is an associate at Heenan Blaikie LLP. She spends her free time indulging in art, film, music and literature and swears that culture tastes better than chocolate. Her column will appear every Friday here on lawandstyle.ca.
Mod Club photo by LexnGer