SYDNEY - Say what you want about reality
television, it's done one great thing for the world - it has it
up and dancing.
People are hitting the dance floor in record
numbers and the trend shows no sign of stopping, according to
travel website VirtualTourist.
"When the airports of Paris offered
passengers free dancing lessons this summer, it was a sure sign
that the dance craze had become an international phenomenon,"
said Giampiero Ambrosi, general manager of VirtualTourist.com (www.VirtualTourist.com).
"Even steps considered old-fashioned are
making a huge comeback and regardless of personal preferences,
we've found plenty of quirky ideas for filling up your dance
card."
VirtualTourist has come up with a list of the
top 10 quirky places to dance around the world. The list was
compiled by VirtualTourist and is not endorsed by Reuters:
1. Blackpool Tower Ballroom; Blackpool,
Lancashire, England
Built to resemble the Eiffel Tower, this
building is even more interesting on the inside than it is on
the outside. The quintessential example of the classic ballroom,
this ornate hall has been feeling the light tap of Capezios for
generations.
2. Swing Dancing; Antarctica
Who would have guessed that a favorite
leisure activity for inhabitants of Antarctica is swing dancing,
a past time they often enjoy at Gallagher's, a popular pub.
3. Line Dancing; Singapore
Where better to go line dancing than in the
land of satay and laksa. Singapore has just as many fans of the
Boot Scootin' Boogie as Dallas or Houston, so if you live for
hitting the hardwood with your snakeskins, you'll feel right at
home there.
4. Salsa Dancing; Bangkok, Thailand
Salsa might not be the first thing most
people think of when they think of Bangkok, but visitors won't
have any trouble finding a place to try this sultry dance. In
fact, Latin dances of any kind are very big here and lessons are
easy to find. If you're there in the fall, be sure to catch
Salsabangkok Fiesta.
5. The Finnish Tango; Finland
The weather may be frigid and gloomy, but the
Finns are hot for tango. So much so that Tangomarkkinat, the
five-day tango festival held every summer, is one of the
country's biggest events.
6. Kaiserball; The Hofburg, Vienna, Austria
Even if you've never danced in your life,
there's no reason to let that keep you from participating in one
of the world's most legendary dance experiences. The annual New
Year's Eve Kaiserball held at the Hofburg palace complex in
Vienna offers waltz lessons that start the afternoon of the big
event.
7. Morris Dancing; England
It's exacting, highly physical and even a
little comical. Following centuries-old tradition, dancers dress
in bells, flowers, and ribbons, skillfully incorporating props
like sticks and scarves. If you can't make it to England there
are plenty of Morris teams - known to dancers as "sides" - all
over the world.
8. Irish Dancing; Ireland
Although Irish dance troupes have enjoyed
huge commercial success in recent years, there's no need for
tourists to go to pricey productions to get the real experience.
In fact, most visitors will tell you some of the best Irish
dancing is found in remote community centers, schools, and even
Irish pubs.
9. Belly Dancing; Turkey
It's not all archaeological sites and ancient
palaces. In their time off from building an Empire, the Ottomans
needed a way to relax and their favorite dance still reigns.
Shows and demonstrations are plentiful, but be prepared - most
venues like to make it an interactive experience.
10. Greek Dancing; Greece
Although Greek dancing looks like a simple line step, once
the tempo speeds up, it's more like a marathon. Even the
smallest restaurants offer lively dance sessions that often end
up spilling out into the street along with broken plates. -
Reuters