Seattle Press on Line - Wanted: Dancers in Paradise

Seattle's dance scene

Wanted: Dancers in Paradise

By Sean P. Donovan

Paradise Place owner Hugo Chang. Joanne Larson photo

Feb 14, 2002 -- If you want to go out dancing in Seattle, there are few places as resplendent in stylistic offerings as Paradise Place, a newly opened dance hall in downtown Ballard. Owner Hugo Chang brings his own lifetime of dance experience, and his passion to make dance and dance instruction available to people of all ages, to bear with his new and ambitious enterprise.

"Dance every day, as you wish," is the Paradise Place motto, says Chang, and he's especially interested in promoting partner dancing. Indeed, one can dance seven nights a week at Paradise to salsa, swing, lindy hop, zydeco, tango, hip hop, contra, hustle, and West Coast swing.

The Paradise is a non-smoking, non-drinking establishment, encouraging use for families and youth, which fits nicely with Chang's most important mission, that of filling the "gap" he sees in the ages of people who now dance. "You see young adults to older folks," states Chang, "but no teenagers."

Filling this gap will take hard work and a concerted effort at reaching out to schools, youth organizations, and parents, Chang knows. The program he has created to this end is called "Next Generation", and according to a recent outreach letter "the main purpose is to create a safe and clean place for students to carry out their talents...outside of the school."

Chang dreams of dance as an Olympic sport, and realizes kids need to start in Kindergarten for that to happen. "Dancing is more difficult the older kids get," says Chang. "Sixth graders try everything. By seventh grade, they have usually picked out a sport," on which to focus their time and energies. He believes people will "dance for their whole life if they learn early."

By enlisting dance instructors to work with kids after school hours, Chang envisions Paradise Place teeming with youth and mentors during the day, providing a unique outlet for kids' energy and creativity. Ultimately, he'd like to invite those youth who show special talent or desire to help form a performance team which could interest other youth in dance with demonstrations at local high schools and anywhere else youngsters congregate. The team's eventual goal, Chang says, would be to dance in the U.S. Open Dance Competition.

Come on down and check out the offerings at Paradise Place. It's just down the street from the Bay Theatre (one block West), next to Easy Street Music. You'll find a variety of dance organization fliers, as well as the various other offerings on hand, such as authentic Chinese knot fashion by Hugo's wife, artist Pearl Tien. If you see Hugo, ask him about his dreams, and try to envision the place filled with scores of youth, brightly filling in that dancing gap with the joyful movement of their next generation.

Paradise Place, 2220-C NW Market Street, (206) 297-2062, www.paradiseartsanddance.com.

Sean Donovan loves to dance and DJ at Paradise Place, and can be reached at donovandesign@attbi.com.

Reader Comments

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Yvonne Green	Aug 22, 2002	Seattle, WA	Admin. Specialist
I am looking to join a dance choreography group of the hip hop and/or jazz funk style during daytime or early evening hours.


cory finnie	Nov 13, 2003	grand rapids michigan	dancer
i wanna dance in a new city and become a professional dancer, i can dance real good and would love a chance to earn a spot somewhere new so hit me up and i wont let you down


Remi	Dec 14, 2003	Seattle,	Hip Hop dancer
I am looking for a job or performing. I am the best your ever going to have! please e-mail me back