Dancing has always been and will be a form of expression....that I don't mind showcasing a two-step......or bustin' a move to a good beat when it comes to enjoying a slice of life!
I enjoy and appreciate dance, of all cultures and art forms, but on this particular Friday night at a coworker's retirement party....I truly received a gift. On this particular night, I promised a coworker for weeks that I would attend to her retirement party. Trying to do too many things at once, I realized I was totally on the other side of town meeting up with friends in the U St/Adams Morgan area for a happy hour and was super late for the event. So I got the GPS in order and made it across town to a venue I had never heard of or seen before in DC. What I encountered from that point on....definitely made a mark to experience on one's lifetime bucket list.
I witnessed a group of people, dance style and subculture that I had heard of many times before but never seen in action myself...."Hand-dancing and Soul Stepping." This is an old school dance form that has a big following in DC. It is also popular in most major cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Atlanta, Philly and even Dallas! And, for those that like to "drop it like its hot" to this style of dance and music all gather at the main hub --where it all goes down in DC...called "Chateau!"
Just off Route 295 in Northeast Washington DC, there's a place where even time can't stand still. It's a nightclub called the Chateau, nestled, between a church and a liquor store....more like I guess the sacred and the indulgent. The Chateau opened its doors in 1967--almost five decades ago. The neighborhood club, is famed mainly for being a hand-dancing spot. This place preserves hand-dancing like a gardener cans' their prized harvest. The music played is old-school soul, rock n' roll and the patron's ages range "50 and older"....to say the least. Even I stuck out like a sore thumb...and I'm not quite no tweenager (or younger...lol).
Once you step through the doors, the energy hits you and vibe is high. There was a sea of men and women dressed in their finest fedoras, applejack caps, gold earrings, silk pocket squares, jewelry galore and 'Sunday's Best' outfits! Most importantly, for most of the patron ages-- my eyes could not believe what I was seeing. These folks were getting down!....Dancing for their life and having a great time at it!! I found myself tagging a couple of the songs on Shazam...because they actually were that good and even I got lost in the backbeats of Curtis Mayfield, the Supremes, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, Smokey Robinson, Elvis, Elton John, KC and the Sunshine Band, and the Chi-Lites....to name a few that I Shazamed! LOL
Old, a few young folk and even disabled-bodied patrons all seemed to mingle together.....some slap playing cards on the table during bid whist games, spades...while others studying dominoes...the rest came for the main event..."The Dancing!" Dancing certainly remains the main activity, accompanied by the timeless tango of boy meets girl. This I found out first hand. Women gladly had no shame in showing their "cougar prowess" to me at the bar and on the dance floor! LOL
The club itself is hardly the most posh in town. With folding chairs and tables, dated club decorations, and two scuffed wooden dance floors...."It is what it is." Snapshots of picnics, BBQ's and Christmas parties adorn the walls..... giving the place the feel of a community center.
The dancing may not win any ballroom contests, but the effort and enjoyment....simply put, seemed to be the prize that most patrons seek who make this their Friday night thing.
In all, this place was a site to behold and a joy to experience. The energy, surprisingly for everyone's age, was contagious! Under one roof, there were people of all ages and races having a great time in a welcoming environment. Clearly as an outsider, I felt honored to be invited in a world of Old G's and Lady Steppers...that showed me...no matter how old you are....it is never to late to enjoy life!
Thanks Chateau for the experience....fun and certainly...change of 'pace' for a Friday night! read more