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‘You’re going to sweat so much’ 💦
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‘You’re going to sweat so much’ 💦

DANCE CHURCH? WHAT'S THAT? 🕍

Dance instructor and founder Kate Wallich describes her class as a “non-exclusive approach to dancing” simply focused on getting people’s bodies moving. It’s held every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday at Velocity Dance Center in Capitol Hill.

Kate started teaching the class at a now defunct studio in Pioneer Square in 2010. Back then, it was simply called Sunday Morning Movement Practice. Its current name was inspired by a student, she told us.

“One of my students was just like, ‘This is like church — it’s on Sunday morning, it’s at 10, and we get coffee afterward. It’s Dance Church,’” Kate said.

And the name stuck. Since then, Kate’s taken Dance Church on the road with classes in Portland and pop-ups in places like Berlin and Bulgaria.

“It’s beyond the Pacific Northwest,” she said. “With what’s going on in the world, that sense of release, that liberation of bringing people together, is really important and special.”

We caught up with Kate to talk all about her dance class and the role that moving our bodies should be playing in our lives.

What sets Dance Church apart from others around (and beyond) Seattle?

“You don’t have to be a dancer to enter this dance space. You don’t have to have a certain look or body. The one thing you do need though is an open mind. If you come through those doors with a closed mind, you’re not going to get it.

We’ve all had that feeling when we go into a fitness class or a gym and there’s expectations. Like in a ballet class, the more you do it, you get better at it. You can’t really get better at Dance Church. Your stamina can go up, sure, but the goal is to feel good and be happy around other people.

What should someone expect the first time they go to Dance Church?

You’re going to sweat so much, you’re going to have a lot of fun, and you’re going to laugh a lot.

And how are we going to do that?

I wanted to create a space where I could feel liberated from technique and dance training and create a fun, positive space for people to move. When you go to a dance club and a good song comes out, there’s no structure for how to dance to that song.

The space Dance Church creates [is] supportive … it’s about liberating yourself from the grind. The class has a funny way of helping people find community. At the same time, it really allows people to exercise their agency.

Why do you think people come to Dance Church?

People have their own goals when they come to Dance Church. Some want to meet new people or because it’s their time to let go. I feel like the reason people come through the doors is that there’s space for everybody there.

Want to give it a go? The next Dance Church is happening on Saturday, 5/5. Ever been to Dance Church or another cool dance class around town? Share your experiences here.

NOW HERE’S WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR CITY 👜

‘Seattle has become an angry place.’ Our city’s struggling with a lot these days. Runaway growth, super pricey housing, more and more of our neighbors living on the streets. How are we handling it? Not well, says Alex Berezow. He’s a local who’s lived here 14 years, and in an editorial he wrote for the Times that’s picked up 1,400+ comments, he says he’s had it with Seattle and is moving out.

Why? Because of “toxic politics,” he writes, and decisions by city leaders that, to him, don’t add up. “For our City Council, virtue signaling is more important than governing,” he writes. “…if safe streets, clean sidewalks, an affordable place to live and polite discourse is asking too much, we’ll gladly seek refuge in a city where quality of life and civility still matter.” Thanks to reader Colin Henry for the heads-up on a provocative read. (The Seattle Times)

Eat real local. Chef Hillel Echo-Hawk is doing something fascinating with her catering and private-dining biz. She’s cooking only food that is native to North America. No beef, chicken, eggs, wheat, or anything that Europeans brought over on boats. But this story isn’t about Hillel’s food as much as Hillel herself, and all the ways she’s standing up for Native cultures. We really want to make the salmon with dandelion and honey puree at the end there. If you cook it up, send us a pic and tell us how it tastes. 😋 (The Seattle Times)

Stuck with the bill. The viaduct, Seattle’s old waterfront highway, is coming down for good by early next year. After that, Seattle’s gonna have a whole new waterfront — with parks, art, and views galore. People who own property downtown are going to live right next to the action…and are going to be charged a one-time tax to help pay for it. That’s been the plan for a while — those property values are gonna go way up — but downtown property owners who are just learning about it aren’t happy. Especially the ones who bought homes there years ago, when the downtown life was relative cheap. (KUOW)

Parents coming to town? Here’s a roundup of some of the bars you can take mom and dad to while they’re here — or your pickiest drinking buddies. Not too loud, not too crowded, and plenty of selection. (The Infatuation Seattle)

PARTNER EVENTS

🍴  Tonight! Crowdfound a brand new Seattle market run by low-income immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs at the MarketShare Campaign Launch Party (Pioneer Square)

🐟  May 12: Put the “sea” in Seattle with the whole family at the Harley Marine Seattle Maritime Festival (Lawton Park)

Want to partner on your event with us? Here’s how.

OUR EVENTS

TODAY

🎨  Paint some happy little trees for Bob Ross (Capitol Hill)
🎟  Get hypnotized by a pro (Belltown)
👋  Show off your inner superhero (or supervillain) at the roller rink (West Seattle)
💡  Learn about the history of the Panama Hotel (International District)
🍴  Help kickstart an exciting new market at this Evergrey partner event (Pioneer Square)

TOMORROW

🎉  Celebrate The South Seattle Emerald’s fourth birthday party (Columbia City)
🍿  Watch a film about iconic labor activist Dolores Huerta (Beacon Hill)
🎈  Help your kids build and decorate toy boats (South Lake Union)

FRIDAY

🍴  Feast on Dungeness crab (Pioneer Square)
🎶  Kick off the weekend with Cambodian rock ‘n’ roll (Capitol Hill)
👻  Get into the creepy and supernatural at Crypticon (SeaTac)

SATURDAY – CINCO DE MAYO

🎈  Mark Cinco de Mayo with the fam at El Centro de la Raza (Beacon Hill)
🗣  Hear from big thinkers at TEDxUofW (U-District)
🎈  Teach the kids about marine science (U-District)
🗣  Learn about young immigrants’ experiences through art (Columbia City)
🎮  Get geeky at the Indie Game Festival (Queen Anne)
🎟  Check out the brand new Nordic Museum (Ballard)

SUNDAY

🍴  Get your nom on at the Taco Libre Showdown (Fremont)
🎈  Make lucky cat hats at the Children’s Day Festival (International District)
🏞  Go on a bike ride, then enjoy a cold beer (Georgetown to Tukwila)
🎈  Welcome Washington’s beautiful apple blossoms (Wenatchee)

Going to one of these? Send us a pic or tag #theevergrey. See more upcoming events (and submit your own) on our events page.

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY 👍

We’ll see you tomorrow.  — The Evergrey

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