Schwing your partner

SWING  |  THE HUSTLE  |  BREAKIN’  |  TANGO  |  SALSA  |  BHANGRA

SALSA
DanceSport
22 W 34th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-307-1111, dancesport.com)

THE CROWD
A comfortable mix of twenties and thirties, some very cute indeed. And some very able to swing those hips (bonus!). Plus, the teacher got everyone laughing—the perfect mood for chatting up your partner.

HOW AVAILABLE
About a dozen participants in the onetime guest class copped to being single. A trio was too young (teenagers who were great dancers), but the midrange hip-swingers were plentiful and particularly friendly.

HOW HANDSY
The salsa posture puts the guy’s hand on the lady’s back, but don’t worry about (or hope for) a downward slip. Ass grabbing is bad form, but drinks at the postclass salsa party are a-okay.

HOOK-UP POTENTIAL
As with other classes, you dance with a different person every few minutes, which makes for nice shopping. Then you can pair off at the after-party, or come back another night for one of the studio’s many events.

SINGLES VERDICT
4 out of 6

WHERE TO DO IT
The huge dance floor at Mexican restaurant Gonzalez y Gonzalez pulls in big crowds. There isn’t much standing room near the action, but you’ll find plenty of space to rest what your mama gave you near the bar up front. 625 Broadway between Bleecker and W Houston Sts (212-473-8787). Thu 8:30pm–1am; Fri, Sat 10:30pm–4am. Free.

Renowned salsa dancer Carlos Konig holds regular socials at Ripley-Grier Studios, where a lively, diverse crowd comes to bust serious moves. 520 Eighth Ave between 36th and 37th Sts, 17th floor (212-799-5433). Second and fourth Sundays 5:30–9:30pm, $10.

Find more events at salsanewyork.com.