San Diego Dance Opportunities:

Bon Temps Social Club of San Diego featuring Cajun and Zydeco music
Hustle San Diego featuring music to the disco beat
Innovations Dance Club featuring west coast swing and various club dances
Pattie Wells Dance Studio
Starlight Dance Studio
Ciao Bella Caffee Bar e Ristorante
Thursday Night Zydeco at Tio Leo's (5302 Napa Street, San Diego)
Clay's Stage Hustle Dances (Costa Mesa, CA)
The Hustle Lounge
Gator By The Bay on Shindy TV
Greg Benusa's Zydecoach DJ Dances, Instructional Videos and Zydeco Workshops

Jim's Dance Calendar:

Saturday, September 6: CARRIE KLOSS teaches a Waltz workshop before the Saturday night Innovations dance from 6:30 to 8p.m. Innovations Swing Dance Club dances are at Starlight Dance Studio at 6506-H El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego, CA. Website.

Tuesday, September 9: ZYDECO RETURNS TO TIO LEO'S ON TUESDAY NIGHTS: Zydeco night hosted by Greg Benusa. 7-8 p.m. dance lessons, 8-11 p.m. deejayed dance or live band. Cost is $5 for deejayed parties, a little more when a band is playing. See www.icajunzydeco.com (click on Dance Schedule) for specifics.

Saturday, September 13: KEVIN NAQUIN AND THE OSSUN PLAYBOYS play their contemporary-style Cajun dance music at the War Memorial Building in Balboa Park, San Diego from 7-10:30 p.m. There is a dance lesson in beginning zydeco from 6:20 to 7:00 p.m. Website.

Wednesday and Thursday, September 24 & 25: AVERAGE WHITE BAND plays their brand of disco-rock at Anthology, 1337 India Street, San Diego. Two shows each night at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. 619-595-0300. Web.

Saturday, October 4: IDYLLWILD ART WALK AND WINE TASTING. Stroll the streets of Idyllwild with your keepsake wine glass to the ambiance of live music and special exhibits in member galleries. Produced by the Art Alliance of Idyllwild. Information provided by Rick Prickett, now Idyllwild resident, former director of San Diego Art and Sol program.

Saturday, October 4: MICHAEL KIELBASA teaches a Nightclub 2-Step workshop before the Saturday night Innovations dance from 6:30 to 8p.m. Innovations Swing Dance Club dances are at Starlight Dance Studio at 6506-H El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego, CA. Website.

October 9-12, 2008: BOOGIE BY THE BAY West Coast Swing and Lindy Hop Competitions. Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, CA. Website.

Friday, October 17: Grammy-nominated PINE LEAF BOYS play their contemporary-style Cajun dance music at the War Memorial Building in Balboa Park, San Diego from 7-10:30 p.m. There is a dance lesson in beginning zydeco from 6:20 to 7:00 p.m. Website. Presented by the Bon Temps Social Club of San Diego.

Tuesday Nights at Tio Leo's: Zydeco night hosted by Greg Benusa. 7-8 p.m. dance lessons, 8-11 p.m. deejayed dance or live band. Cost is $5 for deejayed parties, a little more when a band is playing. See www.icajunzydeco.com (click on Dance Schedule) for specifics.

Wednesdays and Fridays at Wagon Wheel, Santee, CA: JD teaches some country dance lessons 6:30-7:30 p.m., and hosts the music for open dancing from 7:30 "'til you give up." Cover charge $5. 8861 N. Magnolia Ave., Santee, CA 92071 (intersection of Magnolia and Mission Gorge Rd.). Wednesday lessons are usually west coast swing, and Friday lessons vary with cowboy cha-cha, country two-step, and nightclub two-step, waltz, etc. Contact: jd@jddance.com. By the way, JD's Paradise Country Dance Festival will be held in Ontario, CA on October 17-19, 2008. Website.

Thurday Nights at The Golden Sails, Long Beach: Zydeco night hosted by Karen Redding. Golden Sails Hotel, PCH Club, 6285 E. PCH, Long Beach, CA. Map. Hotel Phone: (562) 596-1631 Cover: $7 plus two drink minimum-Bottled Water, juices available. Zydeco Lesson: 7 -7:30 p.m.; Intermediate / Advanced Moves: 7:30-8 p.m. CD Dancing 8:15-10 p.m. or so; Bar Happy Hour with free food! 5-7 p.m., Beginners, singles, all ages welcome! Group discounts available! Information: Karen Redding (562) 438-1255, (562) 708-8946 or karinovations@verizon.net.

Jane Hance's Thursday Night Swing Dances at Pattie Wells Danctime Studio: Jane hosts a party each Thursday evening 8-10:30 pm at Pattie Wells studio featuring west coast swing, hustle, cha cha, country two-step, nightclub two-step and waltz. Cost is $6. Jane's Web Page.

Video: "The Evolution of Dance"

Dance Instruction:

Jane Hance teaching primarily west coast swing, country two-step, hustle and ballroom dances. 619-203-1922.