Chances are, you will be dancing on New Year’s Eve.
You’ll be at a club or a party and after the ball drops, the tables and chairs will part like the Red Sea and a dance floor will emerge. And you’ll stand there, petrified, remembering that the last time you tried to dance, you did a split, popped back up and elbowed a really cute girl in the jaw.
OK, that one was more us than you.
For those who will need some help making it through this New Year’s party season, At Play asked some really good dancers for tips on how to get down without looking like a fool.
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Guys, follow Lance’s lead
Lance Briggs has his family to thank for his dance moves. Before he was a Pro Bowl line-backer for the Chicago Bears known for blasting receivers on the weak side, the 25-year-old Briggs was the youngest in his family, at the mercy of his older sisters.
“My mom and my sisters used to force me to dance,” said Briggs, recalling the days he danced the Cabbage Patch and the Roger Rabbit at family functions. “They would always want the baby boy to dance.”
Now, the Sacramento native is not only a star on the NFL’s top-rated defense but also the star attraction on the defense’s “freestyle walking” routine. As part of their warm-up on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the defense struts, swaggers and prances down the field, trying to one-up each other in style.
Just don’t be surprised if Briggs throws in a dile que no (a cross-body step) at the next practice. He’s learning to salsa. He stopped the dancing lessons once the season started but plans to resume during the off-season.
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“I’m still learning,” Briggs said. “It’s a great form of dancing.”
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4 no-fail New Year’s dance tips
1. “This is where you live.” Borrowing a line from Will Smith in the movie “Hitch,” Briggs recommends that Mr. Two Left Feet keep his dance moves concise and simple. A little side-to-side. Nothing too elaborate. “Just stay on beat.”
2. Turn a disadvantage into an advantage. If a woman does invite you to dance, Briggs recommends honesty, followed by a hint of smoothness. “Say, ‘I don’t dance very well, but I would love to dance with you.’ ” Yeah, it’s not a dancing tip. Still good advice.
3. “If she’s leading you to do something, do it.” Don’t be afraid to follow her lead, pick up on her moves and try a trick or two. For example: If she puts your hand on her hip, Briggs says, that may be the signal for you to dip her. “You gotta live in her world,” he says. Just don’t dip her too far. A fall to the floor is hard to recover from.
4. Have fun. “If it feels good when you’re doing it, then you’re fine,” Briggs says.
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Where to bust a move this NYE
ADOBO GRILL WICKER PARK (2005 W. Division St., 773-252-9990): Dance off a three-course meal and unlimited margaritas as DJs spin salsa meringue, reggaeton and more. $89, reservations required.
ELBO ROOM (2871 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-549-5549): Get in the groove to hip-hop, funk and dance music at this Lake View club. $50.
LE PASSAGE (937 N. Rush St., 800-511-1552, 312-255-0022): A couple of glasses of Champagne and you’ll be ready to hit the dance floor as DJ Finesse spins dance, hip-hop and house until 5 a.m. $125.
NEGRO LEAGUE CAFE (301 E. 43rd St., 773-536-7000): Hang out at this South Side spot as DJs Question and Mark Fullaflava keep the joint jumping. $30. RSVP TheNegro [email protected].
PALMER HOUSE HILTON (17 E. Monroe St., 866-468-3401): Celebrate the New Year with DJs as they spin hip-hop, dance and house. Live music by Elevation, a U2 tribute band. Includes an open bar and champagne toast at midnight. $149-$425. Tickets: NYE06.com.