St Louis Casa Loma Ballroom

Contributor

Citysearch

The Scene

Built in the heyday of the genre, it has a stage built to hold an entire big band. Once you walk in--dressed to kill, of course--the Casa Loma is a glory to behold. The ornate decor, the huge dance floor (built with some sort of once-state-of-the-art cushioning support), and the overall vibe make it the perfect place for sophisticates both real and imagined. Unfortunately, Casa Loma resides in a neighborhood that continues to await a comeback. Not overly dangerous, just use your street smarts.

The Crowd

Even better is the crowd on swing nights, which is divided between twenty-somethings and seventy-somethings. For swing novices, lessons are offered at the beginning of the evening with capable instructors. The Casa Loma is a space-for-hire and often features fantastic salsa and Latin music.