Line Dancing in Our Garage

Last year, I was in my first year of teaching. It was the most difficult year of my life. On top of being brand new to an already demanding job, I was working at a school with no resources and really high needs. I felt like I was drowning and constantly alone in my struggle. My anxiety was the highest it had ever been. I was filled with dread before school, after school, and especially on Sunday nights. I couldn’t bear the thought of starting the week all over again knowing I would face the same challenges as the last. I spent those evenings feeling heavy, paralyzed, and defeated.

In the late fall of 2024, my best friend

Lucy invited me to go line dancing in her friend’s garage on a Sunday evening. My first thought was, “I don’t really listen to country music like that…” and my second was, “I can’t on Sunday nights, that’s when I ruminate on terrible hypotheticals and contemplate my existential dread.” Fortunately, her description convinced me to get out of the house and make my way to the corner of Scott and Page at the end of that week.

I arrived at an open garage door, an old “for lease” sign with a piece of paper taped to it that said “Line Dancing!” written on with Sharpie, twinkle lights, and a group of 30-plus strangers facing a projector screen. I didn’t see Lucy right away, but was greeted with smiles and hellos that beckoned me in as I wove through the crowd. What followed for the next few hours was joyful dancing, meeting new people, learning, and laughing. By the time I got home that night, I was so buzzed on new connections, accomplishment, and endorphins, I fell asleep peacefully with the thought of Monday feeling as far away as ever.

From that night on, line dancing became a weekly ritual that changed my life. Not only did it get me through my toughest year yet, it connected me to SF, community, dancing, and love. Sean Sullivan and Joel Reske (the founders of Lower Haight Line

Dancing) have created a space that truly embodies inclusion. It’s free, beginner friendly, a generous time window, and literally ANYONE is welcome. I have attended nights where we are celebrating an 8-year-old’s birthday, complete with cake! I have gone when tipsy friend groups walk by on their way back from bars and stop to dance with us! No one is turned away, and no cowboy boots are required.

What makes Lower Haight Line Dancing so special is that it’s not just Sean and Joel that do this work.

Those 2 hours of dancing on Sunday evenings turned my darkest time of the week amidst a very dark year, into light. And for that, I’ll always be grateful for their little line dancing garage.

If you want to support Lower Haight Line Dancing you can attend a weekly session (Sundays 6pm-10pm), follow their social media accounts, or book them to teach at an event!