There’s no excuse to waste away on the sidelines any longer. Get in the game, get on the dance floor.

How?

Check out Olympia’s Occasions Ballroom at the Eagles Hall Tuesdays and at Tacoma’s Abbey Ballroom Wednesdays. Both have swing dance lessons at 7:30 p.m. with a dance party at 8 p.m.

Ladies, here’s yet another excuse to put on a swirling skirt, strappy heels and crimson lipstick: Friday nights at Tacoma City Ballet for ballroom dancing starting Friday, Oct 5. Beginners can bump into each other from 7-8 p.m. The more experienced get the run of the 6,000-square-foot floor from 8-9 p.m. inside the historic Merlino Arts Center.

Back at Abbey Ballroom, the shake and shimmy just got a little hotter on Saturdays with South Sound Salseros salsa dancing lessons 9-9:30 p.m. Show off your moves 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Hey fellas, did you ever think abut how many single chicks take dance classes to fill up their nights? Even if you don’t meet a hottie at a class, you’ll have impressive boogie skills. â€" Jennifer Johnson

[Abbey Ballroom, lessons $10 (inlcudes dance), free mini-lesson 8:30-9 p.m., $4-$5 dance, 1901 S. Fawcett, Tacoma, 253.572.5424]
[Eagles Hall, 805 Fourth Ave., Olympia, www.olyswing.com]