Two by Two: Tango, Two-Step, and the L.S. Night

In each chapter of this erratic look at the Los Angeles dance scene, Babitz (Black Swans) focuses on a different style of dance, with most of the text consisting of interviews with dance teachers. Predictably, the atmosphere of each dance space varies greatly. Paul McClure teaches two-step and insists that his studio, In Cahoots, is ""just like the Cheers bar, everybody knows your name""; the salsa scene is, as Babitz describes it, ""grisly"" and far less friendly. The Stevens sisters, who run Pasadena Ballroom Dance, brag that their lessons have been the source of more than 450 marriages. Throughout, Babitz insists that dancing is flirty fun (as well as a good way to stay trim). Many of her observations are annoyingly flippant, such as her bizarre take on gender politics (male-female relations today are ""ridiculous,"" she states--rather than sending for mail-order brides, American men just need to learn to dance). In a straightforward epilogue, Babitz tells of an accident she had while lighting a cigar that led to six weeks in the intensive care unit being treated for third-degree burns, then casually admits that, since her accident put her out of commission for a year, the information here may be out-of-date. While the book may waver past the radar of the uninitiated, those immersed in the ballroom world will identify with Babitz's obsession with dance. (Nov.)