Belltown Messenger

The BBC dance studio-cum-practice space-cum cultural center cumsecond-hand boutique was one of the last bastions of 'old Belltown' on the now glitzy First Avenue. Though neighborhood visitors were not likely to know about the space, it has literally been underground Belltown for a decade and a half, shrouded behind an iron gate, tucked beneath the rickety wooden staircase. If the walls of this subterranean venue could talk, they'd tell some stories. The Belltown Underground Dance Studio ] (a.k.a. BBC) has been a home to ballet, conditioning work-outs, flamenco, kung fu and yoga, as well as many pianists, poets and musicians. After a final hooray, BBC is relocating.

Elaine Bonow opened BBC in 1986, with a love for dance, a vision and some elbow grease. She wanted a place of her own to teach dance and her brand of conditioning, to inspire movement in everyone. Bonow and her crew rough hewed the unique bohemian space. They took a big empty room, a basement really, and created the Blue Button, Studio "B" and a space for Bonow's daughter's former vintage retail business. Deconstructing it all, whilst moving, she realizes how much she and her collaborators have accomplished.

Over the years countless dance classes and entertainers performed here, including Guber and the Peas, The Infernal Noise Brigade, Monty Banks, Clark Humphrey, Paul Benoit, Hugh Sutton and countless cabarets. BBC was even part of the very first show at The Crocodile.

But no new lease was offered. To stay Bonow would have to pay market price for the underground basement. Instead she found a new location on the northeast corner of Fourth and Bell. A schedule of classes is available at www.belltunes.com.

Elaine Bonow is the epitome of wow. She is unstoppable. Not only is she a ballet dancer, instructor and musician (Stupid Boy), she is co-founder of the Belltown Messenger (2003) and the Belltown Dispatch (1990). She is even a grandmother, twice over. To add to her stunning list of accomplishments, this June she will complete her B.A. in English Literature.

People loved Bonow as a dance instructor. "She was casual but serious, she threw restraints out the window, just making sure you did it right" said long-time student Samantha Sherman. "She is a good teacher, she makes dance accessible, whether you are 15 or 50. All she asks is that you wear ballet shoes."

Bonow's experimental, go-for-it style has breathed vivacious life into all facets of the artistic space. "It is Elaine who made this place possible," explains her managing artistic director and on-site pianist Harry Edward Pierce. "She saw the value of the place, not in making money, but as a resource."

Having no nighttime neighbors and loads of creative types lurking about, evenings at the BBC were certainly interesting. They started throwing "rent parties," sort of Bohemian BYOB cabaret soirees in the Blue Button Studio. Lounge singers, jazz musicians, comedians, poets, singers and artists of all sorts would congregate, perform and exchange ideas in a supportive environment. To avoid trouble, Pierce issued official BBC membership cards. News of the members-only parties spread by word of mouth and people interested in performing in the improvisational cabaret let Pierce know what they wanted to do. Others would just show up.

The intimate Blue Button room is where it all happened, amongst a collage of tables and comfy chairs for up to 49 guests. Posters of musicians, sexy dancers and red lighting lined the walls - creating a space as eclectic as the clientele. It was a living velvet, mad-cap cabaret Bonow that Pierce and friends put a lot of work into, and will miss.

Sheryl Diane, performer and member, enjoyed playing at the BBC because of the freedom allowed to performers to experiment. The mix of styles bred a uniquely creative environment for dancers, poets, singer/song writers, musicians of all kinds. There was no one scene, but a jumble of styles.

"The crowd wasn't just the general public, it was members-only and I don't mean that in an elitist way, it kept the freaks in - it wasn't a club," said Diane. "Once I played the piano standing up, in a formal black dress, another night I was on stage in granny panties, drinking Pabst."

It was this lack of a particular scene that led to BBC's eclectic nature, an 'anything goes atmosphere,' of all ages. Performers ranged form young to old, including Pierce's son and father. It was a place where if you couldn't find you coat it was because someone had hung it up for you.

On March 26, Bonow's birthday, BBC bid adieu. But all is not lost, just scaled down.

The good news is Bonow is staying in the neighborhood, beginning a new chapter. The new space will be smaller but the floor will be level. Bonow is taking over a former recording studio, in and in the remodel they found that the under-floor is rubber, instead of normal cement, which is great for dancing, and for whatever inspiring creative spirit may come to inhabit Bonow's new world.