Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News for November 2nd 2009

This Friday, November 6th is Swing Time's 1940's USO Swing Dance at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, featuring the 18-Piece Ten O'Clock Big Band! Make plans now to attend, and read all about it below!

Tonight (MON Nov 2), 7-week Monday-evening courses start in Clearwater for Lindy Hop I and Swing I. Last-minute openings are available, if you've been thinking about taking either course but haven't yet signed up. You can register online right now or just show up (15-20 minutes before your class starts) and sign up then.

Collegiate Shag lessons start this Wednesday, November 4th at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night! Join us this Wednesday for the debut of Collegiate Shag Bonus Lessons 6-7pm, followed by Swing Dance Lessons 7-8pm and Swing Music & Dancing 8-11pm. Admission to Wednesday Swing Nights is just $7, which includes 2 Free Lessons and great all-around fun for all ages! No partner is needed. STUDENT SPECIAL! Show school ID, pay your $7 admission, and receive a Free Pass good for any upcoming Wednesday! (details below)

Every Wednesday in November, special guest instructors, Forrest & Sarah, teach the 6-7pm Bonus Lesson at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night, with topic Collegiate Shag! This is a rare opportunity to learn this very fun swing dance! If you like East-Coast Swing (aka Swing, aka Regular Swing), then you'll love Collegiate Shag. Just like East-Coast Swing, Collegiate Shag is a 6-count dance; and it can be danced to all of the same music, from medium tempos to fast. Each Wednesday will feature different moves. Bonus Lessons are followed by the Swing Dance Lesson 7-8pm (taught by Sam & Carleene), and Swing Music & Dancing 8-11pm. Looking ahead to December, the 6-7pm Bonus Lesson will be West-Coast Swing!

Wednesday, November 25th -- the night before Thanksgiving -- is Swing Time's annual Pre-Thanksgiving Bash at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night, featuring the dual-sax jump swingin' blues of The Steve Arvey Band! This huge swing-dance party is always one of the biggest Wednesday Swing Nights of the year, attracting not just locals but out-of-towners who are home for the holidays. (details below)

Thursday, December 31st is Swingin' the New Year at the spectacular St. Petersburg Coliseum... tickets go on sale soon... stay tuned for details!

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In honor of Veteran's Day... Swing Time! presents...
1940's USO Swing Dance
at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom
featuring the 18-Piece Ten O'Clock Big Band!
Friday, November 6th, 2009

Friday, November 6th, 2009... at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom... In honor of Veteran's Day, Swing Time presents our 5th Annual 1940's USO Swing Dance! WWII-era civilian or military attire is encouraged. The Ten O'Clock Band, Florida's Leading 18-Piece Big Band, will be decked out in their Army Air Corps khaki uniforms and they'll be swingin' for all the dancers, 9:00pm-12:30am. The event starts with a free group swing-dance lesson, 8-9pm (no partner needed). The evening includes prize giveaways, plus WWII-era decor and atmosphere.

The Ten O'Clock Band brings the big-band experience to Swing Time. When people speak of "the big bands", this is what they mean -- five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones, plus piano, bass, guitar, drums, and vocals. The band's bold & brassy sound will fill the grand ballroom, with minimal need for amplification, letting participants experience the classic days of swing as it was meant to be played, heard, danced to, and otherwise enjoyed. Exciting soloists, excellent musicianship, and great coordination as a unit have earned the band rave reviews from dancers as well as fellow musicians across the Bay area!

Swing Time is Florida's Premier Swing Event, held the first Friday of every month in Tampa Bay at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom. The Gulfport Casino is located in the St. Petersburg area at 5500 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport FL 33707.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Live Music & Dancing w/ The Ten O'Clock Band, 9pm-12:30am
Swing Dance Instruction (no partner needed), 8-9pm
Doors Open 7:30pm

All Ages & Smoke-Free
Friendly Social Atmosphere
Beautiful Retro Waterfront Ballroom
Huge Floating-Wood Dance Floor
Prize Giveaways
Full Bar

Pre-Thanksgiving Bash
at the GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT
featuring... The Steve Arvey Band!
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

With Thanksgiving on Thursday, the weekend starts Wednesday night, when Swing Time hosts a special evening of live music and swing dancing... Wednesday, November 25th, 2009, join in celebration at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night for Swing Time's Pre-Thanksgiving Bash! This huge swing-dance party is always one of the biggest Wednesday Swing Nights of the year, attracting not just locals but out-of-towners who are home for the holidays. The Bash features the dual-sax jump swingin' blues of The Steve Arvey Band! It starts with a Collegiate Shag Bonus Lesson 6-7pm, followed by Swing Dance Lesson 7-8pm, then Live Music & Dancing 8-11pm. All ages are welcome, no partner is needed, and it all happens in the spectacular waterfront ballroom of the Gulfport Casino!

The Steve Arvey Band is a dual-sax-infused combo that jumps & swings the blues! Fronted by blues great, Steve Arvey, on vocals and guitar, the band also includes two saxophonists on tenor & baritone sax, plus bass player and drummer. The band serves up a mix of swingin' originals and covers influenced by musical styles ranging from New Orleans R&B, to 50's & 60's Rock'n'Roll, to Soul, Jazz & Blues. At their prior Swing Time appearances, The Steve Arvey Band gave incredible performances and was a huge hit with dancers!

Steve Arvey is a master of the blues, whose musical career has spanned over three decades. He's toured and performed all over the USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, at thousands of venues, clubs, events, and festivals. He's played prestigious blues festivals too numerous to mention, each time beating out hundreds of competing acts to secure a performance spot in the festival's lineup. In fact, Steve holds the record for the most consecutive appearances -- 7 years in a row -- at the world-renowned Chicago Blues Festival! A veteran of the Chicago blues scene, Steve has played with musical greats Hubert Sumlin, Eddie Clearwater, Jimmy Rogers, Homesick James, and Honeyboy Edwards, to name just a few. In fact, Steve's music career started when he was a student at the University of Florida, where his band regularly backed none other than blues legend Bo Diddley! Steve Arvey has recorded five CDs, his music has received airplay at blues radio stations across the USA, and he maintains a busy touring schedule across three continents!

This special event is co-sponsored by the Gulfport Casino and Swing Time. The Gulfport Casino is one of the world's best ballrooms, offering up social dance excitement in a picturesque beachfront setting. The Gulfport Casino is located in the St. Petersburg area at 5500 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport FL 33707.

Live Music & Dancing w/ The Steve Arvey Band, 8-11pm
Swing Dance Lesson 7-8pm w/ Sam & Carleene (no partner needed)
Collegiate Shag Lesson 6-7pm w/ Forrest & Sarah (no partner needed)

* All Ages * No Partner Needed *
Huge Dance Floor -- One of World's Best!
Beautiful Retro-Era Waterfront Dance Hall

Admission $10 (includes 2 Free Lessons!)
(free passes & student specials not accepted on band nights)
Full Bar ~ Prize Giveaways ~ Smoke-Free ~ Free Parking

Swing Time! at Centro Asturiano -- Please Enable Images in Your Email Program

Swing Time! at Centro Asturiano in Tampa
Friday NOVEMBER 20th 2009
Friday DECEMBER 18th 2009
Swing Music & Dancing, 9pm-1am
Swing Dance Instruction, 8-9pm
Admission $7 Prize Giveaways!

ALL AGES WELCOME
Fabulous Vintage Grand Ballroom
Huge Floating-Wood Dance Floor!
Exciting Social Atmosphere

Admission includes Free Lesson
( No Partner Needed )
Free Gated Parking
Smoke-Free Events
Full Bar

Centro Asturiano is located at 1913 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa FL 33602 (at the corner of Palm Ave. & Nebraska Ave. in Ybor City). For more info, visit www.SwingTime.info on the web, or click the links below:

Map & Directions Dance Lesson More Info

Gulfport Casino Swing Night -- Please Enable Images in Your Email program

GULFPORT CASINO SWINGS! -- Every WEDNESDAY
Exciting 2009 Format -- Bonus Lessons, Student Discounts & More!

Every Wednesday in November, the 6pm Bonus Lesson topic will be Collegiate Shag
Every Wednesday in December, the 6pm Bonus Lesson topic will be West-Coast Swing
Bonus Lessons are yours FREE! ...with paid admission to the event.

Bonus Lesson 6-7pm
Swing Dance Lesson 7-8pm
Swing Music & Dance 8-11pm

* All Ages * No Partner Needed *
Huge Dance Floor -- One of World's Best!
Beautiful Retro-Era Waterfront Dance Hall

Admission $7 (includes 2 Free Lessons!)
Students get 2-for-1 Admission!

Full Bar ~ Prize Giveaways ~ Smoke-Free ~ Free Parking
Celebrate Your Birthday at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night!

The Gulfport Casino is one of the world's best ballrooms, offering up social dance excitement in a picturesque beachfront setting.

Map & Directions Dance Lessons More Info