Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News for April 6th 2007

Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News

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Swing Time Newsletter — Friday APR 6th 2007

Hi Everyone,

Next Friday, April 13th, is Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, featuring Dr Zoot! Advance ticket sales are going strong... this event will be HUGE! Purchase your advance tickets right now securely online at www.SwingTime.info (deadline for online ticket orders is 7pm Thursday 4/12), or in person this Wednesday 4/11 at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night or this Thursday 4/12 at Swing Centro, and save $3 off the at-the-door price. We'll see you there!

Sam

Friday, April 13th, 2007
Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom
featuring... all the way from Pittsburgh...
Original Recording & Performance Artists...
Dr Zoot!
Modern & Exciting 7-Piece Swing Band w/ Horns!

Friday April 13th, in the spectacular waterfront ballroom of the Gulfport Casino, Swing Time presents renowned modern swingsters... Dr Zoot! Get ready to dance! The event starts with a group swing-dance lesson, 8-9pm (no partner needed), followed by live music & dancing, 9pm-1am, plus a dance contest at intermission.

Dr Zoot is a horn-driven swingin' 7-piece dance band, complete with trumpet, trombone, sax/flute/clarinet, piano, guitar, upright bass, drums, and vocals! From jumpin' originals to big band favorites, these guys play it all, give it their own unique style, swing hard, and have fun doin' it! The excitement is contagious, which always keeps the dance floor movin' & shakin'! Now in their 10th year, Dr Zoot has recorded six CDs (their latest 2006 release is Pay the Viper), and their music has been featured in numerous CD compilations, TV shows, and films. The band is wildly popular with swing dancers and music lovers across the USA, regularly playing the nation's heppest clubs and dance venues, from New York to L.A., from Glen Echo's Spanish Ballroom in DC to the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City... and soon to make their first Tampa Bay appearance at Swing Time!

Swing Time is Florida's Premier Swing Event, held the second 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/ Dr Zoot, 9pm-1am
Swing Dance Instruction (no partner needed), 8-9pm
Dance Contest at Intermission

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

Tickets: $12/in advance -or- $15/day of event
Purchase Advance Tickets securely online at www.SwingTime.info
-or- in person this Wednesday (4/11) at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night
-or- in person this Thursday (4/12) at Swing Centro

For more info, visit www.SwingTime.info on the web, or click the links below:
[Tickets] [Band Bio] [Map & Directions] [More Info]

CHARLESTON DANCE JAM/CONTEST
Friday, April 13th, 2007
at Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino

Prizes to Winners:
1st Place: $50 Cash Prize!
2nd Place: Free Passes to Gulfport Casino Swing Night & Swing Centro!
3rd Place: It's a Surprise!

This month's dance contest is... The Charleston! There are no partners in this contest, which means you get to keep the top prize all to yourself! To enter, just step onto the dance floor at contest time (around 10:20pm, at band intermission). When the music starts, all contestants dance simultaneously in a big circle... dance whatever style & whatever moves you want... whether it's 20's Charleston, Swing Charleston, or something you just make up, anything goes! Whether you're dancing in the contest, or just watching it, this one's going to be a lot of fun!

SWING CENTRO !
EVERY THURSDAY in Ybor City (Tampa, FL)

Swing Music & Dancing, 8pm-Midnight
Dance Lesson, 7-8pm (no partner needed)

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

* All Ages * Smoke-Free * Full Bar * Prize Giveaways *
Admission $7 (includes Free Lesson); Free Gated Parking
Students Get 2-for-1 Admission!

This just in... Centro Asturiano has lowered their drink prices! Now it's only $1 for bottled waters, sodas, and snacks. Beers are $3; wine & mixed drinks, $4. Please support the bar, because it helps keep the night running.

[Photos] [Map & Directions] [More Info]

SWING CENTRO LESSON SCHEDULE
FREE Lindy Hop & Charleston CLASSES!

Learn a variety of swing dances, plus new moves, steps, and techniques in East-Coast Swing, Lindy Hop (that other swing dance), partner Charleston (which can be incorporated into most swing dances), Shim Sham, and more! Gain added versatility and experience more dance excitement on the floor! Lessons are free (with paid admission to the event) and can be attended by dancers of all levels, either with or without a partner. No prior experience is needed. To add these new & exciting things to your swing dancing, just arrive at Centro Asturiano by 7pm for each class!

Apr 12 (Thu): CHARLESTONS - Front-to-Front Moves
Apr 19 (Thu): LINDY HOP - Open Swingouts, Breaks & Turns
Apr 26 (Thu): CHARLESTONS - Front-to-Back Moves
May 3 (Thu): LINDY HOP - Close Swingouts, Circles & Turns
May 10 (Thu): CHARLESTONS - Side-by-Side Moves
May 17 (Thu): LINDY HOP - Swingout Moves & Variations
May 24 (Thu): SHIM SHAM
May 31 (Thu): SWING RUEDA

Charleston Mini-Workshops (April 12, April 26 & May 10) Learn the Charleston steps, plus how to work not just your legs but your arms and body into the dance. We'll cover partnering, leading and following, various styles and variations of Charleston, plus how to work the Charleston into your swing dancing. The moves and styles and variations taught will vary from week to week. Moves and variations will include a variety of Side-BY-Side, Side-TO-Side, Hand-to-Hand, Front-to-Front, and Front-to-Back Charlestons! The Charleston mini-workshops offer something for everyone from the beginning to the more advanced dancer. All three classes stand on their own; you need not take one to take any of the others; but the more you take, the better your Charleston dancing will be! There are no prerequisites, and no partner is needed.

Lindy Hop Mini-Workshops (April 19, May 3 & May 17) Learn Lindy Hop, the original swing dance! Our innovative teaching methods (no math or counting required) will have you swinging & grooving to the Lindy Hop in no time! We'll cover single-time & triple-time Lindy Hop footwork, arms, open & closed body positions, partnering, leading & following, and numerous techniques, styles, moves and variations. Moves will include the Swing Out from Open Position, Swing Out from Closed Position, Lindy Circle, Tuck & Double Turn, Open Break, Outside Swingout Turn, Inside Swingout Turn, Free Swingout Turn, Texas Tommy, and more! You'll learn how to incorporate Charleston into your Lindy Hop and how to mix Lindy Hop with East-Coast Swing. Whether you're new to Lindy Hop or have taken several classes, try these out -- we know you'll like them! The Lindy Hop mini-workshops offer something for everyone from the beginning to the more advanced dancer. All three classes stand on their own; you need not take one to take any of the others; but the more you take, the better your Lindy Hopping will be! There are no prerequisites, and no partner is needed.

Shim Sham Mini-Workshop (May 24) Learn the Shim Sham, plus useful jazz steps for swing dancing, all in one accelerated 60-minute session! The Shim Sham is a swing line-dance & mixer that goes back to the early days of swing, jazz & tap dance. It has become a tradition at swing dances across the world, and is a fun & energetic part of just about every swing dance in the Tampa Bay area! There are no prerequisites, and no partner is needed.

Swing Rueda Mini-Workshop (May 31) Swing Rueda is an exciting group swing-dance based on the Lindy Hop, where moves are called out by a caller, and all participants dance the called moves to transition from one partner to the next. Besides learning Swing Rueda, you'll also gain valuable experience Lindy Hopping! Prior Lindy Hop experience is helpful if you're taking this class (ie, taking the Lindy Hop mini workshops is recommended) but not absolutely required. No partner is needed.

GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT !
EVERY WEDNESDAY in Gulfport (St. Petersburg, FL)

Swing Music & Dancing, 8pm-Midnight
Dance Lesson, 7-8pm (no partner needed)
Shim Sham, Swing Rueda, Prizes, Mixers, & More!

Beautiful Waterfront Ballroom
Friendly Social Atmosphere
One of the Best Dance Floors Anywhere!

* All Ages * Smoke-Free * Full Bar * Free Parking *
Admission $6 (includes Free Lesson)

[Map & Directions] [More Info]

Swing Time! -- Upcoming Events
Read on for the full scoop about each event...

EVERY WEDNESDAY: Gulfport Casino Swing Night

EVERY THURSDAY: Swing Centro

Apr 13, 2007 (Fri): Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino
featuring... Dr Zoot! ( all the way from Pittsburgh! )
Modern & Exciting 7-Piece Swing Band w/ Horns!!
Tickets: $12/advance or $15/day of event
Click here for Ticket Info or to Purchase Tickets!

The SECOND FRIDAY Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino
of EVERY MONTH: Live Music & Dancing!

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