Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News Current Issue Past Issues Current Website

SUBSCRIBE to Swing Time's Weekly Email Newsletter

Swing Time Newsletter — Friday JUN 29th 2007


NEW PHOTOS Online!
350+ New Photos from the Past Two Weeks 

Direct Links to the Photo Scrapbook Pages:
Photos - JUN 21 - Swing Centro
Photos - JUN 20 - Gulfport Casino Swing Night
Photos - JUN 14 - Swing Centro
Photos - JUN 13 - Gulfport Casino Swing Night

Can't see the graphics in this email newsletter?  Can't click the links?
Please enable images & links in your email program!


 JULY 4TH DANCE TO BE HELD JULY 3RD INSTEAD 
 Gulfport Casino Swing Night to be Held Tuesday July 3rd instead of Wednesday July 4th 

This July 4th, Independence Day falls on a Wednesday night.  The City of Gulfport will be holding a big Independence Day Celebration on Wednesday, with live bands and festivities during the day, a parade at 7pm, and fireworks shooting over the Casino and the waterfront at night.  Rather than fight the crowds and try to hold a swing dance in the middle of all that, we'll be holding the Gulfport Casino Swing Night a day early, on Tuesday, July 3rd.  We expect July 3rd to be a huge event, since it's just like a weekend, with people off work the next day.  So come out to the Gulfport Casino Swing Night on Tuesday, July 3rd, to dance and celebrate!  ...same times as always: 7-8pm lesson and 8pm-midnight swing music & dancing.  Everyone's encouraged to dress in red, white & blue.  Plus, to get in the holiday spirit, we'll have Free Watermelon for all who attend!  This changeup is for next week (July 3rd/4th) only!  All weeks after Independence Day, the Gulfport Casino Swing Night will be held on its usual Wednesday night.

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,  Dance Jams,  Prizes,  Mixers,  & More!

Beautiful & Historic Waterfront Grand Ballroom
Friendly Social Atmosphere
One of the World's Best Dance Floors!

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

[Map & Directions]     [More Info]


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!

[Map & Directions]     [More Info]


Friday,  July 13th,  2007
Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom
featuring  Charlie Vegas & the New Blues Combo
Tampa Bay's Most Exciting Swingin' Act!

Get ready to jump... get ready to rock... get ready to swing! ...with Tampa Bay's most exciting swingin' act, Charlie Vegas & the New Blues Combo!  This talented & energetic band features sax, drums, bass, and Charlie himself on guitar, harmonica & vocals.  Whether it's uptempo & jumpin' or low down & gritty, these guys deliver a huge and varied repertoire of dance favorites... along with the power, the sound, and the excitement that'll pull you up out of your seat and get you onto your feet!  It all happens Friday, July 13th at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, starting with a group swing-dance lesson, 8-9pm (no partner needed), followed by live music & dancing, 9pm-1am, plus special dance exhibitions at intermission!

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/ Charlie Vegas & the New Blues Combo,  9pm-1am
Swing Dance Instruction (no partner needed),  8-9pm
Special Dance Performances at Intermission

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

$11 Admission includes Free Lesson; Free Parking!

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


SUMMER SWING CENTRO LESSONS
FREE Lindy Hop, Charleston, Shim Sham, Balboa, & East-Coast Swing CLASSES!

The exciting summer of swing-dance classes continues at Swing Centro!  Classes cover a whole range of swing dances, from Lindy Hop, to East-Coast Swing, to Charleston, to Balboa, to Shim Sham, ...plus mixes of the above dances!  In all classes, you'll learn new moves, steps, and techniques that'll make you a better dancer... for instance, how to skillfully turn & double turn, move & travel, swing out, kick, dip, etc.  Overall, you'll gain 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.  All classes stand on their own; you need not take one to take any of the others.  We encourage beginning dancers to take these classes... we encourage experienced dancers to take these classes... everyone will learn something new!  To add these new & exciting things to your swing dancing, just arrive at Centro Asturiano by 7pm for each class!

Jul  5 (Thu): LINDY HOP - Outside Turns & Swingouts
Jul 12 (Thu): SHIM SHAM
Jul 19 (Thu): CHARLESTONS - Front-to-Front Moves
Jul 26 (Thu): EAST COAST SWING - Triple-Time Moves & Movement
Aug  2 (Thu): LINDY HOP - Linear Moves & Turns
Aug  9 (Thu): CHARLESTONS - Side-by-Side Moves
Aug 16 (Thu): TEXAS TOMMY - Lindy Hop/East-Coast Swing Mix
Aug 23 (Thu): BALBOA
Aug 30 (Thu): CHARLESTONS - Front-to-Back Kicks & Variations
Sep  6 (Thu): LINDY HOP - Inside Turns & Swingouts
Sep 13 (Thu): EAST COAST SWING - Traveling & Dipping
Sep 20 (Thu): CHARLESTONS - Front-to-Back Turnabouts & Leapfrogs

Lindy Hop (July 5, Aug 2, Aug 16 & Sep 6)  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 classes offer something for everyone from the beginning to the more advanced dancer.  All 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.

Charlestons (July 19, Aug 9, Aug 30 & Sep 20)  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 mix 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, Front-to-Back, Kick-Away, and Free-Style Charlestons!  The Charleston classes offer something for everyone from the beginning to the more advanced dancer.  All 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.

East Coast Swing (July 26, Aug 16 & Sep 13)  The East-Coast Swing classes cover a variety of moves, steps, and techniques designed to make you a better dancer.  You'll learn a variety of turns, turning skills, multiple turns, and double turns.  You'll learn to swing with style, swing with a kick, travel, and dip.  You'll learn single-, double-, and triple-time footwork, plus a number of exciting moves!  You'll learn how to mix East Coast Swing with Lindy Hop and Charleston.  The East Coast Swing classes offer something for everyone from the beginning to the more advanced dancer.  All classes stand on their own; you need not take one to take any of the others; but the more you take, the better your swing dancing be!  There are no prerequisites, and no partner is needed.

Balboa Mini-Workshop (August 23)  Stop sitting out those ultra-fast songs -- learn to dance Balboa!  Balboa is a subtle & relaxed swing dance typically done in close position to fast-paced music.  It's known as a dancer's dance, with communication between partners via body lead and weight shift.  The footwork & moves range from simplistic to intricate, with enough variety to keep dancers of all levels entertained.  There are no prerequisites, and no partner is needed.  However, in this particular workshop only, each participant may choose to either rotate partners or to dance with the same partner the entire time.

Shim Sham Mini-Workshop (July 12)  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.


SUMMER GULFPORT CASINO LESSONS
FREE Swing Dance CLASSES!

This summer, we have a hot lineup of swing-dance classes at the Gulfport Casino!  Classes happen the hour before every event, and are free (with paid admission to the event); see the schedule below for dates and times.  Summer events include the Wednesday Gulfport Casino Swing Nights, the second-Friday-of-the-month Swing Time live-music/dance events, and the special Tuesday July 3rd dance celebration.  Each event starts with a dance lesson covering a different topic in East-Coast Swing, which means you'll learn new steps, moves, and techniques every lesson.  Plus, all of the Gulfport Casino classes are completely different from the classes offered at Centro Asturiano ...so anyone who attends both will get twice the knowledge and twice the fun!  All Gulfport Casino swing-dance classes offer something for everyone from the beginning to the more advanced dancer.  All classes stand on their own; you need not take one to take any of the others; but the more you take, the better your swing dancing will be!  There are no prerequisites, and no partner is needed.  Swing Time has been offering these wildly popular dance classes for over six years, with the goals of: giving newcomers the skills they need to dance the night away; giving experienced dancers a bigger and better repertoire with every lesson they take; and building the overall spirit and enjoyment of the dance experience!  In that time, tens of thousands of dancers have passed through the ranks, including some of the top dancers you see on the scene today.  Experience for yourself why these are the best attended and most popular dance classes in the state of Florida!

Jul  3 (Tue): 7-8pm
Jul 11 (Wed): 7-8pm
Jul 13 (Fri): 8-9pm
Jul 18 (Wed): 7-8pm
Jul 25 (Wed): 7-8pm
Aug  1 (Wed): 7-8pm
Aug  8 (Wed): 7-8pm
Aug 10 (Fri): 8-9pm
Aug 15 (Wed): 7-8pm
Aug 22 (Wed): 7-8pm
Aug 29 (Wed): 7-8pm
Sep  5 (Wed): 7-8pm
Sep 12 (Wed): 7-8pm
Sep 14 (Fri): 8-9pm
Sep 19 (Wed): 7-8pm


Swing Time! -- Upcoming Events
Click the links below for details on each event

   EVERY WEDNESDAY: Gulfport Casino Swing Night
                    Note:  Wednesday July 4th's Swing Night has been moved to Tuesday July 3rd
                    The Gulfport Casino will be closed July 4th for Independence Day

    EVERY THURSDAY: Swing Centro

Jul  3, 2007 (Tue): Gulfport Casino Swing Night
                     PRE-INDEPENDENCE-DAY SWING DANCE 
                     Free Watermelon! 

Jul 13, 2007 (Fri): Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino
                    featuring  Charlie Vegas & the New Blues Combo!
                    Tampa Bay's Most Exciting Swingin' Act!
                    Tickets: $11; purchase at the door

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


GET THE SWING NEWS Delivered to Your Email


© All contents of this web site (www.SwingNews.com) except where otherwise stated are Copyright 1998-2019 Retro Production Company with all rights reserved