Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News for December 17th 2007

Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News

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Swing Time Newsletter — Monday DEC 17th 2007

Hi Everyone! Join us this Wednesday (Dec 19) at the Gulfport Casino and this Thursday (Dec 20) at Centro Asturiano for two big Christmas-themed swing-dance celebrations! (details below) ...and coming soon are two more HUGE events: Swing into the New Year! and Swing Time! ...featuring Roomful of Blues, 5-Time Grammy Award Nominees! Tickets are selling very quickly for these two huge events... already 115+ of the best seats have been sold! Get your advance tickets now! (See the end of this newsletter for full ticket information.) See you on the dance floor! --Sam

GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT !
Christmas Party this Wednesday December 19th!

By popular demand, we'll celebrate the Christmas season at this Wednesday's (December 19th) Swing Night, with refreshments and decor, plus we'll mix in the best of swingable holiday music! The whole City of Gulfport, especially the waterfront/Casino area, is beautifully decorated for the holidays,... and wait 'til you see the Casino itself, with beautiful lights and festive decor both inside & out!

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 $7 (includes Free Lesson)

[Map & Directions] [More Info]

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SWING CENTRO UPDATE
Special Christmas Holiday Dance! ...This Thursday DEC 20

A big THANK-YOU goes to everyone who turned out to Swing Centro the last couple of weeks! We have one more week -- this coming Thursday December 20th -- where we need as many people as possible to make a special effort to be there, so we can continue this night into 2008!

To thank you for your support of Swing Centro this past year, this Thursday (December 20th) is going to be a special holiday-themed dance to celebrate the Christmas season! We'll have some great refreshments, festive decor, and we'll mix in the best of swingable holiday music. Please spread the word, and bring as many people as you can!

For your friends that are new to swing dancing, get them started at the 7-8pm dance lesson, and they should be good to go the rest of the night! The last two weeks, we had a great crowd taking the lesson, and this week we'll cover some brand new steps & moves for everyone.

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]

Swing into the New Year!
NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION
Monday, December 31st, 2007
at the GULFPORT CASINO

December 31st, 2007, the Gulfport Casino hosts Tampa Bay's hottest New Year's Eve dance party... Swing into the New Year! This New Year's Eve celebration for all ages features tons of music and dancing, plus an intro swing-dance lesson, courtesy of Swing Time! The celebration includes a champagne toast, party favors, refreshments, prize giveaways, and an Art Exhibit by City of Imagination (a not-for-profit arts organization). Doors open at 7:30pm.

Music, Dancing & Celebration! 9pm-1am
Swing Dance Lesson: 8-9pm (no partner needed)
Champagne Toast, Party Favors, Refreshments
Midnight Countdown, Decor, Fun for All Ages!
Art Exhibit by City of Imagination
Vintage Costumes Optional

* All Ages * Smoke-Free * Cash Bar * Free Parking * Prizes! *

TICKETS only $15, while they last... Available at:
Gulfport Casino Swing Night: Every Wednesday, 7pm-Midnight
Gulfport Casino: 5500 Shore Blvd S, Gulfport, 9am-5pm M-F, 727-893-1070

This year, each ticket to Swing into the New Year! provides a reserved seat; groups should purchase tickets all at once, to reserve seating at the same table. Tickets for Swing into the New Year!, while they last, must be purchased in person at the Gulfport Casino front desk. Ticket hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, and Wednesdays 7pm-12 during the Gulfport Casino Swing Night. Phone 727-893-1070 for ticket inquiries. We recommend buying your tickets as far in advance as possible; last year, all tickets sold out days before the event!

The event is co-sponsored by The Gulfport Casino, City of Imagination, and Swing Time! The Gulfport Casino is located in the St. Petersburg area at 5500 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport FL 33707.

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

GET READY to JUMP, BOOGIE & SWING!
Swing Time! presents...
Roomful of Blues !!
5-Time Grammy Award Nominees
Live at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom
Friday, January 11th, 2008

Friday, January 11th, 2008, 5-Time Grammy Award Nominees Roomful of Blues play a special event at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, produced by Swing Time! A group swing-dance lesson kicks off the evening 8-9pm (no partner needed). Then it's time to jump, boogie & swing to the incredible horn-driven sound of Roomful of Blues, with live music & dancing 9pm-1am.

Roomful of Blues is a legendary band that's now celebrating its 40th Anniversary! Founded by Duke Robillard & Al Copley in 1967, the band has been in continuous motion ever since, recording 22 Albums, accumulating awards & accolades including 5 Grammy Award Nominations, touring the world many times over, and amazing audiences at every stop. Throughout its history, Roomful has consistently earned and maintained an unparalleled reputation for excellent musicianship. The band keeps a fresh edge by hiring only the best talent available to replace outgoing alumni. Their list of alumni is quite impressive (Ronnie Earl, Lou Ann Barton, Sugar Ray Norcia,...) and the band has recorded albums with music legends ranging from Big Joe Turner to Earl King to Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. Count Basie, himself, was a big fan of Roomful of Blues!

Today, Roomful's lineup is stronger than ever, with an amazing horn section that has won 6 W.C. Handy Awards (1998 & 2001-2005) for Best Instrumentals. Roomful's horn section is featured on albums by musical greats ranging from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Pat Benetar, Colin James, Mitch Woods, and Toni Lynn Washington (to name a few). In fact, when it comes to recording, the horn section is in such great demand that whenever you swing to your favorite tune, you just might be dancing to Roomful of Blues!

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/ Roomful of Blues, 9pm-1am
Swing Dance Instruction (no partner needed), 8-9pm

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

Tickets: Reserved Seating...$15/advance -or- $20/day of event
Tickets: Dancing Room Only...$12/advance -or- $15/day of event
Purchase Advance Tickets securely online at www.SwingTime.info
-or- in person Wednesdays at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night
-or- in person Thursdays at Swing Centro
Admission includes Free Lesson; Free Parking!

Click Here for TICKET INFO or to PURCHASE TICKETS
Want Seating? We highly recommend you purchase advance tickets now!

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

SPECIAL TICKET INFORMATION for 12/31 & 1/11 EVENTS

Dec 31, 2007 (Mon): Swing into the New Year! at the Gulfport Casino

This year, each ticket to Swing into the New Year! provides a reserved seat. Groups should purchase tickets all at once, to reserve seating at the same table. Tickets for Swing into the New Year!, while they last, must be purchased in person at the Gulfport Casino front desk. Ticket hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, and Wednesdays 7pm-12 during the Gulfport Casino Swing Night. Phone 727-893-1070 for ticket inquiries. No online tickets will be sold for Swing into the New Year!, and no other ticket outlets are currently provided. We recommend buying your tickets as far in advance as possible; last year, all tickets sold out days before the event!

Jan 11, 2008 (Fri): Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino featuring Roomful of Blues!!

For January 11th's Swing Time! event featuring Roomful of Blues, about half of the available tickets will be RESERVED SEAT tickets, and the other half will be GENERAL ADMISSION (Dancing Room Only) tickets. Both types of tickets are available now securely online, or at any prior Gulfport Casino or Centro Asturiano swing events. Reserved-Seat tickets buy you a seat at a table, and these tickets are sold on a best-available basis, meaning the earlier you purchase your tickets, the better (closer to the action) your seats will be. Want Seating? We highly recommend you purchase advance tickets now! General-Admission tickets admit one person to the event, on a dancing/standing-room-only basis, meaning no seat and no table are provided. This is perfect for dancers who dance all night, or people who like to go around the hall and socialize. There will be areas for General Admission ticket holders to congregate, mingle, enjoy a drink, and set down drinks, dance shoes, etc. There will also be 5000 square feet of dance floor open for dancing! If you want to sit, however, buy a "Reserved Seat Ticket" instead.

UPCOMING SWING TIME EVENTS
Click the links below for details on each event

EVERY WEDNESDAY: Gulfport Casino Swing Night

EVERY THURSDAY: Swing Centro

Dec 31, 2007 (Mon): Swing into the New Year! at the Gulfport Casino
A NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION for ALL AGES !
Tickets only $15, while they last...
Click here for Ticket Info

Jan 11, 2008 (Fri): Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino
    featuring Roomful of Blues!!
    World's Greatest Jump-Blues Band!
    5-Time Grammy Award Nominees!!
    Tickets: Reserved Seating...$15/advance -or- $20/day of event
    Tickets: Dancing Room Only...$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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