Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News for March 16th 2009

Hi Everyone! This Wednesday (March 18th), celebrate Frankie Week at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night, with Shim Sham Lesson 6-7pm, followed by Swing Dance Lesson 7-8pm, and Swing Music & Dancing 8-11pm. It's the granddaddy of swing, Frankie Manning's, 95th birthday, so join swing scenes from around the world to honor Frankie in a Global Shim Sham! Dress in your swingin'est attire. Former Newschannel 8 cameraman, Jim Webb (who has started his own digital audio & video company called The Webb Works), will be in the house filming the entire performance. Jim will upload his final video to YouTube (where you can view it), and he'll then submit it to the global video compilation to be played at Frankie's Birthday Festival in NYC in May! To get additional camera angles, Jim is asking anyone with a digital video camera to bring it (and optionally a tripod) this Wednesday. See Jim Wednesday to coordinate and also to download your video to his computer. Don't know the Shim Sham? Need to brush up? Take the 6pm Lesson this Wednesday! Note: A main portion of the video recording will happen at 9pm during the dance. But while it's still daylight, we will also shoot video, both inside and outside the Casino, toward the end of the Shim Sham lesson (around 6:45pm). So get there during the Shim Sham lesson if you can; otherwise, get there before 9pm. See you Wednesday! --Sam

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

Shim Sham 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

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Swing Time! at Centro Asturiano in Tampa
Friday March 27th 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 Event Full Bar Available

Map & Directions Dance Lesson More Info

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Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom
Friday, April 3rd, 2009
featuring... THE JUKE JOINT KINGS
Hot & Jumpin' Swing Band!

Friday, April 3rd, 2009 is Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom, an exciting evening of live music and swing dancing, featuring The Juke Joint Kings! Kicking off the event is a group swing-dance lesson, 8-9pm (no partner needed). Then it's time to swing, with live music & dancing, 9:00pm-12:30am, plus a dance contest at intermission with $100 Cash 1st Prize!

The Juke Joint Kings are a hot five-piece jump/blues outfit, complete with piano, vocals, harmonica, guitar, bass & drums. Band members are music veterans with well over 100 years of professional experience between them. Different members have played with or opened for a who's who list of blues/musical greats, including Etta James, Koko Taylor, Bobby Blue Bland, Marshall Tucker Band, Luther Allison, Lonnie Brooks, Albert King, Son Seals, Rock Bottom, Ronnie Earl, Hubert Sumlin, and Mighty Joe Young. The Juke Joint Kings know how to swing, and are bringing it live to the upcoming Swing Time!

Swing Time is Florida's Premier Swing Event, held one Friday each 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 Juke Joint Kings, 9pm-12:30am
Swing Dance Instruction (no partner needed), 8-9pm
Swing Dance Contest (with a Twist) at Intermission -- $100 Cash 1st Prize!

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, phone 813-274-4950, visit www.SwingTime.info on the web, or click the links below:
[Band Bio] [Contest] [Map & Directions] [More Info]

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