Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News for January 5th 2010

Join us tonight -- Wednesday, January 6th -- for the Gulfport Casino Swing Night! (If you attended "Swingin' the New Year", be sure to use that free pass you were handed when you arrived, because it's good tonight only!) BLUES DANCE LESSONS START TONIGHT! Blues Dance instructor, Dan Rosenthal, has traveled the world over studying and dancing the blues. Now he shares his expertise on this exciting form of social dancing at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night! Come any week, or take all four for the full experience! Topics are:
Jan 6 - Three-Course Meal: Blues Basics, Connection, and Sweet Moves for Dessert Jan 13 - Learnin' the Moves: Blues-Tango Fusion, and Solo Vocabulary Jan 20 - Creating a Groove: Musicality, Stomps, and Stretch Jan 27 - Putting It All Together: Make Your Dancing Stand Out Blues Dance Lessons 6-7pm are followed by Swing Dance Lessons 7-8pm (taught by Sam & Carleene) 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)

SWINGIN' THE NEW YEAR / PHOTOS: A huge thank-you goes to all who attended last week's Swingin' the New Year celebration at the St. Petersburg Coliseum, and to all the staff, volunteers, and dancers who helped make it happen. With 1100+ dancers in the house, we did indeed set a new attendance record, making it the biggest swing-dance event in modern Florida history! We look forward to many years of swingin' to come! Below are links to preliminary photos & videos from the event. Please support our photographers by ordering prints of your favorites.
Robyn Haynes' Photos Dave Jervey's Photos Johnny Torrey's Photos Swingin' Katz's Video SWINGIN' THE NEW YEAR PRIZE DRAWING WINNERS: If your name appears below, you won a prize package of three free passes to swing dances around town. Also, the top four names below win a grand gift box of chocolates, cookies, and/or truffles! Joanne Masher, Leslie King, Pam Goebel, Lorie Gorneault, Stephen Craft, Paul DeCosmo, Chris Smith, Elaine Lennan, Diana Lawless, Jim Sutton

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Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino -- Please Enable Images in Your Email Program

Friday, January 15th, 2010
Swing Time! at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom
featuring Piano Superstar Mitch Woods
& his Rocket 88's!

Get ready to jump & boogie, rock & swing with internationally renowned piano superstar, Mitch Woods, and his band, the Rocket 88's! From swingin' New Orleans rhythm & blues dance grooves (in the style of Fats Domino), to swingin' high-energy originals, Mitch Woods & his Rocket 88's deliver music that'll make you want to jump up and dance! The event starts with a group swing-dance lesson, 8-9pm (no partner needed), followed by live music & dancing, 9:00pm-12:30am, plus a dance show at intermission. It all happens Friday, January 15th in the spectacular waterfront ballroom of the Gulfport Casino.

Boogie woogie pianist and vocalist, Mitch Woods, has been pumping the piano for over 25 years in the San Francisco Bay area. He's become a modern master of the eighty-eights, with wry vocals and thunderous chops that inspired legendary jump-bluesman Joe Liggins to tag him as "Mr. Rocket 88". He's recorded eight critically acclaimed CDs, and headlined some of the most prestigious clubs and music festivals in the world, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Amsterdam Blues Festival, and the Belgium Rhythm & Blues Festival, to name a few. He's played with, recorded with, and appeared in concert with a huge list of music legends including James Brown, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Neville Brothers, John Lee Hooker, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

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/ Mitch Woods & his Rocket 88's, 9:00pm-12:30am
Swing Dance Instruction (no partner needed), 8:00-9:00pm
Dance Show at Intermission
Doors Open 7:30pm

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

Tickets: Reserved Seating...$15/advance (must be purchased in advance)
Tickets: General Admission...$12/advance -or- $15/day of event
Purchase Advance Tickets Now securely online at www.SwingTime.info
-or- in person Wednesdays (1/6 or 1/13) at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night
Admission includes Free Lesson; Free Parking!

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

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

All courses at 1st Dance Studio
5098 66th St N, St. Petersburg Map
All courses instructed by Sam & Carleene

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 January, the 6pm Bonus Lesson topic is Blues Dancing
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