Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News for September 13th 2016

This Saturday afternoon, September 17th, is Lindy Hop Boot Camp III in Tampa. Get your registrations in. Register online right now, or in person at Wednesday's Gulfport Casino Swing Night. Registration is $30 by Friday at 5:00pm, or $35 at Simone Salsa on Saturday, and includes admission to that night's Saturday Swing dance! This month's Boot Camp covers Charleston moves in Lindy Hop, with two levels of instruction offered. Full details are below.

This Saturday night, September 17th, is Saturday Swing in Tampa, with Swing Dancing 9pm-12:00, plus Blues Dancing starting at midnight! Join us at 8pm, prior to the dance, for the Swing Dance Lesson, featuring special guest instructors, Dominic & Jocelyn. $10 Admission includes everything — the lesson, the swing dancing, and the blues dancing. Featured DJs are Dominic Howarth and Kyle Butler spinning the swing, and DJ Sam spinning the blues. All ages are welcome, no partners are needed, and prizes are drawn at intermission. Full details are below.

Breaking News — The Jive Aces headline this year's Swingin' the New Year celebration at the spectacular St. Petersburg Coliseum! Tickets go on sale October 1st.

Upcoming Lessons/Instructors at Ballroom Fusion Night:
OCT 09 (Sun): West-Coast/Cha Cha Fusion Lessons with Tina Castle & Russ Morris NOV 13 (Sun): Carolina Shag Lessons with Renee Lipman

This Saturday, September 17th, Swing Time presents Lindy Hop Boot Camp III, an intensive workshop that gives you the benefit of an entire four-week Lindy Hop course, all in one afternoon! This month's Boot Camp covers Charleston moves in Lindy Hop. Two levels are offered, with instructors determining your appropriate level. Lindy Hop Boot Camp happens 2-6pm at Simone Salsa, 8336 W Hillsborough Ave in Tampa. No partners needed.

Registration is $30 through Friday at 5:00pm (Advance Registration), or $35 at the door (Day of Event). Register online right now to save $5. Lindy Hop Boot Camp is followed by the Saturday Swing evening dance, which is included in the price of your Boot Camp registration.

Level 1 (Beginning) — Learn Charleston Moves for Lindy Hop. No prior experience needed. Learn all of the major Charleston moves, positions, and variations in Lindy Hop, including Closed-Position, Side-to-Side, Hand-to-Hand, and Tandem Charleston, with dozens of moves/steps/variations in all! Learn good footwork, partnering, armwork, and posture. Level 1 features four hours of intensive instruction, drills, and practice, taking you step by step through the fundamental moves of Lindy-Charleston. Level 1 is taught by Sam Mahfoud & Teresa Ullman. (Click for instructor info.)

Level 2 (Intermediate) — Advance & Improve Your Lindy-Charleston. Level 2 is for dancers already proficient at Charleston (who can skillfully dance the Level 1 material). Learn intermediate-level Lindy-Charleston variations, entrances and exits, including flashy moves commonly seen in competitions! Expand and improve your Charleston footwork, partnering, armwork, and posture. Level 2 is taught by Tom Blair & Andrea Kugelman. (Click for instructor info.)

SCHEDULE:
1:30-2:00pm – Doors Open, Registration, Warm Up 2:00-6:00pm – Boot Camp (includes breaks & practice time) 6:00-8:00pm – Dinner Break 8:00-9:00pm – Saturday Swing Dance Lesson (optional) 9:00 onward – Saturday Swing Dance

This Saturday, September 17th is Saturday Swing in Tampa, with Swing Dancing 9pm-12:00, plus Blues Dancing Starting at Midnight! Join us at 8pm, prior to the dance, for the Swing Dance Lesson. $10 Admission includes both the lesson and the dance. All ages are welcome, no partners are needed, and prizes are given away at intermission. Doors open 7:45pm. Saturday Swing happens the 3rd Saturday of every month at Simone Salsa studio, 8336 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33615.

Simone Salsa's main studio on Hillsborough Avenue features awesome atmosphere, lighting, sound, and a large smooth hardwood dance floor. Address — It's located in the Home Design Plaza shopping center at 8336 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33615. Parking — Simone Salsa has a big free parking lot just a few feet from its entrance. Drinks — You can BYO beverages to this venue. Bottled water and soft drinks are also available for purchase; they're in the kitchen's cooler; just drop a dollar per drink in the fishbowl.

Saturday September 24th, the Carrollwood Cultural Center hosts a Big-Band Dance & Concert with live music by the Sounds of Swing Orchestra. Dancing runs 7:45-10:00pm. Swing Time opens the event with dance lessons 6:30-7:45pm. Tickets are $12-$18. Get $13 tickets ($3 off) if you mention "Swing Time" when buying your tickets (phone or box office purchases only; discount deadline 6pm day before event). Visit the Cultural Center's link above for tickets or more information. The Carrollwood Cultural Center is located at 4537 Lowell Rd, Tampa, FL 33618; Phone 813-269-1310.

Saturday September 24th is the 3rd Annual Celebrate Sinatra St. Petersburg. One of Tampa Bay's premier parties, this black-tie optional affair happens at the historic Vinoy Hotel, 501 5th Ave NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701. (See Jim Webb's video from a prior Celebrate Sinatra.) Celebrate the life and music of Frank Sinatra with dancing 9pm-1am to the sounds of Andy Stefano's big-band orchestra with male and female vocalists. The event runs 8pm-1am and features passed hors d'oeuvres, complimentary signature vodka martinis the first hour, a cash bar, casino gaming tables, and valet parking. Celebrate Sinatra recreates an era of style and sophistication. Join Swing Time and a who's who list of Tampa Bay personalities for this celebration! Reserve your admission now. Admission is $85 if purchased by September 21st; $100 after or at the door. It's open to ages 21 and up. Visit www.CelebrateSinatra.com or phone 813-251-0500 for tickets or more information.

Sunday, October 9th, is Ballroom Fusion Night at the Gulfport Casino, with West-Coast Swing Lesson 6-7pm, West-Coast/Cha Cha Fusion Lesson 7-8pm, and Dancing 8-11pm. Swing Time welcomes special guest instructors, Tina Castle & Russ Morris, who will teach the lessons prior to the dance. All social dancers from a diversity of dance scenes, ranging from Ballroom to Swing to Latin/Salsa to West-Coast to Tango to Blues and more, are invited to attend and help create this partner-dancing fusion.

LESSONS 6-8PM
West-Coast Swing: 6-7pm
West-Coast/Cha Cha Fusion: 7-8pm
Special Guest Instructors, Tina Castle & Russ Morris

DANCING 8-11PM
8-10pm: Modern Ballroom Dance Mix
10-11pm: Fusion Mix...Anything Goes

All Ages No Partners Needed Admission $8 (Students $5) Door Prizes

Ballroom Fusion Night is partnered social dancing "outside the box", featuring lessons and music for today's most popular partner dances, plus exciting new dance music! Ballroom Fusion Night is held the 2nd Sunday of every month at the Gulfport Casino.

The Gulfport Casino Ballroom is one of the world's top dance destinations, offering social dance excitement in a picturesque beachfront setting. It features a rich history, a grand dance floor, a full bar, a smoke-free atmosphere, and free parking. The Gulfport Casino Ballroom is located in the St. Petersburg, Florida area at 5500 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport, FL 33707. Map & Directions