Tampa Bay's Swing Dance News for July 15th 2008

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Dear Swingsters, A big THANK-YOU goes to the many hundreds of dancers who turned out last Wednesday & Friday for the Gulfport Casino Swing Night and the Swing Time!/Centro Asturiano event. You all made these events a blast! Now get ready to dance this Wednesday and experience the excitement again at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night! The summer's now in full swing, and each Wednesday brings great crowds and great fun! Read on for full details, and get the scoop on our brand new Wednesday Swing Night flyers, our next dance contest, recent photos, plus a preview of Friday August 1st's Swing Time! live-band event at Centro Asturiano. Mark your calendars now, and we'll see you Wednesday! --Sam & Allison

NEW FLYERS! -- GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT
GRAB A FEW & HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

The Wednesday Gulfport Casino Swing Night now has a beautiful new flyer you can use to tell others about the night! The front design and photography are by graphic artist, Diane Dempsey, with the words "It's Swing Time!" and the photo of a dancer getting ready to enter the dance. On the flip side is the info for the Gulfport Casino Swing Night.... and all this on a card just bigger than a business card... the perfect size for carrying a few in your wallet or purse. We encourage everyone to grab as many of these flyers as they can give out, and help spread the word about the Wednesday Gulfport Casino Swing Night... because the more dancers, the merrier, and we've always found that in addition to our efforts promoting the night, the best advertising is always word of mouth.

GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT
EVERY WEDNESDAY in Gulfport (St. Petersburg, FL)

The Gulfport Casino Swing Night is a high-energy social-dance event, happening in a beautiful retro-era grand dance hall -- the Gulfport Casino -- that beckons all who venture near to come inside and swing! Now in its 10th year, this every-Wednesday Swing Night has become one of the biggest swing dances in the USA, attracting hundreds of dancers of all ages, both locals and often visiting travelers.

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)

The Gulfport Casino is located in the St. Petersburg area at 5500 Shore Blvd. S., Gulfport FL 33707. For more info, visit www.SwingTime.info on the web, or click the links below:

[Map & Directions] [More Info]

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Friday, August 1st, 2008
Swing Time! at Centro Asturiano in Tampa
featuring Charlie Vegas & the New Blues Combo
The Kings of Retro Swinging Blues!

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, August 1st at Centro Asturiano in Tampa, starting with a group swing-dance lesson, 8-9pm (no partner needed), followed by live music & dancing, 9pm-1am, plus a Dance Contest at intermission with $100 Cash 1st Prize! All ages are welcome!

Swing Time is Florida's Premier Swing Event, held one Friday each month at Centro Asturiano in Tampa. Centro Asturiano is located at 1913 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa FL 33602 (at the corner of Palm Ave. & Nebraska Ave. in Ybor City).

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Live Music & Dancing w/ Charlie Vegas & the New Blues Combo, 9pm-1am
Swing Dance Instruction (no partner needed), 8-9pm
Swing Dance Contest (with a Twist) at Intermission -- $100 Cash 1st Prize!

All Ages & Smoke-Free
Exciting Social Atmosphere
Fabulous Vintage Grand Ballroom
Huge Floating-Wood Dance Floor
Prize Giveaways
Full Bar

$11 Admission includes Free Lesson; Free Gated Parking

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

Coming Friday, August 1st, to the Grand Ballroom of Centro Asturiano in Tampa is Swing Time! ...Florida's Premier Swing Event, featuring Charlie Vegas & the New Blues Combo! A HUGE dance contest happens at band intermission -- The Swing Dance Contest with a Twist! 1st Place is $100 Cash! Plus, we have great prizes for 2nd and 3rd place too. You've never seen a dance contest like this before! Last month's contest was wild and exciting, with finalists being matched up with each other's partners! What's the twist this time? You'll have to be there to see!

How does it work? First of all, entry is FREE to all those who attend the Swing Time! event. Enter with your favorite dance partner (but if you don't have one, we'll match up people right then & there who want to enter). Step onto the dance floor at contest time (around 10:15pm, at band intermission). We choose the music and all contestants dance simultaneously to 2-3 song clips (60-90s each) ranging from slow to fast. Judges and audience pick the top three couples to advance to the finals. In the finals comes the twist! -- a little surprise to infuse some more fun & excitement into the contest AND tell us who are the best dancers!

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