********************************************************************** Swing News, Tuesday 6/23/98, Issue #9 Send submissions to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send all other e-mail to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey everyone, This Friday at the Sugar Palm promises to be another great one. Saturday's swing/contra dance looks to be lots of fun as well. If you haven't yet tried contra, I highly recommend this Saturday's dance -- in fact, I'll be supplying much of the swing music. Contra is not only easy to learn, but it's a good starting point for other types of dance. People are very friendly and many are excellent dancers. Some, like myself, are even Sugar-Palm swing-night regulars. What more can I say? -- you'll have to experience it for yourself. This Saturday is also the kickoff of the Summer Swing Series at the Coliseum, which came well recommended by James Norman in a prior Swing News. There's also Saturday's swing night at the Sugar Palm which, for those with legs of steel, should run much later than the other events this Saturday. Check out the other good stuff in this newsletter and have a fine weekend! Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS FRIDAY (June 26) AT THE SUGAR PALM * Live Swing by Denise Moore and Then Some * Dance Contest Finals at 11pm: Those who qualified the previous three weeks will dance it off. Winners and runners up get valuable prizes, including $500, a cruise, and most importantly, a nameplate on the Glitterball of Glory trophy. * Swing Showoff at midnight: Any couple can own the floor for a song! * Swing DJ during breaks * Free Beginner's Dance Lessons 9:00-10:30pm * Admission $7 * Doors Open at 9pm The Sugar Palm Ballroom has a large floating-wood dance floor, is nonsmoking (with adjacent rooms provided for smokers), and is located at the corner of Palm Ave and 15th St in Ybor City. Phone 248-5549. Directions: Take I-4 to Exit 1, go south about 2 blocks, turn right on Palm Ave, and go to 15th St. The Sugar Palm's on the left. Turn left and pay to park or turn right and park on the street. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS SATURDAY (June 27) Swing and Contra Dance at the Pinellas Park Auditorium * The evening starts off with swing music and dancing at 6pm, followed by a contra-dance beginners lesson at 7:30pm, and contra dancing at 8pm. At intermission, there's more swing plus some waltz, followed by more contra dancing to 11:30pm. * Live contra band (Irish/old-time music); swing CDs and tapes * All ages welcome / No experience or partner necessary * Free snacks provided, but many people bring a bottle of water * $5 admission; $3 for full-time students * Nonsmoking / Large wooden dance floor * Casual dress recommended (wear whatever's comfortable) * More info: 852-9150 or http://innet.com/~bdudley/tampadance.html * Address: 7690 59th St N, Pinellas Park * Directions: Take I-275 to Exit 15. Go west on Gandy and continue across US 19 onto Park Blvd. Cross the RR tracks, turn right onto 59th St N, cross the tracks again, and Auditorium's on the left. Summer Swing Series at the St Pete Coliseum * The Charly Raymond Orchestra plays swing and other ballroom dance * Starts at 8pm * $7 in advance or $9 at the door * Nonsmoking & BYOB * Largest (and some say the best) dance floor in the Bay area * Call 892-5202 for tickets (10am-4pm M-F) or other info * Address: 535 4th Ave N, St Pete * Directions: Take I-275 to the I-375 downtown exit. It's at the bottom of the ramp where I-375 ends. Swing at the Sugar Palm * The 42nd Street Little Big Band returns * Starts at 9pm and goes to about 2am ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND Sat Jul 4: Swingerhead at Sugar Palm; 248-5549 Fri Jul 10: Johnny Cool & The Mobster Swing Band at Largo Cultural Center; 587-6793 Fri Jul 10: Swing Night at Sugar Palm; 248-5549 Lindy Hop Introductory Workshop 8-10pm, by Lee Holton: "The REAL Big Band Swing"; Info: 935-7458 or 933-0946 Sat Jul 25: Abe Guard with "Music of Your Life" Orchestra at Coliseum 892-5202; Part of Summer Swing Series Wed Jul 29: Dan Electro and the Silvertones at Old Hyde Park Village Fri Jul 31: Rocket 88 at Skipper's Smokehouse; 971-0666 Fri Aug 21: Rocket 88 at Largo Cultural Center; 587-6793 Sat Aug 29: Charly Raymond Orchestra at Coliseum; 892-5202 Part of Summer Swing Series Sat Sep 26: Abe Guard with "Music of Your Life" Orchestra at Coliseum 892-5202; Part of Summer Swing Series ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ORLANDO Sun Jul 5: Royal Crown Revue at Pleasure Island Tue Jul 28: The Brian Seltzer Orchestra at House of Blues Sat Aug 8: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Pleasure Island Sun Aug 9: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Pleasure Island Thanks to Holly and Jason for sending in the above info. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HELP! I am stuck here in Asheville N.C. for the summer and if anyone knows of a place that swings please oh please send me a phone number! Randy Moss XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCAL SWING WEB SITES Here's an updated list: Tampa Bay: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stadium/3409 Sarasota: http://members.tripod.com/~SwingDanceNetwork/index.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEW Thanks to Pam Callender for sending in the following review of last Saturday at the Sugar Palm. Here's a reminder that everyone's invited to send in reviews! --Sam What a trip! DZ performed with his staff from Boca Raton to a full house Saturday night at Sugar Palm and, just as I expected, it was a rockin' show. DZ's choreography was, as usual, fast paced, great moves and left us wanting more. The workshop was greatly attended and covered patterns in leg work and swivels. That's one of DZ's most entertaining attributes. His legs keep the beat like a great drummer. It's hard to keep up. But his dancers were well rehearsed and gave us a lot of material to ponder. DZ and his company will be in Sarasota at Spats in October with this swing show, so if you missed this performance, stay tuned. See you Friday. --Pam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS Tue at 6:45pm: Abdul Mohammed, Beginning/Intermediate, North Tampa, Rhapsody Ballroom, 12101 N 56th St (just N. of Fowler), $5, 985-6570. Beginners at 6:45; Intermediate at 7:30. Fri at 8:00pm: Connie Gee, Beginning/Intermediate, Ybor City, Sugar Palm, Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St, $8, 248-5549. 1 hour. Sun, Jul 12th: Frank Ingo, Beginners 6:45-7:30pm, Intermediate/Advanced 7:30-9:30pm, South Tampa, 3601 S. Manhatten, $8 or $25 for 4 lessons, 835-5804. Beginners can practice or watch after their class; advanced dancers can practice at 6:45. Also Aug 9 & Sep 13. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Swing News Submissions are not only welcome, but required to keep this newsletter going. Send them to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . The deadline for each Tuesday issue is Sunday at 2pm. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions or to select based on relevance. Be sure to call and confirm events before going! The SwinGang is a network of swing dancers and other swingsters, committed to promoting swing events in places with large, smoke-free or open-air dance areas; to encouraging great music & instruction; to building a united swing community; and to publishing this newsletter! E-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . **********************************************************************