********************************************************************** Swing News, Tuesday 7/21/98, Issue #13 Send submissions to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send all other e-mail to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone, It's not easy to follow up last weekend's four-day swing binge -- all very entertaining and well attended shows I might add. It was great to see so many familiar faces and so many talented and energetic dancers! This weekend's lineup promises some great music and dance as well. Featured events are Friday's sockhop at the Coliseum and Saturday's Rocket 88 show at the Sugar Palm. Hope to see you out there. Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS FRIDAY (July 24) Let's try something a little bit different. The Coliseum in St Pete is hosting an oldies rock 'n roll dance, featuring music of the 50's and early 60's by the Sevilles. So put on your best dress t-shirt or other greaser duds or whatever you want (no dress code here!), bring your favorite drinks and snacks (booze and coolers are permitted), and head over early so we can all be at the same table(s). We'll meet in or near the ticket line at 7:15pm. Look for Michelle Gilbert, Sam Mahfoud, other familiar faces, or for the black and white balloons we'll be holding -- not a giant bouquet, just a few balloons. Tickets correspond to specific tables and seats, but if you get there early, we should be able to get seats at the same tables. If you show up later, you'll technically end up at another table, but just look for the table with the black & white balloons -- no one will be sitting that much, anyway, with the dance floor beckoning. Other Details: * Doors open at 7:30pm. Music starts at 8:00pm. * Admission is $11. * Nonsmoking, BYOB, BYO food. * Largest (and some say the best) dance floor in the Bay area * Phone 892-5202 (10am-4pm M-F) for more information * 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. For those who can't stop dancing, the Sugar Palm's Friday swing night in Ybor will be going to about 3am. Swing DJ Belinda Montgomery provides the music. Phone 248-5549. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS SATURDAY (July 25) Rocket 88 returns to the Sugar Palm! * Swing DJ Matt Mikas during breaks * Free Beginner's Dance Lessons 9:00-10:30pm * Admission $7 for ages 21 and up, $9 for ages 18-20 * 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. Also on Saturday, the Summer Swing Series continues at the Coliseum: * Abe Guard and the "Music of Your Life" Orchestra play swing and other ballroom dance * Starts at 8pm * $7 in advance or $9 at the door * Nonsmoking & BYOB * Call 892-5202 for tickets (10am-4pm M-F) or other info ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND Wed Jul 29: Dan Electro and the Silvertones at Old Hyde Park Village Fri Aug 21: Rocket 88 at Largo Cultural Center; 587-6793 Fri Aug 21: Dan Electro and the Silvertones at Sugar Palm; 248-5549 Sat Aug 22: Dan Electro and the Silvertones at Sugar Palm; 248-5549 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 Tue Jul 28: The Brian Setzer Orchestra at House of Blues; 407-934-2583 Fri Aug 7: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Pleasure Island; 407-824-4321 Sat Aug 8: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Pleasure Island; 407-824-4321 Andrew writes: I hereby rescind all previous positive comments about Atlantic Dance Hall in Orlando. This past Monday night we drove all the way over there only to wait in line for like an hour. When we finally did get in, the dance floor was full of people just standing around!! So there was no room to dance at all. This has become a hangout for college-aged Disney employees on their off night. The typical phrase of the crowd is "wow you guys look soooo cute with your little hats" or "hey i really liked that twisty thing you did ... show me?" It was a great place, but too many people have found out about it and, unfortunately, none of them are actually swing dancers. Lara Green adds: Just to let everyone know, I went to check out Atlantic Dance Hall on Monday.... There were a few great dancers there and we just pushed through the crowd and tried some swing. Again, there were so many people on the dance floor not dancing, which made it very difficult to dance at all, much less try any new moves or jumps. We were stepped on, pushed aside by tourists. In Atlantic's defense, it is on Disney property and it is free. But, if you actually want to do some dancing, I suggest you find something a little closer to home so if you're disappointed, you did not waste the hour getting there. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ALL AGES SUNDAY SWING The Sugar Palm is now hosting swing dances for all ages every Sunday evening, 6-10pm. Last Sunday's kickoff with band Jet Set Six from NYC was well attended. This Sunday, it's DJ Belinda spinning the tunes. Call 248-5549 for more info. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEW Hello all !!! Stephanie here. I'm back to tell you about the New Morty Show. They performed at the State Theatre last Thursday, July 16th. WHAT A SHOW !!!!! They began with a few instrumentals before introducing their singers, Vice Grip and Kat Starr, who were quite characteristic and a great duo. Dare I mention the names of Louie and Keely in the same breath as Vice and Kat?? Kat sang some sultry torch songs and hammed it up with Vice during their climactic set. By the end of the evening the band had the sparse crowd worked into a frenzy. They did a swingin' version of White Wedding, along with No Feelings by the Sex Pistols, Sedated by the Ramones, and a skankin' ska tune. I must admit that I was truly MORTYFIED !!! They promised to come back and bless us with another performance so keep your eyes peeled. It'll be a show not to be missed. Check out their web site at http://www.newmortyshow.com . And also, stay tuned for my pre-show interview with the band. It will be on public access in about a month. We'll announce the date / time when it's confirmed. Keep swingin' . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SWINGMANSHIP: Realistic Ettiquite for Today's Social Dancer With James Norman (Copyright James Norman, 1998) Howdy, Swingeroos! This one is for the ladies (or "followers," as I recently learned to be politically correct). Since I started social dancing in 1971, it's rather difficult to remember being a beginner. But, I can vaguely remember how painful it was to ask young women to dance, and how humiliating it could be to take correction from my partner while we were dancing. Please allow me to generalize: Ladies, given a choice, most men would rather watch sports on TV than go dancing. Making the switch from a macho, self-absorbed, jock-oriented, womanless lifestyle, to an evolved, well-rounded, more "sensative" lifestyle can be extremely difficult. This man is rare. He needs nurture. He has just come from a world where he received much criticism from the opposite sex regarding his choices -- please don't criticise him on the dance floor. For this man to go out and dance after a few lessons is really a small miracle. So, swingin' hep woman, be gentle with my gender -- these men are making tremendous strides to evolve -- let them lead the entire dance without giving them a lesson. After that you can say something clever like, "thanks for dancing with me, if you want to go in the side room, I'd like it if you would teach me that one move ..." *Then* you can teach him (we both know he needs it) and, perhaps, he'll think he's not such a bad dancer after all. In order for this beautiful swing movement to continue, we need the first-timers to become regulars -- try not to scare them ;-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS Tue at 7:00pm: Abdul Mohammed, Beginning/Intermediate, North Tampa, Rhapsody Ballroom, 12101 N 56th St (just N. of Fowler), $5, 985-6570. Beginners at 7:00; Intermediate at 8:00. Wed at 7:00pm: James & Arleene Norman, Beginning, St Pete, Right Step Dance Studio, 2319 9th St N, St Petersburg, $30 for 4 classes, Phone 821-9420 or e-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . This series of 4 lessons starts August 26. Class will be closed after first day (no drop-ins). 1 hour. Thu at 7:00pm: James & Arleene Norman, Beginning. This series of 4 lessons starts Aug 20. Other details same as above. Thu at 8:00pm: James & Arleene Norman, Beginning Lindy Hop, This series of 4 lessons starts Aug 20. Prerequisite: some prior partner-dancing experience; music training is also helpful. Other details same as above. Thu at 8:00pm: Connie Gee, Beginning/Intermed, Ybor City, Sugar Palm, Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St, $8, 248-5549. 1 hour. Fri at 8:00pm: Connie Gee, Beginning/Intermed, Ybor City, Sugar Palm, Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St, $5, 248-5549. 1 hour. Sun, Aug 9th: 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 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 . **********************************************************************