********************************************************************** Swing News, Tuesday 3/30/99, Issue #32, (Next Issue, 4/6/99) Send submissions to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send all other e-mail to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear swingers, Welcome to another action-packed issue of Swing News! The big news this week -- the Sugar Palm is shutting its doors, after a wild ride that lasted a full year. (See the article/editorial towards the end of this issue for details.) Let's all bid them farewell this Saturday, with house-band Dan Electro and the Silvertones. Does this mean the end of swing in Tampa Bay? Not by a long shot! Check out this month's huge lineup of events, starting with this weekend's swing binge, or Swing Binge II, I should call it. Last July brought a Thu-Sun weekend lineup of the New Morty Show, the 42nd Street Band, Rocket 88, and Jet Set Six. This weekend, it's a Fri-Sun lineup of the Mighty Blue Kings & Rocket 88, Dan Electro and the Silvertones, and the Love Dogs. Now more than ever, it's important for our swing community to stay connected; that's one of the fundamental purposes of this newsletter. Know anyone who's into swing but doesn't yet receive Swing News? Get them on the distribution list by e-mailing XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Have you been to a memorable swing event or seen a band you liked? Send your (preferably short) review to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS WEEKEND This Friday (Apr 2), The Mighty Blue Kings from Chicago return to the Tampa Bay area for a concert at The Rubb, with Orlando band Rocket 88 opening. Vince writes, "The Mighty Blue Kings haven't been in town for almost a year and a half. Catch 'em while you can." Sam writes, "Last time this band played The Rubb, there was little swing, to speak of, in the Tampa Bay area; the stage area was packed with their fans and I remember dancing in the loft upstairs; a lot of people have learned swing since then, so expect it to be jumping". Details: * All ages show * 8pm to midnight * Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 the day of * Smoking allowed * Mighty Blue Kings' Web Site: http://www.epiccenter.com/EpicCenter/custom/975/ * 1507 E 7th Ave in Ybor City * Phone 813-247-6234 for more info Also Friday (Apr 2), local upstarts Bombed Out Cat play the Sugar Palm Club. [I've heard some very good things about this band, so check 'em out after The Rubb show; maybe they'll play a late set -- hint, hint.] * Ages 18+ * 8:00pm to 2:30am * $8 admission (cheaper after midnight) * Free lessons, with admission: - East Coast Beginners: 8-9pm - East Coast Intermediate: 9-10pm * Swing show-off: any couple can sign up to take the floor all to themselves and dance their favorite song for the crowd * Nonsmoking ballroom, with adjacent rooms provided for smokers * Large wooden dance floor * Dress code enforced: "Shorts, sneakers, sports sandals, & baseball caps are not allowed. Sloppy jeans, t-shirts and tank tops are discouraged. Vintage dress is always welcome!" -- The Sugar Palm * For more info, call 813-248-5549 or visit www.SugarPalmClub.com * Directions: Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St in Ybor City. 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. Saturday (Apr 3), it's farewell to the Sugar Palm as we know it. Locals Dan Electro and the Silvertones, the same band that ushered in the Sugar Palm Ballroom's first regular swing night last April (Fri 4/17/98 to be exact), will help send them out in style. Details are the same as Friday's, except there's no intermediate east-coast lesson. Instead, Lindy Hop lessons will run 7-8pm (beginning) and 8-9pm (intermediate); each Lindy lesson costs $5. Sunday (Apr 4), The Love Dogs, a huge swing band in the Boston area -- sort of a middle ground between a Rocket 88 and a Jet Set Six -- take the stage at Skipper's Smokehouse in north Tampa. Skipper's writes: "One of the most exciting and original swing bands on the planet. A crazy front man, multiple vocalists, a pumpin' rhythm section, and horns in every shape & size -- these Dogs are hard to resist. Humor and finesse, rich lyrics, double entendres, and musical surprises from slow, soulful ballads to frenzied uptempo burners..." * 5pm show * $6 cover * Ages 18+ (under 18 admitted if accompanied by a parent) * Outdoor concert area (aka The Skipperdome) features giant oak trees, covered tiki deck, benches, and picnic tables. Food from Skipper's restaurant (Florida/Carribean/Louisiana menu) can be brought in, as can drinks from the bar. * The main dancefloor is a piece of plywood over sand next to the stage. Other dance areas are available on the wooden decks, depending on the size of the crowd and the event. * Skipper Rd & Nebraska in North Tampa * Phone 813-971-0666 or http://mbus.com/clubs/Skippers.Smokehouse ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEXT WEEKEND AND BEYOND Tue Apr 13: Becky Palmer & The Swing Mambos at Skipper's; 813-971-0666 Fri Apr 16: Denise Moore + Bombed Out Cat at Coliseum; 727-892-5202 Sat Apr 17: Swingin' Mooks at Mainsail Arts Festival in Straub Park Fri Apr 23: The Ray Gelato Giants at Gulfport Casino; 727-821-9420 Fri Apr 30: Swingin' Mooks at Station Square Park, downtown Clearwater Fri Jun 4: Swingerhead at Coliseum; 727-892-5202 Jive legend Ray Gelato, "a fixture on the European jazz festival circuit for more than 15 years, brings his HOT, HOT six-piece band Stateside for their first American tour. The Gulfport Casino is his first stop!" [event flyer] If you like Louis Prima, this is the band to see. This all-ages event is Fri Apr 23 at 8pm with free swing beginner's lessons 7-8pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. If we support it, this event will be the first in a perhaps monthly series. (Otherwise, it's back to the exciting Tampa Bay pastimes of karaoke and shuffleboard.) Advance tickets are available at Gulfport Casino, Right Step Dance Studio, and Echo Antiques in Pinellas; Squaresville, La France, and Sugar Palm office in Tampa. For more info, call 727-821-9420, 813-248-5549, or visit www.RayGelato.com . Diane Smith writes: "I want to introduce myself. I am the Main Street Coordinator and Downtown Manager for the City of Clearwater. On April 30, 5:00-8:30pm, we are having a Downtown By Dusk event in Station Square Park (600 block of Cleveland Street). This event will feature the Swingin' Mooks and we are planning to have two dance contests -- one for the dance instructors and one for the general public. We will be selling beer and wine to benefit a charity during the event. It should be fun and I would appreciate it if you spread the word." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GULFPORT CASINO SWING & SIG HARDER If you haven't yet been to Gulfport Casino's Wednesday Swing night, do NOT go this Wednesday, Mar 31st! The Casino was reserved a long time ago for a private party that night; after the 31st, however, all Wednesdays are clear and the swing night will continue. There is an alternative, however, the following night at the Casino .... James Norman writes: There will be no swing dance at the Gulfport Casino on Wednesday, March 31! There will, however, be a dance at the Casino all remaining Wednesdays for the rest of time! April 1, 1999 may be Sig Harder's last stand at the Gulfport Casino. A ballroom dance band, The Sig Harder Orchestra is easily the best around -- they are HOT. Because there is no Swing Dance at the Casino on Wednesday the 31st, Mr Harder has agreed to extend his run for one more week. I would like to encourage everyone who likes to dance to come to this affair. (Sig is a lifelong musician, and if you like him, he might play an occasional swing dance on Fridays at the Casino. His outfit is a lot like the 42nd St Big Band). Recorded music begins at 6:00; the band plays three sets; the dance goes until 10:30; the cost is $6 per person. Guideline for Ballroom Nights at the Casino: - Please dance only the dance that the band is playing (If it's Cha-Cha time, only Cha-Cha) - Moving Dances (Foxtrot, Waltz, Polka, etc ...): Move around the floor in a counter-clockwise direction - You may swing during a Foxtrot, but PLEASE stay directly in the center of the dance floor! - Only dancers on the dance floor, please (ie, no standing around talking, drinking, or otherwise blocking traffic; there's plenty of room for that off to the side) - There are several opportunities to swing on Ballroom nights, but PLEASE save the tricks and aerials for Wednesdays -- if an elderly person hits the floor, they may never walk again! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SARASOTA / US OPEN SWING DANCE COMPETITION [This article was received too late to announce in advance, but it still contains information of general interest, especially since these contests will continue, with the next grande finale in Sep '99] Pam Callender writes: Sarasota is making its mark on the map in Swing Dance competition. The first "Southeast Savoy" Semi-Annual Swing Dance Competition is March 27th at the Potter Building, on Fruitville Rd, next to Robarts Arena in Sarasota. This is a stepping stone to the 17th Annual US Open National Swing Competition in California this November. Red Hot Kitty and the Alleycats, a 7-piece band from Orlando is one of the featured acts for the event. A local high school band, Ralphie's Trumpet, will give their first performance. Local amateur and professional dancers will be showcased as well. For the dance competition, there are two categories. First is the Open category. The three divisions within the Open category are West Coast Swing, Shag, and Lindy Hop. Cash prizes will be given to the winners of the Open category. The second category is Invitational, competing for all expenses paid to compete in the US Open in California. To qualify for the Invitational, a couple must be a monthly winner from Spats Dance Club's contests. Dance contests are held every Friday and Saturday night, and the winners from each weekend compete during the monthly contest to be invited to the Semi-Annual. If a couple has not qualified for this first event, the second "Southeast Savoy" will take place in September. We are excited about hosting this event and hope it becomes a landmark for discovering local dance talent to represent FL in the US Open. Spats is a smoke and alcohol free dance club for all ages, with an 800 square foot dance floor, seating for over 100, DJs, and cash bar of juice, coffee, and soda. Group lessons are available during the day and weekends by appointment. It's located at the Town and Country Plaza, corner of Fruitville and Beneva Roads in the Courtyard. Phone 941-954-8696. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WANTED: FEMALE DANCE PARTNER / INSTRUCTOR writes: I'm an experienced dancer and instructor, looking for a female partner to help teach weeknight swing lessons (Pinellas side of Bay) and for occasional weekend performances and special events. Must be available after 5pm Tue-Thu (or at least two of these nights) and must be dedicated, reliable, and willing to practice. Experience is a plus, but will train if necessary. If you're interested, drop me a note at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BOMBED OUT CAT Billy writes: Here's the "Bombed Out Cat" calendar for April: Wednesdays at Borderline in Carrollwood (Tampa) 9:00pm-1:00am, dance lessons at 7:30pm Thursdays at The Rare Olive in Ybor City, 9:30pm-1:30am, dance lessons all night Fridays: Apr 2: Sugar Palm Club in Ybor Apr 9: University Club in Tampa, 7:30-11:30pm Apr 16: St Pete Colisium, 8:00-9:15pm, then at the Rare Olive in Ybor 11:00pm-2:30am Apr 23: The Rare Olive in Ybor, 10:00pm-2:30am Apr 30: The Rare Olive in Ybor, 10:00pm-2:30am Saturdays: April 3: The Rare Olive in Ybor, 10:00pm-2:30am April 10: Gators on Treasure Island, 5:30-9:30pm April 17: Jimmy B's on St Pete Beach, 8:00pm-midnight April 24: South Beach Grille on St Pete Beach, 9:30pm-1:30am Thanks to all --Billy Eric Harris writes: Hi ya swingers, Kacy and I checked out "Bombed Out Cat" at the Borderline, a CW bar on Waters, between Dale Mabry and Himes, on the north side of the street. The band is tight, the vocals hot, and the floor is polished and empty. If you have a Wed night to fill, this is the place to be. --Big Red Call clubs to confirm and for info on smoking, dance floor, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SWINGIN' MOOKS SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 1999 1 Storman's Palace, 9:30 pm 2 Boomerz, 10:00 pm 3 Gators, 5:00 pm 3 Boomerz, 10:30 pm 7 Club More, 9:30 pm 8 Storman's Palace, 9:30 pm 9 Neptune Lounge 10:30 pm 14 Club More, 9:30 pm 15 Storman's Palace, 9:30 pm 16 Planet 9 Ball, 10:30 pm 17 Mainsail Arts Festival (Straub Park), 2:30-3:30pm 17 Gators, 5:00-9:00pm 21 Club More, 9:30 pm 22 Jimmy B's 6:00-10:00pm 23 Gasoline Alley 11:30pm 28 Club More, 9:30 pm 29 Storman's Palace, 9:30 pm 30 Station Square Park (Downtown Clearwater), 5:00-8:30pm 30 Planet 9 Ball, 10:30 pm Call clubs to confirm and for info on smoking, dance floor, etc. For the latest on the Mooks: Web site: http://md24.com/swinginmooks.htm E-mail: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BEATS PER MINUTE Want to know the exact tempo (number of beats per minute) of your favorite music? There are downloadable counting programs available to assist you: (Thanks go to Shannon for sending this in.) http://lindyhype.com/bpmbusiness.htm An explanation of this bpm business ftp://mirror.apple.com/mirrors/Info-Mac.Archive/app/time/mac-bpm.hqx link to download MacBPM http://lindyhype.com/winbpm04.exe WinBPM, the PC version of MacBPM I guess ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CATALINA SWING CAMP Roy writes: The Catalina Swing camp information is out at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. It runs June 3-6. Last year's camp was awesome. The entire Rhythm Hot Shots group was there performing (the best Lindy hoppers in the world). There were classes all day, a dance from 9pm to 12am in the beautiful Catalina ballroom, and after-hours dancing until 4am. This year, the Rhythm Hot Shots are back, as well as David Dalmo, Steven Mitchell, Tami Stevens, and Frankie Manning. The camp focuses on Lindy Hop, both moves and styling, by some of the world's best dancers and instructors. There will also be classes in 20's Charleston, Argentine Tango, Balboa, Tap, East-Coast Swing, Jazz movement, Collegiate Shag, and Hip Hop Lindy Hop. Last year, I had the best five days of swing dancing in my life. It was so much fun. There is no way I would miss it this year. Besides Lindy Hop classes, I will take all of the Balboa classes and I want to learn how to incorporate Hip Hop steps into Lindy Hop. This event will sell out within 30 days, so sign up quickly. If you plan on going, let me know. We can set up group housing arrangements in cottages or town houses. Keep swinging, --Roy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SUGAR PALM POST-MORTEM Those who have followed the Swing News for any amount of time know that it's not like me to editorialize extensively, but the recent announcement of the Sugar Palm's closing is too important an event to just gloss over. Part of the reason is that Swing News's readership -- the network that you all have named the Swingang -- helped the Sugar Palm get its start, and have supported it to varying degrees since then. The other part is that this newsletter is not intended as merely a blind disseminator of information -- that would be equivalent to having no purpose. This newsletter is intended to be the voice and the meeting ground for a movement, albeit a fun movement -- the swing resurgence of the greater Tampa Bay area. Each of us has the power to make things happen, just by giving thought to the places we support with our time and money. Actions as simple as buying an item from a store, going for a night out at a club, or reading a newspaper, magazine, or this very newsletter carry weight. Collectively, we wield enormous clout and, rather than taking as entertainment any kind of garbage that many clubs will throw at us, we have the power to define and get the type of entertainment we want. That was the concept that helped us get the Sugar Palm's swing night going. We provided many of the initial ideas, and Taylor and crew provided the sweat, the financing, the building, and the implementation of ideas, both ours and their own. In exchange for their part, they kept all the profits (and took all the losses). In exchange for our part, we got a first-class swing club in which to go out, dance, and have fun. What happened was a group of us dancers -- tired of fighting with drunks and sucking down smoke on puny, beer-soaked dancefloors, in dark, dingy spaces (you get the picture) -- put our heads together and, after a few deliberations, sent a "Swing Nights Plan" to the Sugar Palm on 4/10/98. If you've seen the movie "Swing Kids", that was the ballroom atmosphere we were shooting for, complete with live band and huge, beautiful ballroom. Here are some excerpts from that plan: - What: Swing Nights at the Sugar Palm - When: Select Fridays, 9pm to Close - Where: Sugar Palm Ballroom, Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St in Ybor - Air: The Ballroom is nonsmoking; adjacent rooms are provided for smokers - Program Possibilities: 1) Live Bands: Like Rocket 88 or Dan Electro and the Silvertones 2) Open Dancing: Lots of it, especially during live performances 3) DJ/Recorded Music: While live bands are their own draw, recorded music will likely require other program components to draw enough people 4) Beginners Lessons: During band breaks and at the beginning of events 5) Exhibitions: These can take on many forms, including fully choreographed floor shows featuring advanced dancers (possibly in costume); members of the dance community that have put together a routine and want to showcase it during a song (sort of an open mic); or a circle of dancers with each couple briefly entering and showing off some moves 6) Dance Contests: Brief one-night contests with small prizes or bigger multi-night contests with qualifying and championship rounds and larger prizes; prizes can be donated in exchange for promoting the donors 7) Workshops: For experienced dancers; these can happen without a band or DJ 8) Swaps: Dancers showing each other their moves 9) Road Trips: To see nationally renowned swing bands 10) Dance Camps: Make people aware of the swing weekends, weeks, or retreats that happen nationally Before going on, let's talk about what the Sugar Palm was like in its earliest days, back when they mostly held swing in the downstairs part of the club. It opened its doors around January of 1998. By the end of March '98, with the exception of a few special events, they had not been able to bring in more than two or three dozen people on a given night. (That's my attendance estimate from the several times I went.) From a business standpoint, the Sugar Palm was hurting from the start. I spoke to Taylor, the Club's manager, early last April (1998), and she told me they would most likely close very soon because of the disappointing turnout. Soon after, as mentioned above, some of us swing dancers suggested that they hold swing on a regular basis, on Fridays, in their upstairs ballroom -- we had seen that ballroom and we liked it! The huge, nice floor, the smoke-free dancing, along with occasional live bands, shows, and contests, would attract the swing crowd, both young and old. And it did. Soon after, by most measures of success, the club was thriving, and it still thrives today. It attracted and still attracts a large crowd who enjoy the music and dance. Financially, however, the club still suffered. The bands were expensive, the piece of real estate was expensive, the staff had to be paid, bills had to be paid (utilities, advertising, and so on), and swing dancers have never been known to buy a lot of drinks. To make matters worse, the more packed the club became, the less enjoyable the dancing became -- other couples would step on you and crash into you at every turn. The result was that some people who were previously enthusiastic started staying away. Another unfortunate occurrence was the Sugar Palm started competing against itself, by eventually holding swing four nights a week. Since most of their clientele went once a week, that split the crowd over several nights. A person might go, expecting to see others they knew, just to find out their friends had been on a different night. Some people decided to stay away for that reason. The enforcement of a dress code also did its bit to stir up controversy and drive away customers. I realize that part of the excitement of the swing resurgence is seeing people out in vintage costume, be it gangster suits and 40's vintage dresses or greaser duds and poodle skirts. And granted, it is refreshing to see a crowd, including lots of young people, where most of the folks are dressed sharply. But going beyond suggesting attire, to requiring and enforcing a particular type of dress, is going too far. This is Florida after all, complete with tropical climate and hordes of locals and tourists in shorts and sandals. You just can't wear the same stuff they do in New York without frying yourself. More importantly, turning people away at the door for dress code violations has a chilling effect on morale and community, not to mention business. I would much rather see a few people in shorts, t-shirts, or tennis shoes than to hear even one story about someone -- an excellent dancer -- who drove 45 minutes to the Sugar Palm, on Christmas night, only to be turned away for wearing a comfortable pair of sneakers. This actually happened! That person never went back; neither did many of his friends. The news of the Club's closing even prompted one delighted exclamation of "The boycott worked!". In the midst of its financial worries, the Sugar Palm became -- somewhat understandably -- obsessed with money, trying everything to squeeze a few extra bucks out of its customers. While the $8 to $10 cover was well worth it to see a top-notch band, paying for parking and drinks on top of that made it hard for the average person to patronize the club on a regular basis. To further alienate many of its customers, the Club tried charging extra for everything from sitting room to tap water to being young (an extra $2 for ages 18-20). While some of these attempts are conventional wisdom at your typical nightclub, they don't work at a community-supported club as was the Sugar Palm. The more the Palm listened to conventional nightclub consultants, the more it became like and competed with other clubs, and the more it lost the essence and support of the grassroots resurgence that has repopularized swing. One thing the Sugar Palm did right was to hire most of its staff from within the swing community. Not only did most of the staff know what it was all about, but they knew the clientele by name and were frequently out on the dancefloor themselves. (Exceptions were some of the door staff hired toward the end of the club's life -- the same sort of unfriendly and intimidating bouncers found at the entrances to many clubs.) This hiring, however, was not altogether altruistic; in order to keep "swing kids" from defecting to The Masquerade's swing night and to thereby have a younger and hipper crowd, the Sugar Palm hired some of them on as staff and regularly allowed others in for free. Partly, this was a very nice gesture that made the club affordable to this group of young people. But like the proverbial rich kid who pays others to be his friend, once the Sugar Palm hit leaner financial times, many of these swing kids now complained about being charged to get in. Meanwhile, others who had been paying full fare all along felt left out -- getting the sense that maybe they were not part of the swing community, after all. This "us and them" divide was illustrated by an announcement DJ Paul once made, one late night after the band had finished playing -- something to the effect of "now that there's more of us than there are of them ...." He was justifying his upcoming selection of music, a quite likeable set of 80's pop hits and nontraditional swing tunes that were great for swing dancing. (I'd expected some very subversive music to follow from that sort of comment.) But it left me wondering who the "us" and "them" were. I figured I must be one of "them", since the "us" group is typically exclusive and by invitation. It wasn't the first time I had heard such a comment from not only the staff, but the clientele as well. I'd heard young people complain that there were too many old folks; older people complain of too many young folks; and various other complaints and attitudes that served to hurt rather than build the swing community. My own opinion is that a diversity of ages and backgrounds is a necessity to any movement or community. I prefer to see a wide range of ages at an event -- kids, college students, young adults, boomers, grandparents, without any one group dominating. If people are too much alike, then a social sort of inbreeding occurs, and progress eventually halts. Too many old folks, and a community dies out. Too many young folks, and a movement lacks wisdom, experience, and foresight. My recommendation for all people in the swing community is to periodically make extra efforts to not only tolerate, but to meet, enjoy the company of, and appreciate those outside your little clique. All it takes is occasionally dancing with or talking to someone you've never danced with or spoken to before -- sort of a good deed for the night. And if someone approaches you for a dance or to say a few words, be polite, dance with them, say a few words back. There are no good excuses not to, any other response will come across as rudeness, and the end results of the community you've helped to build will amaze even you. There's one other area in which I would question the wisdom of what the Sugar Palm and other clubs hosting swing nights have done -- to compete fiercely with each other. While conventional wisdom states that your business will pick up if your competitor's goes under, that hasn't strictly held for swing clubs. Since each swing night is a hub of the same movement -- part of the same beast, so to speak -- putting a competitor out of business is akin to having your right arm cut off your left. People will go do other things -- there are alternatives to swing. Growing the swing movement requires a good deal of cooperation. Of course, I'm talking about competition and cooperation between established nights that actually draw a good crowd; club owners are notorious for opening and closing, left and right, a particular theme night. A year ago, some of us were discussing all the swing nights that had started and then gone under in the Bay area: Storman's (which one year later tried again and is still going), Millenium, The Edge, Masquerade's Friday (which also later retried and refailed). At that time, The Ritz, the Masquerade, and the Sugar Palm were all hurting. (The Ritz went under soon after, the Masquerade stopped swinging many months later, and the Sugar Palm will soon.) Others have come and gone since then and many have recently opened. Our conclusion was that Tampa Bay's swing community was not large enough to support all these swing nights and that the smaller groups of dancers, scattered across the Bay area, should unite and throw their support behind a swing night of their own making; and that club was the Sugar Palm. Today, although the swing community has grown, much of the same still holds. The community of swing people must unitedly throw our support to those events and establishments that we like the best -- perhaps some, like Largo High's Rocket 88 swing dance, will be of our own making. The harsh business reality is that the rest of the swing nights will go under -- but better most than all, which is what will happen if we scatter ourselves across too many events. The Sugar Palm's run of one year is actually one of the longest and should be applauded (second only to Masquerade's former Saturday night swing). To be sure, the Sugar Palm did many things right. It did the best job I've seen of appealing to a variety of ages -- from little kids on Sunday night to seniors who were dancing back in the 1930's heyday of swing. Making the ballroom nonsmoking was a huge plus for both dancers and musicians, and, although I'm not one, I don't think smokers felt too inconvenienced at having to walk a few feet to the cigar bar to have a smoke; at least I never heard a complaint. One of the most important things the Sugar Palm did right was to bring in lots of musical talent from across the country, giving us a diverse mix of bands that otherwise would have skipped Florida entirely. Although the Tampa Bay crowd didn't always appreciate or go see these bands, the bands added some culture and variety to Tampa Bay. Overall, it was fun, in a unique sort of way, and that's what really matters. I'd like to congratulate and thank Taylor for putting on many fine shows during the past year, for putting in so much hard work -- above and beyond the call of duty, for still having the energy to hit the dance floor, and, despite it being her occupation, for doing it mostly for the love of the music and dance. My intent in providing this analysis is not to criticize or praise, although by its very nature, any analysis will contain components of criticism and praise. My intent is to look at what went right and wrong, so that we can all benefit from that knowledge next time. Next time? Yes, we do have a second chance coming up, and maybe even others down the road. The Gulfport Casino, in addition to its Wednesday DJ Swing nights, will be periodically hosting swing nights on Fridays, featuring some of the most talented bands available. Beautiful as the Sugar Palm's ballroom is, the Casino's almost puts it to shame, with a great dancefloor four times the size. For those who have not yet been, "Casino" is just a name -- there's no gambling. It's actually a historic ballroom which sits right on the waterfront in the tidy little community of Gulfport (right in the middle of St Pete). Details are earlier in this issue and will also appear in future issues. Gone will be the enforcement of dress codes (although from my previous visits, expect to see a fairly well dressed crowd, some in vintage wear). Parking and inside seating are free and plentiful. It's all ages, with one price for all admissions. There's a water fountain inside, as well as a bar that sells bottled water ($1), soft drinks, beer, wine, and canned mixed drinks. And it's a nonsmoking ballroom, with the great outdoors provided for smokers. The attitude, the community atmosphere, the friendliness of the crowd -- that's up to us, and I'd like to issue a challenge to every reader to rise to the occasion -- You/We can do it! Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DECLARATION OF SAVOY shanran shares the following article with us: Adopted by the General Ensemble of the World Dance Association at Savoy in 1948 and later amended by the 22nd World Rhythm Ensemble at Herrang in 1968, the Declaration Of Savoy was one of the first and most important actions of the Association. It is a declaration of terpsichores' dedication to the humanitarian goals of dance, a declaration that was especially important in view of the crimes against rhythm which had just been committed by the Arthur Murray Studios [1]. The Declaration of Savoy was intended to update the Oath of Hep'a'cat'us, which some felt was no longer zooted to modern conditions. At the time of being admitted as a member of the dance fellowship[2]: I solemnly pledge to dance my life in rhythm; I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due; I will practice my craft with style and skill; + I will lead and not expect my partner to be psychic; + I will maintain frame and structure at all times [3]; + I will be ever vigilant not to spaghetti'cize my arms; The enjoyment of my partner will be my first consideration; + My job, as leader, is to make my partner look and feel fabulous; + My job, as follower, is to pay attention to my partner's cues and have a good time (or at least pretend like I am); I will respect the secrets which are confided in me, even after we have stopped dating; I pledge to maintain with all the rhythm in my soul the beat and the historical context of each dance; My colleagues will be my brethren; I will not permit considerations of religion, nationality, race, party politics or social standing to intervene between the music and my partner; I will maintain the utmost respect for human health, preserving the well being of both my partner and nearby couples; I will not use my technical knowledge contrary to the laws of anatomy and physiology. I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honor. [World Rhythm Journal 3 (1956), Supplement, pp. 8] Footnotes: [1] No! You don't triple step to everything. Let the music dictate the footwork. And No! All beats in a triple step are not equally accented. [2] People outside the fellowship are known as civilians. These are individuals who can sit in their seats while the band's cooking some smoking dance music. (If you sat through Boozoo Chavis' "Lula Lula Don't You Go To Bingo" at Baird Auditorium, you're a civilian; if you didn't have the urge to swing out during Claude "Fiddler" Williams' "You Gotta See Your Momma Every Night or You Can't See Your Mama At All" at Carmichael Auditorium, you're a civilian; and if you don't have an urge to syncopate on 5-6-7&8 during "Shiny Stockings", just turn in your Blochs. Honorary members of the fellowship include reserves who only do it on weekends (and it normally shows, but we don't mind). [3] The only exception is during those rare instances when you are performing Jonathan and Sylvia's Boneless Chicken Dance (BCD). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE (MARCH 1999 ISSUE) Sherrie writes: Hey kids, check out the latest copy of Smithonian magazine. You'll see why when you see the cover. Cool Lindy dancers. Includes a pullout of even more pictures inside. Top Cat writes: Hey all you Kat's and Bree's, Thought ya might be interested in a very Kool article in the March 1999 edition of Smithsonian magazine. Its cover story is about Swing/Lindy. It talks about the history, style, bands, and makes reference to the classics and originals. There are also many beautiful photos that complement the article. It really rocks. There is a small section on Frankie Manning too. Also, it makes reference to an article in Life magazine back in 1943 that featured Lindy and Frankie. I had a friend find it on microfiche, and after a few days of research found an original copy. She tells me that the paper is very brittle and it has not been touched in many, many years. I think that is really neat. I'm going to check it out tonight. If anyone is interested in hearing more or going to look at it, feel free to e-mail me back. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Swing News Know any upcoming swing happenings or other news? Send them in to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . The deadline for each issue, which generally comes out on a Tuesday, is the prior Sunday at 5pm. 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 . **********************************************************************