********************************************************************** Swing News, Wednesday 2/16/00, Issue #53, (Next Issue, 2/29/00) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - Submissions to this newsletter XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - Addition/deletion/address-change requests XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - All other correspondence http://www.SwingNews.com - Swing News web site ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear all, I'm happy to report that live-music swing dances are starting to make a comeback in Tampa Bay. Just look at the lineup for the next two weeks, starting with tonight's dance with Jet Set Six at the Casino. Way back in June of last year, the Suncoast Swing Gang held its first event, with the promise that if we, the Tampa Bay swing community, supported our own events, it would lead to bigger and better ones down the road, including dances that featured live bands. Thanks to your consistent support, we're bringing in our first band, Rocket 88, for a live dance & concert, this Sunday (Feb 20) -- President's Day Weekend -- at the Italian Club. This promises to be a great event, and I encourage everyone to make it. This is one of the first Tampa Bay appearances for the new Rocket 88 band -- and the first to be held in a dance environment -- so let's all welcome them back! With your support, we will continue to host live-music events, with high-quality bands from across the nation. As a nonprofit, we put every dollar we make directly back into Tampa Bay swing. I hope to see everyone there! Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE UPCOMING TWO WEEKS Tonight (Wed Feb 16), Jet Set Six plays the Gulfport Casino's swing night -- nearly a year after their last appearance in Tampa Bay. This NYC band is a favorite among local swingers, playing a very danceable repertoire of original swing music. Tickets are $12 at the door. A free beginning swing lesson with James & Arleene starts out the evening, 7-8pm, and Jet Set Six plays 8pm-midnight, with DJ Jumpin' James filling in between sets. The event is all ages & nonsmoking, and a full bar is available. Call 727-893-1070. Visit www.jetsetsix.com for band info. Address & Directions: 5500 Shore Blvd in Gulfport. From the north, take I-275 S to St Pete's 22nd Ave S exit. (From the south, take I-275 N to the 26th Ave S exit and find your way to 22nd Ave S.) Head west. Turn left onto Beach Blvd. (55th St will be on the right.) Head south until the street ends at the Gulfport Casino, located on the water. Tomorrow (Thu Feb 17), Set 'Em Up Joe from NYC plays the Orpheum in Ybor City. Doors open at 9pm, admission is $8, smoking is allowed, and there's a mid-size wooden dance floor. DJ Paul Mallett spins between sets. The Orpheum's located at 1902 Republica de Cuba (corner of 8th Ave & 14th St) in Ybor City. Phone 813-248-9500. For more info on the band, visit www.setemupjoe.com . This Sunday (Feb 20; President's Day Weekend), Rocket 88 takes the stage at the Italian Club. Rocket 88, the exciting jump-swing band out of Orlando, is a favorite of local dancers. Details: * Free Swing Dance Lesson by Jim & Angel, 7-8pm * Dance to Rocket 88, 8pm-Midnight * All Ages Welcome * Beautiful Ballroom in newly renovated, historic (1918) building * Huge, High-Quality, Wooden Dance Floor -- Over 2000 Square Feet * Smoke-Free Dancing (Cantina on another floor provided for smokers) * Drinks: Bottled Water, Juice, Soft Drinks, & Full Bar Available * Admission $8 * Free Hors D'Oeuvres * Door Prizes * Music between sets by DJ Paul Mallett * Free Parking -- very close to the Italian Club * Address & Directions: 1731 East 7th Avenue in Ybor City. Take I-4 to Exit 1, head south several blocks, then right on 7th Avenue. The Italian Club is between 17th & 18th Streets, the tallest building on the south side of 7th Avenue. * For More Info: E-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX or phone 813-248-3316 * Co-Sponsored by the Suncoast Swing Gang, Tampa Bay's nonprofit swing network, and the Italian Club Next Friday (Feb 25), new local band, Kimberly Kaye & Swing Fever, play their first full show at the Gulfport Casino. You might remember the band from their surprise opening appearance at the Casino last month. Also, you've probably seen Kimberly Kaye appear as a guest singer at most every show she attends, with bands from Bombed Out Cat to Swingerhead. Expect to hear a lot of the classics -- swinging jazz standards from the 30's & 40's. Note the new starting time on these last-Friday-of-the-month dances -- many people were surprised last month to find they'd arrived an hour early! - Dance Lesson 8-9pm with James & Arleene from Right Step - Dance to Kimberly Kaye & Swing Fever, 9pm-1am, with DJ Jumpin' James between sets - Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 the day of show - All Ages / Nonsmoking Event - Phone 727-893-1070 for more info ---------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER THAT Sat Mar 4: Lee Rocker with Rocket 88 @ Club More; 727-466-6673 Tue Mar 7: Larry Elgart & The Manhattan Swing Orchestra @ Ruth Eckerd Hall; 727-791-7400 Wed Mar 8: Camaros @ Gulfport Casino; 727-893-1070 Fri Mar 10: Billy Bacon & the Forbidden Pigs with Rocket 88 at Skipper's; 813-971-0666 Sun Mar 12: Dan Electro & the Silvertones @ Italian Club; 813-248-3316 Fri Mar 17: Spring Swing @ Clearwater Main Library; 727-462-6800 x242 Fri Mar 17: "Elegance" Swing Dance @ Mirror Lake Lyceum; 727-821-9420 Sat Mar 18: Lindy Hop Night @ Pinellas Park Auditorium; 727-799-7096 Sat Apr 1: Lindy Hop Night @ Pinellas Park Auditorium; 727-799-7096 Fri Apr 7: Duelin' DJs swing dance at Centro Asturiano in Ybor City Fri May 5 - Sun May 7: Steven Mitchell in Tampa Bay Fri Oct 13 - Sun Oct 15: Frankie Manning in Tampa Bay The Lounge Cat show at Skipper's, originally scheduled for Feb 20, has been postponed. Check future issues for the new date. The Lee Rocker / Rocket 88 concert at Club More is Saturday, March 4, not Friday the 3rd as previously stated. Skipper's Smokehouse is extending a special invitation to all Suncoast Swing Gang members (that's you if you're reading this) for the March 10th Billy Bacon / Rocket 88 show at 8pm. Tickets are normally $7 in advance or $10 the day of show, but you'll be able to get in for $7 at the door if you tell the door-person the special password. What's the special password? Find out in the next issue of Swing News! David Duncan writes: I'm a member of a the Clearwater Public Library System Youth Advisory Council (YAC), which tries to encourage people -- especially teens -- to use the library, and to help people realize that it's not just a place to go and read magazines. We have put on various events in the past, such as battle of the bands in Coachman Park. Our next event is a swing dance on Friday, March 17th. We're trying to promote this as a smoke-free & alcohol-free event for St Patrick's Day. We really hope it'll be a success and to see lots & lots of enthusiasm. - Admission is only $1! All proceeds will help establish a young adult room in the soon-to-be-built new Main Library - Basic East-Coast Swing Lesson 7:00-7:30pm - Dance 7:30-11:00pm to DJ Paul Mallett - On the 2nd Floor of the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N Osceola Ave, Downtown Clearwater. If you're not familiar with the area, it's on the waterfront between Coachman Park and Stein Mart. - Free Parking - Refreshments available for purchase - For more info, call 727-462-6800 ext 242 Preliminary details are in on Steven Mitchell's visit to Tampa Bay the weekend of May 5th-7th. Friday night, he'll give a workshop on Jitterbug Stroll, followed by a public dance. Saturday, it'll be Steven & Virginie, plus Ku'umba African Dancers & Drummers, and another public dance. Sunday, it's Intermediate & Advanced workshops. For those who don't know, Steven Mitchell is one of the world's best Lindy Hoppers and instructors. Location and other details are still to be announced. Sponsored by Strictly Swing Entertainment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ENGLAND'S JIVING LINDY HOPPERS TO TEACH TAMPA-BAY WORKSHOP On Saturday, March 4th, the Jiving Lindy Hoppers, the UK's foremost troupe of Lindy Hoppers, will teach a three-hour, intermediate-level, Lindy Hop workshop in Tampa Bay. This workshop will take place 1:30-4:30pm at the Highland Recreation Complex in Largo. The Jiving Lindy Hoppers are currently on a three-month tour of the US, appearing at major performing arts centers across the country. The Suncoast Swing Gang has asked two of their best dancers/instructors to take a break from their busy performance schedule and teach us some of their Lindy Hop. Teaching will be Russell Sargeant (troupe captain) and Carolene Hinds, both exceptionally talented full-time dancers, instructors, and choreographers of the Jiving Lindy Hoppers. Since their formation in 1984, the Jiving Lindy Hoppers have given over 2000 performances as well as countless workshops & classes. Their dance goal is to "emulate the stage and screen versions of the 1930’s and 40’s Lindy". For more information on the group and their current tour, visit www.jivinglindyhoppers.com . Full Details on the Workshop: * Saturday afternoon, March 4th, 2000, 1:30-4:30pm. Please arrive early so that the workshop starts on time! * Prerequisites: This is an Intermediate-Level Workshop. Participants must already be comfortable with the Swing Out, Lindy Circle, Basic Charleston, and Throw Out (Swing Out from Closed). * Registration Fee: $22 if received by March 1st; Or $26 at the door. * The workshop will be held in Highland Rec's Gym. Please wear soft-soled, non-marking shoes. * Sponsored by the Suncoast Swing Gang, Inc., your nonprofit swing network for Tampa Bay * For additional information, e-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Address & Directions: - Highland Recreation Complex (in the Gym), 400 N Highland Ave, Largo - From the South, take I-275 North to Exit 16 and follow the signs to Largo. You'll be on 686 W (Roosevelt Blvd), then 688 W (Ulmerton Rd), then 686 W again (East Bay Drive) ... (From the North, take I-275 South across Tampa Bay to the Ulmerton Rd exit. Follow the signs to Largo. You'll be on 688 W [Ulmerton Rd], then 686 W [East Bay Drive]) ... - ... Once you're on East Bay Drive, pass the St Pete/Clearwater Airport, then go several miles -- pass Belcher, pass Keene/Starkey, pass Lake, then turn right on Highland Ave. Turn right at the next light and follow the road to the Recreation Complex. The gym's in the back of the north building. To Register in Advance: Write your Name, Address (with City, State, & Zip), E-mail, and Phone on a piece of paper. Also write on that paper that you saw it in the Swing News. Send the registration form you just created, along with your check for $22, paid to "Suncoast Swing Gang, Inc.", to the address below. All mail-in registrations must be received by March 1st! Mail your registration form and payment to: Suncoast Swing Gang, Inc. P.O. Box 10705 Tampa, FL 33679-0705 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WEEKLY SWING NIGHTS Sun: Italian Club in Ybor City; 813-248-3316; Nonsmoking; All Ages Tue: Dancelovers in Clearwater; 727-582-9499; Nonsmoking; All Ages Tue: Cadillac Jack's on Treasure Island; Smoking; 727-360-2099 Wed: Gulfport Casino; 727-893-1070; Nonsmoking; All Ages Wed: Club More in downtown Clearwater; 727-466-6673; Smoking Wed: Ringside Cafe in St Pete; 727-894-8465; Smoking Thu: Orpheum in Ybor City; 813-248-9500; Smoking Thu: Storman's Palace in Clearwater; 727-571-2222; Smoking Fri: Swing City Dance Studio in Tampa; 813-935-7458; Nonsmoking Sat: Danceland in Pinellas Park; 727-821-9420; Nonsmoking Ed writes: Lounge Cat would like to invite one and all to join us at the Living Room, Tampa Bay's newest nightclub, located in the ICOT center off Ulmerton Rd in Clearwater. We will be playing there regularly on Wednesdays. There's a large dance floor and a pleasant, upscale environment. Hope we see you there! Phone 727-531-0332; Ages 23+; Proper Dress Required. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SATURDAY SWING AT DANCELAND Swing News welcomes our newest web-site advertiser, Saturday Swing at Danceland in Pinellas Park. You can now reach their web site by visiting www.SwingNews.com and clicking on the Danceland graphic. Danceland, located on the 2nd floor at 8451 49th St N in Pinellas Park, currently hosts the only regular Saturday-night swing dance in the Tampa Bay area. Other details are as follows: - Every Saturday Night - 7:30pm-8:30pm: Lesson by James & Arleene of Right Step Dance Studio - 8:30pm-1:30am: Music by DJ Jumpin' James - Smoke and Alcohol Free - All Ages - Large Wood Floor - $6 Admission The Swing News web site accepts ads from dance instructors, studios, bands, vintage stores, music stores, nonsmoking or open-air music venues, and other swing-related entities. All revenues support the Swing News, Tampa Bay swing, and the activities and events sponsored by the Suncoast Swing Gang, Inc., your nonprofit network. For more info, visit http://www.SwingNews.com or e-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SWING NEWS MESSAGE BOARD As a supplement to the Swing News e-mail letter, we now have a discussion forum, the Swing News Message Board, available on our web site, www.swingnews.com . (Just click the "Discussion" link on the left of the web site's main page.) Do you have a late-breaking announcement? Did you miss the Swing News deadline? Are you looking for a ride to an event? Just want to talk or read about some swing-related subject? Then visit the Swing News Message Board -- the place to discuss anything related to swing music & dance in Tampa Bay. And don't forget to keep sending your submissions for the Swing News e-mail letter to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW WEEKLY DANCE IN LAKELAND Starting May 4th, 2000, James & Arleene will be taking their show on the road to Lakeland, for a new weekly Thursday-night swing dance, sponsored by Strictly Swing Entertainment & the City of Lakeland. Like their Tampa Bay dances, this one will be all ages and smoke-free. They've lined up a fine location, the beautiful Magnolia Building on Orange St, East of City Hall, on Lake Mirror. According to Jumpin' James, this new location will have the biggest & best dance floor of any weekly swing dance in the entire state of Florida. A free lesson will start out the night, 7-8pm, followed by a dance 8pm-midnight. Admission will be $5. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JIVING LINDY HOPPERS TO PERFORM IN SARASOTA As part of their US tour, the Jiving Lindy Hoppers will be performing at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota on Tuesday, March 7. An early show starts at 2pm and a late show starts at 8pm. The address is 777 N Tamiami Trail in Sarasota and the phone is 941-955-7676. Van Wezel describes the show: " - Swingtime! - A Jumpin’, Singin’, Movin’ and Groovin’ Good Time - featuring Warren Vache & the New York All-Star Big Band - and Direct from London! -- the Jivin' Lindy Hoppers -- the sensational six-member swing dance ensemble - Fresh new arrangements of the Swing Era’s biggest Big Band leaders - Tickets: $28, $24 " Here's their schedule for the Florida segment of their US tour: Fri Mar 3: 8pm Performance in Jacksonville; 904-633-6110 Sat Mar 4: Workshop in Tampa Bay! (See Details Above) Sun Mar 5: 2pm & 8pm Performances in Naples; 941-597-1111 Tue Mar 7: 2pm & 8pm Performances in Sarasota; 941-955-7676 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DC LINDY HOPPERS TO GIVE ORLANDO WORKSHOP On Saturday, March 11th, four Lindy Hoppers from the Washington DC area will give a set of workshops in Orlando covering Hollywood-Style Lindy Hop and Beginning Collegiate Shag. The instructors, Matt, Gretta, Naomi, and Marty, have competed in both the American & World Lindy Hop Championships. Four 90-minute workshops are offered: - Beginning Hollywood - Slides & Styling - Intermediate Hollywood - Beginning Collegiate Shag Cost is $15/each at the door or $50 for all four. If you register by Feb 21, you can get all four for $35. Private lessons are also available Friday through Tuesday. Location: At the Park Central Apartment complex off of John Young Parkway in Orlando. Everyone is asked to park at the Publix and walk to the clubhouse (clocktower). No black-soled shoes are allowed in the gym. The address is 5029 City St, Orlando FL 32839. For more info, contact Jon Templin at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BUSCH GARDENS BIG BAND CONCERT SERIES Robin writes: Sat/Sun Feb 19 & 20: Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians w/ Al Pierson Sat/Sun Feb 26 & 27: Tommy Dorsey Orchestra w/ Buddy Morrow Sat/Sun Mar 4 & 5: The world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra All shows are scheduled for 1:00pm, 2:30pm, and 4:00pm in the Stanleyville Theatre, which opens for seating one hour prior to each performance. Seating is limited and the Theatre typically fills to capacity for each show. There is limited "dance space" in the back of the stadium and at the top of the ramps leading into the Theatre. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT / BIRTHDAY BASH AT CASINO The Suncoast Swing Gang wishes to thank volunteer, Jim O'Neill, who's been invaluable in getting the group started, and who currently helps keep it running. Jim has volunteered his talent & skills as a lawyer, starting back in May 1999, to help us incorporate as a nonprofit organization, and to help us meet all the legal requirements to keep the group running. This includes donating his time, materials, and the initial filing fees required to get the organization on its feet. (Here's a little plug -- totally unsolicited by the plugees, FYI: If you're looking for a lawyer to incorporate your business or for most sorts of civil/criminal matters, you can contact the Law Offices of James O'Neill, based in Gulfport, at 727-327-4586.) Although he's only been swing dancing a year or two, Jim's a talented musician who knows a variety of instruments, plays and has played with many bands, and whose love of swing music and rhythm & blues goes back decades. This Friday (Feb 18), he will be celebrating his 50th Birthday at a private event, 8pm, at the Gulfport Casino. He invites all Swing News subscribers to attend. The band, "Etc", will perform live Rhythm & Blues, and Jim may even sit in on a tune or two. The Casino floor will be available for dancing, and the cash bar will be open. Whether you go or not, be sure to wish Jim a Happy 50th Birthday next time you see him! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR CHARITABLE TEEN SWING DANCE The American Red Cross Youth Council wants to host a teen swing dance, as a fundraiser, at the Kate Jackson Rec Center in Hyde Park, early evening on Saturday, Feb 26. They're looking for a volunteer to DJ and two more to teach swing dance. They're expecting about 100 kids. To volunteer or for more info, contact Angie Spicker at 813-251-0921 or XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Please respond by Friday. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JAZZ TRIO WANTED FOR WEDDING Vincent writes: My fiancee, Jessica, and I will be getting married sometime in October of this year. We are considering hiring a jazz trio for our small reception and are wondering if anyone knows of a jazz trio for hire. It would probably be for just an hour or two of play time. Thanks, --Vincent ---------------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEW: USF SWING DANCE Dan Parshall writes: Heya Folks, Here's the rundown on the event last Friday (Feb 4). We started at about 7pm, Bob & Desiree were kind enough to teach the Lindy lesson, and Ethan taught the East-Coast swing lesson in the side room. The lessons seemed to go very well, and everyone was learning quickly & enjoying what they were doing. Special thanks to Paul & Paula for working with the folks there. The Voodoo Hepcat, DJ Abdel, was not available, so I made my debut as DJ (with a big assist from Ethan). All I can say is, it's harder than it looks. I'd never realized how much energy went into picking out songs that people would enjoy, that hadn't been overplayed, with the right tempo for the moment, that wouldn't clash with the next song, that ... you get the idea. As difficult as it was, though, it was fun! I played a lot of local favorites, but also mixed in a few of the neo-swing tunes less commonly played in the area, and I even managed to mix in a few "stealth swing" songs of my own (Van Morrison, Temptations). On the whole, it seemed to go over very well. The floor was a little stickier than last time -- I'll be sure to bring powder in the future -- but no one seemed to mind that much. Bob and Desiree did a Lindy show off, and the crowd (which had a lot of new faces) seemed appropriately impressed. Our attendance was about the same as last time, around 180 people, but there had been a problem with the flyer distribution, and I feel confident that next month's event will draw a larger crowd. To all of you who were there, I thank you for your support, and welcome any advice you might have regarding improvements for the future. For those of you interested in learning more (especially about ways to do something similar in your area), please reply to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . See you on the dance floor, Dan Parshall, President, University Swingsters ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WEEKLY PLANET COVER If you happened to catch the cover of the Feb 3-9 issue of the Weekly Planet, modeling for the cover shot was swing dancer, Tiffany, who's been MIA since the closing of the Sugar Palm. Further research revealed that the photos for that issue were taken by none other than sometimes swing dancer, Kym O'Donnell, whose work was recently on display at the Hyde Park Arts Center (813-251-3780). Congratulations to Kym on her continuing artistic success as a photographer! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEWS & MESSAGE FROM JAMES & ARLEENE James & Arleene Norman write: I'd like to thank all the fine ladies, and 4F swing dancers for coming out in such a big way at the WWII Home Front Reenactment at Heritage Village last Friday. We had a blast, and our presence made quite a splash. The audience was filled with misty-eyed WWII vets, who were expecting to see some campy show. I don't think they were expecting to see REAL swing dancing. Great job everyone! We appeared Friday with our pals from Bombed Out Cat, to entertain the tourists high atop the St Pete Pier. We had a blast! A lot of our good friends showed their faces, which made it that much better. We love Bombed Out Cat, and we recommend you catch their act. We're proud to be involved in Tampa Bay's swing community -- the only swing community we know of where East Coast, Street, Hollywood, and Savoy dancers dance and play side by side! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Swing News Know any upcoming swing happenings or other news? Send them in to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . 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 Suncoast Swing Gang, Inc., publisher of Swing News, is a nonprofit network of swing dancers and other enthusiasts, committed to promoting events in places with large, smoke-free or open-air dance areas; to encouraging great music & instruction; and to building a united swing community! Send additions/deletions/address-changes to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Check out our companion website at http://www.SwingNews.com . **********************************************************************