This Friday's Swing Time features Jennifer & the Venturas, Florida's favorite jump/swing band, playing a diverse mix of high-energy music that'll get you on your feet!  The band was recently voted Best Original Band & Best Jazz Band by Weekly Planet readers.  Joining Jennifer & the Venturas will be all-purpose saxman, Mark Gould, who has backed music legends from Clark Terry to Ella Fitzgerald.  This is going to be a huge event, so make plans now to attend!

Dance Contest Continues!  "The new dance contest has been lots of fun, and will continue for at least the next two events.  To enter, just practice up a couple of dance moves with a partner, then jump in and dance for 30 seconds when the time comes.  The top three couples take home some great prizes, including Swing Time Bowling Shirts and Swing CDs.  The contest happens midway through the evening, at about 11pm." [Swing Time]

Swing Time celebrates the first day of summer with a special Hawaiian Theme night!  Everyone is encouraged to come dressed in their best Hawaiian shirt, skirt, dress, or other outfit.  Swinging jazz band, Pepper & Fine Thyme, will heat things up with their talented combination of sizzling vocals and scorching instrumentals.  It'll be a swinging good-time celebration, full of great dancing, music, socializing, and more!

The evening starts with an intro swing-dance lesson, 8-9pm, taught by Sam & Rachel. It continues with live music & dancing, 9pm-1am, a dance contest at 11pm, and prize giveaways throughout the night. Centro Asturiano features a full bar, a spacious ballroom, and free parking.

Lindy Swing Night is a night of lindy hopping, with DJ Abdel spinning jazz, big band, and blues from 9pm until late. Prior to the dance, Tim & Jenny Faye teach a workshop covering different aspects of lindy hop and related dances. Admission is $5 for just the dance, $10 for just the workshop, or $12 for both. Lindy Swing Night provides a nice dance floor and a great assortment of free snacks. In addition to lindy hop, expect to see (or dance) a few swing circle & line dances such as Big Apple, Shim Sham, & Rueda.

LindyHop411 holds an afternoon of workshops, followed by an evening dance. Admission is $7 per class, and $5 for the dance, with a $1 off the dance for each class taken. The dance runs 8pm-midnight. For a schedule of workshops, check out www.LindyHop411.com closer to the date. It all happens on Pinellas Park Auditorium's 2500 sq ft wooden dance floor.

New Swing Night debuts, offering the best in new swing music & new swing-dance moves. It starts with a workshop, 7:30-9:00pm, for experienced swing dancers, taught by Sam & Rachel. Workshops cover different moves that can be used in east-coast swing, lindy hop, and related dances. A free beginner's lesson is offered 8:30-9:00pm. Then it's music & dancing, 9pm-1am, with DJ Swingin' Sam spinning a wide variety of swing musical styles, with an emphasis on new releases and older recordings that you've likely not yet heard. You'll hear exciting new swing music as well as some old favorites, as you dance on Pinellas Park Auditorium's 2500 sq ft wooden dance floor. Admission is $5 for just the dance, $10 for just the workshop, or $12 for both. The night is sponsored by Swing Time.

Tonight's workshop will cover moves including the Walk-Around (a sharp move performed by east- and west-coast swingers as well as lindy hoppers), plus the Drop-Out, the Forward Tunnel, and related moves. In teaching the moves, the instructors will work on improving your dancing, your style, and your leading/following. No partner is required, as partners will be rotated throughout the workshop. Prerequisite: Participants should be very comfortable dancing six-count (east-coast) swing, both single-step and triple-step, and be able to easily execute a variety of basic moves.

Swing every Sunday night at the Zendah Grotto, a weekly swing dance put on by the Suncoast Swing Gang, Tampa Bay's nonprofit swing organization. DJ Abdel or Paul spins the tunes, while Fran and guests teach the lesson. The Zendah Grotto features a large (2200 sq ft) floating-wood dance floor, plus excellent surround sound and cold A/C. You may BYOB or buy soft drinks & snacks at the concession counter. Because of airport construction, be sure to click the link below for a map.

Every Wednesday is swing night at the Gulfport Casino in southern Pinellas County. The night starts with a 7-8pm beginner's lesson with James & Arleene, and continues with dancing until midnight with DJs James & Arleene spinning music for east-coast swing, lindy hop, foxtrot, and more. The dance features prizes, a huge dance floor, a full bar, and free street parking.

The Tuesday night Swing Jam continues at the Sandbar, hosted by band, Lucian & the All Stars. All singers, musicians, and dancers are invited to join in. The Sand Bar, located at the foot of the Tierra Verde Bridge, has a restaurant and a full bar.

"You're the DJ as we relive the golden age of the Juke Joint! You take control of the music as you make selections from our virtual 'juke box'. However, with modern technology, you are no longer limited to the classic 24 selections... you get to choose from a list of over 1,200 songs! Grab your friends and come out and dance to the music of your choice. In the spirit of the juke joint cafe, we'll have a selection of snacks (free!) and sodas & refreshments for sale... and what juke joint would be complete without Coke and Root Beer floats?!" [WBC]