Friday, July 19th, Swing Time jumps into high gear with The BackBreakers!  The BackBreakers are a hard-swingin', six-piece, jump-blues outfit that combines an exciting three-"horn" section (sax, trombone, and harmonica), with unique vocals and a driving rhythm section.  While most bands play a standard 45-minute set then go on break, The BackBreakers are famous for delivering song after song, nonstop, for up to two straight hours of high-energy music and dancing!  Then after a short break, they come back and do it again!  That's the way the band prefers to play -- to get the crowd going, and to build up the musical excitement in a great crescendo, culminating in the final climactic song of their "BackBreaking" sets.  Need we tell you how the band got its name?

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 $1 off the dance for each class taken. The dance runs 8pm-midnight and features Tim, Abdel, and/or Gabe at the DJ controls. 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.

After its successful debut last month, New Swing Night follows with an encore night of fresh swing music & new swing-dance moves.  It starts with a Charleston Workshop, 7:30-9:00pm, for experienced swing dancers, taught by Sam & Rachel.  A brief beginner's lesson is offered 8:45-9:00pm.  A Dance follows, 9pm-1am, with DJ Swingin' Sam spinning a wide variety of swing musical styles.  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 Charleston Variations, all of which can be used in either Lindy Hop or East-Coast Swing.  After a brief review of the basic (side by side) Charleston, the workshop will cover the following intermediate-level moves: Side-To-Side Charleston, Hand-to-Hand Charleston, and Face-to-Face Charleston.  Also covered will be Charleston technique, stylistic variations, and ways of getting in & out of the Charleston positions.  No partner is required, as partners will be rotated throughout the workshop.  Prerequisite: Participants should have some prior swing-dance experience.

LindyHop411 holds an afternoon of workshops, followed by an evening dance. Admission is $7 per class, and $5 for the dance, with $1 off the dance for each class taken. The dance runs 8pm-midnight and features Tim, Abdel, and/or Gabe at the DJ controls. 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.

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. DJs Paul, Abdel or Carson spin 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. BYOB or buy soft drinks & snacks at the concession counter. Because of airport construction, be sure to click the link below for a map.

Special West-Coast Swing Lessons:  July 21st - August 11th, the free lesson will cover a 4-part series on West Coast Swing. Special Guest Instructor Ron Algood will teach, along with Fran Johns. Ron is a world-class instructor who has won dance championships in Florida and across the US. He's heading back to California after this series, so don't miss this rare opportunity to learn West-Coast from one of the best!

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.

L.A.'s Nick and Erin, two of the top dance instructors in Southern California, will be in Orlando to teach a 5-hour workshop on Lindy Hop & Collegiate Shag. The workshop will take place at the Whirl & Twirl Dance Club, 9:30am-5:15pm, and is open to dancers of all levels. Workshop registration is $35 in advance or $40 the day of event.
     9:30am-10:00am - Sign In
    10:00am-11:00am - Lindy Hop Techniques
    11:15am-12:15pm - Lindy Hop Variations
    12:30pm- 1:30pm - Lindy Hop Variations & Styling
     3:00pm- 4:00pm - Collegiate Shag Techniques
     4:15pm- 5:15pm - Shag Variations & Styling

Participation in the "Techniques" classes is mandatory in order to gain entrance into the "Variations" classes. To register, or for more info, click the link below.

The workshop will be followed by a Black & White Theme Dance, 9pm-1am, at the Whirl & Twirl -- "a return to the golden age of television... complete with a black & white attire contest with prizes for both 'vintage' and 'creative' black & white duds.... Tired of living in Technicolor? Drop your colors and come in grayscale... and what B&W night would be complete without era commercials and such timeless 16mm video classes as 'Duck and Cover', 'A Date with Your Family', and 'How to Be Well Groomed'." [orlandoswing.com]  Admission to the dance is $6. For more info, click the link below.

"A New Orleans based group, Amy and the Hank Sinatras features songwriter/vocalist Amy Adams, joined by some of the city's most accomplished players. Performing favorite songs from the golden age of music, along with refreshing original compositions, the Hank Sinatras blend swing, rhythm & blues, jazz, country, rockabilly and jump-blues tunes into nostalgic, dance-driving energy. Winners of two 'Best New Band' Awards from 'Offbeat Magazine', they have been invited to perform for the prestigious New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for four consecutive years." [www.hanksinatras.com]