This Friday's Swing Time brings a rare Florida appearance by Ryan & the Levee Breakers, Birmingham's hot jump/swing sensations.  It also features a celebration of Swing Time's 30th event!

Tickets:  $9/advance or $12/day of event.  Order advance tickets securely online at the Swing Time Shoppe (deadline 8/1/02 at midnight). Click Here to Order Advance Tickets. 

Special Bonus:  On Friday, August 2nd, at Swing Time, all ticket holders will receive a free pass (a $6 value) to a future Swing Sunday dance at the Zendah Grotto!

Ryan & the Levee Breakers are one of the hottest swingin' acts in the Southeast, a tight ensemble that delivers an energetic, highly danceable, crowd-pleasing batch of jump music!  Known as Birmingham's premier swing & blues ensemble, the band combines swinging & soulful vocals with stellar musicianship, a dynamic stage presence, and an outstanding sense of acoustics.  Led by Ryan Reardon -- critically acclaimed lead vocalist & songwriter -- the band is currently recording their 3rd CD and putting on a 6th straight year of 100+ live performances throughout the Southeastern and Midwestern US!

The band has been a big hit at recent dance events, including Dance Vortex and the Tuscaloosa Swing Society's Fall Ball. "Ryan Reardon and the Levee Breakers... really know how to get dancers going, whether it's laying down a bluesy groove... or hot jump ... or lots in between....  Ryan's also a dancer, so he knows what we want!  And he gives it to us!  If you're within 100 miles, GO!"  -- Bart Ruark,  Dance Vortex

Swinging jazz band, Pepper & Fine Thyme, returns to Swing Time with an exciting new program of music, including vocal favorites and swinging instrumental jazz & big-band numbers.  The band features renowned vocalist, Paulette Pepper, plus an all-star musical lineup of Herb Bruce on trombone, Spike Bamsey on piano, Gary Denton on drums, and John Lamb on upright bass.

Join hundreds of swing dancers from all across Florida for this big kick-off event to an exciting weekend of Tampa Bay swing!  (For full details on the weekend, click here.)  The evening also features an exciting "Jack & Jill Style" (partners drawn out of a hat) Dance Contest, where anyone may enter for 20 seconds of glory and a chance to win Swing Time Bowling Shirts and other fabulous prizes!

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.

This Sunday-afternoon dance is part of Lindy Hop 411's Anniversary Weekend.  (For full details on the weekend, click here.)  The Wayne Pearson Combo is famous for their weekend appearances at Cafe Creole as the Bourbon Street Jazz Band.  The band will play an afternoon full of swinging jazz for your dancing pleasure.  Dancers are expected from across the state and beyond.  The Pinellas Park Auditorium features a 2500 sq ft wooden dance floor.

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.

Part of the big weekend of Tampa Bay swing, this late-night dance picks up after Centro Asturiano's Swing Time event, and continues into the wee hours of Friday night / Saturday morning.  Abdel will be spinning lindy-hopping & swing-dancing tunes until all the dancers drop. (For full details on the weekend, click here.) 

Saturday of LindyHop411's big 2nd Anniversary Weekend features two lindy hop classes with talented visiting instructors from Austin, Dallas & Rochester. The workshops are followed by a cookout and then a dance! All events take place at the Pinellas Park Auditorium. The Schedule is:

2:00-3:15pm: Blues & Lindy Class w/ Matt & Laura
3:30-4:45pm: Lindy Hop w/ Tom Frazier & Sarah Baldwin
5:00-8:00pm: Cookout
8:00-1:00am: DJ Dance

Registration is $25 (in advance) for all Saturday events.  A la carte pricing is also available for individual classes or the dance.  Full-weekend packages are available too. (For full details on the weekend, click here.)

Because it has five Fridays, August features this special encore night of swing at Swing City.  Details are the same as August 9th's Lindy Swing Night.

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 or Abdel 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 East- & West-Coast Swing Lessons:  August 4th & 11th are the last two nights of the special 4-part series on West Coast Swing (7-8pm), featuring instructor Ron Algood. Beginning East-Coast swing lessons will be taught 6-7pm on these two nights, by Fran & Mike.

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.

"Lounge Cat is a fantastic 5-piece group that combines the best of jazz & swing. The lead singer can often be seen with his 40's-style cordless mic roaming the room, atop the booths, behind the bar, on top of the bar, and sometimes joining guests as they dine!" [Big City Tavern]

Big City Tavern is part of Centro Ybor, and is located on the 2nd floor in the old Spanish Club. The restaurant area is open to all ages, and the bar area is open to ages 21+. A dance floor is provided.