We have events and other fun surprises for you this month, starting with tonight's Eckerd College dance.  Advance ticket sales are going strong for October 4th's huge Swing Time 2nd Anniversary Bash at Centro Asturiano -- get yours while you still can (before the midnight deadline on Thursday October 3rd).  Happy reading, and I'll see you at the Anniversary Bash, if not sooner!

Sam

Make plans now to attend Swing Time's 2nd Anniversary Bash next Friday, October 4th, at Centro Asturiano.  The evening will feature The Ten O'Clock Band, the state's leading 18-Piece Big Band! -- a band that really knows how to swing and how to play for swing dancers!  (Click Here for full Band Info.)  We'll be celebrating two years of Swing Time events, with superb live music & dancing, plus special prizes, refreshments & festivities!

SPECIAL PRIZE DRAWING!  Prizes include:
      * Men's & Ladies Swing Time Bowling Shirts!
      * 3-CD Set!  Benny Goodman's Famous 1938 Concert at Carnegie Hall!
      * Tickets to the Gulfport Casino & Zendah Grotto Swing Nights!
      * More CDs & Prizes!

Tickets to this special 2nd Anniversary Bash are $11 in advance or $14 the day of event.  Advance Tickets are now available online at www.StudioRetro.com.  You may also purchase them in person the prior Wednesday at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night.

JACK & JILL DANCE CONTEST!  Your last chance to enter this fun & exciting dance contest!
      * Partners assigned by random drawing
      * 30 Seconds to show your stuff
      * Great Prizes!  (Bowling Shirts, Swing CDs & More!)

EVERY WEDNESDAY
GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT
Dance Lesson,  7-8pm,  taught by Sam & Lauren
Music & Dancing,  8pm-Midnight,  w/ DJ Swingin' Sam
All Ages,  Smoke-Free,  Full Bar,  Free Parking,  $6,  727-893-1070
Map & Directions / More Info (Click Here)
Swing every Wednesday at the historic Gulfport Casino, one of the finest ballrooms in the nation!  Located directly on the waterfront, the Gulfport Casino Swing Night boasts a huge floating-wood dance floor, and a high-energy social atmosphere!  It's one of the longest-running swing nights anywhere, and it features prize giveaways and exciting dance mixers.  It's co-sponsored by the Gulfport Casino & Swing Time!  Special Halloween Costume Ball:  Wednesday, October 30th, put on your best costume and get ready to swing with all sorts of exciting characters.  Special Halloween music, a dancing costume parade, and other spooky treats round out the evening.  Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes!  Join the fun on this night before Halloween!

EVERY SUNDAY
SWING AT THE ZENDAH GROTTO
Dance Lesson,  7-8pm,  taught by Fran & Guests
Music & Dancing,  8pm-Midnight,  w/ DJ Abdel or Paul
All Ages,  Smoke-Free,  Free Parking,  $6 ($5 Students),  813-985-8216
Directions (Click Here)
Swing Sundays are put on by the Suncoast Swing Gang, Tampa Bay's nonprofit swing organization.  The Zendah Grotto features a large floating-wood dance floor, and you may BYOB or buy soft drinks & snacks at the concession counter.  Free Lindy Hop Classes:  Forrest is teaching three more weeks of Lindy Hop Classes, this Sunday (Sep 29) through Sunday October 13th.  The classes focus on giving participants a firm foundation for dancing Lindy Hop and for adding future moves & style.  Beginners and all levels of dancers are welcome; more advanced Lindy Hoppers should also benefit by improving their technique.  Classes run 6-7pm and are free with paid admission to the dance.  E-mail Forrest for more info.

Oct 11 (Fri):  Lindy Hop Night w/ DJ Abdel:  Held at Swing City in Tampa;  includes lesson, dancing, & snacks!  More Info.

Oct 12 (Sat):  Balboa Workshop in Orlando:  DC's David Rehm teaches.  Classes during the day will be followed by a Saturday-night dance.  Check the following link closer to the date for full info.  More Info.

Oct 19 (Sat):  Lindy Hop 411:  Workshop(s) & Dance with some of Tampa Bay's best Lindy Hoppers at the Pinellas Park Auditorium.  Check the following link closer to the date for full info.  More Info.

Oct 26 (Sat):  Lindy Hop 411:  Workshop(s) & Dance with some of Tampa Bay's best Lindy Hoppers at the Pinellas Park Auditorium.  Check the following link closer to the date for full info.  More Info.

Oct 26 (Sat):  Cigar Store Indians:  Slated to appear at the newly opened Liars Club, 6416 N Florida Ave in Tampa, 813-238-6210.

Lounge Cat at Big City Tavern:  Wednesdays, All Ages, Restaurant, No Cover, 7:30-11:30pm, 1600 E 8th Ave (Ybor City), 813-247-3000.

Sep 27 (Fri):  Eckerd College Dance Tonight!:  The public is invited to Eckerd College for the Swing Club's first dance of the semester!  It's 9pm-Midnight in Triton's Pub, located next to Fox Hall.  Admission is FREE and Ian from the club will DJ & take requests.  Snacks will be provided, and the bar & grill will be open.  (Directions: I-275 to 54th Ave S exit; head west and look for Eckerd on the left.  Tell the security guard at the entrance that you're going to Triton's Pub for the Swing Dance, and they can provide a campus map or directions.)

Sep 27 (Fri):  Ray Gelato in Orlando:  Ray will appear tonight with Michael Andrew & Swingerhead at Gina's on the Water.  Phone 407-834-5880.

Sep 28 (Sat):  Lindy Hop 411 Workshop & Dance:  Details are in on Saturday's Lindy Hop 411 classes and dance.  Beginner's/Fundamentals class is 3:00-4:15, Variations class is 4:30-5:45, and dance is 8pm-midnight.  Full Info.

Sep 30 (Mon):  Salsa Workshop:  One-day only, 7:00-9:30pm, at Larry Silvers, taught by Debra Kee & Vivian Wright.  More Info.

A new swing club, "The Sugar Plum", opens Saturday nights at the Gotta Dance ballroom in Nokomis (south of Sarasota near Venice).  The Grand Opening is Saturday, October 19th, 8pm-midnight, featuring the 9-piece band, The Swing Kings.

Gayle writes: "The decor is retro chic, the excitement is contagious, and it's jump & jive!  Featuring both big bands and professional DJ's with live singers to take you on a sentimental journey.  We have a huge ballroom floor.  Period apparel encouraged.  See the small boutique with new vintage style hats, the Sugar Plum collection, by designer Gayle Foshee. We are located at 303 S Tamiami Trail, Nokomis, FL 34275.  Look for the Gotta Dance sign on the east side of the road in the 4 Bays Center.  For more information, call 941-486-0326 or 941-486-0027."

Nov 15 (Fri):  Swing Time w/ Mitch Woods & his Rocket 88's!  World-renowned boogie-woogie piano master, Mitch Woods, will appear in concert with his band, the Rocket 88's, to jump, boogie, and rock the place at Swing Time's big November dance event!  (See www.MitchWoods.com for more band info or e-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX for event info.)  The evening will also feature an impressive dance performance by visiting instructors & swing-dance champions, Dan & Caitlin.

Nov 17 (Sun):  Workshop w/ Swing Champions, Dan & Caitlin!  Dan Amores & Caitlin George, 4-time American Lindy Hop Champions and 2-time North Atlantic Dance Champions, will teach a workshop at the Zendah Grotto in Tampa.  The workshop, 11am-6pm, will consist of four 75-minute classes + breaks, and will include the following topics: Fast Lindy Hop; Combining 6-Count & 8-Count Swing Moves; Cool Moves; Charleston & Old-School Lindy; Technique & Fundamentals.  Dan & Caitlin hail from Toronto & Ithaca (NY), and are famous for their dancing, teaching, and performing skills.  They are members of the champion dance team, Minnie's Moochers.   They'll also be available for private lessons throughout the weekend.  For more info or to register, e-mail Abdel.

Rounding out the weekend will be a Saturday workshop and dance at the Pinellas Park Auditorium put on by LindyHop411, plus the Sunday-night swing dance at the Zendah Grotto. 

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