This month features a huge weekend of swing, starting with next Friday's Swing Time at Centro Asturiano with Mitch Woods & his Rocket 88's!  Joining this world-class band will be national swing-dance champs, Dan & Caitlin, who'll perform at Centro on Friday, then teach at the Grotto on Sunday.  Advance ticket deadlines are approaching, so get yours now while you still can!  Enjoy this issue of Swing News, and we'll see you at Centro next Friday the 15th, if not sooner!

Sam

Swing Time is proud to present the legendary Mitch Woods -- boogie-woogie piano man extraordinaire -- who's traveling all the way from California to appear live at Centro Asturiano on Friday November 15th!  Mitch Woods, along with his band, the Rocket 88's, will kick the Centro Asturiano ballroom into high gear, as they jump, boogie, and rock the place like you've never seen!  This must-see event will be full of swingin' high-energy music that'll make you want to jump up and dance!

Bandleader, Mitch Woods, is a world-renowned master of boogie-woogie piano, who's been compared to past greats such as Jerry Lee Lewis & Pete Johnson.  He and the Rocket 88's have recorded six albums of original music, received critical acclaim, and headlined some of the most prestigious music festivals in the world.  Click here for the full bio with pictures.

Tickets to this special event are $10 in advance or $13 the day of event.  ADVANCE TICKETS are now available online at www.SwingTime.info.  Or you may purchase them in person on Wednesday at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night.

Professional Swing-Dance Exhibition:  National swing-dance champions and visiting instructors, Dan Amores & Caitlin George, will give an impressive swing performance at 11pm.

Nov 16 (Sat):  DJ Swing/Lindy Dance at the Pinellas Park Auditorium:  8pm-12:30am, $5 Admission, sponsored by Lindy Hop 411.  Check the following link closer to the date for full info.  More Info.

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, teach a workshop at the Zendah Grotto in Tampa.  The workshop, 11:00am-6:15pm (including breaks), consists of four 75-minute classes: Lindy Hop Heaven, Old-School Lindy, Moves & Musicality, and Dynamics & Styles.  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.  The workshop is designed for dancers of all levels.  Prerequisite:  Participants should already know six-count swing and Lindy Hop basics.  Registration is $30 by Nov 10th or $35 after the 10th.  Click Here for Full Info or to Register.  After the workshop, the Suncoast Swing Gang will hold its regular Sunday night dance at the Zendah Grotto.  Read below for details on the dance.

"The last two weeks have been absolutely incredible, in the level of energy, enthusiasm, and overall fun.  And yes, we did set two new back-to-back records for overall attendance and paid attendance!  Many thanks to everyone who has come out to the Casino -- the night has strong momentum and the party is just beginning!  We encourage you -- both this Wednesday and in the upcoming weeks -- to come out, support the night, and have a great time!"  --Sam & Rachel

P.S.  There WILL BE a dance at the Casino on Wed Nov 27th (the night before Thanksgiving), so make plans now to attend, and stay late, because there's no work the next day!

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.  Click Here for a Map.

Nov 8 (Fri):  Lindy Hop Night w/ DJ Abdel:  Held at Swing City in Tampa;  A workshop precedes the dance.  This will be the final monthly Lindy night, before it moves to a new weekly format every Thursday. More Info.

Nov 9 (Sat):  Live Swing Dance @ Dunedin Public Library:  Featuring Lorri Hafer & the Music of Your Life Quartet, 6-9pm, outdoors in the Courtyard.  Free Admission!  Concessions available.  The band hails from South Florida and is making a couple of stops in the area before departing on a big-band cruise with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra!  For more info, phone 727-298-3080 (ext 224).

Nov 9 (Sat):  Matt & Laura Workshop in South Florida:  An all-day Lindy-Hop workshop in Pompano Beach with Austin's Matt & Laura. More Info.

Nov 10 (Sun):  Swing Dancers Wanted for Tampa Block Party!:  Connie Gee's band will perform for a block party on Davis Island to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of TGH.  Swing Time is getting some people together for a street dance during the first set (1-2pm), and you're invited!  All levels of dancers are encouraged to join in.  Besides live music & street dancing, there'll also be other activities plus refreshments.  Just show up at 1pm, preferably wearing something that looks "swing", whether it be a bowling shirt, swing skirt, or two-toned shoes. Directions: Drive onto Davis Island and follow the main road (Davis Island Blvd) to the business district.  The block that's closed for the party runs from the 7-Eleven to the Bank of America, on the main street just past the restaurants.

Nov 10 (Sun):  Spring Hill Concert & Dance:  The Hernando Jazz Society presents the Barry Nelson Big Band, featuring Eddie Lawrence and Lorri Hafer, 1:30-4:30pm, at the SNPJ Hall in Spring Hill.  Call Ed at 352-683-7254 for more info.

Nov 14 (Thu):  Swing City Night w/ DJ Abdel:  This Lindy/Swing night moves to a an every Thursday format.  Four classes in Beginning & Intermediate East-Coast Swing & Lindy Hop will start off the night, and dancing will commence at 9pm.  Full details are in the works, so check the following link closer to the date.  More Info.

Nov 16 (Sat):  Swing City Grand Opening Party:  Celebrate the opening of the new addition, plus Swing City's 5th Anniversary.  A variety of dancing will take place in the two rooms.  More Info.

Nov 21 (Thu):  Swing City Night w/ DJ Abdel:  More Info.

Nov 22 (Fri):  Eckerd College Swing Dance:  9pm-midnight in Triton's Pub w/ DJ Ian from the Eckerd College Swing Club.  Free Admission & Snacks, plus Bar & Grille will be open.  The public is invited.  Directions: I-275 to 54th Ave S, head west, turn into Eckerd College on the left; tell the security guard that you're going to Triton's Pub for the Swing Dance, and they can provide a campus map or directions.  E-mail Gina for More Info.

Nov 22-24 (Fri-Sun):  Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic:  Annual festival on Sand Key, put on by the Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Society.  More Info.

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.

Charlie Vegas & the New Blues Combo:  Charlie Vegas writes: "We're a 4-piece combo featuring saxophone, bass, drums, and myself on vocals, guitar, harmonica & wisecracks.  We play a blend of Blues, Jump, Rockabilly & Swing.  Our music is entertaining and very danceable, with a retro look and feel.  We would love you's guys to come and check us out some time."  The band's playing at Dave's Aqua Lounge this Saturday in St Pete, 9:30pm-1:30am, Free Admission, 727-576-1091.

Heebie Jeebies:  Ally (formerly of Bombed Out Cat) has put together a new band called the Heebie Jeebies.  Check them out at Mr B's (formerly Cadillac Jack's) on Treasure Island (145 107th Ave, 727-360-2099) Tue Nov 12th and Tue Nov 19th, 9pm-1:30am: "Nice dance floor, great food & drinks, manager loves Swing and Jazz and would like to keep it there if it draws people." [Ally]  They're also playing Nov 14-15 at the Howard Johnson's on St Pete Beach.

With the closing of T-Bones, and BorderLine's conversion into a Latin club, West-Coast Swingers have been out & about at all the local swing nights.  In addition, several new "West-Coast" nights have recently sprouted up:

Sundays at The Roundup:  Tampa Bay Beach Boppers Night in Oldsmar.  More Info.

Tuesdays at Joe Dugan's:  Tampa Bay Beach Boppers Night in Clearwater.  More Info.

Thursdays at Zendah Grotto:  Beginners Lesson at 7:30pm and Intermediate Lesson at 8:15pm w/ world-class instructor Danielle Blouin.  DJ Dance before & after lessons.  Doors open 7pm, $6 Admission, Smoke-Free.  Map.

Fridays at Swing City:  With the addition of a new room, one room on Friday nights will always be devoted to West-Coast Swing and Country-Western Dancing.  More Info.

Fridays at Larry Silvers:  St Pete dance hosted by Vivian Wright and featuring a variety of DJs spinning beach boppin' music & other songs for Carolina Shag, West-Coast Swing, East-Coast Swing, Hustle, Nightclub & Latin dances.  WCS Lesson @ 7pm (free w/ admission), Dance 8-11pm, $6, All Ages, Smoke-Free, BYOB, $1 Sodas/Setups, Snacks, Door Prizes, Big Dance Floor.  Address: 6210 44th St N in St Pete.  Contact Vivian Wright for more info at 727-521-9429 or 727-692-8435.

Spats Update:  Pam Callender writes that she's now teaching three groups of Spats Cats (youth Dance Sport teams) in Tampa, Sarasota, and Bradenton, plus teaching ballroom dance to kids at the Manatee School for the Arts.  She's also producing a Dance Sport competition each month, the next one being Sat Nov 9th, 3-6pm, with a Club Night afterward at the Manatee Civic Center in Palmetto.  The Club Night, 8pm-midnight, is open to the public and features a 7-piece Latin band, a 7-8pm dance lesson, and DJ'd swing between sets.  Admission is $10 in advance or $12 at the door, and includes free spectating of the afternoon's competition.  It's smoke-free, alcohol-free, and all ages.  For tickets or more info, phone 941-751-2072 or E-mail Pam.  Directions from Tampa Bay: Take I-275 S over the Skyway, take Rte 41, then look for and follow signs to Manatee Convention Center on Rte 301.

Lucian & the All Stars:  The band appears every Sunday night, 7-11pm, at the Wine Cellar on Redington Beach, and every Tuesday night, 7-11pm, at the Sand Bar on Tierra Verde.  They play a mix of Swing, Latin, and popular dance numbers.  More Info.

Swing Sneakers:  Available online, customized with full suede sole, suede half-sole, or regular tennis sole.  Click Here to Check Them Out.

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