Get Ready... for this weekend's amazing lineup of swing, which caps off a year of Tampa Bay events that just keeps getting better!  December brings all the dancing you can handle, plus workshops & more!  Be sure to read about the ultimate swing vacation, coming this summer to Florida!  See you at the events!

Sam

The Band:  The BackBreakers are a hard-swingin', seven-piece, jump-blues outfit that combines an exciting three-"horn" section (sax, trombone, and harmonica), with unique vocals, piano, 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?

Special Guest:  Norma Miller -- legendary swing dancer, actress, comedienne, author, instructor & choreographer -- will be in the house!  (Click here for more info.)  Look for a return of the News Channel 8 cameras, covering her visit to Swing Time.  Plus, enter the Prize Giveaway for your chance to win a free pass to her Sunday workshop at the Zendah Grotto!

Special Guest:  Santa Claus, himself, is expected to pay us a return visit, handing out goodies to all you nice (or naughty) boys & girls.  But there'll be no time for lap-sitting, as this Santa loves to dance!  We may just put him to the test, with a special jam session!

Norma Miller -- the Queen of Swing -- pays a visit to Tampa Bay this weekend (Dec 6-8).  She'll give an interview on News Channel 8's Friday Daytime show, 10-11am, and appear Friday night at Centro Asturiano for the Swing Time Holiday Extravaganza.  Then on Sunday, 1-5pm, she'll teach a Lindy Hop and Shim Sham workshop at the Zendah Grotto, plus share her moving historical memoir of Harlem's legendary Savoy Ballroom.  Click here for full info on the weekend, plus Norma's bio & pics.

Norma started her dance career at age 12, performing & winning contests at Harlem's famous Savoy Ballroom and Apollo Theater.  She soon joined the world's premier Lindy Hop team, Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, and performed around the globe in the 1930's & 40's with Frankie Manning & the rest of the team.  She danced in the 1937 Marx Brothers' film, A Day at the Races, the 1941 film, Hellzapoppin' (featuring the most spectacular Lindy Hop scene ever put on film), and the 1992 Spike Lee film, Malcolm X.  She's appeared in numerous other films & documentaries, including Ken Burns' recent PBS Jazz series.  Norma wrote the definitive swing-era book, Swingin' at the Savoy, and was nominated for an Emmy in 1992 for her choreography in the CBS movie, Stompin' at the Savoy.  She's maintained an active dance & show-biz career for over 70 years, and is still going strong!

Zendah Grotto Workshop (Sunday Dec 8, 1-5pm):  $30 registration fee includes Lindy Hop Class, Shim Sham Class, Video Presentation & Discussion, Dancing & Breaks, plus free admission to Sunday night's swing dance at the Zendah Grotto.  Register online or buy tickets from the Suncoast Swing Gang folks Friday at Centro Asturiano, or show up at 12:30pm on Sunday to register at the door.  Phone 813-985-8216 for more info.  [Map]

A big thank-you to the super crowd of folks who turned out to dance at the Gulfport Casino on the night before Thanksgiving!  It was one of the most memorable events yet, and the Gulfport Casino Swing Night keeps gaining more & more momentum.  We look forward to seeing everyone this Wednesday and at future dances!  --Sam & Rachel

P.S.  Win a free $30 pass to Sunday's workshop with Norma Miller!  We'll be giving one away this Wednesday (Dec 4) at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night.  All you have to do is be there and enter the prize giveaway!

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Here's the year-end schedule for the Gulfport Casino Swing Night.  Note there's no dance on Christmas night.  However, we'll be having a Christmas Party the week before.  Then, the week after Christmas, we'll kick off the New Year with a big dance celebration on New Year's Day!

Dec  4 2002 (Wed):  Gulfport Casino Swing Night
Dec 11 2002 (Wed):  Gulfport Casino Swing Night
Dec 18 2002 (Wed):  PRE-CHRISTMAS PARTY at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night!
Dec 25 2002 (Wed):  No Event. Casino closed for Christmas.
Jan  1 2003 (Wed):  NEW YEAR'S DAY CELEBRATION at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night!

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.

San Diego instructors, Jim Cruzen & Margie Adams, return to Tampa Bay on Saturday, December 21st, to teach a Lindy Hop workshop at the Pinellas Park Auditorium.  The workshop will consist of four classes, and be followed by a dance.  "In addition to being two of San Diego's most popular dance instructors, Jim and Margie are one of our favorite dancing and teaching couples.  With combined dance training of over 20 years, they teach full time, offering instruction in Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Balboa, East Coast Swing, Tap, Jazz, and Dance Fundamentals.  As dancers, they are recognized for their strong social lead and follow skills and dynamic musical styling.  As teachers, they are known for their ability to thoroughly break down material and help their students discover the music.  Rather than stress one style over another, they prefer to help students develop solid social dance technique and encourage unique, individual expression.  They see partner dancing as a language to be learned and shared."  [Lindy Hop 411]  [More Info]

Every Thursday:  Swing City Swings!:  Two classes in Beginning & Intermediate Lindy Hop (with instructors Don & Haley), and two classes in Beginning & Intermediate East-Coast Swing start off the night.  Dance Lindy Hop in one room with DJ Abdel or West-Coast Swing in the addition.  Dancing starts at 9pm.  More Info.

Dec 7 (Sat):  Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown + Charlie Vegas at Skipper's for the Suncoast Blues Society's holiday party.  More Info.

Dec 14 (Sat):  Swing Scene Christmas Party in Orlando:  More Info.

Dec 29-31 (Sun-Tue):  Swing! (the Broadway Musical) at Van Wezel in Sarasota.  More Info.

Dec 31 (Tue):  Lucian & the All Stars play the Wine Cellar's New Year's Eve party, 9:30pm-1:30am.  $75 includes gourmet meal, party favors, etc.  727-393-3491.  The band also plays every Sunday, 7-11pm, at the Wine Cellar -- a mix of swing, Latin, and popular dance numbers.  More Info.

Every Monday:  CitiJazz swings in Orlando:  December Schedule.

The Heebie Jeebies (Ally & Mark's new band) play at Mr B's (formerly Cadillac Jack's) on Treasure Island (145 107th Ave, 727-360-2099) Thu Dec 19th and Tue Dec 24th, 9pm-1:30am.  They're also playing Dec 26-28 at the Fiddler's Elbow (Howard Johnson's) on St Pete Beach.

The Endangered Species Swing Band is a nine-piece band that's been playing swinging arrangements of the big-band era for over 25 years in the Tampa Bay area.  They're scheduled to appear December 15th (Sun) at 3pm at the Palm Harbor Library and December 22nd (Sun) at 3pm at the Treasure Island Community Center.  For more info, call Frank at 727-784-8908.

Vintage Clothing Sale:  The Antique Addict is having their annual 50% off sale the entire month of December.  They carry vintage clothing & accessories for both men and women, and are open 9am-3pm Sat & Sun, located in the 2nd row on the west end of the Oldsmar Flea Market, 180 Race Track Rd. Phone 727-464-2499 weekends.

Swing Kids DVD $9.98 + more swing gift ideas under $25:  from the Savoy Style Swing Dance Shop.  Click Here.

The much awaited photos from the recent Halloween Costume Ball at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night are now up on Swing Time web site.  Click here to see them at www.SwingTime.info.

As part of Norma Miller's visit to Tampa Bay, she'll be showing some awesome dance video clips from past performances.  However, she needs a video projector (a screen would be helpful too) to show VHS/VCR tapes.  If you happen to have one you'd be willing to bring & operate, please let us know by replying to this newsletter.  There could be some free admissions in it for you!

Every year, the biggest swingin' celebration in the world is Frankie Manning's Birthday Party.  This year, the party comes to Florida!!  This year's celebration of Frankie Manning's 89th birthday will not only be bigger than ever, but it'll be part of a unique swing week that's expected to draw hundreds of Lindy hoppers from all over the globe, as well as the world's premier Lindy Hop instructors and personalities!  This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Florida swingsters to join an international swing week that departs from their very own backyard.  Departs?  Yes!  This week-long celebration will be held at sea, aboard the Carnival Paradise, the world's only 100% smoke-free cruise ship. It departs Memorial Day Weekend 2003 (Sunday May 25th) and returns the following Sunday (June 1st) -- a 7 day & 7 night Caribbean cruise, with stops in Nassau (Bahamas), Casa de Campo (Santa Domingo), and St Thomas (Virgin Islands).

Swing dances will happen every night, with 5-6 nights featuring George Gee & the Jump, Jive & Wailers! -- one of the world's leading swing orchestra's and Frankie's favorite too!  For those who can't stop, there'll be late-night dancing... not to mention Frankie's 89th Birthday Bash, featuring the ultimate birthday jam where he dances with 89 different ladies -- one for each year!  All this is included in the swing package, where one low price (starting at $590 per person, double occupancy) gets you all of the above, plus virtually everything else:  deluxe cabin accommodation with private bath/shower, gourmet all-you-can eat meals and late-night buffets, complimentary 24-hour room service, lavish entertainment, the Nautica Spa gym, pools, jogging track, cruise activities, and entry to all Frankie Cruise parties, dances and festivities!  (Taxes, port & security fees, & gratuities are extra.)  Your only other expenses will be getting to Miami (easy for Florida residents), souvenirs & other stuff you decide to buy, plus the daytime dance-workshop package at $175 (optional, but highly recommended).

The world's premier Lindy Hop instructors will be on board, teaching three days of dance workshops.  Instructors include Steven & Virginie, Ryan Francois & Jenny Thomas, Rob & Diane, Eddie & Eva (of the Rhythm Hot Shots), Erin Stevens, Chazz Young, & Sylvia Sykes!  Beginning through advanced level classes will be available, to accommodate all levels of dancers.  In fact, all levels of Lindy Hoppers are expected on this cruise, ranging from beginning to the world's best!  With hundreds of dancers expected from across the globe, no matter what your level, you will definitely find your match!

Since it's virtually happening in our own backyard, Swing Time is organizing a crew from Tampa Bay & the rest of Florida for the Frankie Cruise.  Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime ultimate swing vacation!  Florida is expected to make a strong showing, as we join the hundreds of other lindy-hopping swingsters from around the world.  Plus, since we're the host state for this celebration, a pre-cruise Saturday-night send-off party is in the works!  (The send-off party's still in its early planning stages, so more details later!)

When you register or contact the travel agent for more info, be sure to tell them you saw it in the Swing News, and give them the following promotional code:  SWINGTIME-2003.  Not only will this guarantee you the best possible rate, but you'll get a free Frankie Cruise souvenir!  Plus, you'll get free admission to the send-off party and to any on-board get-together of the Florida crew.  (Currently, the send-off party and on-board get-together are in planning, so they're not yet 100% guaranteed, but we'll keep you updated as plans fully develop.)  Important:  Let us know that you're going, so that we make sure you receive all the Florida crew's benefits!  E-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

To sign up for the Frankie Cruise and all its associated activities, contact Travel Machine, exclusive travel agent for the Frankie Cruise:  E-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX or phone 1-800-683-9882 to register or for more info.  (And be sure to tell them you saw it in the Swing News, and give them the promotional code:  SWINGTIME-2003.)  A $250 deposit holds your space until February and guarantees you the lowest cabin rate.  (Cruise ships raise their cabin rates as the ship starts to fill up.)  And if you're looking for a cabin mate, they can pair you up with another dancer.

Since we know that swing dancers love to procrastinate, we had an in-depth discussion with both the travel agent and the Frankie Cruise's head organizer.  They recommended signing up ASAP and gave us the following rough timetable.  By sometime in March (or April at latest), the cruise ship will very likely be 100% booked, and the only way to get on will be to join the waiting list and hope that someone else cancels.  By the beginning of February (give or take a few weeks), the cruise ship (especially the lower-priced cabins) will start filling up, and Carnival will begin raising the prices on the remaining cabins.  So registration by January (or even better, in December) is highly recommended.  Putting in your deposit now locks in your place at today's prices, and deposits are even fully or partially refundable up to a certain date in the event you must cancel.

Finally, what we've written above is only a short description of this phenomenal week-long celebration.  For full details, definitely check out the official web site at www.FrankieCruise.com .

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX - Submissions to this newsletter
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Editors reserve the right to edit submissions or to select based on relevance.
Events do sometimes change, so please call and confirm events before going!

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