Start the New Year off right (and dance away those Christmas calories) this Wednesday (New Year's Day) at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night!  Then this Friday (January 3rd), Swing Time kicks off the New Year at Centro Asturiano with Jennifer & the Venturas!  In 2003, Swing Time is happening the First Friday of each and every month at Centro Asturiano in Tampa.  On the Third Friday in January (January 17th), be sure to make the Grand Opening of Swing Time at the Gulfport Casino, featuring The Ten O'Clock BIG Band!  Plus, look for future Swing Time live-music & dance events in the St Pete area (at the Gulfport Casino) on select "3rd Fridays of the Month" throughout 2003!  There's lots of excitement throughout January, so read below and then get out to it!  See you at the upcoming events!

Sam

Swing Time kicks off its 3rd year of fabulous live-music swing-dance events at Centro Asturiano!  Featured band, Jennifer & the Venturas, bring to Swing Time a highly versatile mix of jump, jazz, and variety swing!  They're one of the area's favorites, voted Best Band by readers of the Weekly Planet.  Join us this Friday (Jan 3) for one incredibly exciting & swinging good time!

Florida's Premier Swing Event debuts in the St. Petersburg area, at the spectacular Gulfport Casino!  This Grand-Opening Swing-Time event features Florida's leading 18-Piece Big Band, The Ten O'Clock Band!  Experience the swinging excitement of the big-band era at Gulfport's vintage grand ballroom, The Gulfport Casino, complete with authentic acoustic bandshell & 1930's-style 5000 sq ft hardwood dance floor! 

When people speak of "the big bands", this is what they mean -- five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones, plus piano, bass, guitar, drums, and vocals. The band's bold & brassy sound will fill the Grand Ballroom, with minimal need for amplification, letting you experience the classic days of swing as it was meant to be played, heard, danced to, and otherwise enjoyed.

JAN  1 (WED): NEW YEAR'S DAY CELEBRATION at the GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT!  That's right... The Gulfport Casino will be open New Year's Day, and the Swing Night is on!  Come celebrate the New Year with all your dancing friends.  The Gulfport Casino Swing Night keeps gaining more & more momentum, and is going to kick off 2003 in a huge way!  See you there! 

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 at the door.  More Info.

Every Thursday (starting Jan 9):  Swing City Swing Nite:  Dance Lindy Hop or East-Coast in one room with DJ Abdel, or West-Coast in the addition.  Dancing starts at 9pm; Admission $5.  Classes in Beginning (7-8pm) & Intermediate (8-9pm) Lindy Hop start the evening, with instructors Don & Haley.  Intermediate East-Coast instruction is also available.  More Info.

Jan 17-19 (Fri-Sun):  South Florida Lindy Exchange (SoFlex):  South Florida's 2nd annual lindy hopping extravaganza, with nonstop dancing all weekend long.  More Info.

Jan 18 (Sat):  42nd Street Orchestra's Tribute to Tommy Dorsey; Big-Band Ballroom Dance at the St Pete Coliseum, $13/adv or $15/door, 8pm-12am.  More Info.

Jan 21 (Tue):  Glenn Miller Orchestra @ Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1pm, $15.  More Info.

Jan 24 (Fri):  Cigar Store Indians @ Liar's Club, 6416 N Florida Ave in Tampa, 813-237-0758.

Whenever Swing Time has thrown an event featuring a big band or featuring nationally or internationally renowned talent, we've offered our regular supporters an opportunity to purchase advance tickets at a rock-bottom $10 rate.  For January 17th's Grand Opening of Swing Time at the Gulfport Casino (featuring The Ten O'Clock BIG Band), tickets are $11 in advance or $14 the day of event.  However, if you attend this Wednesday's (Jan 1) Gulfport Casino Swing Night or this Friday's (Jan 3) Swing Time at Centro Asturiano, you may purchase advance tickets in person for the Grand Opening at a special $10 rate!

Breaking News:  Already, tons of swing dancers have signed up for this ultimate swing vacation, with new registrations coming in every week!  Dancers from Sweden, England, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Canada, and over 25 U.S. states have already signed up!  So be sure to reserve your space while there's still room!

Feb  7 (Fri): Swing Time!  at CENTRO ASTURIANO
              with The Midnight Ramblers!

Feb 21 (Fri): Swing Time!  at the GULFPORT CASINO
              with The Toni Lynn Washington Band!

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Events do sometimes change, so please call and confirm events before going!

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