Hi Everyone!  Summer's in full swing in Tampa Bay, and July brings a hot lineup of events.  Check them out below and I'll see you on the dance floor!  --Sam

Friday, July 4th, Swing Time hosts an Independence Day Celebration at Centro Asturiano in Tampa, with swinging rhythm & blues by the band, Soul Sauce.  The evening features live music & dancing, a dance show, prize giveaways, and festive decor & refreshments, plus an intro swing dance lesson (no partner needed).

Soul Sauce is a professional five-piece swinging rhythm & blues group whose big sound and instrumental virtuosity is reaping rave reviews.  Their musical catalog is put together with dance grooves in mind, covering the finest artists plus the band's own original material.  The band hits the ground running and, like that bobbing-head dog in your back window, just keeps on going!  All bandmembers have 20+ years of musical & stage experience, on instruments ranging from harmonica to organ to bass, guitar, drums & vocals.

Friday, July 18th, Swing Time hosts South Florida's hottest jump-blues band -- The Regulators -- at the Gulfport Casino.  The Regulators play that get-out-of-your-seat, get-up-and-dance, boogie-woogie-til-ya-drop, jump blues that's been filling dance floors since the '40's!  The band, based out of Ft. Lauderdale, is known for their jumpin' sound & high-energy stage performance.  A group swing-dance lesson kicks off the evening 8-9pm (no partner needed), followed by live music & dancing 9pm-1am.  Swing Time is Florida's Premier Swing Event, held the third Friday of every month at the Gulfport Casino in Pinellas County.

Tampa Bay's big annual lindy hop weekend is coming soon, with dancers expected from all over Florida, plus a number of other states!  It's all part of the Lindy Hop 411 3rd Anniversary Party, and if the prior two Parties were any indication, this one's going to be huge!  The swinging starts Friday, August 1st, as dancers from near and far invade Centro Asturiano for Swing Time with The Ten O'Clock BIG Band!  The fun continues with late-night dancing to 4am at Swing City!  On Saturday afternoon, swing dance champions Peter Strom (MN) and Lindy Greer (TX) team up to teach a hot pair of lindy classes at the Pinellas Park Auditorium.  Dancing continues Saturday night at the Pinellas Park Auditorium and late-night Saturday at the Bayou Dance Club.  Sunday, Dallas's Jeff & Elaine, inventors of the Swing Rueda, teach two classes in this exciting group Lindy-Hop dance!  And finishing off the weekend is Sunday's dance at the Zendah Grotto.  Registration is now open.  You can register for the whole weekend or for part of it, but do it soon, because space is limited and this one will sell out!  Registration & More Info

Swing II (8-9pm, 4-week class):  Add style to your swing dancing!  Learn Turning & Spinning technique, Cool Moves, Footwork Variations, Multiple Turns, Dips, Leans, and More!  This class will make you a better leader or follower and get you ready for Lindy Hop and other dances.

Lindy Hop I (7-8pm, 4-week class):  Lindy Hop Made Easy!  Our innovative teaching methods (no math or counting required) will have you Swinging Out, Circling, and moving to the Lindy Hop in no time!  Whether you're new to Lindy Hop or have taken several classes, try this one out -- we know you'll like it!

Classes start July 10th.  No partner required.  Limited Space Available.  Click here for Details or to Reserve your Space!

Swing Sundays are put on by the Suncoast Swing Gang.  The Zendah Grotto features a large floating-wood dance floor, free parking, and you may BYOB or buy soft drinks & snacks at the door.  Map or More Info.

The Swing Session is a class, practice session, and dance rolled into one.  It happens every Monday, 8:00-10:30pm, at the Bay Vista Center, 7000 4th St S in St Pete (727-893-7124).  Learn a variety of swing dances from other dancers, meet other dancers, share/exchange ideas, try new moves, and get comfortable with your dancing in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.  Whether you're a novice or have been dancing for years, the Swing Session will expand & improve your dancing!  Admission is a mere $2 for St Pete residents ($5 the first time), or $3.20 for nonresidents.  More Info

Saturday, July 12th, and every 2nd Saturday of the Month, Swing City hosts a swing night with Lindy Hop in one room and West-Coast Swing in the other room!  Dancing starts at 8:30pm and costs $6.  The dance is preceded by two intermediate-level lessons that are free with paid admission:  West-Coast at 7:30pm and Lindy Hop at 8:00pm.  More Info

Swingerhead plays Timpano's in Orlando Thursday July 24th and once a month.  More Info

Every Sunday & Monday:  CitiJazz swings in Orlando:  More Info

FSU Lindy Hop Workshop, with Minnesota's Mike Faltesek & Niki Amundson, happens July 11-12 in Tallahassee.  More Info

Indian Summer Swing Camp, hosted by Rob & Diane, is held Sep 3-7 2003 in the Redwoods of California.  More Info

Les Brown's Band of Renown, along with S. Florida artists Mike & Lorri Hafer, head for Branson MO this fall.  They'll take up residency at the Branson Mall Theater (to be renamed Les Brown's Music of Your Life Theater). And because the Band of Renown is a dance band, dancing will be encouraged during the shows!  Check it Out!

Frankie Manning is being nominated for Kennedy Center Honors.  Click here to help nominate him!

Pictures from the recent Frankie Cruise are online.  Try the following links:  Link1 (Password="Frankie"),   Link2,   Link3,   Link4

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