Hi Folks,

Welcome to the 111th and final issue of the Swing News.  Over six years ago, I started this newsletter with the idea of bringing together Tampa Bay's swing dancers for occasional events.  Back then, there weren't many dancers, and there weren't many events!  But the idea was that if the dancers showed up to the same events at the same time, those events would be a lot more fun and they'd be more likely to happen again.  Today, the local swing community is bigger than ever, and there are more swing happenings than anyone could possibly track.  We have the "Swing Time!" live-music & dance events, where the whole swing community gets together once a month for one heck of a good time.  In addition, we have weekly events on both sides of the Bay, which provide gathering points and swing-dance opportunities at least twice a week.  And add to that a number of classes, monthly dances, concerts, club gigs, and special events!

Currently, Tampa Bay has a number of event producers, each with their own newsletter.  While this publication has served its purpose well, to continue it would only duplicate the content of the various producers' newsletters.  In addition, it would duplicate our own efforts in putting out the Swing Time newsletter.  A separate, monthly digest such as the Swing News (which, by the way, is a ton of work to produce) is no longer a productive use of anyone's time.

So here's what's happening, effective immediately.  If you're currently receiving the Swing News, you're going to receive, instead, the Swing Time newsletter, which contains all of the major events that used to be published in the Swing News.  (Check out the most recent events below, in this newsletter.)  For those who want to know ALL of the Tampa Bay swing happenings, we've also included a Resource Guide at the bottom of this newsletter, with links to the various producers' web sites.

Thank-you to everyone who's regularly read the Swing News, and who's been an active part of Tampa Bay's swing community.  Thanks to your support, we have one of the biggest and best swing scenes on the planet, and that's no exaggeration.  Going forward, it's only going to get better!  See you out swingin'!

Sam

Friday, June 4th, Swing Time hosts Big Band Night at Centro Asturiano, featuring live music by The Ten O'Clock Band, Florida's Leading 18-Piece Big Band!  Swing dancers from across Florida will be in the house for this huge event, which kicks off an entire weekend of Tampa Bay swing!

The Ten O'Clock Band brings the big-band experience to Swing Time.  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.  Exciting soloists, excellent musicianship, and great coordination as a unit have earned the band rave reviews from dancers as well as fellow musicians across the Bay area!

June 4th (Fri):  Swing Time! BIG BAND NIGHT @ Centro Asturiano
                 featuring the 18-Piece Ten O'Clock Band!!

June 5th (Sat):  Steven & Virginie Workshops @ Swing City
                 followed by Swing City Dance w/ DJ Abdel

June 6th (Sun):  Steven & Virginie Workshops @ Zendah Grotto
                 followed by Swing Sunday Dance @ Grotto w/ DJ Abdel

"Greetings Dancers!  LindyHop411 is delighted to announce that the Steven & Virginie 2004 Workshop Weekend is now open for registration!  We are proud to bring you an amazing weekend with the internationally acclaimed teaching duo Steven Mitchell and Virginie Jensen!  Among the most highly regarded Lindy Hop instructors today, Steven and Virginie teach workshops all over the world, and are returning to Tampa Bay for a fourth consecutive year.  If you've never taken a workshop with them before, now's your chance to see what all the excitement is about, and to open up a whole new realm of possibilities in your dancing.  Those of you who have taken classes with them before will know to sign up early because this workshop will sell out."  Click Here for Details & Registration.

Congratulations to last month's winners of the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Manhattan Transfer concert tickets!  There's always something exciting happening Wednesdays at the Gulfport Casino!  In addition to a great bunch of regular dancers, dancers visit each week from different US and world cities.  One night last month we celebrated 5 birthdays, complete with an amazing selection of birthday cheesecakes & other treats!  The next week, we celebrated 7 graduations!  Who knows what surprises next month will bring....

Swing City Live, an event that was held the 3rd Saturday of each month from Feb-May, has been cancelled.  Thanks to everyone who made the first four events -- it was fun while it lasted!

Swing Time - Hosts the monthly Swing Time! live music & dance events at places like Centro Asturiano & the Gulfport Casino; these are the biggest events of their kind in the Southeastern US!  Also hosts the Wednesday Gulfport Casino Swing Nights, plus dance classes & workshops, and special events.

Suncoast Swing Gang - Hosts Swing Sunday at the Zendah Grotto in Tampa, a weekly event now in its 5th year!  The Swing Gang also sponsors occasional workshops and special events, featuring local to international talent.

Swing City - A hotbed of West Coast Swing, Swing City also holds a variety of DJ dances & classes, from country-western to salsa.  The 2nd Friday of each month, look for a Lindy Hop & West-Coast Swing night, with 2 rooms and 2 DJs!

Progressive Swing Guild - Hosts the instructional Swing Sessions every Monday night in south St Petersburg, featuring a variety of swing instructors and topics.

Lindy Hop 411 - Sponsors the annual Lindy Hop 411 Anniversary Party, Tampa Bay's answer to the lindy exchange weekend.  Also sponsors an annual Lindy Hop workshop weekend with world-class instructors, Steven & Virginie.  Hosts a discussion forum on its web site, which has become the de facto online swing discussion forum for Tampa Bay and for several other swing communities around the state.

St Petersburg Coliseum - Huge & historic dance hall that sponsors big-band ballroom dances, sock hops, concerts, expos, and, on rare occasion, a swing dance.

Skipper's Smokehouse - Famous local landmark; outdoor concert venue with attached restaurant & bar + plywood-&-sand dance floor.  Hosts local, regional, national, and international musical talent in just about every musical genre there is, including several rockabilly & swing acts each year. 

Swing Around the State:  Daytona Beach   Ft Myers (239-415-1951)   Gainesville   Jacksonville   Orlando   Pensacola   South Florida   Tallahassee   Tampa Bay   Vero Beach  

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