Uptown Swing Dance

Beantown Swing Orchestra

Beantown Swing Orchestra at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, May 11, 2019
Beantown Swing Orchestra

Uptown Swing Celebrates Frankie Manning!

May is Frankie Month and Lindy Hoppers worldwide will be celebrating this very special man. There isn’t a better example than Frankie Manning to remind us of the joy and fun we have dancing! If you don’t know much about him, be sure to check out his bio. Of course the night would not be complete without a Shim Sham, Frankie style!

The 18-piece Beantown Swing Orchestra specializes in performing big band dance charts from the Swing Era (1935-1946), all transcribed from the original vintage recordings by trumpeter Danny Fratina. In order to achieve its mission of perpetuating this timeless music by exposing it to younger generations, the band trains high school students and provides them with vintage 1930s instruments to achieve the true sound of that period. With most of its musicians and staff in their teens and twenties, Beantown Swing Orchestra is a true representation of the young and energetic big bands of the Swing Era.

What a special treat to have this wonderful big band back at Uptown Swing!

  • Guest DJ Stan Yen
  • Special Frankie Favorites Swing lesson: 8:15pm (included with the dance)
  • Dancing: 9:00pm–12:00am
  • Performance with Hop to the Beat
  • Shim Sham, Frankie Style!
  • Big Apple, the Frankie version of course!
  • Frankie Doo!

Admission: $16 ($12 with Student ID)

Racky Thomas Band

Racky Thomas Band at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, March 30, 2019

Special Event: Swing & Soul Dance at Uptown Swing

Highlights

  • Soul lesson
  • Partner Soul Dance Contest (no fee to enter)

Racky Thomas is primarily a Blues man, although he continues to add to his repertoire, which has grown to be quite eclectic! He has a talent for blending his musicians on different occasions to come up with just the right mix for his audience. Racky loves playing for dancers and is great at keeping a Swing groove to everything played. There is plenty of inspiration for swinging out! His delivery has always been “soulful” and for this dance he’ll be reaching into his bag of tricks to add some classic Soul selections. Racky connects with his audience and his energy is infectious. His fan base keeps growing as it is always a fun night when Racky is on board!

The evening will be starting off with a special lesson with guest instructor Samuel Coleman, joining us from NYC! People all over the world, join hands, start a Love Train as Samuel takes you on a body rocking, hip shaking, hand clapping, head moving and foot stomping journey exploring socially conscious Soul music through movement. A non-partner class that is sure to uplift your spirit as well as challenge your body and mind.

Find a partner and participate in the Partner Soul Dance Contest! No advanced registration and no added fee to enter. This will be a fun competition open to anyone who would like to participate. There will be prizes!

Samuel will also be DJing the band breaks and handling the Soul contest.

  • Soul lesson: 8:15pm (included with the dance)
  • Guest Instructor and DJ: Samuel Coleman
  • Dancing: 9:00pm--12:00am
  • Partner Soul Dance Contest (no fee to enter)
  • More details TBA

Admission: $16 ($12 with Student ID)

Gordon Webster Band

Gordon Webster Band at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Gordon Webster Band

Special Event: Skye & Naomi Workshop Weekend

Special Extended Dance Time: 8:15pm-12:30am

Dance Exhibition by Skye Humphries & Naomi Uyama

Gordon Webster has grown into one of the most sought after musicians in the Lindy Hop world today. All the tremendous praise he receives is well deserved. His music is exciting, exhilarating and joyful! Our annual dance during the Skye & Naomi weekend has come to be a major highlight of the year.

This is a not to be missed event!

Guest DJ Paul Loschak

Admission: $28 ($24 with Student ID)

Frankie Manning Celebration

Frankie Manning Celebration at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, May 12, 2018

Uptown Swing Celebrates Frankie Manning!

May is Frankie Month and Lindy Hoppers worldwide will be celebrating this very special man. There isn’t a better example than Frankie Manning to remind us of the joy and fun we have dancing! If you don’t know much about him, be sure to check out his bio. Of course the night would not be complete without a Shim Sham, Frankie style!

Profits from this dance will be contributed to the Beantown Ambassador Program.

The Frankie Manning Foundation was established with Frankie’s passing to carry on his legacy. We’ve been honored to have Beantown Camp as part of the Ambassador Program, which provides scholarships to support the growth and development of new ambassadors of Lindy Hop. Recipients are primarily selected from African-American communities throughout the USA as well as areas around the world where Lindy Hop is in a very early stage of development.

The experience is often life-changing, and it is wonderful to watch them grow as individuals and dancers and begin to help teach future generations. Starting in 2014, Beantown began collecting funds to help bring past ambassadors back to camp as many do not have the means to do so on their own. There is no charge to attend camp, however funds are needed to cover housing, meals and travel.

From the Frankie Manning Foundation:

Frankie Manning had a long association with Beantown Camp. He would be so pleased to see the amazing job that Beantown has done in creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for African American Lindy Hoppers. No camp has done more to increase African American participation and inclusion in the world swing dance community.

Music this month will be provided by guest DJs Kevin Lin and Marta Pedrero! We’ll be dancing to Frankie’s favorites as well as music from the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. This means Count Basie, Chick Webb, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Erskine Hawkins, and more. You know it will be swingin’!

Kevin loves swing dancing, swing music, and loves listening to the music at all waking hours of the day. He has DJ‘ed at local venues around Boston such as The MIT Lindy Hop Society, Monday Night Practice, and Boston Swing Central. Some of his favorite bands include Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Chick Webb. Kevin’s goal is to keep the energy high and the dancing fun, and he firmly believes in the saying… “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing!”

Marta has been Djing weekly for the last 5 years in her local scene in Barcelona, as well as in international events such as Swim Out Costa Brava and Boston Tea Party. Music is so important when it comes to Lindy Hop; paying attention to the dancers, understanding their mood and generating a good environment are things that Marta ensures while she DJs. If you enjoy dancing to Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald do not miss it because they are always on her list!

The dance lesson is at 8:30pm and social dancing at 9:15pm. This is a slight adjustment to the usual schedule.

  • Swing lesson: 8:30pm, included with the dance
  • Dancing: 9:15pm-12:00am
  • Performance with Hop to the Beat!
  • Shim Sham, Frankie Style!
  • Big Apple, the Frankie version of course!
  • Frankie Doo!
  • All profits go to the Beantown Ambassador Program

More information: 

Lloyd Kaplan and the Aristocats

Lloyd Kaplan and the Aristocats at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Lloyd Kaplan and the Aristocats

April’s dance features Lloyd Kaplan & the Aristocats! Lloyd has been playing jazz for over 60 years. His music career started in the 62nd Army Band, followed by earning degrees in music and teaching. Lloyd went on to develop the jazz program of study at CCRI as an alternative for music majors and also introduced new courses in opera, 20th century music, jazz history, and the creative process in the arts, in addition to authoring his own jazz history and theory textbooks. In recognition of his accomplishments at CCRI and in the community, a Lloyd S. Kaplan Music Scholarship was established at CCRI in his honor, and he was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2002. This year he is to be inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame!

The Aristocats have been frequent performers at events and venues throughout Rhode Island. It was at one of these engagements that dancers discovered them, and the Aristocats have since played a variety of events for Providence Swings. This will be their first time at Uptown Swing and we’re looking forward to introducing them to the Boston community. Lloyd Kaplan & the Aristocats have been playing together for some 27 years now and are still going strong!

Guest DJ Dang Mai.

Admission: $18 ($14 with Student ID)

More information: 

Dan Fox Foxtet

Dan Fox Foxtet at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Dan Fox Foxtet

Uptown Swing is excited to welcome the Dan Fox Foxtet for their debut appearance! The Foxtet is a six piece band led by trombonist Dan Fox and comprised of some of the best local musicians who have decades of combined experience playing for swing dancers. Fox has worked as a sideman with top swing musicians such as Jonathan Stout, Adrian Cunningham, The Lowdown Stompers and Michael Gamble. Expect a rock-solid beat, an awesome vocalist and sweet, swinging horns playing tunes from the ’20’s, ’30’s and ‘40’s at just the right tempos. We’re looking forward to a wonderful night of dancing!

Guest DJ Katie Piselli.

Admission: $18 ($14 with Student ID)

More information: 

Beantown Swing Orchestra

Beantown Swing Orchestra at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Beantown Swing Orchestra

The 18-piece Beantown Swing Orchestra specializes in performing big band dance charts from the Swing Era, all transcribed from the original vintage recordings by trumpeter Danny Fratina. Some of their favorite arrangers include Fletcher Henderson and Sy Oliver, whose work was performed by Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Jimmie Lunceford. With most of its musicians in their twenties, Beantown Swing Orchestra is a true representation of the young and energetic big bands of the 1930s.

What a special treat to have this wonderful big band back at Uptown Swing!

In addition to a fabulous night dancing to the Beantown Swing Orchestra, also featured will be a performance with the Lil’ Rhody Hoppers from Providence Swings!

Admission: $18 ($14 with Student ID)

Racky Thomas Band

Racky Thomas Band at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Racky Thomas Band

Special Event: Swing & Soul Dance at Uptown Swing

Highlights

  • Racky Thomas Band at 9:00pm
  • Special Soul dance lesson with Samuel Coleman
  • Guest DJ Mike Legenthal
  • Partner Soul Dance Contest!

Racky Thomas is primarily a Blues man, although he continues to add to his repertoire, which has grown to be quite eclectic! He has a talent for blending his musicians on different occasions to come up with just the right mix for his audience. Racky loves playing for dancers and is great at keeping a Swing groove to everything played. There is plenty of inspiration for swinging out! His delivery has always been “soulful” and for this dance he’ll be reaching into his bag of tricks to add some classic Soul selections. Racky connects with his audience and his energy is infectious. His fan base keeps growing as it is always a fun night when Racky is on board!

DJing band breaks will be the wonderful Mike Legenthal, making her Uptown Swing debut! She’ll also be handling the Soul contest.

The evening will be starting off with a special lesson with guest instructor Samuel Coleman, joining us from NYC! People all over the world, join hands, start a Love Train as Samuel takes you on a body rocking, hip shaking, hand clapping, head moving and foot stomping journey exploring socially conscious Soul music through movement. A non-partner class that is sure to uplift your spirit as well as challenge your body and mind.

Find a partner and participate in the Partner Soul Dance Contest! No advanced registration and no added fee to enter. This will be a fun competition open to anyone who would like to participate. There will be prizes!

Admission: $18 ($14 with Student ID)

Gordon Webster Band

Gordon Webster Band at Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Gordon Webster Band

Special Event: Skye & Naomi Workshop Weekend

Special Extended Dance Time: 8:15pm-12:30am

Dance Exhibition by Skye Humphries & Naomi Uyama

Gordon Webster has grown into one of the most sought after musicians in the Lindy Hop world today. All the tremendous praise he receives is well deserved. His music is exciting, exhilarating and joyful! Our annual dance during the Skye & Naomi weekend has come to be a major highlight of the year.

This is a not to be missed event!

Guest DJ Stan Yen

Frankie’s Big Apple
Brush up on your Big Apple and join in! The more the merrier.

Admission: $26 ($22 with Student ID)

More information: 

Special DJ Dance

Uptown Swing Dance
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Kevin Lin
Paul Loschak

This month we’re taking advantage of the local DJ talent and will have an evening with two of Boston’s best, Kevin Lin and Paul Loschak!

Kevin loves swing dancing, swing music, and loves listening to the music at all waking hours of the day. He has DJ‘ed at local venues around Boston such as The MIT Lindy Hop Society, Monday Night Practice, and Boston Swing Central. Some of his favorite bands include Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Chick Webb. Kevin’s goal is to keep the energy high and the dancing fun, and he firmly believes in the saying… “It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing!”

Paul (known as “DJ Loveschak” at some of the weekly Boston dances) has been dancing Lindy and Blues since 2009. He made his DJ debut at the MIT Lindy Hop Society in 2011, and he has been working hard to hone his craft ever since. Paul calls on the talents of the best artists from the Swing era and authentic Swing Jazz bands that are currently active today (with current favorites Chick Webb, Andy Kirk, Mezz Mezzrow, and The Boilermaker Jazz Band). Whether it’s your first night swinging out or you’re a seasoned lindy hopping pro, with Paul in the DJ booth you can expect to find exuberance, playfulness, and expression in your dancing.

Fast Dance Contest!

Grab a partner and participate in the Fast Dance Contest! No advanced registration and no added fee to enter. This will be a fun competition open to anyone who would like to participate. Be prepared for increasing tempos. There will be prizes!

Admission: $12 ($8 with Student ID)

More information: 

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Uptown Swing Dance