Swing Your Partner at Island Swing Dance Festival

Byline: The Log Staff

Swing Your Partner at Island Swing Dance Festival

AVALON — Back in the 1930s, the Catalina Casino was known nationwide as a place to hear top Big Bands play the latest Swing music, while couples showed off impressive moves on the ballroom dance floor. Those days will return — at least for a weekend — when the Catalina Swing Dance Festival comes to the Casino, Nov. 8-10.

This unique dance camp experience will celebrate the Swing Era of the 1930s and 1940s — and other eras, too — with a full weekend of live music, dance classes and workshops.

The Catalina Swing Dance Festival may be the only event in the world to claim to offer a “four-dimensional experience” — with its slogan, “See it, hear it, feel it, dance it.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn to swing dance from seven dancing professionals, all while moving to the rhythm of a live big band.

Held in the Casino Ballroom, all levels of dancers are welcome to work with instructors/performers in celebration of the Swing Era. And when they are not learning dance steps, they will be able to watch special performances set to live music.

For more information visit catalinaswingdancefestival.com or call (619) 347-9366.

Festival Schedule

Friday, Nov. 8:
6:30-9 p.m.: Dinner, dancing and Karaoke at El Galleon
9 p.m.: Weekend Check In at Antonio’s
9:30-10:30 p.m.: Band leader Q&A discussion
10:30 p.m.-2 a.m.: DJ Dance at Antonio’s

Saturday, Nov. 9:
9:30 a.m.: Check in at Casino Ballroom
10-11 a.m.: All Levels: Pre-swing with Richard & Angela
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Track classes (couples w/1920s Charleston focus) in the ballroom. Track 1: Shesha & Nikki; Track 2: Michael & Evita; Track 3: Nathan & Giselle
12:15-12:45 p.m.: Lunch break
12:45-1:30 p.m.: Lecture at the Casino with Richard Powers
1:30-2:30 p.m.: All Levels: Richard & Angela
2:45-3:45 p.m.: Track classes (Lindy Hop focus) in the ballroom. Track 1: Nathan & Giselle; Track 2: Shesha & Nikki; Track 3: Michael & Evita
4-5 p.m.: Group Class: Jeremy & Laura
4-6 p.m.: Private lessons available
6:30-7:30 p.m.: Guests allowed to enter Mezzanine; photo booth
6:45 p.m.: Doors open for dinner 7 p.m.: Doors open to the public
7 p.m.-midnight: Dance with George Gee Swing Orchestra & Gordon Webster, performances and “Swing the Doc” preview
12:30-2:30 a.m. After-hours dancing at Antonio’s
12:45 a.m.: Boat back to Long Beach for Saturday Special and band

Sunday, Nov. 10:
9:30 a.m.: Registration at Casino
10-11 a.m.: Group Class: Jeremy & Laura 10-noon: Private lessons available
Noon-1:15 p.m.: “Stories with Chuck”
1:30-2:30 p.m.: Track classes (couples w/ 1920s Charleston focus) in the ballroom. Track 1: Michael & Evita; Track 2: Nathan & Giselle; Track 3: Shesha & Nikki
2:45-3:45 p.m.: Musicality Class with Nathan & Gordon Webster
4-6:30 p.m.: Dance, with Gordon Webster
7:30 p.m.: Final Boat back to Long Beach

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