Mar 23
Dance Party with DJ Kevin Lin and DJ Alli-Cat
Join us for a swing dance with our local Boston DJs!
Kevin Lin 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 including MIT Lindy Hop Society and Monday Night Practice. 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!”
Allison Wilhelm, or DJ Alli-Cat, has been a swing lover since 2012, when a video game piqued her interest in music from the early to mid 20th Century. It was her interest in the genre that led her to take up swing dancing. Since her interest in old school music is what led her here, it should be no surprise that her sets feature classic swing artists like Cab Calloway, Chick Webb, Artie Shaw, and Ella Fitzgerald, but she also digs the sounds of today’s artists, like Michael Gamble and the Mint Julep Jazz Band. In her DJing, Allison is committed to authenticity, danceability, and diversity.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Mar 16
Rocco and the Stompers
Get ready to swing out hard ’cause Rocco and the Stompers are back! The 7-piece swing band specializes in the music of Duke Ellington and the bands his notable sidemen fronted, including Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, Barney Bigard and others. Only from the Stompers will you hear the hottest songs of the swing era brought back from obscurity, covering hip tunes by the Artie Shaw Gramercy Five, and the Count Basie and Benny Goodman small groups. Led by Boston-based arranger/composer Danny Rocco Fratina and stocked with the best local players, Rocco and the Stompers are here to get you on your feet with music for swing dancers of all experience levels.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Mar 9
DJ Night with DJs Marta Pedrero and Andrew Selzer
In honor of International Women’s Day (which falls on Thursday), DJs Marta Pedrero and Andrew Selzer will be playing some tracks by women jazz artists! Come on out and dance!
Marta Pedrero started dancing contemporary jazz and ballet when she was 4 years old. She has always loved music, singing, and dancing. One day out of the blue in 2012 she discovered Lindy Hop at a jazz concert and has been a swing fanatic ever since. Dancing Lindy Hop makes her smile and forget about everything while she enjoys the music and dancing with her partner. She usually DJs at her dance school in Barcelona, and also recently played the international workshop SWIM OUT last September. She loves swing music and tries to make everyone happy by paying attention to the room and varying tempos. If you like Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie… you can’t miss her set!
Andrew Selzer started DJing for weekly dances in the college town of State College, Pennsylvania; but these days he hails from Boston, Massachusetts. With over five years of experience dancing Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, and Balboa all over the globe from Paris, France to New Orleans, Louisiana he brings to the table music true to the swing era that appeals to the international swing dance community.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Mar 2
Bring a Friend for FREE with Phil McGowan & The Easy Winners
Dance all night with your friends to:
Phil McGowan & the Easy Winners, BSC favorites, will join us at Q Ballroom for another high energy gig! With their New Orleans inspired hot jazz tunes, they will get you out onto the floor all night! The Easy Winners always get the crowd moving when they play for us and and this Friday will be no exception. Digging deep into their catalog of hits from the past, they’ll light fire to tunes like the 1921 Eddie Cantor hit: “Margie” and Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You”.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
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Feb 23
Dan Fox Foxtet
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 at Boston Swing Central with Adrian Cunningham, The Lowdown Stompers, the Easy Winners and with Shawn Hershey. Expect a rock-solid beat and sweet, swinging horns playing tunes from the ’20’s and ’30’s at just the right tempos.
Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Feb 16
I >Heart< Swing! with Taryn Newborne & The Easy Winners
Boston Swing Central is very excited for one of our most beloved swing dances of the year! This Valentine’s Day themed dance will feature our custom-designed Valentines and dancing Cupids to deliver them. Dress to impress in some red and pink and get ready to send your friends (and secret dance crushes) some Valentines!
Here to put us in the mood for dancing is Taryn Newborne & The Easy Winners!
Born in Memphis and raised in Atlanta, vocalist Taryn Newborne is rooted deeply in the soil of a rich musical heritage. She has often said that she loves music so much, it hurts her feelings. After years of dancing in her local Lindy Hop scene, one of the major organizers suggested that Taryn put her own group together for dances. Taryn Newborne and The Real Deal was born. She’d finally found her home, situated between her love of singing and Lindy Hop. Since becoming a regular in her home scene, Taryn has had the opportunity to make guest appearances with Falty and the Defects, Ben Polcer, Jonathan Stout, Gordon Webster, The K-Night Owls, Michael Gamble and The Rhythm Serenaders and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band All Stars.
Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $18
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $15
Sorry, no passes or coupons will be accepted tonight.
Q Ballroom (formally called Extreme Dancesport)
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Feb 9
Black History Month – DJ Dang Mai and DJ Marta Pedrero
BSC celebrates Black History Month with our local DJs!
9pm-10:30pm DJ Dang Mai’s set features African-American jazz artist Lionel Hampton.
10:30pm-12am DJ Marta Pedrero’s set features African-American jazz artist Billie Holiday.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Feb 2
Bring a Friend for FREE with Rocco and the Stompers
Dance all night with your friends to Rocco and the Stompers:
The 7-piece swing band specializes in the music of Duke Ellington and the bands his notable sidemen fronted, including Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, Barney Bigard and others. Only from the Stompers will you hear the hottest songs of the swing era brought back from obscurity, covering hip tunes by the Artie Shaw Gramercy Five, and the Count Basie and Benny Goodman small groups. Led by Boston-based arranger/composer Danny Rocco Fratina and stocked with the best local players, Rocco and the Stompers are here to get you on your feet with music for swing dancers of all experience levels.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Jan 26
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.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $16
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Jan 20
Kind of a Big Deal (Saturday) – Gordon Webster Band
Join us for night two of Kind of a Big Deal Weekend at the beautiful Hibernian Hall featuring Gordon Webster Band and DJ Paul Loschak (aka DJ Loveschak)! AND don’t miss the Kind of a Big Deal Weekend contest finals!
Pianist Gordon Webster is one of the most sought after musicians in the lindy hop world. His tremendous musicianship and passion, supported by his first-hand knowledge of social dancing, have inspired lindy hoppers at hundreds of dance events worldwide. Drawing on influences as diverse as Fats Waller, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, Webster serves up a smorgasbord of styles unified by one characteristic: irresistible danceability.
Lesson (solo jazz): 7:00-8:00pm
Dancing: 8:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission:$35 at-the-door
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID):$27 at-the-door
Advanced ticket purchase available at www.kindofabigdealweekend.com
Sorry, no passes or coupons will be accepted tonight.
Jan 19
Kind of a Big Deal (Friday) – Tamar Korn & A Kornucopia with Gordon Webster (NOTE: 7PM LESSON TIME)
Join us for the Kind of a Big Deal Weekend opening dance at the beautiful Hibernian Hall featuring Tamar Korn & A Kornucopia with Gordon Webster! Don’t miss the Kind of a Big Deal Weekend contest prelims during the first band break.
Tamar Korn has been a New York-based vocalist for the last decade, playing a repertoire steeped in traditional New Orleans and early jazz, western swing, and American roots music. Her formative years were with one of the pioneers of New York hot jazz revival, The Cangelosi Cards, and she now leads her own band, A Kornucopia. Her love is of singing songs both lyrically as well as playing her voice “instrumentally”. Tamar has toured throughout North America, as well as to Scandinavia, France, Lithuania, China, and the Caribbean and has appeared at venues all over New York.
Lesson (beginner swing): 7:00-8:00pm
Dancing: 8:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission:$30 at-the-door
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID):$23 at-the-door
Advanced ticket purchase available at www.kindofabigdealweekend.com
Sorry, no passes or coupons will be accepted tonight.
Jan 12
Justin Meyer & The Meyertet
Justin Meyer is the bassist for the Phil McGowan & Easy Winners amongst many other projects and he has been booking the Easy Winners when Phil is not available. So we have encouraged him to spin off this new found band leadership into his own Meyertet. This is their debut.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
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Jan 5
Bring a Friend for FREE with Phil McGowan & The Easy Winners
Dance all night with your friends to:
Phil McGowan & the Easy Winners, BSC favorites, will join us at Q Ballroom for another high energy gig! With their New Orleans inspired hot jazz tunes, they will get you out onto the floor all night! The Easy Winners always get the crowd moving when they play for us and and this Friday will be no exception. Digging deep into their catalog of hits from the past, they’ll light fire to tunes like the 1921 Eddie Cantor hit: “Margie” and Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You”.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Dec 31
2nd Rate New Year’s Eve
Boston Swing Central, in partnership with the Boston Lindy Bomb Squad, is officially hosting our 9th Annual New Year’s Eve party! This year it’s our low budget version (for you, and us!):
2nd RATE NEW YEAR’S EVE
with midnight sparkling cider toast!
(You get what you get and you don’t get upset).
When: December 31, 2017 – 8:00pm to 12:15am
Lesson: 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Social Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:15am
Watertown Central Rock Gym Yoga Studio
74 Acton St, Watertown, MA
Purchase tickets in advance using our “pay-what-you-can” campaign
http://
OR tickets will be available at the door:
General admission at-the-door: $20
Students/Seniors (w/valid ID) at-the-door: $14
Let’s ring in the New Year in (2nd rate) fashion!
Comments are off for this postDec 29
CLOSED – Have a Swingin’ Holiday!
BOSTON SWING CENTRAL IS CLOSED TODAY.
Many of our dancers, volunteers, and musicians are spending time with their friends and families today. We want you all to enjoy it. Travel safe and see you at the next one!
Comments are off for this postDec 22
DJ Party with Emilie Richard and Fredrik Bäcklund
Join us for a social dance featuring DJs Emilie Richard and Fredrik Bäcklund!
DJ Emilie – has always loved music, and since she started dancing in 2013, her love, appreciation and passion for jazz and blues has been set on fire! She is a fun and energetic spirit, which clearly shows in the music that she plays. Emilie has been Djing every chance she gets in St. Louis, MO and is a regular DJ for the lindy and blues scene. Not only does she play in St. Louis, but she has been traveling throughout the Midwest to help make the people dance at national events! She loves to bring versatility and new music to the table but the old classics are dear to her heart. Her music is sure to get you inspired while challenging your dancing and musicality. She is ready and excited to help you get your groove on at Boston Swing Central!
DJ Fredrik – With a passion for music cultivated from a tender age he loves music that swings and makes people want to hit the dance floor, be that as a musician, a dancer, or as a DJ. This Friday he will dig deep into the library of themed swing to bring about that special swingin’ Merry Lindy Holiday feeling.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Dec 15
Jake Sanders Quintet (from Chicago/New York)
Chicago’s Fat Babies. He’s since pursued a solo music career and is also a sideman in Naomi and the Handsome Devils. His current trip out East brings him to Boston Swing Central. Along for the ride are some of New York’s finest: Dalton Ridenhour on piano, Dennis Lichtman on Clarinet, Sean Cronin on bass, and joining them from Boston is Phil McGowan on drums. This is going to be a real holiday treat for us!
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $18
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $14
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Dec 8
The Swing Legacy
The Swing Legacy, a six piece “little big band” has been a fixture of the Boston swing dance scene since 1991 and BSC since the beginning, playing with a style informed by the great big bands from the swing era. Their repertoire concentrates on classic big band swing music including many Duke Ellington and Count Basie numbers ideal for Lindy Hop and swing dancing. Much of their great catalog of songs showcases their phenomenal singer, Debby Larkin. It promises to be a night full of killer-diller arrangements that will keep you dancing all night long!
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Dec 1
DJ Party with DJs Kevin Lin and Katie Piselli
It’s the first of the last month of 2017! What?! Join us for a swing dance featuring local Boston DJs Kevin Lin and Katie Piselli! They have some really swingin’ tunes up their sleeve for you.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Nov 24
Thanksgiving DJ Party with DJs TBA
Give thanks for jazz and swing dancing! (And dance off that Thanksgiving dinner and leftovers). DJs TBA will get you swinging post food coma. Come on out, bring a couple friends or family members along, and swing out!
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
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Nov 17
Phil McGowan & The Easy Winners
Phil McGowan & the Easy Winners, BSC favorites, will join us at Q Ballroom for another high energy gig! With their New Orleans inspired hot jazz tunes, they will get you out onto the floor all night! The Easy Winners always get the crowd moving when they play for us and and this Friday will be no exception. Digging deep into their catalog of hits from the past, they’ll light fire to tunes like the 1921 Eddie Cantor hit: “Margie” and Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You”.
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Nov 10
Dan Fox Foxtet
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 at Boston Swing Central with Adrian Cunningham, The Lowdown Stompers, the Easy Winners and with Shawn Hershey. Expect a rock-solid beat and sweet, swinging horns playing tunes from the ’20’s and ’30’s at just the right tempos. Joining Dan on vocals for this evening is TBA.
Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Nov 3
Glenn Crytzer’s New Yorkers
The New Yorkers (formerly known as “The Syncopators”) are a 1930s/1940s vintage style swing band with style! Influenced by the same swing combos as the Savoy Seven, this group plays looser arrangements, designed to be played with various combinations of instruments. Band leader, Glenn Crytzer has become a staple in the New York Vintage Jazz scene, performing hundreds of gigs each year both as a bandleader of his own groups and as sideman in the groups of his colleagues and mentors. This is a special treat for BSC! Not to be missed while they’re in town!
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Swing Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $18
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $14
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138
Oct 27
Calling All Zombies X with Phil McGowan & The Easy Winners
Calling All Zombies! It’s time to heed the bell toll for another ghastly, ghoulish and grim Halloween party at Boston Swing Central! This year we’ll dance the night away to our featured band, Phil McGowan & The Easy Winners!
This event features a special extended lesson by Abby Cohen that will feature the creeeeepy choreography of Michael Jackson’s Thriller line dance AND a costume contest! Note: Thriller will be performed later on in the evening. Performing is, of course, optional.
Phil McGowan & The Easy Winners! With their New Orleans inspired hot jazz tunes, they will get you out onto the floor all night! The Easy Winners always get the crowd moving when they play for us and and this Friday will be no exception. Digging deep into their catalog of hits from the past, they’ll light fire to tunes like the 1921 Eddie Cantor hit: “Margie” and Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You”.
EXTENDED Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:30pm
Dancing: 9:30pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $20
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $17
Get $2 OFF ADMISSION if you come in a full Halloween costume! Discount is at the discretion of the door staff, so please display some true Halloween spirit.
No coupons or passes will be accepted for this evening.
Q Ballroom (formally called Extreme Dancesport)
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 021
Oct 20
Jeremy Mohney
Straight out of the snowy Rockies, BSC is thrilled to welcome back Jeremy Mohney! His swing stylings, band leading, and saxophone playing were pretty impressive so we are excited to welcome him back. Since he isn’t around these parts too often, catch him while you can! Check out his quartet’s song “Breeze Please” below:
Lesson (included w/ price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $17
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $14
Q Ballroom
26 New Street, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02138