Alright, so technically this Friday is not after Labor Day (which is when school starts), but school is just around the corner you can feel it in the air. DJ RetroMike plans to kick off the school year with some of his favorite songs that he has discovered recently while studying for his PhD in swingology (which is code for perusing his vast collection of vintage jazz looking for new songs).

So come on out, get ready for an exciting new season of dancing at Boston Swing Central. And to celebrate Back to School, we’ll be teaching a few mini lessons throughout the evening, 5 or 10 minute swing snippets, if you will…add some cool new moves to your repetoire…

After tonight, we’ll feature a lot more bands as the cooler weather returns, the vacation season finishes and school starts up. Next week we kick off the Fall Season with the Back Bay Rhythm Makers featuring Craig Ball and his other White Heat Swing Orchestra brethren. Upcoming we’ll have Gordon Webster, Sweet & Lowdown, Toni Lynn Washington, Baby Soda and many more…

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Since we have an extra Tuesday in September, we’re doing combination guided practicas and auditions for our fast theme from 7-9pm at Whistle Stop!

For $5, you’ll get some one-on-one time with a New School Swing instructor who will give you feedback about your dancing and tips about what you should work on next. The rest of the time will be open dance practice.

If you’re interested, auditions for any/all… of our fast theme classes and performance this fall will be taking place at the guided practicas.   If you’re not interested in auditioning, just come, dance, and get some one-on-one feedback!

NOTE: If you would like to do the classes or performance in October or November, you must attend these auditions! We don’t want to hold auditions every month, so we’re doing them all in one shot. (Fundamentals of Balboa is the only Wednesday class that does not require auditions.)

For more information about the awesome classes and performance we have planned, see our website at www.newschoolswing.com or email amanda@newschoolswing.com with any questions!

It’s nearly the end of summer and Boston Swing Central is singing it’s swan song to the end of August with the DJ duo of Julie Brown and Nicole Zuckerman.  They’ll start off spinning swing tunes and sink into the soulful grove of motown and blues as the hours tick on. We’ll be recreating the feeling of those old summer night parties with the lights turned low, and the music drifting you into a sense of long summer night timelessness: all it’s going to take is our beautiful venue and two of our favorite New School Swing teachers cooking up amazing set lists from their mp3 collections.  Come and say a long goodbye to summer with us.

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129 

Bring out the hat, gloves and cane!  We’ll be making like Fred and Ginger on this classic swing night.  Just like the movie from 1935, everyone is encouraged to wear black and white fancy dress tonight.  It’s also our own Abby Cohen’s birthday, so she picked tonight’s theme.  Come out in your finery and make it a fun night!

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Everybody loves summer and what summer is complete without watermelon.

This Friday Boston Swing Central will bust out all our summer favorites including “Watermelon Man”.  And in the spirit of great competitions we’ll have a watermelon seed spitting contest out back on our patio…so practice up (if you are lucky enough to find a place that sells seeded watermelons, a feat unto itself in this day and age!)  Or if you’re not game for seed spitting, just enjoy snacking on some of the seedless we’ll have available as well.  It’s a summer celebration! 

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Sidney Bechet has his day!  Tonight, Boston Swing Central welcomes Alex Abdoulaev back to help us pay tribute to New Orleans Jazz progenitor and saxophone and clarinet giant.  BSC DJs have been slipping his tracks into their playlists with superb effect for years.  Everytime, they play “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” or “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me” the dance floor fills with excitement…and afterwards a few people come up and ask who was responsible…and for those of you who do not know this amazing artist, perhaps this evening will help you to recognize his infectious clarinet and sax solos.

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

It’s a new month and that means NEW CLASSES are starting at the Whistle Stop!  To check out this month’s offerings and to sign up on line for a discount, go to http://newschoolswing.com.

Here’s the schedule for this month:

7-8pm Intermediate Lindy Hop with Shawn Hershey and Gina Helfrich

8-9pm Lindy Hop Basics and Fundamentals with Joe Rabinoff and Nicole Zuckerman

9-11pm will be our open practice session for $3 per session, $10 for the whole month if you sign up in advance through NSS.  Teachers will stay 30 minutes after class to answer any questions and provide one on one help.

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

The Jailhouse Five Plus Two returns with their authentic and enthusiastic Dixieland jazz…

If you remember back several months ago, the Jailhouse Five Plus Two helped us open the Whistle Stop with great evening of music!

The name, The Jailhouse Five Plus Two is inspired by the lawless characters of the prohibition era when Dixieland was adopted as the popular music of the time, “The Roaring Twenties.”

Bootlegging, speakeasies, bath tub gin, gangs and lawless activity was the way of life in major U.S. cities.  TJFPT tries to capture the freedom exuded by the musical genre and provide a connection to a past era of our society.  Happy, fast, boisterous, free, and improvisational are all descriptors of the music.

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $15 (general), $13 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central and Community Boating are proud to present Swingin’ on the Charles!   A night of dancing under the stars on the banks of the river Charles.  This is another summer classic you won’t want to miss.  We’ll take over the docks at sunset, provide a lesson for newcomers and then we’ll dance until 11pm.

Community Boating has also donated a Door Prize of a free 60-day Sailing Membership which includes classes, boat usage and guest privileges.  We will raffle this off at around 10:30pm and you mus be present to win.

Lesson: 7:30pm to 8:30pm with Brian & Kellian (No Partner Necessary)

Dancing: 8:30pm to 11pm (rain or shine)

Admission: $10 General Admission, $8 for Students and Seniors

Proceeds will benefit Community Boating’s Dock Repair and Junior Sailing Programs, and Boston Swing Central’s Lindy Hop Preservation Program.

Community Boating  is located

on the Esplanade (between the Hatch Shell and the Longfellow Bridge)

#21 David Mugar Way,

Boston 02114

MBTA Red Line: Get off at Charles / MGH Station. Turn left as you exit the station, and cross the road towards CVS. Turn right and cross Charles Street, heading towards the river.  You will see stairs in front of you  to a footbridge over Storrow Drive.  Walk over the bridge; at the end, go down the stairs on your left.  Walk along the path along the river toward the Hatch Shell, and Community Boating will be about 200 feet ahead, on the right.

Where to park – Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary parking lot (see map at left).  Please bring parking ticket to the dance for validation,  at a reduced rate of $5.

Detailed Directions:  www.community-boating.org/directions.html

Suggested by our friend, Eric Dana, A Song Is Born is a classic comedy starring Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo features artists Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter, Charlie Barnet and more! Towering giants of the swing era all caught performing in this witty and entertaining film.  Tonight, we’ll be paying tribute to this movie by showcasing tunes by these important artists….A Song is Born!

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 11:45pm
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

If you love the Copley dance from years past, you won’t want to miss this dance, as we are only able to host 3 dances at Copley this year, and this is the 2nd of 3.  The dancing begins at 1:00pm with a free beginner lesson.  Bring your friends, drop them off at the lesson and get a coffee or ice cream while they learn how to swing.  And then come back in an hour and join them for some feel good summer time grooves and jams under the majestic John Hancock Building.

Lesson: 1:00pm-2:00pm

Open Dancing:  2:00pm-4:00pm

Location: Copley Square in front of the Trinity Church

Free and open to the public

Boston Swing Central is happy to see the blue skies of summer!  This Friday, Toni Lynn Washington rocks the house of the Whistle Stop with her cracker jack band.  Toni Lynn is a legend, an institution, a master, a treasure, and the hottest blues diva in town!  If you have not heard her, you will really love her sound.  Like more well known blues divas like Carla Thomas, Etta James and Ruth Brown, Toni Lynn is the real deal.  At age 72, she’s going strong, belting it out and delivering the goods…we can’t wait!

And she fits in nicely with our patriotic theme for July with a name like Washington.  We didn’t plan for a whole American month, but when our schedule came together, we thought it was pretty funny!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $15 (general), $13 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Brothers and sisters, the time has come for each and every one of you to decide whether you are going to swing, or whether you are gonna swing out!  You must choose, brothers, you must choose, sisters. It takes five seconds, five seconds of decision. Five seconds to realize your purpose here on the planet. It takes five seconds to realize that it’s time to move. It’s time to get down with it!  Brothers, sisters, it’s time to dance and we want to know, are you ready to dance?

Boston Swing Central welcome backs our master CD spinner, (Reverend for the evening) Joe Perrone and his pious sidekick, Brother Jay Provost for a night of Swing with a gospel kick!  (Hey Jay, have you ever been called pious?)  Yes, brothers and sisters, get down low on the downbeat and let your spirits soar on the upbeat to that rockin’ in the aisles of Church sorta feeling that is:
Gospel Swing! 
 
Likely unnecessary (but we’re going to put it anyways) precautionary disclaimer: Boston Swing Central is a non-denominational organization which welcomes those of all beliefs, and we are solely dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the Lindy Hop).

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12pm
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Intermediate 7-8PM– New Moves with Shawn Hershey and Gina Helfrich

Join us for another fun, fast-paced, four-week session of intermediate Lindy Hop. This class will focus on adding style and variety to your basics, improving your technique, and building your vocabulary to make you shine on the dance floor.

Beginning 8-9M – Lindy Hop Basics and Fundamentals (6 count) Nichole Zuckerman and Joe Rabinoff

Whether you are brand-new to swing dancing or would like to refine your Lindy Hop technique, this is the class for you. We’ll focus on basic 6-count Lindy Hop moves for the brand-new dancers, but concentrate on good technique and connection. This class is one step in our two-step beginner track. Both the 6-Count and 8-Count Lindy Hop Basics and Fundamentals Classes are pre-requisites for our intermediate classes. Either beginner class may be taken first.

Open Practice Session: 9 to 11pm for $3. Teachers will stay after lessons to provide specific help/answer questions.

The Crosby Whistle Stop

24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central is ready for a great 4th of July weekend, and to kick things off we’re hosting a night of All-American Swing on Friday, July 2nd.  That means that the Bjork,  Swedish and French songs DJ RetroMike occasionally plays will have to wait another day…for tonight we’re going to be true to the Red, White & Blue and only play American artists!  Americans like Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Sidney Bechet (who sounds French but is as American as apple pie).  So, come on out and celebrate all that is American with American music and an American dance: The Lindy Hop!

Wear red, white, blue or all three on any combination on this night!  We’ll also be announcing the winner’s of last week’s photo contest!

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included in price of admission)

Dancing: 9pm to 12pm

Admission: $10 General Admission, $8 for Students and Seniors

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Hey all you crazy cats!  Don’t forget to send your suggestions for naming our Tuesday night dance to info@bostonswingcentral.org!  If you suggest the winning name, you get into the Tuesday night practice session for FREE for two whole months!

Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from New School Swing will be leading a guided practice session – a practica – from 7:30 to 8:30PM.   Shawn and Amanda will make sure they work one on one with everyone who attends.  Most if not all of the advanced dancers and instructors have improved their own dancing by taking private lessons and working one on one with more experienced dancers. Think of a guided practice as a cheap short private lesson; an opportunity to work on whatever you want with Shawn and Amanda.

We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.

Lesson: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Practice Session: 8:30-11pm
Admission: $5 practica/lesson, $3 practice session

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

It’s a Barnum and Bailey World, but tonight at Boston Swing Central, “It’s Only a Paper Moon” a vintage ball. You’ll definitely want to dress up and look spiffy in fancy dress.  We’ll have a photo booth complete with Paper Moon and Cardboard Sea as backdrop for youse a muggin’ or perhaps you can do a Zoolander pucker…or pucker up with your sweetie.  So bring a couple extra Mr. Washingtons to pay our amazing photographer Zac Wine for capturing the moment.  Props to accentuate your attire will be available on us!

Now if we can only figure out what muslin tree is…

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 11:45 PM

Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This is week four in our month long Lindy Hop Series taught by Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing.  There’s no need to bring a partner or have any prior experience.  If you’re a beginner, come back for next month’s series in July.  If you’ve taken some Lindy before, you can join the class.  Even intermediate dancers can learn from going back to the basics and are encouraged to join in!  We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.  DJ’s to be announced!

AND don’t forget to send your suggestions for what to name our Tuesday night dance to info@bostonswingcentral.org!  If you suggest the winning name, you get into the Tuesday night practice session for FREE for two whole months!

Lesson: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Practice Session: 8:30-11pm
Admission: $5 lesson, $3 practice session

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central is tickled with the theme for tonight’s dance…”The Chicks Will Have Their Say and the Guys Will Have to Pay.”  Yes, it’s our own twist on a Ladie’s Night.  Tonight we’ll feature 6 lovely and talented DJs:  Cara Ball, Julie Brown, Megan Damon, Tina Descourcy, Julie Irish and Nicole Zuckerman all spinning whatever they damn well please, and you’re going to love it!  

We’ll also have some fun other surprises for the other ladies in the room starting with the gents picking up some of their admission, as tonight, and tonight only we’re changing the pricing to $11 for guys, and $9 for gals.  That’s right gentlemen, you’re going to have to pony up, but think of all the happy ladies who will be here looking for someone to dance with.   Then again, if you don’t show up, they might just learn how to lead and thus render males obsolete.

Lesson: 8-9pm
Dancing: 9pm to 12:30 AM

Admission: $11 for Gents ($9 student and senior discount), $9 for Ladies ($7 for students and seniors)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This is week three in our month long Lindy Hop Series taught by Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing.  There’s no need to bring a partner or have any prior experience.  If you’re a beginner, come back for next month’s series in July.  If you’ve taken some Lindy before, you can join the class.  Or even if you’re an intermediate, you’re encouraged to go back to the basics!  You may be surprised what you’ll learn.  We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.  DJ’s to be announced!

AND don’t forget to send your suggestions for what to name our Tuesday night dance to info@bostonswingcentral.org!  If you suggest the winning name, you get into the Tuesday night practice session for FREE for two whole months!

Lesson: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Practice Session: 8:30-11pm
Admission: $5 lesson, $3 practice session

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This is week two in our month long Lindy Hop Series taught by Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing.  There’s no need to bring a partner or have any prior experience.  And this is especially great for those of you that have come to our dance and learned 6 count before!  Here’s is your opportunity to learn the Lindy Hop.  And it couldn’t be easier b/c it’s right in our own Crosby Whistle Stop!  But if you’ve never come to one of our dances before – never fear!  Shawn and Amanda are patient and very experienced teachers that will show you what you need to know.  Even if you missed week one it’s not too late to join it!

We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.  DJ’s to be announced!

AND don’t forget to send your suggestions for what to name our Tuesday night dance to info@bostonswingcentral.org!  If you suggest the winning name, you get into the Tuesday night practice session for FREE for two whole months!

Lesson: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Dancing: 8:30-11pm
Admission: $5 lesson, $3 practice session

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

We’re happy to welcome back Sweet & Low Down to the BSC.  They played a couple months ago for us when we were at Springstep, and now they get to jam with us in our new home!  The Sweet & Low Down are a side project of Miss Tess, which features Miss Tess and co-vocalist Rachel Price.  They have a strong local following and reguarly play at many prominent Boston Venues, including the Beehive, Precinct, and Toad.  You can check out some of their music here: http://www.myspace.com/thesweetandlowdownmusic.  Now that they’ve moved to Brooklyn, it’s even more of a treat when we can get them in Boston.  We are really excited to have them and hope you’ll come on out and see why!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $15 (general), $13 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Tonight is week one in our month long Lindy Hop Series taught by Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing.  There’s no need to bring a partner or have any prior experience.  And this is especially great for those of you that have come to our dance and learned 6 count before!  Here’s is your opportunity to learn the Lindy Hop.  And it couldn’t be easier b/c it’s right in our own Crosby Whistle Stop!  But if you’ve never come to one of our dances before – never fear!  Shawn and Amanda are patient and very experienced teachers that will show you what you need to know.

We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.  DJ’s to be announced!

AND don’t forget to send your suggestions for what to name our Tuesday night dance to info@bostonswingcentral.org!  If you suggest the winning name, you get into the Tuesday night practice session for FREE for two whole months!

Lesson: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Dancing: 8:30-11pm
Admission: $5 lesson, $3 practice session

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This the first of our outdoor dances!  We’re very excited to be throwing a dance here again this year, so come on out, it’s FREE to the public and part of BIX!  The view from the park is spectacular, it’s one of the best views of downtown Boston and overlooks the Harbor.  We will be spinning some of their finest feel good Springtime music, keep your fingers crossed for good weather (the forecast shows that it’s going to be a sunny 68 degrees as of Sunday – but keep watching).  In any event bring a light jacket, it’s by the water, so it can get a little chilly and breezy…Details below

Details:

Address: Piers Park, 95 Marginal St, East Boston, MA 02128

Date: Sunday May 30th, 2010

Time: 2pm – 5pm

Cost: FREE!!!

Here’s a link to the park for further info.  Check out that view! http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/location.php?nid=4&sid=24

Rain Location:  The Crosby Whistle Stop.  If it rains, we’ll bring it inside so we can keep on dancin’!