We look forward every year to BIX.  It’s one of the biggest dance weekends in Boston and it’s not to be missed!  So what is BIX?  Boston Independence Exchange (BIX) is a national event that draws other dancers from around New England and sometimes the world to Boston for a weekend full of awesome dances and late nights.  Everyone comes out of the woodwork for this event and we love seeing all of the faces old and new come fill our dance floor.  This year, we’re excited to share our new venue with folks from out of town.  Check out our Grand Opening pictures for a preview of our venue.

Tonight, we have TWO live bands, TWO amazing venues and TWO themes!  High society in full attire is the main event for Friday, so start the evening out in your best black and white. Tuxedos, gowns, top hats, tails and satin glove… can it get any more stunning than that? Late night turns from bourgeois to the bawdy Vaudeville, full of life and color to overwhelm your senses. Fancy dress is optional, and all are welcome.

We will be at two venues tonight, Our own Crosby Whistle Stop for the early dance, and Springstep in Medford for the late night.  Below are the details on the bands and venues.  We can’t wait to see you!

Please note, we will not be accepting passes on this night as it’s a special event.

Early Dance – Shawn Hershey and the Fried Bananas

The Fried Bananas (www.thefriedbananas.com) were created with the goal of providing music for swing dancers and plays a mix of swing, gypsy jazz, and blues. The majority of the members live in Boston though Josh lives in New York.  The band is comprised Lindy Hoppers and this band knows what to play to get your feet moving!  Always a favorite with their music and memorable antics (like when they all dressed up as Bananas for our first Halloween dance in 2008) we can’t wait to have them as our opener for BIX!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12pm
Early Dance Admission: $17 (general), $15 (students and seniors with valid ID).  Late and Early dance Package – $25 for Both (no student/senior discount). BIX registrants – included in package

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Late Night – Rusty Scott Trio

We love The Rusty Scott Trio, and he’s back for another engagement.  He is a soulful and groovy pianist who has been a fixture on the Boston jazz scene for some time.  Check out their versions of Night Train and Tuxedo Junction. His playing reminds us of a little bit of Jimmy Smith and Gene Harris combined. We can’t wait to have him back for our special late night at the beautiful Springstep.  Let’s dance the night…and morning…away!

Maps will be available showing directions from the early dance to the late night.

Dancing: 12:30am to 4am

Late Night Dance Admission: $15 (general), $13 (students and seniors with valid ID).  Late and Early dance Package – $25 for Both (no student/senior discount). BIX registrants – included in package

Springstep
98 George P Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155-3202

We’ve goth Rhythm, Sinti Rhythm!  We’ve got music!  Who could….you know the rest….They’re back for what promises to be another night of hot gypsy jazz.  Don’t miss these guys.  We got a lot of positive feedback on them after their BSC debut in March.  And as an added bonus, these guys had a smiles on their faces throughout the night.  Clearly they love playing for dancers, and we love them.  What’s not to love about a Django Reinhardt tribute band?  Check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/sintirhythm.  Before you see them in person!  

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

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

With a new space, this means…new rent!  Which we need to pay!  So we’ll be starting a Tuesday night lesson followed by a practice session!  We haven’t agreed on a new name for Tuesday night, but when we do, we’ll let you know.  If you have suggestions, send them our way!!!

For our first Tuesday night, Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing will be taking a page from the book of Tango, and leading a guided practice session – a practica – from 7:30 to 8:30PM.   This week and next we’ll be offering the lesson for introductory price of $3 a week (WHAT A BARGAIN!) and you can drop in for the offering this week or next week. 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. 

There’s no need to bring a partner but it might be useful to drag someone along so you can be guaranteed someone to work with.  Or ask your friends and make sure they’ll be there too!!!

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

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

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

After a nearly year long process, we’ve come to the end, (or is it the beginning?) of our journey. A journey which began when we started looking at every church, VFW, Italian working man’s club in the Cambridge-Somerville area. After looking at musty basements, ginormous gymnasiums, tiny parqueted floors, we finally found our home last summer, the Crosby Whistle Stop. We quickly came to an agreement with the landlord and a move-in date of September 1st that he told us was, “easily do-able.” Well, much to the chagrin of our landlord, there was a new sprinkler system and bunch of other rules and regulations he had to adhere to in order to get the building up-to-code so that we could inhabit it. It took up until February to pass through all the electrical, plumbing, and building inspections. And then, just as we were acquiring the chairs and tables through our “Chair-ity Drive”, we thought we were a few short days away from opening, and then like Lucy taunting Charlie Brown, the ball was yanked away yet again, this time by the Boston zoning board known as Inspectional Services. They denied our zoning request to become a dance studio/hall.

All of this lead us on our current trajectory which we’ve outlined extensively in recent weeks on our website and via many email communiques. But we’re happy to say that we’ve finally done it!

We’re opening the Crosby Whistle Stop in a grand fashion next Friday, May 14th!

It has been a long journey, so please plan to come celebrate with us and check out the new digs! We will also have a band that night, the Jailhouse Five Plus Two!  The name, The Jailhouse Five Plus Two is inspired by the lawless participants in 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.  A new band, a new venue, a new beginning!

Our new Address is: 24 Roland St, Charlestown, MA. We will be a 4 minute walk from the Sullivan T-Stop, and there is FREE parking right in front of our building!

Please note that because this is a special event, we will not be accepting passes or have an active guest list.

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12pm
Admission: $17 (general), $15 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

If you have ever volunteered, taught, DJ’d, donated to our organization, or been a former board memeber we’re opening our doors early for you to come and see our new space!  We will have pizza and ice cream!  Yeah!  And if you donated through our “Char-ity” drive, come and sign your chair!

If you wanted to donate and didn’t get a chance, there’s still time if you would like to through Paypal by clicking the button below.

For directions to our new space see the “Directions” Tab.

Cost: Free

Hours: 7pm to 9pm

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

A fragrance-reduced environment helps create a safe and healthy social dance environment for everyone! We respectfully request that all patrons at Boston Swing Central refrain from using fragranced products before entering and while in the building as some of these products can cause adverse health effects for our dancers with fragrance sensitivities and allergies. While we recommend good hygiene and deodorant use, please take care to avoid highly fragranced personal care products such as cologne, perfume, aftershave lotions, scented lotions, and/or scented hair products. Our chemically-sensitive dancers thank you!

For those with peanut allergies, we do not regularly serve food except for our complimentary mints. We provide an assortment of candy during our Halloween and Valentine’s dances – some candy might have peanuts in them. We also might have peanut butter as a snack option at a late night exchange dance (Dirty Water, which is once a year).  Some patrons may bring a granola bar that has peanuts in it, and this could be in their bag.  If you are highly sensitive to peanuts please let us know and use caution.

For the rest of us, please be considerate of your fellow dancers and do not bring peanuts or peanut products for a snack.

No, we do NOT serve alcohol and most dancers prefer to drink water to avoid dehydration.

You should be 18 years of age or older to attend Boston Swing Central.

Our Friday night dance includes a lesson in the price of admission from 8 to 9pm.  Prices are as follows:

– On DJ nights, our dance is $11 for General Admission.

– On Band nights, our dance is $18 to $30 for General Admission. The admission rate depends upon the band size and where the band is from.  Bands that are more expensive are usually bigger like a 14-piece big band or from further away like the Gordon Webster who is from New York State.

– We have a mix of 70/30 band and DJ nights.

– We offer a discount to students and seniors with a valid ID.

Boston Swing Central is happy to present guest DJ Gina Helfrich tonight for a heapin’ helpin’ of Southern Fried Swing.  We’re happy to report that Gina has finally made her long-anticipated return to life in Boston. Originally from Texas, Gina spent the last six years getting a graduate degree in Lindy Hop and Philosophy (or was it Philosophy of Lindy Hop?) in Atlanta. 

Before that she was a hardcore member of the Boston Lindy scene and first learned to swing out at Boston College. While in Atlanta, she became a superstar lindy hop addict running dances, teaching all over the place (including Swing Out New Hampshire), and of course, djing. This is her BSC debut, so let’s come on out and welcome her back, officially!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)

Dancing: 9pm to 12pm

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

it’s spring, and if a look should april me, i swear by all flowers that we are going to usher it in with a boston swing central tribute to ee cummings our favorite 20th century cambridge poet who refused to use the shift-key on his typewriter.   you might not know this but cummings used blues structures as inspiration for some of his poems.  he ridiculed cambridge ladies, thanked god for most this amazing day, and sung the tribunal of a pretty how town…for a moment, be a two little who with two little arms learn from one bird how to swing rather than watching dancing with the stars…and dance upon dead minds as dj retromike provides the soundtrack to your infinite illimitable day become night this beautiful way.

Not sure where to PARK?  Try the Whole Foods overflow parking lot, that it is a block or two down from Whole Foods  on Prospect and Bishop Allen. You can park there for free after 6:00pm…Extreme is a couple of blocks up Prospect (North).  Please note that this is NOT the lot in front of the store.  And now that it’s getting warmer, it’s a quick walk!!!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)

Dancing: 9pm to 12pm

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

PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE AT SPRINGSTEP IN MEDFORD THIS FRIDAY!!!!

We are very excited to welcome back Gordon Webster!  His busy schedule has kept him traveling througout the US and Europe, but this April he’s been able to squeeze us in.   He is bringing his Quintet with him this time featuring singer Brianna Thomas!  Last couple of times Gordon has been to Boston he has been unable to bring Brianna, but this time, he is finally able to bring her with and we’re looking forward to having her rock the house again!  Her soulful voice is not something to miss, and she is quickly becoming a star in her own right.  

If you have never heard Gordon – don’t miss your chance.  This is one of the premiere swing bands in the country and he always draws a big crowd.  AND because it’s Gordon, and we just can’t get enough, we’ll be running a late to 12:30 AM. So, come one, come all, let’s get dressed up really nice and bring our A-game to Springstep for a house rockin’ good time.

This past month we were happy to have Senti Rhythm as a new band at Boston Swing Central, and now, in April we are adding the Sweet & Low Down to our growing list of new bands.  You might remember them from last year’s late night dance at BIX.  The Sweet & Low Down are a side project of Miss Tess, which features Miss Tess and co-vocalist Rachel Price.  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.

PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE AT SPRINGSTEP IN MEDFORD TONIGHT!

Boston Swing Central at Springstep
98 George P Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155-3202

Lesson 8-9pm / Dancing 9pm-12 midnight
$15 / $13 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

Once again, BOSTON SWING CENTRAL is happy to welcome back, The Swing Legacy! It was almost a year since we had this six-piece little big band – a fixture of the Boston swing scene since 1991, playing with the polish and powerful beat of 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 Hopping. Their exciting original arrangements produce a room-filling sound that will keep you on your feet all night long!

And, the BSC will be turning 2 tonight!  That’s right, we’ve been running for two years.  So come on out eat some cake with us!  Everyone is encouraged to dress vintage for the party!

PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE AT SPRINGSTEP IN MEDFORD TONIGHT!

Boston Swing Central at Springstep
98 George P Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155-3202

Lesson 8-9pm / Dancing 9pm-12 midnight
$17 / $15 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

This Friday, Boston Swing Central is happy to have Joe Perrone back as our guest DJ.  Joe always lights up our dance floor with his ebullient personality, he’s one of our favorite regulars.  You can find him at most of our dances as a friendly and welcoming Angel, and he often brings us a treat to add to our food table.  As a DJ, Joe will dig into his collection of swing and dig into his old school CD decks to swing our way into full blown spring.  So come and dance to his music, or grab a dance with him.  It promises to be a fun night!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)

Dancing: 9pm to 12pm

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

Towards the end of Monet’s life the jazz age sprung to life.  Was Monet listening to Bechet?  Who knows?  And was he a realist and just near sighted?  We’ll never know!  Anyhow, tonight we pay tribute to the impressionistic master of Giverny in the only way we know how with style and panache befitting his imagery.   Come and thrill to the aural delights we will bestow upon you.  Twirl in the exalted rush of unearthly clarinets’ clarions.  Swing to the instoppable beat of Storyville…and all that jazz.  Yes folks, if you’re reading this, you’re probably scratching your head about now…ya dig?

Lesson (included in price of admission) 8pm-9pm

Dancing 9pm-12am

$10 / $8 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

We hope March comes in like a lamb weatherwise, but we’re bringing the heat with Sinti Rhythm, a Django Reinhardt tribute band who is going to light the dance floor on fire with their hot gypsy jazz.  A few weeks ago we celebrated Django’s Centennial, and now we’re celebrating his genius again with a live band that we’re certain is going to be a new favorite.  Check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/sintirhythm.

Not sure where to PARK?  Try the Whole Foods overflow parking lot, that it is a block or two down from Whole Foods  on Prospect and Bishop Allen. You can park there for free after 6:00pm…Extreme is a couple of blocks up Prospect (North).  Please note that this is NOT the lot in front of the store.

Lesson (included in price of admission) 8pm-9pm

Dancing 9pm-12am

$15 / $12 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

*PLEASE NOTE WE ARE AT SPRINGSTEP IN MEDFORD TONIGHT!*  ADDRESS BELOW.

Sweet Molasses Blues invades Boston Swing Central…they’ll be supplying the teachers, the DJs and many of the dancers.  Come and check out all of the fantastic out-of-town dancers who will be gracing us with their presence, and get your winter groove on.  If you don’t have any experience or clue as to what blues dancing is,  this is the place to start!  And tonight we will be running LATE! LATE! LATE! until 4 AM.  So that’s 8 hours of dancing for the bargain price of $17!!!

The line up for the night includes asome amazing DJs including Mike Marcotte (DC), Steven “Dr. Feelgood” Watkins (San Francisco), Devona Cartier, Gui Cavakcanti, Julie Brown, and BSC’s own Tim Lewandowski!

And we’re very excited to have our introductory blues lesson with Tina Davis & Don West of Dallas Texas!  So come and try it out and see what all this “groove on” stuff is that people are talking about… 

There will be a teacher’s performance and a blues performance in the early half of the evening.

Space is limited so be sure to get there early to reserve your spot on the dance floor!

Due to the volume of guests we will be having tonight, we will not be able to accept discounts or passes.  We will not have an active guest list.

**SPECIAL LOCATION TONIGHT ONLY**

Springstep

98 George P. Hassett Drive

Medford, MA

Fats Waller was a larger than life character.  Definitely the “Snoop Dogg” of his time…and we just love playing his music at our dance.  So tonight we’ll pay tribute to him once again as our artist of the week.

Lesson (included in price of admission) 8pm-9pm

Dancing 9pm-12am

$10 / $8 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

Extreme Dancesport

288 Norfolk Street, # 3 (upstairs)

Cambridge, MA 02139

A Valentine’s Day Extravaganza.  For those of you who missed this dance last year, this is one dance you don’t want to miss.  We have custom Swing Valentines and Cupids to deliver them to your friends, that secret crush, your favorite DJs, they don’t mind.  Just fill out one of the Valentines we’ll give you upon your entrance and put it in a mailbox and Cupid will do the rest.  Tonight we also welcome back J-Street featuring Josh Fialkoff from NYC (also know as the piano player in the Fried Bananas).  

Please note, tonight is a special event and we will not be accepting passes or have a guest list. 

Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing will be teaching our lesson.

We are very excited to welcome, for the first time, Daryl Begin from Providence as our guest DJ, he picked the theme for tonight’s musical party…where he plans to take us back to old New Orleans and the birthplace of jazz, the red-light district known as Storyville, Basin St where it all began…think Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden and Jelly Roll Morton.

Not sure where to PARK?  Try the Whole Foods overflow parking lot, that it is a block or two down from Whole Foods  on Prospect and Bishop Allen. You can park there for free after 6:00pm…Extreme is a couple of blocks up Prospect (North).  Please note that this is NOT the lot in front of the store.

Django Reinhardt would’ve been 100 years old this past Saturday, Jan 23rd, 2010. So this Friday we celebrate his centennial by featuring him as our artist of the week. Django Reinhardt singularly pioneered the genre of Gypsy Jazz. His phenomenal guitar work is world reknowned and the music of his Quintette du Hot Club de France is guaranteed to inspire you to dance. This is hot jazz at it’s finest! We also welcome back one of our favorite guest DJs, Isaac Marx who will be spinning for you.

Not sure where to PARK?  Try the Whole Foods overflow parking lot, that it is a block or two down from Whole Foods  on Prospect and Bishop Allen. You can park there for free after 6:00pm…Extreme is a couple of blocks up Prospect (North).  Please note that this is NOT the lot in front of the store.

We are happy to welcome back Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade. Some of you might have seen her last June, and we’re excited to have her back!  She’ll soon be moving to Brooklyn very soon, and it’s a real challenge to get on her packed calendar.  The Bon Parade is her backing band, which promises to keep things lively and swinging with their reimagined 21st century Golden-age jazz.  You will leave with a smile on your face.  And if you feel so inclined, dress in your best quirky-retro-modern-vintage-wear to blend in with the band.

Not sure where to PARK?  Try the Whole Foods overflow parking lot, that it is a block or two down from Whole Foods  on Prospect and Bishop Allen. You can park there for free after 6:00pm…Extreme is a couple of blocks up Prospect (North).  Please note that this is NOT the lot in front of the store.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm

Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am

General Admission: $15

Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $12