Dance to your heart’s content aboard Crystal Cruises’ “Big Band and Ballroom Dance” themed cruise on its transatlantic voyage between Lisbon and Miami Dec. 8- 21, 2011 and Mar. 19-29, 2012. With the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra headlining, guests can waltz their way across the southern Atlantic, accompanied by the classic and retro sounds of a 20-piece live orchestra – or just enjoy the moves and music from the sidelines. Crystal’s complimentary program includes: extra Ambassador Hosts to lead women without dance partners, double the usual number of dance instructors, dance lessons ranging from swing to salsa, daily live performances of Big Band music, afternoon and evening dancing until the wee hours, themed lectures about artists such as Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington by Columbia jazz professor Robert O’Meally and an exciting dance competition. The recently redesigned Crystal Serenity serves as the stage for this 13-day dance party-at-sea departing December 8th. Ports include Casablanca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands) and St. Maartin/ Philipsburg. In 2012 the Miami to Lisbon cruise calls at Madeira Funchal, Portugal during its 10 day transatlantic cruise. For more information and Crystal Reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625 or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

If you know to respond with “How about you?” when the singer pauses after “I Like New York in June,” then you’ll enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing to the Silver Starlite Orchestra appearing the third Tuesday of the month at Pavinci Italian Grill in Hopatcong, NJ. The 20-piece big band, featuring vocalists Jimmy Mastrull and Shelli Latorre, provides a wonderful evening whenever they appear, with their themed shows including “Swing, Swing, Swing,” “Songs of Our Favorite Girl Singers,” “Sentimental Journey,” and “Cool Swing.”

Pavinci’s dance floor is one step down from the dining area, inspiring one 70+ year old dancer to hop off the step the most recent night we were there, so excited was he to dance to the music of Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller Orchestra type songs. Continue reading →

The Hudson Swing Affair 2011 edition, taking place September 2 – 4 in Jersey City, NJ, will feature DJs and instructors John Lindo, Jeanette Holmes, Ramiro Gonzalez, Jessica Cox, Stephanie McHenry Batista, Sharlot Blott, Mark Sheuffelle, Blake Hobby, and Andrea Deaton, bringing together an eclectic group of today’s swing stars – all very accomplished in their own way. Continue reading →

On Stage at Kingsborough, on the oceanfront campus of Kingsborough Community College, announces its final concert of the July 2011 series of free outdoor concerts Saturday, July 23, at 8:00 p.m. The Birdland Big Band will bring the global sounds of Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and America with special guest, Venezuelan violin sensation Ali Bello. Gates open at 7:00 p.m. All performances are free and open to the public. For more information, call: 718-368-5596 or visit www.OnStageAtKingborough.org. Continue reading →

Tickets are on sale now for Lincoln Center’s 23rd season of Midsummer Night Swing taking place every Tuesday through Saturday, June 28—July 16, with an added opening event on Monday, June 27th.  Swing’s 16 dazzling nights of dancing will take place at the band shell in Damrosch Park, on West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. Continue reading →

If you’ve packed your bag for the weekend with ballroom dance shoes, a tuxedo, a ball gown, and a blaze orange hunter’s safety vest, you’re probably on your way to Mohonk Mountain House’s Ballroom Dance Weekend, held every December.  I’ve been wanting to go for years and finally this past December John and I were able to get there for their 21st annual dance weekend. Continue reading →

Crown Cruise Vacations Offers Chance to Dance With Stars at Sea

PRINCETON, N.J. (Jan. 20, 2011) – Crown Cruise Vacations offers fans of The Brady Bunch’s Florence Henderson, dance and cruise lovers the ultimate experience on the Celebrity Eclipse Jan. 7-14, 2012. Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch fame and ‘Friends’ will headline this ballroom dance cruise. The Ballroom Dance Celebration at Sea 2012 by Cruise Gourmet Voyages will take place aboard the gorgeous new Eclipse and will feature Celebrity Dance Pro-Star Corky Ballas and, from Broadway’s hit show “Tango Argentino,” dance star Nelson Avila with dance partner Madalyn. Continue reading →

No better time than the New Year to improve your dance moves or simply show them off…high-style jazz and swing moves, that is. Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City will continue its ongoing commemoration of the city’s rich history during the 1920s this winter at Bally’s when they kick off the very first Swing Era Dance-Off, featuring the music and dance styles of the 20s-40s, on Thursday January 13 from 6pm-12am. Co-sponsored by the leading international website for all things swing, Yehoodi.com, The Dance-Off, which will take place at the appropriately swing-inspired Grand Ballroom, will invite couples to participate in this six-hour competition to show off their signature dance moves and stamina to keep the swingin’ going. Couples can register for one of two events:  a stamina event, spanning the better part of six hours of straight dancing, and a true-to-form, swing dance skills competition.  All dancers participating in the competition will be asked to dress in 1920’s-inspired styles as well.  A half-hour special instructional lesson will also be offered from 5:30pm-6:00pm in the Grand Ballroom.  The winning couple from each category will earn themselves a handsome cash reward and a 1920s-inspired weekend at Bally’s, as well as bragging rights!  Judges will include Jill Sternheimer of Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing series, renowned NY swing dancer/instructor Roddy Caravellaand Kristine Powell, founder and director of NJ Swing (www.njswing.com). Continue reading →

Waltz sounds and champagne spirits this winter over 300 classic Viennese ball nights will provide the perfect opportunity to dance and party at some of the city’s most attractive locations. The undisputed highlights of the Viennese ball season are the Vienna Philharmonic Ball at the Musikverein (Jan 20, 2011, www.wienerphilharmoniker.at), the Coffee House Owner’s Ball at the Hofburg (Feb 25, 2011, www.kaffeesiederball.at) and the Opera Ball at the State Opera House (Mar 3, 2011, www.wiener-staatsoper.at). Continue reading →

A night of Austrian waltzing tradition to the soundtrack of the great entertainers awaits at the 41^stKaiserball on 31 December 2010. This year’s event, themed “That’s Entertainment”, promises well-loved melodies from artists including Frank Sinatra and Robbie Williams. Also Maya Hakvoort, who played the leading lady in the Austrian musical “Elisabeth”, will perform at midnight. Continue reading →