Thursdays, ‪beginning June 30
Mid-Summer Night Dances, ‪6:30-9:30
Each week, as a deejay plays music, professional instructors teach a different dance step, followed by dancing of all types (swing, ballroom, rumba, and disco, among others) and light dinner fare. Tickets $25 pre-purchase on-line, $30 at the door. Thursdays, ‪July 7, 14, 21 and 28; ‪August 18 and 25; ‪September 1 and 8. Continue reading →

Swing the night away to live music and great DJs. Whether you come for the dancing, the latest swing music, or the vintage dance film, you’re bound to have fun! Continue reading →

Joe Battaglia and the New York Big Band Headline the Edison Ballroom

On Friday, February 12th, 2016 the Edison Ballroom will once again host its special, “DINING, DANCING AND ROMANCING” event, featuring the legendary big band leader, Joe Battaglia and the New York Big Band. Joe’s brilliant big band sound is considered among the best ever. He has performed for such dignitaries as Hilary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, and Barbara Walters. For over 15 years, Joe and his orchestra have performed regularly at The Rainbow Room, Tavern on the Green, Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing, and most recently, right here at the Edison Ballroom. Joe’s New York Big Band is composed of a 16-piece orchestra as well as accompanying vocalists. Also featured at this event will be the romantic Latin sounds of Direct Latin Influence, also known as DLI.

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Are they doing a cha cha? Is it a hustle? It’s a bit of both in a Bossa Nova choreographed to “The Girl from Ipanema” a musical number in Trip of Love, a psychedelic love valentine to the 60s professed in song and dance, which opened Off-Broadway on Sunday. If you, like me, squeal “Oooh, I love that one” when you hear the song “You Don’t Own Me” and “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” and “California Dreamin’” you’ll be screaming throughout the entire performance of Trip of Love. (If you hear ‘Trippin’ love you wouldn’t be far off.)

James Walski has created an exciting night of dance-concert-theater for those who, like me, love watching dancing, almost as much as you love to dance. Though apparently classically trained, (Joffrey, American Ballet Theater) he brings his Las Vegas sensibilities to bear in this production, as he hasn’t met a 60s song that couldn’t use a Vegas showgirl or Chippendale abs.  Go-Go dancers, see-thru dresses, Day Glo paint  being applied to a topless woman in ‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone’ (though less naked than the ones you can see if you walk three blocks east  on 42^nd St): these are some of the visuals incorporated into the show. Continue reading →

Ever in search of old school Italian restaurants with live music for a wonderful evening of dinner and dancing, we found it atSolari’s Restaurant in Hackensack, NJ.

The first Tuesday of the month is Big Band night where the “One More Once” Big Band, an 11 piece all male band (girl singers: please get in touch with them!) captivates a loyal following who know their foxtrot, swing and cha cha. Continue reading →

On Friday August 7th, 2015, enjoy a great summer night to celebrate Harlem’s jazz culture and Harlem’s signature cultural dance on the 80th Anniversary of Swing Dancing in the Park.

The Harlem Swing Dance Society (THSDS) and The New York Parks and Recreation will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Swing Dancing in “Colonial Park” (Jackie Robinson Park’s former name).  After the Harlem riot of March 1935 Mayor LaGuardia and the Parks Department sought ways to boost the morale of Harlem and the rest of the city.  At the first dance in mid in July 1935 10,000 people attended… and at the next dance 15,000! Continue reading →

On Friday Sept. 11th, 2015 the Edison Ballroom will once again host its special, “SEPTEMBER SWING” Event, featuring the big band leader, Joe Battaglia and the New York Big Band. Joe’s big band sound is considered among the best ever. He has performed for such dignitaries as Hilary Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, and Barbara Walters. For the past 20 years, Joe and his orchestra have performed regularly at The Rainbow Room, Tavern on the Green, Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing, and most recently, right here at the Edison Ballroom. Joe’s New York Big Band is composed of a 16- piece orchestra as well as accompanying vocalists. Also featured at this event will be the romantic Latin sounds of Direct Latin Influence, also known as DLI. Renowned Chef Mina Newman will provide a 4- course meal for the event. Tickets for dinner and dancing are priced at $150.00 per person, which include VIP seating, a sumptuous four course meal, all drinks, taxes and gratuities. Festivities start at 7:00PM. Mezzanine seating tickets  are also available at a price of $100.00 per person, which include all of the above. This event ends at 1AM, with continuous dancing throughout. For more information or for tickets, please contact the Edison Ballroom at (212) 201-7650. Or to purchase tickets online, please visit www.telecharge.com. Continue reading →

A popular fixture in Toronto’s harbour, Mariposa Cruises kicks off this year’s Salsa in Toronto Festival Week with three vivacious nights of salsa in an unparalleled waterfront setting. In partnership with Canada’s hottest Latin-themed festival, Salsa in Toronto Cruise Nights offer guests the opportunity to take salsa lessons from and enjoy performances by the prestigious Los Salsomanos, all while savouring Latino street-style cuisine and sailing by Toronto’s gorgeous skyline at sunset. One of Toronto’s original salsa dance companies, Los Salsomanos will teach guests the basics or help them brush up on their moves. Music will be provided by DJ Jimmy Sauve (Thursday nights) and DJ Gio (Wednesday night), setting the mood with exclusively Latin tunes. The Salsa in Toronto Festival is a week-long celebration of Latin music, dance, food and culture! The biggest fiesta north of the border, the festival takes place from July 2-9, 2015. The festivities feature events throughout the city including a series of Latin dance and art exhibitions, Salsa in Toronto Cruise Nights, and sizzling dance parties all capped off with the main event, the 11th Annual Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival. For more information, visit: www.salsaintoronto.com or www.mariposacruises.com

The 27th season of New York’s greatest outdoor dance party – Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing – takes over the open-air ballroom in Damrosch Park (West 62nd Street between Columbus & Amsterdam) from Tuesday, June 23 through Saturday, July 11.  Midsummer Night Swing will bring together people of all ages, at every skill level, and from diverse social and cultural backgrounds for 15 evenings of social dance.  Dance genres presented this summer include swing, mambo, tango, hustle, salsa, disco, blues, Lindy hop, waacking (similar to vogue-ing), and jitterbug. The bands come from across the country and around the world to play for the most demanding and appreciative audiences they’ll ever play for – New Yorkers. “For the fifth year in a row, Macy’s is proud to serve as a sponsor of Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing,” says Patti Lee, District Vice President and General Manager for Macy’s Herald Square.  “Each year thousands of locals and tourists fill the park just to dance under the stars, against the New York City skyline.  Midsummer Night Swing is an anticipated New York tradition and it would not be summer without it.” For more information, visit http://midsummernightswing.org/.

Quick. Quick. Slow. Slow. That’s the counting pattern for the country 2-step dance. And also the pace of our Nashville long weekend this past April.

A 5:45 pm day of arrival dinner reservation was the only time slot available at The Catbird Seat (no relation, I don’t think, to the BlueBird Café,) the Achazt-inspired (you’re a foodie if that means something to you) counter-seating hot restaurant. So we moved quickly from the airport to the hotel and on to the restaurant.    Continue reading →