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On Friday Sept. 12, 2014 the Edison Ballroom will once again host its “SEPTEMBER SWING” Event, featuring Joe Battaglia and the New York Big Band. 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 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 Latin sounds of Direct Latin Influence, known as DLI. Renowned Chef Mina Newman will provide a meal for this special event. For more information, please contact the Edison Ballroom at (212) 201-7650 or visit http://www.telecharge.com.

Third season of Midsummer Night Dances, held most Thursday evenings in the Celebration Tent takes place at the Vanderbilt Museum. 

The dances are scheduled for the following Thursdays: August 7, 21 and 28 and September 4. The gate opens at 6:00, lessons are at 6:30, dinner is served beginning at 7:00, and dancing is 7:00-9:30. Each week features a different food theme.
 
The evening features ballroom and other types of dancing, as well as lessons in a different dance step each week, taught by professional instructors. The August 7th dance is the Hustle, instructed by Marc James; the August 21 dance is Waltz, with Lisa Sparkles Ballroom and Latin Dancing Studio; the August 28 dance is Cha Cha, with Don Angeletti; the September 4 is Latin Night, with Antz Joseph. For more information, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org or call 631-854-5579.

On June 19-22, 2014 Hotel El Ganzo hosted a first-of-its-kind dance workshop by internationally renowned dance instructor and choreographer Tika Morgan. Ranked as one of the 20 best educational experiences in 2014 by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Tika’s Samba & Reggaeton Fusion classes were held exclusively at El Ganzo and participants from around the world traveled specifically for the dance workshop. Hotel El Ganzo will hold this retreat twice a year. Hotel El Ganzo is located at the base of the Puerto Los Cabos marina in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, 20 miles from the Los Cabos International Airport For more information, visit http://www.elganzo.com.

The Rainbow Room, New York City’s historic landmark and iconic restaurant and event space atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Rockefeller Center®, will open to the public October 2014. Designed by renowned architectural firm Gabellini Sheppard Associates, the space, including its legendary dance floor overlooking the Manhattan skyline, will be restored through a modern lens to once again embody the glamour and elegance reflective of its rich history, yet updated for its future. Montroy Andersen DeMarco serves as executive architect of the project. The Rainbow Room will operate as a combination of catered event space and restaurant that is open to the public Sundays for brunch, as well as dinner Monday evenings and most holidays. A previously vacant outdoor terrace on the 65th floor will connect to an interior space that has been transformed into the cocktail lounge SixtyFive, which will be open to the public five days a week and offers sweeping views of Manhattan. The culinary team is led by Executive Chef Jonathan Wright. Building off the tradition of being a great destination for performances, occasional live entertainment will return to the Rainbow Room as well. For more information, please visit www.rainbowroom.com.

The Ailey Spirit Gala Featuring the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater June 11th, 2014 The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater  will hold the Ailey Spirit Gala, a one-night-only, star-studded performance at New York’s Lincoln Center.  Proceeds will provide vitally needed scholarships for talented students of The Ailey School and support Ailey’s innovative Arts In Education & Community Programs.  The event will take place on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at the David H. Koch Theatre. Marc Strachan, Ailey Board member and Vice-President of Brand Marketing at Diageo will be co-chairing this event with his wife Almaz for the fourth year. Expect to see some exciting new debuts and one of the best after parties on the Gala circuits. To make a contribution or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.alvinailey.org/ailey-spirit-gala-support or Call 212-405-9031.

MIDSUMMER NIGHT SWING
2014 SEASON ANNOUNCED
JUNE 24 – JULY 12, 2014

Kids Dance, Vintage Fashion and Dance Contests, and More Continue reading →

On Friday May 30th, 2014 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. Continue reading →

Saturday, November 23rd, 2013, New York, NY, Baruch Mason Hall Theatre

TMP 5.0-The Manhattan Project 5.0 is a competition that attracts over 1,500 people from all over the country to witness fusion dance at its best. Our objective is to provide a platform to showcase the talent and creativity of South Asian student dancers. With this goal in mind, we aim to spread the knowledge of South Asian culture and fusion dance to our diverse audience members and beyond.  This year’s competing teams are EuphorEk Ada, Boston University Chankaar, Chapel Hill Chalkaa, Maryland Dhoom, NCSU Nazaare, Penn Dhamaka, Rutgers Newark Ehsaas, Rutgers University SAPA, UIUC Fizaa, USC Moksha.  Sponsors include: Saavn, Premier Entertainment, DesiClub.com, Platinum Dream Events, Chal Chilli, Aum Dance Creations, Aahana, AVS, Arya Dance Academy, NYU Shruti, Beat of Raas, Bollywood America.  To purchase tickets please visit: http://www.manhattanprojectnyc.com/

Swing music Vintage Vegas-style is going gangbusters on the Strip while Downtown, actual gang busters are on display at the Mob Museum, a pantheon to crime stoppers and crime makers (that would be criminals.)

Just as the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, showcasing the latest in futuristic devices, was gearing up, we were winding down a visit to Las Vegas of the past, a Vintage Vegas itinerary of our own creation. We found all things Vegas of the 1940s to 1960s: from WWII era style dancing and lounge singers, Rat Pack stage shows and an afternoon at the Mob Museum located in the US Post Office and Courthouse of the 1950s Kefauver hearings. Continue reading →