Our friend Jessica Steinert has created some very cool retro shoe cases that are perfect for transporting your shoes to and from dances in style. They are made from top quality materials, handcrafted, and are of amazing top quality workmanship. They are really quite a piece of art! They are about to go on sale on Ebay and Etsy, however, you will be able to have first crack at them! They will be on sale (and at a special price) at the Saturday events of the Sunstate Jam. Be sure to drop by the Perfect Shot shoe table and check them out.
On Saturday, August 9th, the Saturday night swing dance will host the 2008 Sunstate Jam! This is a weekend of dancing, workshops, competitions and much more. Don’t miss out on a chance to see some of the best dancers from around Central Florida and the nation compete for titles. There has never been a better night to bring out your friends and family. As always, the night kicks off with a beginner swing dance lesson from 8 to 9pm. The dance is extended with dancing from 9pm to 1am with contests and exhibitions mixed in throughout the evening. Special event admission for the night is $10. For more information on all the events for the weekend, be sure to check out SunstateJam.com.
A few quotes from Dawn and I landed into the Orlando Sentinel today. The article focuses on the boom in dance popularity in the Orlando area since the TV dance show boom. It’s a nice write up that covers a wide variety of dance diciplines offered around Central Florida.
On August 14th, the weekly Thursday Night Swing Dance returns to a new location and new time! Mark your calendars and come out and join us at the German American Society of Central Florida in Casselberry. The parquet wood floor is great for dancing, the club members share a love for dancing, and the atmosphere is one of a kind in Orlando. Based on feedback from last time, the lesson (7-8pm) and dance (8-10pm) will be earlier seeing it is a work/school night. More info is now online!
Here is some footage of Dawn and I working out a disagreement about dancing:
Just kidding! After mentioning Apache Dancing last week, I thought I would post one of my favorite clips of it. It’s from The Crazy Gang’s “Okay for Sound” (1937). The simulated violence takes an amazing amount of coordination and practice to get down pat… and the stunts rank up there with the most difficult swing aerials. And if you are wondering, this dance is where the Apache move comes from in Lindy Hop.
I don’t know how your week is going, but I am in real need of a cartoon break. In this Disney Silly Symphony, we visit a insect jazz club. After everyone arrives as the club, there is a great spoof of an Apache dance followed by a cartoon song and dance explanation of what “truckin’” is. Something every hep cat should know about. Overall, very cool… good music and I always enjoy old cartoon takes on swing dancing.
Whirl & Twirl is no longer able to use the business parking lot across the street as overflow parking. As always, parking is available around the building. For overflow parking, please park along the side of the street.
Please bear with us as parking might be tight until everyone gets use to this. We apologize for the inconvenience as this was out of our control.
July is Big Band Movie Month on TCM! Turner Classic Movies has rounded up a collection of the best movies featuring the big bands of the 30’s, 40’s, and early 50’s. You’ll see and hear great bands like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa, Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, and many more. While non of the listed features have groundbreaking swing dance scenes in them, some of them do have some brief entertaining swing dance segments. Keep an eye out for “I Dood It”, “Two Girls and a Sailor”, “Cabin in the Sky”, and “The Benny Goodman Story”.
I’m bummed that we missed “Dancing Co-Ed” last night. It’s rare that the movie gets aired and as fans of Artie Shaw, it’s a favorite for Dawn and I.
Be sure to check out the TCM schedule for air times and thanks to John for sending this info over!
On August 14th, the weekly Thursday Night Swing Dance returns to a new location and new time! Mark your calendars and come out and join us at the German American Society of Central Florida in Casselberry. The parquet wood floor is great for dancing, the club members share a love for dancing, and the atmosphere is one of a kind in Orlando. Based on feedback from last time, the lesson (7-8pm) and dance (8-10pm) will be earlier seeing it is a work/school night. 
After mentioning Apache Dancing last week, I thought I would post one of my favorite clips of it. It’s from 
