Places to Swing Dance in Columbus, Ohio

SwingColumbus has a few regular events, but if you crave even more chances to swing dance, there are lots of options in Columbus.  There are more bands with regular gigs than there are dancers to enjoy them (we're working on that!)

Below are just some of the places you might find the right music and floor space to practice your triple steps and get your groove on.  (You should probably check websites or contact the venues or bands before you head out, just to be sure schedules haven't changed.)

Places that have actual dance events, where you can expect to see other dancers:


Bowties Lounge  inside the Ramada Plaza Hotel
Floor: wood
Food/drinks: yes
When: Mondays with Columbus Swing Dance Club (this is different from SwingColumbus), Tuesdays with the Buckeye Bop Club, Wednesdays with the Mid-Ohio Boogie Club

The Columbus Maennerchor
This is a German club that loves live music and is open to the public
Floor: linoleum (fine for dancing)
Food/drinks: good German beer, and you can order authentic German food from the restaurant downstairs to be brought to you upstairs in the bar area
When: the last Friday of every month you'll find the band Swing's the Thing, plus other events sporadically (check the calendar)

The 94th Aerosquadron
Floor: hardwood (great for dancing!)
This replica of an old French farmhouse that got caught up in some WWI or WWII action is the perfect place for a big band, and you'll find plenty of dancers and listeners there every Thursday night for the Rick Brunetto Big Band.  This is the most movie-like, vintage swing experience you can find in Columbus.  A fantastic wood floor sits right in front of the band and cafe tables provide seating to enjoy your quite cheap drinks from the bar.  If you eat dinner there they'll waive the $5 cover charge.  The socialness of the dancing varies- some weeks people are very partnered up, other times you can arrive alone and invite others to dance.  Ballroom studios often turn up with groups of their students, so you may have to fend off Foxtrotters circling around you.  Music is mostly swing with some latin or waltz thrown in the mix.  There is also a DJ on Friday evenings for a variety of ballroom styles.

The Elizabeth Blackwell Center at Riverside Hospital  -
Floor: gymnasium hardwood floor
Friday night lessons, or Saturday night dances with lessons (check the Buckeye Bop Club site and click on 'Dance Every Night' for more info)

Places you can make dancing happen (push some tables aside!):
The Thirsty Ear - recently renamed as The Woodlands  (Grandview Heights) - Floor:Cement
Vonn Jazz Lounge (Worthington/Crosswoods area at 270 and 23)  Floor: Cement?  (can't remember...)

• Wednesday Nights host the Silky Ray Blues Quartet, which is a favorite band of our dancers!  $5 cover.

Rumba Cafe  (Clintonville/Campus)  Floor: Cement
Outdoor Concerts and Festivals!   See another post about June Swing Dance Opportunities!  and more will come soon as festivals publish their schedules.

If you know of other places that welcome dancers or at least don't mind them, let me know in the comments!

June Swing Dancing in Columbus

Post updated on June 16 for Gahanna Creekside Jazz Festival

June 4-6 The Columbus Arts Festival

• On Saturday, 11:00am-1:00pm a SwingColumbus contingent will be social dancing along with one of our favorite local bands, The Randys in front of the Main Stage.  Join us!  They play a huge variety from Elvis to tango to Banana Phone (you've got to see it to get it) and are a hit with all ages from little kids to 20s/30s bar goers to baby boomers to centenarians.  If you don't like The Randys, there's something wrong with you.  

June 18-20 The Gahanna Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival
     SwingColumbus has been INVITED by this festival to add to the atmosphere!  We're really thrilled!  Our performance team is committing to attend certain times and may attend even more.  Here are the ones we're committing to attend.  If the times overlap that's because there are 3 stages and sometimes the stuff we like overlaps, so if you don't see us at one stage, check another one. (I will update this post if anything changes)

FRIDAY, JUNE 18

• 5:00-6:00  In Full Swing  (big band / 40s-50s swing)
• 7:45-9:00  Ray Fuller  (rockabilly/blues/swing)
• 9:30-11 for either Jimi Vincent or Mudfork blues  (blues or blues...)

SATURDAY, JUNE 19

• 2:30-4:00 Tollhouse Jazz Band  (Dixieland/20s jazz)
• 5:15-6:45 Long Tall Deb and the Drifter Kings  (blues)
• 7:45-9 Swings the thing (big band/ 40s-50s swing)  UPDATE- we have our monthly dance this night so we decided we can't promise to be at this one.

SUNDAY, JUNE 20

• 3:00-5:30 Columbus Jazz Orchestra
• 4:30-6 Sean Carney
  

June 19 SwingColumbus' Monthly Dance at the Downtown YWCA!

• Third Saturday of every month - it's a good time and only $6/$4 students.  Free beginner lesson 8-9pm and dancing to our favorite DJs 9-midnight.  
• It's friendly and low-key and a great place to meet people and practice your dance skills.  And if it's your birthday month, we throw you in the jam circle and you dance with EVERYONE!

June 25-27    Community Festival (aka COMFEST!)

• Sunday at 11:30am SwingColumbus' performance team will be on the Community Stage
• The schedule hasn't been published yet, but I'll update this post when it is so you'll know the best bands for dancing!

here we are 2 years ago on the community stage:

 In addition to these festivals and our regular monthly dance, you can also find swing dancing regularly at restaurants, bars, and other places in Columbus.

May 25 is National Tap Dance Day!

May 25 is National TapDance Day in the US, and the date is significant because it's the birthday of Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson.  You can read more about this on Dance Advantage: http://danceadvantage.net/2010/05/25/national-tap-dance-day/

If you're not familiar with Mr. Bojangles, you need to watch this clip- it's amazing!



Tap is an important part of the Lindy Hopper's history.  In fact, the line dance called The Shim Sham that is danced by swing dancers all across the globe, is actually stolen/borrowed/adapted from a tap line dance that is danced by hoofers all over the world.  I've got proof!

Using Dance to Teach Kids Healthy Living

Balletmet Columbus's blog, 'A Tutu For You' featured their Momentum program they present in area elementary schools that uses dance to teach concepts of healthy living and culminates in a year-end dance performance.

Here's how BalletMet's website describes Momentum:

BalletMet Momentum (4th Grade Program)

A program that engages students in movement, music, choreography--and so much more. Momentum uses dance as a springboard to help children develop excellence, discipline and self-confidence. All classes integrate ODE's Dance Content Standards. Throughout the academic year, classes are held weekly during the school day. Students present a mid-year lecture/demonstration in their school gym and a year-end performance on stage.

I think it's so great that BalletMet is giving kids around Columbus the opportunity to participate in dance.  Isn't it strange that 'art class' and band/choir are so standard but you don't ever see dance as a standard in schools?  And why should gym class be just about sports?   We need more programs like this!

For a full list and descriptions of all BalletMet's educational outreach programs:  http://www.balletmet.org/education_schools.php
-----------------------------------------------
Update!   Momentum was just featured on the news!  Check out the article and video!
http://www.10tv.com/live/content/committobefit/stories/2010/05/25/story-columbus-ballet-met-childrens-program.html 

May classes start TONIGHT! (5/4)

Want to learn to Lindy Hop?  Duh, of COURSE you do!  Our May lessons start TONIGHT and this month it's all Lindy Hop, all the time!  Mark and Shannon from the Lindyroos are teaching! 

Just look how fun it is! (so this is Seattle, and the classes in the video are a lot bigger than ours, but same idea!)



WHERE:  FloorSpace Arts in Clintonville (next to Studio 35)  3041 Indianola Avenue, Columbus OH 43202

WHEN:  May 4, 11, 18, and 25
    There are 2 levels of classes meeting every Tuesday in May, so you get four classes, one hour each.  
     7:30-8:30pm - Intermediate Lindy Hop
     8:30-9:30pm- Beginner Lindy Hop  (no experience needed!)
     9:30-10:00pm - open practice and 'ask the teacher' time

WHO:
    Anyone!  No partner required (you'll rotate!), No experience required (for the beginner class anyway).   We just want you to come and dance and have fun!  Jumping in on Lindy right now is great because you can move up to Intermediate Lindy in June!

For the beginner class you don't need to know anything at all about anything. At all.  However, for the intermediate class you should be comfortable with the swingout, sendout, and Lindy circle.

HOW MUCH?
$45 for general public
$40 for members

Go register on our website!
Lessons Page
Registration Page  (select the May Swingology Series from the dropdown)

Rocktober 2010 Instructor Lineup!

Meet our amazing instructors for Rocktober 2010 - we know you'll love them! Kevin & Jo, Patrick & Natasha, and Caitlin & Jon!

October 15-17, 2010 better be on your calendar, because it's going to be an amazing weekend!

OFFICIAL ROCKTOBER 2010 WEBSITE


Kevin St. Laurent and Jo Hoffberg - Pittsburgh, PA (and lots of other places)

Hilarious, high energy, and great technicians of Lindy Hop. With their blend of comedic yet intensely effective teaching, they prove that you can have your cake and eat it too! They were a blast last year and we're very excited to have them back again!





Patrick Szmidt and Natasha Ouimet - Montreal, Canada




This pair is not super well-known in the US (yet!) but we think they're the NEXT BIG THING on the international scene! They're energetic performers and dedicated to growing Lindy Hop around the world. As instructors at Studio 88 Swing in Montreal, Patrick and Natasha are part of an elite team of Lindy Hop masters. Montreal is well known for the quality of its dancers and we look forward to introducing that influence to the midwest, so we can be dreamy too!

http://patrickandnatasha.com/en

They've even been featured on Canadian television! Look!




Jon Tigert and Caitlin Baird - Indiana

Jon and Caitlin have the important role of addicting newbies to the Lindy Hop - they're teaching the beginner track at Rocktober. We are confident that after you've had your first experimentation with Lindy Hop from these two, we'll probably be seeing you again real soon ;)

Jon and Caitlin travel extensively and you may recognize them from all the Jack & Jill finals they bumped you out of. They are on a team of rockstars called The Hoosier Hotshots, that has been known to win competitions after only 4 practices or in spite of living in a variety of cities and spraining ankles in the middle of their routines. That's pretty damn rockstar. ish. (darn you, Hotshots!!)


(In the video below, Jon is in green, Caitlin is in blue)

Jazz Academy Registration open for 2010 Spring and Summer

Columbus, OH – The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) opens registration for 2010 spring classes and summer camps at the Jazz Academy community instructional space in the newly restored Lincoln Theatre complex in the historic King-Lincoln District.

http://www.jazzartsgroup.org/jazz-academy/jazz-in-the-community/classes/

Classes at the Jazz Academy are designed to engage all ages and interests, from pre-school children to senior citizens, guitar players to aspiring producers, and students to teachers. The Jazz Academy connects people, starts conversations and inspires music making – a place where anyone can listen, learn and play.

Spring schedule includes opportunities for young children (Jumpin’ JaKs) to vocal, guitar, percussion and keyboard classes to courses in music business and technology (Home Audio Production), while summer schedule includes camps for jazz, blues, rock, improvisation, strings, keyboard, studio recording and more.

With nearly 5,000 square feet, the Jazz Academy is a premier facility for multi-generational and recreational music making, ensemble playing, after-school programs, technology instruction and lectures with world-class musicians. For more information regarding classes, registration policies, or scholarships, please contact Jazz Arts Group at 614-294-5200 x 107 or visit www.jazzartsgroup.org for complete class descriptions, faculty biographies and online registration.

Jazz Academy programs are made possible through ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus Foundation, Chase Bank, AEP Ohio, Limited Brands, Cardinal Health, Honda of America Mfg., Abercrombie & Fitch, Nationwide, National City/PNC Bank, Bob Evans Farms, Fifth Third Bank, Plante & Moran, PLLC and Wolfe Enterprises, Inc. Jazz Academy music partners include Yamaha, Sabian, Remo, Sweetwater Music, Central City Recording, and Capital University with media support from WCBE 90.5 FM and WOSU Public Media.

###

About the Jazz Arts Group:

The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is America's oldest not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to producing, performing and promoting jazz. JAG is the third largest performing arts organization in Columbus and consists of four focus areas: the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO), one of the world's finest professional jazz orchestras; the Jazz Academy, JAG's extensive instructional programs educating both students and adults about jazz and American music; Inside Track, a new jazz and blues performance series to be produced at the historic Lincoln Theatre; and Affiliate Musicians, a program providing employment opportunities for professional musicians.

Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society 2010 Concert Schedule

Spend an afternoon listening to the happiest music you'll ever hear!
The concert venue includes ample room to dance near the band - all are welcomed and encouraged to join in!

www.cohjs.org

All concerts are held in the 1920s themed Burgundy Room at
The Makoy Center
5462 Center Street
Hilliard, OH

Tickets:
$20 General Public
$15 COHJS Members
$10 Dance Club Members








Sunday, May 23, 2010
2:00-5:00pm
Terry Waldo and the Gut Bucket Synchopators

Sunday, September 26, 2010
2:00-5:00pm
Byron Stripling and Friends

Sunday, October 17, 2010
2:00-5:00pm
The Coast to Coast Jazz Band

Sunday, November 14, 2010
FALL HARVEST OF BANDS
1:00-7:00pm
Cake Walking Jazz Band, Toledo, Ohio
Classic Jazz Stompers, Dayton, Ohio
North Side Jazz Band, Columbus, Ohio

This fall concert is targeted toward collecting food for our annual holiday charity food drive. PLEASE bring two or more canned food items to donate at the door.


A personal note- I love these concerts! This is the real deal - great musicians that will wow you and put a huge smile on your face. And plenty of shtik to go with... The Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society has been putting on concerts since 1981. 1981! We've been putting on dances and lessons since 1998 or so. Each of our groups had NO idea the other existed until about 2 years ago when one of our SwingColumbus members attended a COHJS concert and told us how great it was. Both of our groups were thinking 'where have you been all my life?!'

We've since done a few performances at COHJS concerts and teamed up on marketing. They have been more than generous in opening dance floor space for us and we've been so thrilled to have these amazing live bands to enjoy while we dance. What a great opportunity! The audience is all ages, from little kids to those who grew up with this music. It's a very family-friendly environment. I hope you'll attend a concert and maybe I'll even catch you on the dance floor...

-Mandy

NEWSFLASH: Columbus is a DANCE city!!

I've been thinking about this a lot lately - Columbus knows it's a football town, a university town, and even a town that appreciates the arts. But I don't think the average Columbusite realizes- we're a dance town, too?

This past winter I attended several touring shows presented by the Wexner Center and was surprised at how many people in the audience were clearly dancers (you can just tell), not to mention just how big the total audiences were.

I don't know why it took me so long to realize this, but other people have been thinking about it too- the front cover feature in the latest CityScene Columbus spells out how mature the Columbus dance scene has become:

Full Of Grace
Alicia Kelso

From tap to tango and ballet to ballroom, Columbus is a city full of happy feet.

Whether you buy tickets to a worldpremiere production by BalletMet or you enroll your kids in an Irish step class, the art of dance is very much a part of our community’s culture.

“There is such a strong arts hub in general here; there are strong educational roots at local colleges and universities, which attracts artists to the area,” says Jennifer Sciantarelli, communications manager at BalletMet.

The Ohio State University’s Department of Dance has been ranked as the top graduate program in the country by industry publication Dance Teacher. This reputation has benefited Columbus as a whole because many of these students stick around after they graduate.

“Dancers are beginning to be recognized as important contributors to the arts scene and they are staying,” says Karen Bell, dean of the College of the Arts and professor with the Department of Dance at OSU.

See the rest of the article text only or even better and with upcoming shows on Page 16, read the article inside the latest issue (click the front cover to go straight to the article).

The article focuses on a few of the bigger players in town:

• OSU Department of Dance
• BalletMet (which has great social media marketing strategies!)
• The Wexner Center (brings in major national acts)
• Columbus Dance Theatre
• CAPA

There are TONS of upcoming dance shows listed on Columbus Dance Calendar so take a look and be amazed.

Now the fact that we have lots of opportunities to attend dance concerts is GREAT, but there's a lot more to be done:

1. Columbus doesn't yet have a reputation for dance, outside of the dance world. I'm not sure how we get there, but maybe we need an Ohio Dance for Central Ohio. More PR people pitching articles to the media, more press, more outreach programs...
   
2. Dance needs to become part of the arts awareness taught in schools.
3. Lastly, and for somewhat selfish reasons, I want Columbusites to get out there as adults and participate in dance - take a class, go out dancing!
   

The Jitterbucks @ Smackdown

On Saturday February 27th, The Ohio State University competed in its first swing dance competition. And it was awesome.

The Dayton Swing Smackdown is kind of a big deal around these parts. Teams battling from across the tri-state area, colleges fielding teams of their own, etc.

OSU Swing Dance Club had decided awhile ago to attempt to field a competition team this year, but we hadn’t had the time to put one together until mid-January. We met a bit, brainstormed some ideas, and several people came up with the song and theming ideas. This was my choreographing debut, filling in about 70% of the final show’s choreography. The rest was put into place with the help of other team members and our awesome Swing Dance Club advisor Neil.

We were making small tweaks and choreography changes all the way up until the week of the Smackdown. The entire show, from mixing the music to performing and competing, happened in just a little over a month. The show itself is a timeless tale of too many gals and not enough guys to go around, with a pretty awesome twist at the end.

And thanks to the hard work of the team, our advisor Neil, and several people from SwingColumbus who helped us, our end product looked pretty spiffy.

Like, Collegiate Battle Champion spiffy. College Cup spiffy.

That’s right. The OSU JitterBucks (name decided only about a week before competition) shocked the college division and took first place among university clubs, despite it being our first time out to Smackdown.

The feeling was incredible; when they announced our names I could hardly believe it! We were all grateful to just be there and hold our own in competition; I don’t think any of us truly believed we had it in us to win on our very first go around. All the colleges there looked fantastic, and OSU looks forward to defending their new title as Collegiate Battle Champion in 2011. Afterall, we’re undefeated in competition (1-0 record), and that’s something we’re going to have to work even harder next year to protect!

Take care,
Rob