Event Archives
Saturday, Jan 2, 2010 • 6th Annual New Years Black Tie Swing Dance • SDLI
Happy New Year! You’ve rung OUT the old year so swing IN the New Year with us. Enjoy the fabulous sounds of Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra from NYC.
Formal attire encouraged, but optional
Beginners welcome, no partner required
Door Prizes ++ Refreshments ++ Snacks
Note: There will be NO INTERMEDIATE LESSON this evening.
7:30 - 8:00 pm, Fundamental Lesson
8:00 - 11:00 pm, dancing to live music
Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra
Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra is an ensemble steeped in the hot-dance band tradition of the Roaring Twenties. Their size ranges from a full 11-piece orchestra to smaller incarnations. They play their “Hot-and-Sweet” music anywhere that fine and eclectic tastes meet.
The Dreamland Orchestra is authentic. Arenella transcribes by hand their entire repertoire from period recordings. Their delivery, as well as their instruments, attire, and equipment — are faithfully accurate. Arenella’s strong yet vulnerable baritone lacks pretense or sarcasm. He treasures each lyric, and has faith in the songs he sings. Even the most optimisic Tin Pan Alley tune has a disarming quality in his hands.
Though certainly anachronistic, the orchestra’s presence invokes the vibrations of something unmistakably timeless. While authentic to a “T”, Michael Arenella prefers not to be labelled a recreationalist. He takes an antiquated template and infuses it with the immediacy of the present. Spontanaeity is what gave the original music of the era its magic, and it is also the primary ingredient and imprimatur of the Dreamland Orchestra.
His men are dapper dandies; hair pomaded and shoes shined. They are based in New York, which with London were the halcyon capitals of decadence. All of this allows them to capture the essence of what this music and times were all about: joy, romance, modernity, and possibility.
Swing Dance Long Island, Inc. (SDLI)
Swing Dance Long Island, Inc. is an all volunteer, not for profit organization dedicated to the promotion of swing dancing on Long Island, New York.
Join a friendly group of people every Tuesday evening for a mix of East Coast Swing, Savoy Lindy Hop, Hollywood Lindy, West Coast Swing, Balboa, Collegiate Shag and some Ballroom dancing. No partners are needed and beginners are welcome.
Brush Barn
Brush BarnThe Smithtown Historical Society’s Brush Barn is located behind the historic Epenetus Smith Tavern at 211 Main Street, Smithtown NY 11787 and is not visible from the street. About 0.2 miles east on Main Street from the intersection of Route 111 and Route 25 (Main Street). There is a white house that is #211 (Epenetus Smith Tavern) and a gravel drive beside the house.
Saturday Band 2009
$15 General Admission, $13 Students with current ID, $10 SDLI MembersSaturday, Jan 2, 2010 • Pictures posted of 6th Annual SDLI Swing Dance •
Pictures from SDLI’s 6th Annual Black Tie Swing Dance have been posted.
http://sdli.org/LR/SDLIBlackTie2010/
Click on a picture then use your arrow key to jump from picture to picture. Right click to download an image.