Saturday, Jan 8, 2011 • 7th Annual Black Tie Dance, Special Connection & Partnering Lesson • 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. Plus we are pleased to welcome Tony & Jamie back for another intermediate lesson on Connection & Partnering Techniques.
Formal attire encouraged, but optional
Beginners welcome, no partner required
Door Prizes ++ Refreshments ++ Snacks
6:30 - 7:30 pm, Intermediate Lesson - Connection & Partnering Techniques (see description below)
7:30 - 8:00 pm, Fundamental Lesson
8:00 - 11:00 pm, dancing to live music
Connection and Partnering Techniques
Though there are many types of partner dancing moves, rhythms, and styles, one thing is common among all forms of partner dancing. The best dancers have honed their ability to communicate with their partners in ways that go well beyond just leading patterns. Introduce yourself to the world of advanced dance partnering by joining champion dancer and coach Tony Fraser with his partner Jaime Shannon as they teach and demonstrate partnering tricks of the dance trade
Band: 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.
Venue: Brush Barn
Brush BarnThe Smithtown Historical Society’s Brush Barn is located behind the historic Epenetus Smith Tavern at 211 East 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.
Organizer: 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.