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Do You Wanna Dance? Well, Yes.
Shake what your momma gave you at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
Photo: Nicholas Hidroglu
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Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton of Cream once sang that they wanted to “dance the night away.” I don’t blame them. Sometimes you’ve just got to throw your inhibitions out the door and, in the words of Lady Gaga, just dance. Luckily, Lincoln Center has got you covered (without Lady Gaga).
From June 29-July 17, Lincoln Center’s 22nd annual “Midsummer Night Swing” will be held at Damrosch Park (West 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam). Every evening of the “Swing,” you’ll be treated to a new danceable genre of music, and according to Bill Bragin, Lincoln Center’s director of public programming, “The series offers an array of dance music styles including salsa, swing, disco, and tango.”
Translation: No matter your preferred kind of music, you’ll find something to enjoy—and maybe introduced to a new favorite.
Every evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a dance lesson (included in the price of admission) from some of the best teachers in New York City, with live music happening from 7:30-10 p.m. Every night is promised to be quite the event, but here are some of the highlights:
- Battle of the Bands: George Gee Swing Orchestra vs. Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra, June 29—This is “Midsummer”’s first event of the season and what a beginning! The East Coast Gee takes on the West Coast’s Elliott. I’m tempted to announce Gee the winner based solely on the fact that I’m from New York (well, that and the fact that his 17-piece band is fantastic), but after listening to the Elliot’s Swing Orchestra, even this prideful East Coast’er is throwing bias out the door. Be there and judge for yourself.
- New Orleans Moonshiners, July 6—Thanks to HBO’s Treme, I’ve been listening to a lot of music from New Orleans lately, but it’s all through my iTunes, not live. That’s why I’m so excited for the Moonshiners. The group brings the sound of New Orleans north with trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, drums, banjo, and upright bass. We do apologize to the Moonshiners in advance for our lack of a good po’ boy, though.
- Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, July 12—By now I’m sure you’re familiar with FELA!, the hit Broadway musical that was recently nominated for 11 Tonys about Fela Kuti, the groundbreaking Nigerian composer and activist. Talent must run in the family because Femi is his son, and like his father, he makes some fantastic afrobeat tunes. Be sure to check out the group the Los Angeles Times called “simultaneously celebratory and elegiac.”
- Kids’ Day, July 17—No dancing to the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus here, we promise. Instead, your children will be taught the basics of ballroom, tango, and swing by Pierre Dulaine, the founding director of Dancing Classrooms. This past school year, Dancing Classrooms taught over 50,000 kids in 19 different cities, and if that’s not enough credentials enough, they were also featured in the 2005 documentary Mad Hot Ballroom. As an added bonus, Kids’ Day will be free thanks to a sponsorship from Target.
A full list of events, including performances by the Time Jumpers, Tony Swing and DJ Rekha with special guest Red Baraat, pictured above) for Midsummer Night Swing can be purchased here. Tickets for a single event cost $17/person, including a dance lesson. If you’re planning on going multiple nights (dancing is great for the body, after all), you can save money by purchasing a six-night pass for $90 or season pass for $160.
Five Song Encore: Midsummer Night Swing
“Trumpet Blues and Cantible” by the George Gee Swing Orchestra
“Mildred, Won’t You Behave?” by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra