Swing Legacy, a six piece little big band has been a fixture of the Boston swing scene since 1991, playing with the style and informed of the great big bands from the swing era. Their repertoire concentrates on classic big band swing music including many Duke Ellington and Count Basie numbers ideal for Lindy Hop and swing dancing. Much of their great catalog of songs showcases their phenomenal singer, Debby Larkin. It promises to be a night full of exciting original arrangements that will keep you dancing all night long!

Here’s a short story as told to us by their larger-than-life saxophone player, Ted Casher

(on right) Ted Casher

“I was gigging with Bo Winiker Orchestra at the Faneuil Hall Rotunda for a Wellesley College 10-year class reunion. Bo said that we could play anything we wanted, only as soft as possible! We were playing bebop tunes, the ladies were reuniting, when I noticed a tall, good-looking man listening intently, standing up against the wall. At the end of the set, he came up to me and asked, “Is that the new Dukoff mouthpiece? I’ve heard about it. Sounds good!”

We talked on—he was knowledgeable about reeds and mouthpieces, and I asked “Are you playing now? He answered, “Not much these days. I’m the Governor of Arkansas, and I don’t have time to practice.”

I then asked, “Wanna play?” He said, “Sure!”, and so I grabbed Bo and said “I’ve got a tenor player who wants to sit in—he’s the Governor of Arkansas.” Bo said “Sure”, and so I gave William Jefferson Clinton a spare strap and my tenor sax. I grabbed my alto, and we all played.

We played some blues, followed by “Perdido”, then “Take the A-Train.” You could tell that Bill had spent time with the instrument — he knew such minutae as the out-choruses to “Perdido” and “A-Train”. He also soloed well — didn’t make any blatant errors!

The alumnae were beginning to come up to the bandstand to watch him play, and after the set was over, a lady with brown wavy hair and big hexagonal glasses came up and said to him “You sounded great, Dear!” It was Hillary Rodham Clinton!

The next time I saw Bill Clinton, I was playing a fundraiser for him at the Parker House. And the next time, I was in DC with the Winiker Orchestra, playing lead alto at his Inauguration!”

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central is happy to have The Rusty Scott Trio back for his first appearance in our new space.  Yes, it’s been about a year since we last danced to Rusty Scott.  And this time we’ve asked him to play with guest vocalist Alicia Wagner.   Rusty is a soulful and groovy pianist who has been a fixture on the Boston jazz scene for some time and has played for us on several occasions.  Check out their versions of Night Train and Tuxedo Junction.  His playing reminds us of a little bit of Jimmy Smith and Gene Harris combined.   Alicia is a semi-regular dancer at Boston Swing Central who also happens to be an accomplished jazz vocalist.  We’re very excited for her to join the Rusty Scott Trio as their styles complement each other quite well.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

It’s the beginning of April and as the luck of the calendar would have it, Friday is April 1st, April Fool’s Day.  A day for a merry prankster (like the staff of the BSC) and the Jailhouse 5+2, who happily agreed to be our musical Court Jesters for the evening.  Juggling quartertones with a rapacious delight, the Jailhouse 5+2 display their formidable sense of humor as they swing with a 1920s speakeasy gangster swagger…AND THUS…

…if you have not seen the Jailhouse 5+2, they are a 7-piece (hence the 5+2, simple arithmetic my friend) combo which are informed by New Orleans, Hot Jazz , Dixieland and the lawless era of the 1920s!  Now that’s a mouthful!  And when you hear that ole banjo and those horns come marchin’ in, you will be transported back to the day when Bonnie & Clyde galavanted the countryside from Texas to Minnesota knocking off gas stations and mom and pop general stores.  And we ain’t joking, we’re just April Fools…

…which concidentally (or not so), this day also happens to mark the 3rd Anniversary of Boston Swing Central!  Yeah, can you believe it?!  In a short 3 years: we’ve run hundreds of dances, moved into the Whistle Stop, brought you the finest swing music this side of the Mississippi and we just can’t wait for you to experience all of what we’ve got planned!  Come celebrate with us (so we don’t have to pat ourselves on the back, now that would be really foolish).

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

The Mad Hatter and the March Hare invite you to share a cup of some Earl Grey or Darjeeling…and perhaps a swing or two or three or seventeen, after all switching places at their table is sort of like the mechanics of a typical dance.  Tea Time!  Change partners! 

The dormouse will most likely sleep through most of tonight’s dance, but you won’t.  Yes, it’s our tribute to Alice in Wonderland…and in particular, Chapter 7.  But don’t worry we won’t ask you too many perplexing riddles such as “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”  We will however surprise and regale you with the finest of the swing canon!  A veritible stacked deck of popular tunes from the 1930’s and 1940’s that will be guaranteed to put white roses in eyes of the Queen of Hearts.

…and just so you don’t ask us, Lewis Carroll provided us with an answer, “Because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!”.   Which makes some sense to possibly only the Mad Hatter and us, and therein lies the key to the riddle of what exactly we’re getting on about with tonight’s theme..

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Keeping up our relentless schedule of great live music, we’re happy to welcome back The Swing Legacy! It has been almost a year since we had this six-piece little big band play for us, and this will be their debut at the Crosby Whistle Stop.

Swing Legacy has been a fixture of the Boston swing scene since 1991, playing with the polish and powerful beat of the great big bands from the swing era. Their repertoire concentrates on classic big band swing music including many Duke Ellington and Count Basie numbers ideal for Lindy Hopping. Many songs showcase their phenomenal singer Debby Larkin. It promises to be a night full of exciting original arrangements that will keep you dancing all night long!

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Sinti Rhythm and their twin-guitar attack, hot gypsy jazz band are back! And it’s a Saturday, so you’re wondering, what gives?  Boston Swing Central has partnered with Blues Cafe to put on a special dance which will be Balboa-friendly, in support of the Bobby & Kate workshops.

They are also bringing guest vocalist, Charlotte Jordan this time out, so we’re looking for something a little different than their last several appearances at Boston Swing Central. Sinti really loves playing for dancers, and we love them. What’s not to love about a Django Reinhardt tribute band? If you don’t know what they sound like you can check them out here.

Balboa Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Baby Soda Jazz Band returns to BSC! And once again, our cup runneth over with anticipation. The last time they played for us, the Whistle Stop steamed with energy…they blew us away, and nobody wanted to go home! Their heart-pounding brand of hobo street jazz sends us into the stratosphere! The energy of their horn section, a mere trumpet and trombone was like a herd of happy elephants. And the one-string that bassist Peter plucks is more than enough to keep us moving and grooving all night long. Minimalism at it’s most perfect. Listen to them here.

So mark your calendar; we are! We will also welcome Bobby & Kate for a weekend of Balboa workshops at the Crosby Whistle Stop, they’ll do a demo performance for us, and grace us with their awesome presence.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $17
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $15

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

According to the Internet Anagram Server, there is a saying that “anagrams never lie”, so we plugged in some of our favorite things, first, “Swing Dance” and lo, right away, it said, “Dance Wings”, well that seems all too simple and too obvious, so next we tried “Lindy Hop” and it gave us “Hind Ploy”, interesting and somewhat ribald and truthful to be sure!  

The interesting thing about anagrams is that they are rearrangements of letters, which is ultimately similar to what DJs do, they rearrange songs night after night.  Tonight, guest DJ Gina Helfrich is going to cleverly and deftly rearrange her favorite songs to please us in unexpected ways, just like the Internet Anagram Server has rearranged “East Coast Swing” into “Castigates Snow”.  No lie, type it in, it will take a bit of time to calculate, but voila!   You’ll also get, “Saga Once Twists” and “Agnostic Sweats” and a myriad of other silly phrases..speaking of silly, perhaps there will be an anagram mixer jam tonight…

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Welcome to Boston Swing Central!

Have Fun!

We’re extremely excited that you’re checking out our website! This is your gateway to the world of swing dancing.  The Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, Charleston, and Balboa are all authentic dances from the 1930s and 1940s that fall under the larger category of Swing Dance.   From here you can learn about the dance styles, attend our social dance and discover how fun swing dance and the people that do it are.  Watch a video here:

What can you expect?

First off, each evening starts with a 1-hour beginner lesson.  The lesson starts at 8:00pm, but you’ll want to get there by 7:50pm so that you have time to park and get into the dance hall.  There is plenty of parking available, but there can be traffic getting into the Sullivan Square area on a Friday evening.  We can’t predict the traffic patterns, so plan accordingly. We recommend using our Google map for help with where to park.

The lesson is taught by some of the best swing dance teachers in the Boston area.  In the lesson you will be asked to partner up…that means you find a partner.  (Gender does not matter here, as people of the same gender often dance with each other, though usually this means a male and female partnership.)  Don’t worry you won’t be stuck with this person for very long, the instructors will rotate partners frequently. Swing dancing is a very social dance and you’re going to meet and dance with a lot of people from all walks of life, especially in the lesson.

After the lesson, we have a night filled with the very best music we can provide.   Boston Swing Central brings in a lot of bands from New York and the Brooklyn Trad Jazz Scene is exploding right now.  There is a diverse group of musicians and bands that play together in many different line-ups and configurations.  Those who attend our dance regularly will discover amazing artists like Baby Soda, Gordon Webster Band and the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn.  As well as many talented locals such as Toni Lynn Washington, White Heat Swing Orchestra, Swing Legacy, Phil McGowan & the Easy Winners and many many others.

Our DJs are like vintage musicologists, culling the 80-90 years worth of recorded swing music for treasures from Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman & Sidney Bechet all the way up through modern times and Indigo Swing & Diana Krall…They try to kick it old school as much as possible to give you that feeling that you’ve been transported back in time.

Get some exercise.

Swing dancing is energetic and some of the tempos are fast.  Dancing to fast tempos can be quite a workout….the great thing is, we hardly notice all the work while we’re dancing.   It’s not like the dreadful treadmill or riding a stationary bike where we’re looking at some sort of meter and counting down every mile to meet our goal.  The exercise we get feels almost free.  A lifestyle filled with regular dancing, you won’t need to do any of these types of workouts (unless you’re training for a marathon).  Many dancers find the dance so addictive that they go out 2 or 3 nights a week in lieu of those trips to the gym.

Learning to Swing.

Learning dance is good for your brain!  By learning body movement, choreography and becoming aware of your body and its parts in free space, you’re exercising connections in your brain that you probably didn’t know you had.  It can be challenging, but don’t get discouraged, enjoy the ride and before you know it, you’ll be swinging with the stars!

Be Creative.

The music will hopefully inspire you to move in ways that feel natural to you.  Make up your own style and have fun.  Don’t be afraid to be goofy.   And always deploy the age old phrase: “Dance like nobody’s watching.”  Which is really true, because if you think about who you watch when you’re at a dance, it’s always the really good dancers that catch your eye.  So that is the general rule of thumb, everyone is watching that really good dancers over there…but if you come to our dance regularly, perhaps one day you’ll be one of those really good dancers!

BSC Groupon FAQs

1) Do I need to bring a partner?

A: Nope, just show up.  New dancers get a warm welcome by the dance community!  There will be plenty of helpful folks who are ready and willing to dance with someone new.

2) Can I use half of my Groupon now and half later?  I bought the Groupon and my friend backed out at the last minute, the Groupon says it’s for 2 admissions; can I use one now and one later?

A: Unfortunately, no.  A Groupon used for admission will be used in full whether you have 2 people or not.  Remember that you can purchase up to three (3) of these Groupons, so if your friend misses out on one, there are still two other chances for them to attend with you.

3) I got there at 8:20pm due to heavy traffic?  Can I use my Groupon?

A: Sorry, no.  This check-in time is designed primarily so that you can attend the lesson. Please plan your trip accordingly.  We recommend checking traffic and road conditions on Google Maps. However, if you check in late due to a long line at the front door, you can still use your Groupon.

4) Do I have to take the lesson?

A: You do not have to actively take the lesson, but you cannot check in at the space early, leave, and return for the dance.  You must remain on the property to use your Groupon for admission.

5) Is there a dress code?  What about shoes?

A: There is no dress code, though we encourage people to dress up a bit, or in vintage (1930’s, 40’s, 50’s) attire for fun.  Men usually wear slacks or jeans and Tshirts, polo shirts, or dress shirts. Women usually wear dresses, skirts, slacks, jeans, Tshirts, or blouses.  We discourage shorts and tank tops, except in the summer heat.

As for shoes, we strongly recommend flat shoes.  Keds or tennis sneakers are widely common. Unless you have dance experience, we discourage women from wearing heels. You’ll want a smooth sole (leather or suede) so that you can easily slide around the floor.  Also a clean pair of shoes is also desirable, as opposed to muddy street shoes, so if you have an extra pair of shoes, bring them and keep our floors free of a lot of sand and grit.

6) I regularly attend BSC, is this Groupon offer good for me? 

A: Though we cannot stop our BSC regulars from purchasing this deal, the idea behind this Groupon is to welcome new folks to our dance!   We hope that the existing Swing Dance Community will be extra supportive of this effort to welcome in new dancers!

AND finally…

Feel free to browse the Photo and Video sections on our website and check out the upcoming bands on our News page. We also have a general FAQ section

if you have further questions. And if that isn’t enough information for you, please feel free to email us at info@bostonswingcentral.org

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, or whatever you might celebrate.   Tonight our DJs aim to give you their best Holiday Swing tunes and general good cheer. As the mercury falls, so falls the snow…and we’ll need some swing dancing to keep our popsicle toes warmed. This will also help us dance off all of the extra holiday treats and meals we plan on consuming…Devona Cartier is our guest DJ for the evening.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central is proud to announce the Crosby Whistle Stop debut of Beantown Swing Orchestra! Yes it’s been a while since we’ve been able to host a big band with so many musicians, and tonight they told us they are bringing a 4-piece string Quartet with them in addition to the regular big band! So the sound is going to be MASSIVE!   Just like the good ole days before amplification when the bands were BIG to fill a hall with sound.

They’re also bringing with them 3rd Season, American Idol finalist, John Stevens to do the vocal chores…John has a melifluous voice which reminds us a lot of Rat Pack icons, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and the more contemporary artist: Harry Connick Jr.

Frank Hsieh, bandleader for BSO, promises a few Holiday tunes in the mix as he is using this outing as a tune-up for their upcoming corporate gigs.  To add to the fun and because they love playing for dancers we’d like to take heed a little reminder from Reuben and tell you…. “don’t forget to clap at the end of songs.”

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

The Jailhouse Five Plus Two returns with their authentic and enthusiastic Dixieland jazz…and we’re ready for a night of great music and fine dancing. This fantastic band brings an air of authenticity, as you can easily tell this is the music that they grew up with, cherish, and love and have played for many years.

The name, The Jailhouse Five Plus Two is inspired by the lawless characters of the prohibition era when Dixieland was adopted as the popular music of the time, “The Roaring Twenties.” This time is also fondly remembered as the Great Gatsby era which also happens to be the theme of our upcoming New Year’s Eve bash…

Bootlegging, speakeasies, bath tub gin, Bonnie & Clyde and other lawless activity was the way of life in major U.S. cities. The Jailhouse Five Plus Two tries to capture the exhaltation of the era. Happy, fast, boisterous, free, and improvisational are all descriptors of their music. Come on out and feel their electricity…

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Yes, it’s that time of year when thoughts of turkey appear in our heads and a lot of it ends up in our tummies. Tonight we’re going to dance off the previous nights yams and pies (or at least try to). What better way to burn off all those added calories than taking a spin on the dance floor? So if you happen to be in town, come on out and share some camaraderie with those of us who aren’t travelling on this hectic holiday weekend.

This also kicks off a big swing dancing weekend where we welcome some of our favorite teachers Skye Humphries and Naomi Uyama, and we’re hoping that they get a chance to stop by. For those of you attending their workshops think of it as a chance to get a little extra practice in and perhaps dazzle us with some fancy foot work.

Lesson (included in the price of admission):
8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Yes- it’s November, we’re almost at the end of the decade and perhaps our themes are running a little nutty (tweed, slick)… Perhaps we’ll redefine ourselves as we leave the oughties behind. For now, we’re going to pay tribute to former Monday Night Practice stalwart and DJ, Mike Smith, aka Slick Mike.

This past summer, Slick Mike ended his reign as the most prominent DJ in the Boston Swing Scene (moving his family West sort of like in the Grapes of Wrath) and  “Consarn it!”, we miss his reliable and steady hand in the DJ booth.  For over 10 years, Mr. Smith was as sold as a rock delivering us the hoodle-addle of classic swing music.  If you don’t remember his DJing or never experienced his DJing, don’t worry, we’re talking about some iconic tracks that are inspiring to dance to. So tonight, we’re going to party like it’s 1999, or 2002, or 2004, or 2008!  Slick Mike had a great tenure here as our own King of Swing and maybe someday he will show up and really DJ for us! For now we’ll have to settle for this well-researched and fitting tribute.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

It’s a tweed tweed tweed world and we at Boston Swing Central just
live in it. Not really, but, it’s time to get dressed up again and
this time it’s tweed that we’re celebrating. Why tweed you ask and
not gabardine or suede? Well, tweed is for distinguished ladies and
gents. And it reminds us of a time when we were dancing in the
parlour. We were also inspired by several discerning dancers who went on the Tweed Ride http://bostontweed.blogspot.com/.

As incentive, we’re offering a $1 discount to those who bust
out their best Harris, Donegal or herringbone outfits. And if you come
adorned in a tweed headcoat not only will our jaws drop to the floor, we might
have to jam you dear chap. Pip pip and cheerio…

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10 ($9 donning the tweed)
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8 ($7 clad in tweed)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Baby Soda Jazz Band makes their BSC debut tonight! And we couldn’t be more excited – we’ve been trying to get them to play at the BSC for almost a YEAR!  Some of you may remember them when they played at Uptown Swing Dance during BIX this past May, and oh what a fabulous evening it was.

Their heart pounding brand of hobo street jazz makes us swoon! From the traditional sound of the trumpet and trombone to the one string box bass this band has a sound that is sure to keep your feet moving all night long. Listen to them here.

So get excited; we are!   And get ready for another high energy night of dancing, we want you to bring it, because we know Baby Soda Jazz Band will.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Calling All Zombies*! It’s time to heed the bell toll for another ghastly and ghoulish Halloween party at Boston Swing Central. It’s our 3rd year and this time we’re in 3-D (I think we always were, but that seems to be the thing to do when you get to that third sequel in the series). Rise up all you creepy crawlies and pay tribute to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson and dance to the shocking sounds of Shawn (of the Dead) Hershey and the Fried Bananas.

The lesson will feature Michael Jackson’s Thriller line dance as taught for the third straight year by the reanimated duo of Jason Provost and Diana Byrne. The lesson begins promptly at 7:30pm – 9pm and then performed later on in the evening (performing is optional – we won’t force ya!) So, start studying YouTube now… Don’t miss this party as it will be one of the best of the Fall!

Get $2 OFF ADMISSION if you come in costume.  But no lame costumes like, “I came as a swing dancer”, or “I came as myself” or putting a couple socks on your shoulder and being “static cling”.  Discount is at the discretion of the door staff, so put in some effort!

Extended Lesson Time (included in the price of admission): 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $17 ($15 with costume discount)
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $15  ($13 with costume discount)

Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland St
Charlestown, MA 02129

*Being a zombie is one of the easiest costumes we can think of…so no excuses!

Gordon Webster is back once again with his stellar Quartet featuring vocalist Brianna Thomas. Gordon is one of the most in demand swing band leaders in the country, maybe even in the world. He’s played at every camp, exchange and special event from Sweden to Seoul and we’re lucky he’s made Boston a regular stop on his tour.

This time he brings Brianna Thomas, who reminds us of a young Ella Fitzgerald. This combination is swing dancing nirvana! And dancing to their music is what we imagine it might’ve been like to see Ella live back in 1948. Something like this. (Except, of course, unlike Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington, we wouldn’t be sitting down). So come with us tonight and let’s enjoy the lightning they’ve caught in a bottle and will unleash at the Crosby Whistle Stop, because it is pure magic!

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
Special Event Admission: $17
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $15

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

If you have not yet heard the Sweet & Low Down, you are in for a treat, and if you have heard them, then you know how great they are. The harmonies of Miss Tess and Rachel Price are the “Sweet” part and the rhythm section brings the “Low Down”. A mixture of blues and swing that is simply intoxicating.

And if that weren’t enough, we’re bringing back our “Bring a Friend, Get in FREE” Promotion.  This was popular earlier this spring, and we want to see what you guys can do this fall.  See qualifying details below.  Why are we doing this?  Because most people hear about us through a friend.  And we know how hard it is to get your friends on the dance floor – we’ve all been there.  So for those of you that can weed through all of those excuses and get someone new to our dance, you’re finally getting rewarded! 

Promotion Qualifying Details:

1)      In order to get free admission when bringing a friend, you (the dancer) needs to have attended at least one BSC Dance prior to October 15, 2010.  Your friend must have NEVER, EVER, NOT EVEN ONCE been to a BSC dance.  How will we know?  Oh, we’ll know!

2)      You must get there with your friend BEFORE 8:20PM so they can take our beginning lesson that starts at 8PM.

3)      If you bring a friend and you have also NEVER been to our dance, you DO NOT qualify for the discount.

4)      The person must be your friend and of the homo sapiens.  Imaginary friends, Lassie, ET, pet rocks, etc. do not qualify.

5)      You must mention this promotion at the door when paying admission to receive it.  You can’t come back later and ask for it if you forget (if ya snooze, ya lose).

6)      Who gets in free?  Well that’s up to you…and how good of a friend you are.  Show up with a friend and only one admission has to be paid (buy one, get one free).  How you settle up is at your discretion, but please resolve any disputes by peaceful means (i.e. thumb wrestling, drawing straws, and dance offs).

7)      May not be combined with any other promotions or discounts(i.e. get in free or half off coupons/passes, discounts received for angeling or DJ’ing, etc.  Board Members do not qualify.)

8)      If you get caught gaming the system, you may be subject to the consequences thought up on the spot by BSC staff.  May include but are not limited to the following activities with your new “friend”:  wearing matching ski sweaters throughout the entire dance,  doing a Charleston duet to “You Can’t Touch This” to be posted on YouTube, dancing in your bare feet.

New people coming by yourselves or with other people are still of course welcome!  And what a great night to come out with lots of other new people.  We’re sorry you won’t qualify this time, but if we run this again in the coming months, and you attend our event this Friday, you will qualify for next time!  

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This week we’ve appropriated the title from the Nancy Sinatra classic as our theme for tonight’s stellar line up of lady DJs!  We had a similar evening earlier this summer which was a huge success. Since we weren’t able to fit all of the ladies we wanted to invite on the first night- we’ve planned a second night.  That means they’ll be teachin’ (Gina will be teaching), swingin’ (we’ll have a special lady steal jam mixer) and spinnin’ (DJ’ing) all over Boston Swing Central.  Tonight, we have Gina Helfrich, Tina Desourcy, Abby Cohen and Amy Kucharik all taking a turn behind the DJ desk.  And if that weren’t enough we have a special price for ladies tonight, and the gents will have to pony up.  So grab a friend or just come on out solo.  It promises to be a really fun night!!!  Boots and/or partner not required.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $9 for ladies, $11 for gents
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $7 for ladies, $9 for gents

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Are you feeling lucky? At Boston Swing Central, we are feeling so lucky!
…and for you we’ve got a Fortune Cookie Surprise!  That’s right, we’ll be passing out REAL, ORIGINAL, Boston Swing Central fortune cookies just for you dancers!  Come tonight and see what the future holds…we’re up to our old tricks and believe you me, you’re going to leave with a smile on your face…because that’s just what a good night of dancing does to us: makes us feel like we’re walking on air… Tonight we’ve got RetroMike spinning the first half of the evening followed by the soft-spoken bearded sage, DJ John Brooks taking us home with some of his lucky favorites…

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central is looking forward to the return of Toni Lynn Washington. This summer she played 3 glorious sets for us and inspired by all of the great dancing, she kept on playing right up until closing time at 12:30am! Toni Lynn gives us her all! She is a local legend, an institution, a master, a treasure, and the hottest blues diva in town! You won’t want to miss this night of great grooves.

Like some of the more well-known blues divas like Etta James, Ruth Brown and Koko Taylor, Toni Lynn is the real deal. At age 72, she continues to rock the house, belting it out and delivering the goods…behind a crackerjack band that is tough to beat.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129 

It’s gotten back to us that the Jimmy Fund will be in Copley Square this Sunday.  Unfortunately, the City of Boston issued us a permit on this day forgetting there was a major conflict with this space.  It also looks like Sunday will bring rain, so perhaps it’s all for the best anyway.  But if you’re up for some dancing this weekend, you can come on out Friday to the BSC for the Back Bay Rhythm Makers!

We hope you enjoyed our free summer series which took us to East Boston, Copley Square, and ZUMIX.  Next year we are hoping to add a location in Charlestown.

Alright, so technically this Friday is not after Labor Day (which is when school starts), but school is just around the corner you can feel it in the air. DJ RetroMike plans to kick off the school year with some of his favorite songs that he has discovered recently while studying for his PhD in swingology (which is code for perusing his vast collection of vintage jazz looking for new songs).

So come on out, get ready for an exciting new season of dancing at Boston Swing Central. And to celebrate Back to School, we’ll be teaching a few mini lessons throughout the evening, 5 or 10 minute swing snippets, if you will…add some cool new moves to your repetoire…

After tonight, we’ll feature a lot more bands as the cooler weather returns, the vacation season finishes and school starts up. Next week we kick off the Fall Season with the Back Bay Rhythm Makers featuring Craig Ball and his other White Heat Swing Orchestra brethren. Upcoming we’ll have Gordon Webster, Sweet & Lowdown, Toni Lynn Washington, Baby Soda and many more…

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129