Bring out the hat, gloves and cane!  We’ll be making like Fred and Ginger on this classic swing night.  Just like the movie from 1935, everyone is encouraged to wear black and white fancy dress tonight.  It’s also our own Abby Cohen’s birthday, so she picked tonight’s theme.  Come out in your finery and make it a fun night!

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

Everybody loves summer and what summer is complete without watermelon.

This Friday Boston Swing Central will bust out all our summer favorites including “Watermelon Man”.  And in the spirit of great competitions we’ll have a watermelon seed spitting contest out back on our patio…so practice up (if you are lucky enough to find a place that sells seeded watermelons, a feat unto itself in this day and age!)  Or if you’re not game for seed spitting, just enjoy snacking on some of the seedless we’ll have available as well.  It’s a summer celebration! 

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

The Jailhouse Five Plus Two returns with their authentic and enthusiastic Dixieland jazz…

If you remember back several months ago, the Jailhouse Five Plus Two helped us open the Whistle Stop with great evening of music!

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.”

Bootlegging, speakeasies, bath tub gin, gangs and lawless activity was the way of life in major U.S. cities.  TJFPT tries to capture the freedom exuded by the musical genre and provide a connection to a past era of our society.  Happy, fast, boisterous, free, and improvisational are all descriptors of the music.

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $15 (general), $13 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central and Community Boating are proud to present Swingin’ on the Charles!   A night of dancing under the stars on the banks of the river Charles.  This is another summer classic you won’t want to miss.  We’ll take over the docks at sunset, provide a lesson for newcomers and then we’ll dance until 11pm.

Community Boating has also donated a Door Prize of a free 60-day Sailing Membership which includes classes, boat usage and guest privileges.  We will raffle this off at around 10:30pm and you mus be present to win.

Lesson: 7:30pm to 8:30pm with Brian & Kellian (No Partner Necessary)

Dancing: 8:30pm to 11pm (rain or shine)

Admission: $10 General Admission, $8 for Students and Seniors

Proceeds will benefit Community Boating’s Dock Repair and Junior Sailing Programs, and Boston Swing Central’s Lindy Hop Preservation Program.

Community Boating  is located

on the Esplanade (between the Hatch Shell and the Longfellow Bridge)

#21 David Mugar Way,

Boston 02114

MBTA Red Line: Get off at Charles / MGH Station. Turn left as you exit the station, and cross the road towards CVS. Turn right and cross Charles Street, heading towards the river.  You will see stairs in front of you  to a footbridge over Storrow Drive.  Walk over the bridge; at the end, go down the stairs on your left.  Walk along the path along the river toward the Hatch Shell, and Community Boating will be about 200 feet ahead, on the right.

Where to park – Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary parking lot (see map at left).  Please bring parking ticket to the dance for validation,  at a reduced rate of $5.

Detailed Directions:  www.community-boating.org/directions.html

Boston Swing Central is happy to see the blue skies of summer!  This Friday, Toni Lynn Washington rocks the house of the Whistle Stop with her cracker jack band.  Toni Lynn is a legend, an institution, a master, a treasure, and the hottest blues diva in town!  If you have not heard her, you will really love her sound.  Like more well known blues divas like Carla Thomas, Etta James and Ruth Brown, Toni Lynn is the real deal.  At age 72, she’s going strong, belting it out and delivering the goods…we can’t wait!

And she fits in nicely with our patriotic theme for July with a name like Washington.  We didn’t plan for a whole American month, but when our schedule came together, we thought it was pretty funny!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $15 (general), $13 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central is ready for a great 4th of July weekend, and to kick things off we’re hosting a night of All-American Swing on Friday, July 2nd.  That means that the Bjork,  Swedish and French songs DJ RetroMike occasionally plays will have to wait another day…for tonight we’re going to be true to the Red, White & Blue and only play American artists!  Americans like Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Sidney Bechet (who sounds French but is as American as apple pie).  So, come on out and celebrate all that is American with American music and an American dance: The Lindy Hop!

Wear red, white, blue or all three on any combination on this night!  We’ll also be announcing the winner’s of last week’s photo contest!

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included in price of admission)

Dancing: 9pm to 12pm

Admission: $10 General Admission, $8 for Students and Seniors

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This is week three in our month long Lindy Hop Series taught by Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing.  There’s no need to bring a partner or have any prior experience.  If you’re a beginner, come back for next month’s series in July.  If you’ve taken some Lindy before, you can join the class.  Or even if you’re an intermediate, you’re encouraged to go back to the basics!  You may be surprised what you’ll learn.  We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.  DJ’s to be announced!

AND don’t forget to send your suggestions for what to name our Tuesday night dance to info@bostonswingcentral.org!  If you suggest the winning name, you get into the Tuesday night practice session for FREE for two whole months!

Lesson: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Practice Session: 8:30-11pm
Admission: $5 lesson, $3 practice session

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This is week two in our month long Lindy Hop Series taught by Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing.  There’s no need to bring a partner or have any prior experience.  And this is especially great for those of you that have come to our dance and learned 6 count before!  Here’s is your opportunity to learn the Lindy Hop.  And it couldn’t be easier b/c it’s right in our own Crosby Whistle Stop!  But if you’ve never come to one of our dances before – never fear!  Shawn and Amanda are patient and very experienced teachers that will show you what you need to know.  Even if you missed week one it’s not too late to join it!

We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.  DJ’s to be announced!

AND don’t forget to send your suggestions for what to name our Tuesday night dance to info@bostonswingcentral.org!  If you suggest the winning name, you get into the Tuesday night practice session for FREE for two whole months!

Lesson: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Dancing: 8:30-11pm
Admission: $5 lesson, $3 practice session

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

We’re happy to welcome back Sweet & Low Down to the BSC.  They played a couple months ago for us when we were at Springstep, and now they get to jam with us in our new home!  The Sweet & Low Down are a side project of Miss Tess, which features Miss Tess and co-vocalist Rachel Price.  They have a strong local following and reguarly play at many prominent Boston Venues, including the Beehive, Precinct, and Toad.  You can check out some of their music here: http://www.myspace.com/thesweetandlowdownmusic.  Now that they’ve moved to Brooklyn, it’s even more of a treat when we can get them in Boston.  We are really excited to have them and hope you’ll come on out and see why!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $15 (general), $13 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Tonight is week one in our month long Lindy Hop Series taught by Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing.  There’s no need to bring a partner or have any prior experience.  And this is especially great for those of you that have come to our dance and learned 6 count before!  Here’s is your opportunity to learn the Lindy Hop.  And it couldn’t be easier b/c it’s right in our own Crosby Whistle Stop!  But if you’ve never come to one of our dances before – never fear!  Shawn and Amanda are patient and very experienced teachers that will show you what you need to know.

We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.  DJ’s to be announced!

AND don’t forget to send your suggestions for what to name our Tuesday night dance to info@bostonswingcentral.org!  If you suggest the winning name, you get into the Tuesday night practice session for FREE for two whole months!

Lesson: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Dancing: 8:30-11pm
Admission: $5 lesson, $3 practice session

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This the first of our outdoor dances!  We’re very excited to be throwing a dance here again this year, so come on out, it’s FREE to the public and part of BIX!  The view from the park is spectacular, it’s one of the best views of downtown Boston and overlooks the Harbor.  We will be spinning some of their finest feel good Springtime music, keep your fingers crossed for good weather (the forecast shows that it’s going to be a sunny 68 degrees as of Sunday – but keep watching).  In any event bring a light jacket, it’s by the water, so it can get a little chilly and breezy…Details below

Details:

Address: Piers Park, 95 Marginal St, East Boston, MA 02128

Date: Sunday May 30th, 2010

Time: 2pm – 5pm

Cost: FREE!!!

Here’s a link to the park for further info.  Check out that view! http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/location.php?nid=4&sid=24

Rain Location:  The Crosby Whistle Stop.  If it rains, we’ll bring it inside so we can keep on dancin’!

We look forward every year to BIX.  It’s one of the biggest dance weekends in Boston and it’s not to be missed!  So what is BIX?  Boston Independence Exchange (BIX) is a national event that draws other dancers from around New England and sometimes the world to Boston for a weekend full of awesome dances and late nights.  Everyone comes out of the woodwork for this event and we love seeing all of the faces old and new come fill our dance floor.  This year, we’re excited to share our new venue with folks from out of town.  Check out our Grand Opening pictures for a preview of our venue.

Tonight, we have TWO live bands, TWO amazing venues and TWO themes!  High society in full attire is the main event for Friday, so start the evening out in your best black and white. Tuxedos, gowns, top hats, tails and satin glove… can it get any more stunning than that? Late night turns from bourgeois to the bawdy Vaudeville, full of life and color to overwhelm your senses. Fancy dress is optional, and all are welcome.

We will be at two venues tonight, Our own Crosby Whistle Stop for the early dance, and Springstep in Medford for the late night.  Below are the details on the bands and venues.  We can’t wait to see you!

Please note, we will not be accepting passes on this night as it’s a special event.

Early Dance – Shawn Hershey and the Fried Bananas

The Fried Bananas (www.thefriedbananas.com) were created with the goal of providing music for swing dancers and plays a mix of swing, gypsy jazz, and blues. The majority of the members live in Boston though Josh lives in New York.  The band is comprised Lindy Hoppers and this band knows what to play to get your feet moving!  Always a favorite with their music and memorable antics (like when they all dressed up as Bananas for our first Halloween dance in 2008) we can’t wait to have them as our opener for BIX!

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12pm
Early Dance Admission: $17 (general), $15 (students and seniors with valid ID).  Late and Early dance Package – $25 for Both (no student/senior discount). BIX registrants – included in package

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Late Night – Rusty Scott Trio

We love The Rusty Scott Trio, and he’s back for another engagement.  He is a soulful and groovy pianist who has been a fixture on the Boston jazz scene for some time.  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. We can’t wait to have him back for our special late night at the beautiful Springstep.  Let’s dance the night…and morning…away!

Maps will be available showing directions from the early dance to the late night.

Dancing: 12:30am to 4am

Late Night Dance Admission: $15 (general), $13 (students and seniors with valid ID).  Late and Early dance Package – $25 for Both (no student/senior discount). BIX registrants – included in package

Springstep
98 George P Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155-3202

After a nearly year long process, we’ve come to the end, (or is it the beginning?) of our journey. A journey which began when we started looking at every church, VFW, Italian working man’s club in the Cambridge-Somerville area. After looking at musty basements, ginormous gymnasiums, tiny parqueted floors, we finally found our home last summer, the Crosby Whistle Stop. We quickly came to an agreement with the landlord and a move-in date of September 1st that he told us was, “easily do-able.” Well, much to the chagrin of our landlord, there was a new sprinkler system and bunch of other rules and regulations he had to adhere to in order to get the building up-to-code so that we could inhabit it. It took up until February to pass through all the electrical, plumbing, and building inspections. And then, just as we were acquiring the chairs and tables through our “Chair-ity Drive”, we thought we were a few short days away from opening, and then like Lucy taunting Charlie Brown, the ball was yanked away yet again, this time by the Boston zoning board known as Inspectional Services. They denied our zoning request to become a dance studio/hall.

All of this lead us on our current trajectory which we’ve outlined extensively in recent weeks on our website and via many email communiques. But we’re happy to say that we’ve finally done it!

We’re opening the Crosby Whistle Stop in a grand fashion next Friday, May 14th!

It has been a long journey, so please plan to come celebrate with us and check out the new digs! We will also have a band that night, the Jailhouse Five Plus Two!  The name, The Jailhouse Five Plus Two is inspired by the lawless participants in the prohibition era when Dixieland was adopted as the popular music of the time, “The Roaring Twenties.”  Bootlegging, speakeasies, bath tub gin, gangs and lawless activity was the way of life in major U.S. cities.  TJFPT tries to capture the freedom exuded by the musical genre and provide a connection to a past era of our society.  Happy, fast, boisterous, free, and improvisational are all descriptors of the music.  A new band, a new venue, a new beginning!

Our new Address is: 24 Roland St, Charlestown, MA. We will be a 4 minute walk from the Sullivan T-Stop, and there is FREE parking right in front of our building!

Please note that because this is a special event, we will not be accepting passes or have an active guest list.

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12pm
Admission: $17 (general), $15 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This past month we were happy to have Senti Rhythm as a new band at Boston Swing Central, and now, in April we are adding the Sweet & Low Down to our growing list of new bands.  You might remember them from last year’s late night dance at BIX.  The Sweet & Low Down are a side project of Miss Tess, which features Miss Tess and co-vocalist Rachel Price.  You can check out some of their music here: http://www.myspace.com/thesweetandlowdownmusic.  Now that they’ve moved to Brooklyn, it’s even more of a treat when we can get them in Boston.  We are really excited to have them and hope you’ll come on out and see why.

PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE AT SPRINGSTEP IN MEDFORD TONIGHT!

Boston Swing Central at Springstep
98 George P Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155-3202

Lesson 8-9pm / Dancing 9pm-12 midnight
$15 / $13 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

Once again, BOSTON SWING CENTRAL is happy to welcome back, The Swing Legacy! It was almost a year since we had this six-piece little big band – 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. Their exciting original arrangements produce a room-filling sound that will keep you on your feet all night long!

And, the BSC will be turning 2 tonight!  That’s right, we’ve been running for two years.  So come on out eat some cake with us!  Everyone is encouraged to dress vintage for the party!

PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE AT SPRINGSTEP IN MEDFORD TONIGHT!

Boston Swing Central at Springstep
98 George P Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155-3202

Lesson 8-9pm / Dancing 9pm-12 midnight
$17 / $15 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

A Valentine’s Day Extravaganza.  For those of you who missed this dance last year, this is one dance you don’t want to miss.  We have custom Swing Valentines and Cupids to deliver them to your friends, that secret crush, your favorite DJs, they don’t mind.  Just fill out one of the Valentines we’ll give you upon your entrance and put it in a mailbox and Cupid will do the rest.  Tonight we also welcome back J-Street featuring Josh Fialkoff from NYC (also know as the piano player in the Fried Bananas).  

Please note, tonight is a special event and we will not be accepting passes or have a guest list. 

Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing will be teaching our lesson.

We are happy to welcome back Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade. Some of you might have seen her last June, and we’re excited to have her back!  She’ll soon be moving to Brooklyn very soon, and it’s a real challenge to get on her packed calendar.  The Bon Parade is her backing band, which promises to keep things lively and swinging with their reimagined 21st century Golden-age jazz.  You will leave with a smile on your face.  And if you feel so inclined, dress in your best quirky-retro-modern-vintage-wear to blend in with the band.

Not sure where to PARK?  Try the Whole Foods overflow parking lot, that it is a block or two down from Whole Foods  on Prospect and Bishop Allen. You can park there for free after 6:00pm…Extreme is a couple of blocks up Prospect (North).  Please note that this is NOT the lot in front of the store.

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): $12

Calling All Zombies! Rise up!  It’s time heed the bell toll for another ghastly and ghoulish Halloween party at Boston Swing Central.  So rise from your crypt and pay tribute to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson and dance to the creepy sounds of the Fried Bananas.  The lesson will feature Michael Jackson’s Thriller line dance as taught by the undead duo, Jason Provost and Diana Byrne.  The lesson begins promptly at 8pm – 9pm and then performed later on in the evening.  So, start studying YouTube now…  Don’t miss this party as it will be one of the best of the Fall!

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): $12
 
Boston Swing Central
at Extreme Dancesport
288 Norfolk St # 3 (Upstairs)
Cambridge, MA 02139

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
 
Boston Swing Central
at Extreme Dancesport
288 Norfolk St # 3 (Upstairs)
Cambridge, MA 02139

It’s the 4th Friday of the month and you know what that means… BOSTON SWING CENTRAL is hosting Swingology!  Swingology is where we feature some of Boston’s finest DJs spinning their best for you.  There are so many talented and knowledgeable swing DJs in this town.  It’s fun to shake things up and see what’s out there.  Our theme nights force them to rethink their oeuvre, but on Swingology, we let them spin what they want!  It’s as simple as 5, 6, 7 and 8!

And don’t forget tomorrow, June 27th, Boston Swing Central goes to Beantown, where we’ll be hosting the Boilermakers from Pittsburgh.  This will surely be a great night of dancing as well, as the Boilermakers don’t make it up this way too often, you don’t want to miss them!  BSC will also be running the late night party and djing between the Boilermakers sets…so come up to Endicott College if you haven’t already signed up for Beantown and see what all the hub bub is about!

Kellian & Brian are our teachers for the evening.  Always guaranteed to put a smile on your face…

Lesson 8-9pm / Dancing 9pm-1am
$10 / $8 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

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