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

Suggested by our friend, Eric Dana, A Song Is Born is a classic comedy starring Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo features artists Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter, Charlie Barnet and more! Towering giants of the swing era all caught performing in this witty and entertaining film.  Tonight, we’ll be paying tribute to this movie by showcasing tunes by these important artists….A Song is Born!

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 11:45pm
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

If you love the Copley dance from years past, you won’t want to miss this dance, as we are only able to host 3 dances at Copley this year, and this is the 2nd of 3.  The dancing begins at 1:00pm with a free beginner lesson.  Bring your friends, drop them off at the lesson and get a coffee or ice cream while they learn how to swing.  And then come back in an hour and join them for some feel good summer time grooves and jams under the majestic John Hancock Building.

Lesson: 1:00pm-2:00pm

Open Dancing:  2:00pm-4:00pm

Location: Copley Square in front of the Trinity Church

Free and open to the public

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

Brothers and sisters, the time has come for each and every one of you to decide whether you are going to swing, or whether you are gonna swing out!  You must choose, brothers, you must choose, sisters. It takes five seconds, five seconds of decision. Five seconds to realize your purpose here on the planet. It takes five seconds to realize that it’s time to move. It’s time to get down with it!  Brothers, sisters, it’s time to dance and we want to know, are you ready to dance?

Boston Swing Central welcome backs our master CD spinner, (Reverend for the evening) Joe Perrone and his pious sidekick, Brother Jay Provost for a night of Swing with a gospel kick!  (Hey Jay, have you ever been called pious?)  Yes, brothers and sisters, get down low on the downbeat and let your spirits soar on the upbeat to that rockin’ in the aisles of Church sorta feeling that is:
Gospel Swing! 
 
Likely unnecessary (but we’re going to put it anyways) precautionary disclaimer: Boston Swing Central is a non-denominational organization which welcomes those of all beliefs, and we are solely dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the Lindy Hop).

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

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Intermediate 7-8PM– New Moves with Shawn Hershey and Gina Helfrich

Join us for another fun, fast-paced, four-week session of intermediate Lindy Hop. This class will focus on adding style and variety to your basics, improving your technique, and building your vocabulary to make you shine on the dance floor.

Beginning 8-9M – Lindy Hop Basics and Fundamentals (6 count) Nichole Zuckerman and Joe Rabinoff

Whether you are brand-new to swing dancing or would like to refine your Lindy Hop technique, this is the class for you. We’ll focus on basic 6-count Lindy Hop moves for the brand-new dancers, but concentrate on good technique and connection. This class is one step in our two-step beginner track. Both the 6-Count and 8-Count Lindy Hop Basics and Fundamentals Classes are pre-requisites for our intermediate classes. Either beginner class may be taken first.

Open Practice Session: 9 to 11pm for $3. Teachers will stay after lessons to provide specific help/answer questions.

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

Hey all you crazy cats!  Don’t forget to send your suggestions for naming 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!

Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from New School Swing will be leading a guided practice session – a practica – from 7:30 to 8:30PM.   Shawn and Amanda will make sure they work one on one with everyone who attends.  Most if not all of the advanced dancers and instructors have improved their own dancing by taking private lessons and working one on one with more experienced dancers. Think of a guided practice as a cheap short private lesson; an opportunity to work on whatever you want with Shawn and Amanda.

We’ll follow the lesson up with a practice session from 8:30 to 11pm.

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

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

It’s a Barnum and Bailey World, but tonight at Boston Swing Central, “It’s Only a Paper Moon” a vintage ball. You’ll definitely want to dress up and look spiffy in fancy dress.  We’ll have a photo booth complete with Paper Moon and Cardboard Sea as backdrop for youse a muggin’ or perhaps you can do a Zoolander pucker…or pucker up with your sweetie.  So bring a couple extra Mr. Washingtons to pay our amazing photographer Zac Wine for capturing the moment.  Props to accentuate your attire will be available on us!

Now if we can only figure out what muslin tree is…

Lesson: 8pm-9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 11:45 PM

Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

This is week four 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.  Even intermediate dancers can learn from going back to the basics and are encouraged to join in!  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

Boston Swing Central is tickled with the theme for tonight’s dance…”The Chicks Will Have Their Say and the Guys Will Have to Pay.”  Yes, it’s our own twist on a Ladie’s Night.  Tonight we’ll feature 6 lovely and talented DJs:  Cara Ball, Julie Brown, Megan Damon, Tina Descourcy, Julie Irish and Nicole Zuckerman all spinning whatever they damn well please, and you’re going to love it!  

We’ll also have some fun other surprises for the other ladies in the room starting with the gents picking up some of their admission, as tonight, and tonight only we’re changing the pricing to $11 for guys, and $9 for gals.  That’s right gentlemen, you’re going to have to pony up, but think of all the happy ladies who will be here looking for someone to dance with.   Then again, if you don’t show up, they might just learn how to lead and thus render males obsolete.

Lesson: 8-9pm
Dancing: 9pm to 12:30 AM

Admission: $11 for Gents ($9 student and senior discount), $9 for Ladies ($7 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

We’ve goth Rhythm, Sinti Rhythm!  We’ve got music!  Who could….you know the rest….They’re back for what promises to be another night of hot gypsy jazz.  Don’t miss these guys.  We got a lot of positive feedback on them after their BSC debut in March.  And as an added bonus, these guys had a smiles on their faces throughout the night.  Clearly they love playing for dancers, and we love them.  What’s not to love about a Django Reinhardt tribute band?  Check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/sintirhythm.  Before you see them in person!  

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

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

With a new space, this means…new rent!  Which we need to pay!  So we’ll be starting a Tuesday night lesson followed by a practice session!  We haven’t agreed on a new name for Tuesday night, but when we do, we’ll let you know.  If you have suggestions, send them our way!!!

For our first Tuesday night, Shawn Hershey and Amanda Gruhl from It’s All Swing will be taking a page from the book of Tango, and leading a guided practice session – a practica – from 7:30 to 8:30PM.   This week and next we’ll be offering the lesson for introductory price of $3 a week (WHAT A BARGAIN!) and you can drop in for the offering this week or next week. Shawn and Amanda will make sure they work one on one with everyone who attends.  Most if not all of the advanced dancers and instructors have improved their own dancing by taking private lessons and working one on one with more experienced dancers. Think of a guided practice as a cheap short private lesson; an opportunity to work on whatever you want with Shawn and Amanda. 

There’s no need to bring a partner but it might be useful to drag someone along so you can be guaranteed someone to work with.  Or ask your friends and make sure they’ll be there too!!!

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

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

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

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

If you have ever volunteered, taught, DJ’d, donated to our organization, or been a former board memeber we’re opening our doors early for you to come and see our new space!  We will have pizza and ice cream!  Yeah!  And if you donated through our “Char-ity” drive, come and sign your chair!

If you wanted to donate and didn’t get a chance, there’s still time if you would like to through Paypal by clicking the button below.

For directions to our new space see the “Directions” Tab.

Cost: Free

Hours: 7pm to 9pm

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

A fragrance-reduced environment helps create a safe and healthy social dance environment for everyone! We respectfully request that all patrons at Boston Swing Central refrain from using fragranced products before entering and while in the building as some of these products can cause adverse health effects for our dancers with fragrance sensitivities and allergies. While we recommend good hygiene and deodorant use, please take care to avoid highly fragranced personal care products such as cologne, perfume, aftershave lotions, scented lotions, and/or scented hair products. Our chemically-sensitive dancers thank you!

For those with peanut allergies, we do not regularly serve food except for our complimentary mints. We provide an assortment of candy during our Halloween and Valentine’s dances – some candy might have peanuts in them. We also might have peanut butter as a snack option at a late night exchange dance (Dirty Water, which is once a year).  Some patrons may bring a granola bar that has peanuts in it, and this could be in their bag.  If you are highly sensitive to peanuts please let us know and use caution.

For the rest of us, please be considerate of your fellow dancers and do not bring peanuts or peanut products for a snack.

No, we do NOT serve alcohol and most dancers prefer to drink water to avoid dehydration.

You should be 18 years of age or older to attend Boston Swing Central.

Our Friday night dance includes a lesson in the price of admission from 8 to 9pm.  Prices are as follows:

– On DJ nights, our dance is $11 for General Admission.

– On Band nights, our dance is $18 to $30 for General Admission. The admission rate depends upon the band size and where the band is from.  Bands that are more expensive are usually bigger like a 14-piece big band or from further away like the Gordon Webster who is from New York State.

– We have a mix of 70/30 band and DJ nights.

– We offer a discount to students and seniors with a valid ID.