Nov 20

Back Bay Rhythm Makers

Category: dances

The Back Bay Rhythm makers return to Boston Swing Central to tear it up with their smaller combo (you might recognize them as members of White Heat Swing Orchestra). This smaller, more nimble, group has played for us many times. And we love them!  Fueled by the high energy clarinet of leader Craig Ball, these cats know how to bring it.  Be prepared to cut loose!
 
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.  See hoptothebeat.com for more details.

Boston Swing Central at Extreme Dancesport

288 Norfolk Street, 3rd floor

Cambridge, MA 02139

 

Lesson (included in the price of Admission): 8PM-9PM

Dancing: 9PM-12 Midnight

Admission: $13 General, $10 Students and Seniors (with Valid ID)

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Nov 13

You Are What You Eat

Category: dances

Hey good lookin’, what ya got cookin’?  Yes, it’s that time of year, when thoughts of turkey appear in our heads.  We’ve challenged our DJs to come up with their best swing songs about food.  Yes, there are many swings about food, like “Hey Sweet Potato” by Fats Waller (with a name like Fats, you gotta expect that he’d sing the praises of food, or at least use at as an analogy for a his sweet heart).   We’ll try not to overdo the theme tonight….there’s nothing worse then a slightly burned dance.  And it might make you more hungry than wanting to swing, but we’ll season the evenings proceedings by peppering the mix with some songs about food.  Okay, enough with the food references, we’ll save the rest for Friday night.

 

Boston Swing Central at Extreme Dancesport

288 Norfolk Street, 3rd floor

Cambridge, MA 02139

 

Lesson (included in the price of Admission): 8PM-9PM

Dancing: 9PM-12 Midnight

Admission: $10 General, $8 Students and Seniors (with Valid ID)

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Nov 6

Benny Goodman Tribute

Category: dances

Tonight we’ll pay homage to the King of Swing, Benny Goodman.  Before rising to Royalty starting his own band, Goodman played the clarinet with other Jazz legends like Red Nichols and Glenn Miller in the 1920s and early 1930s.  In the mid-1930s, Goodman’s big band swing sound ignited the swing scene with the foot stompin’ rhythms of the “King Porter Stomp”.  Dancers loved it then, and they love it now.  There’s nothing like those big brass trumpets to get you hoppin’ and jumpin’.  Not only was Goodman at the forefront of Jazz, but he was also forging the way for societal changes, leading one of the first racially-integrated bands during an era of segregation in the 1930’s.  Jazz was a music that brought many different people together, just as we hope it will bring all of you together tonight!  So come on out and swing to the King of Swing!

Boston Swing Central at Extreme Dancesport

288 Norfolk Street, 3rd floor

Cambridge, MA 02139

 

Lesson (included in the price of Admission): 8PM-9PM

Dancing: 9PM-12 Midnight

Admission: $10 General Admission, $8 Students and Seniors (With Valid ID)

 

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Oct 30

Calling all Zombies 2

Category: dances,Uncategorized

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

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Oct 23

Kickin’ it Old Skool

Category: dances

Last week, we went back to the 90s for Neo Swing, this week, Boston Swing Central will go way back, back to the days of Fats Waller, Bunk & Lu, and Cab Calloway.  So we won’t be kickin’ it old school with Young MC, Tupac or Flavor Flav, we’ll be kickin’ it really Old School…30s and 40s style.  In recent weeks, you might have noticed our distinctive shift this direction, and we hope to continue to mine our mp3 collections to bring you the best music we can find to keep your imaginations stimulated and your feet moving…this week we also welcome guest DJ Isaac Marx back.  

And as always, we’ll have our beginning lesson at 8pm before social dancing.  So come on out and dance with us!

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

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Oct 16

Neo Swing

Category: dances,Uncategorized
The Gap commercial inspired a millions to try swing dancing.  But where did they all go?  We think they are now at home watching Dancing with the Stars and playing Rock Band.  That’s okay because we still love swing dancing!   This week, we’ll board our time machine and tell Mr Peabody to set it go back 10 years to when the dance floors were crowded and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Indigo Swing and Royal Crown Revue ruled the dance floor, yes, it’s our 2nd Neo Swing night.  The last one was such a blast, so come and join us!

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

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Oct 9

College Night – $5 Admission

Category: dances
We’re rolling prices back to when we were in college, and as a way of saying thanks to the many college students who come to our dances on a regular basis.  Tonight, admission will be only $5 for those with a college ID who sport any of their school colors (it doesn’t have to be a jersey, a scarf or bandana is fine).
 
And for the rest of us who either graduated a while ago or didn’t graduate, it will be a mere $8 if you wear your school college.  If you didn’t go to college, use your favorite sports team, or pretend you went to Harvard, we don’t care, we’re just hoping a lot of folks come out, dance and have a lot of fun…

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $8 with school gear, $10 regular
Students: $5 with school gear, $8 regular
 
Boston Swing Central
at Extreme Dancesport
288 Norfolk St # 3 (Upstairs)
Cambridge, MA 02139

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Oct 2

Stompin’ at the Savoy

Category: dances

This week the BSC steps back in time, to the 1930s and the Savoy Ballroom.  Dress-vintage…our DJs will bring their best Savoy Ballroom-inspired music to keep your feet jumpin’ to the Lindy Hop.   This was THE era.  Known as the “Home of the “Happy Feet”.  The Savoy Ballroom was the epicenter for swing dancing.  It’s where Frankie Manning got started and where he later joined the amazing performance troupe, Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers.  It was also famous for a supreme battle of the bands facing off Bennie Goodman, Count Basie and Chick Webb.  And the general concesus was that Chick Webb’s band won handily.  We’ll try our best to recreate that feeling.

Kellian and Brian will be teaching our lesson this evening.

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

Dancing: 9pm-12am

General Admission: $10, Students and Seniors (with valid ID): $8

 

Boston Swing Central at Extreme Dancesport

288 Norfolk Street

Cambridge, MA 02139

General Admission: $10/ Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

 

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Sep 25

Beantown Swing – T-Step Workshop Weekend at Springstep

Category: dances
         

This Friday, Boston Swing Central will be kicking off the T-Step Workshop weekend featuring Steven Mitchell & Virginie Jensen.  We’ll be welcoming the Beantown Swing Orchestra back to the BSC…they haven’t played for us since this past spring when they brought guest star Erin McKeown.  And for those of you that were there that night, you know what a treat you’re in for!  If you like big band swing, this is your band! They have it all – from the big brass trumpets to the swing song of the saxophone.  What’s not to love?Their band leader, Frank Hsieh has really got a good feel for the material dancers rave about! 

There are also bound to be many dancers from out of town for the weekend workshop, which means more great dancers to dance with.  So come on out for a great night!

NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE: WE WILL BE AT SPRINGSTEP FOR TONIGHT’S DANCE!  ADDRESS BELOW!

 

Boston Swing Central at Springstep

98 George P Hassett Dr

Medford, MA 02155-3202

www.springstep.org

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

Dancing: 9-12am

General Admission: $17, Students and Seniors (with valid ID): $15

About T Step: 

We are so happy to support the upcoming T-Step Workshop weekend featuring Steven Mitchell & Virginie Jensen.  These two teachers are amongst the best in the world, and have not been to Boston in many many years!  Come out and show them what the Boston scene is all about!  They’re fantastic and really inspirational and when they teach at camps like Swing Out New Hampshire, the classes are packed. 

Fortunately for us, Albert Law, the coordinator for the T-Step event, has been to enough of these packed classes and has decided to limit the class sizes for a more intimate learning experience.  He’s also tracked the classes and his strict placement of everyone should guarantee a great learning experience for all.  Steven and Virginie are great at all levels, their beginner classes work heavily on the stuff that we all need, from the beginner to the intermediate.  Steven has many pearls of wisdom and insight into the dance that he shares with you.  His exercises can be non-intuitive at first, but after you reflect back upon them some time later, you’ll come to new realizations.   And this is what our scene really needs.  We need gurus such as Steven & Virginie to come in and shake up the status quo. 

So come and join us the weekend of September 25 – 27th for a workshop weekend like no other.  Sign-ups are still available!  Check it out on their website at http://www.tstep.org/!

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Sep 25

Beantown Swing – T-Step Workshop Weekend!

Category: Uncategorized
This Friday, Boston Swing Central will be kicking off the T-Step Workshop weekend featuring Steven Mitchell & Virginie Jensn.  We’ll be welcoming the Beantown Swing Orchestra back to the BSC…they haven’t played for us since this past spring when they brought guest star Erin McKeown.  And for those of you that were there that night, you know what a treat you’re in for.  If you like big band swing, this is your band! They have it all – from the big brass trumpets to the tootin’ tubas.  What’s not to love?  Their band leader, Frank Hsieh has really got a good feel for the material dancers rave about! 
There are also bound to be many dancers from out of town for the weekend workshop, which means more great dancers to dance with.  So come on out for a great night!
Boston Swing Central at Springstep
98 George P Hassett Dr
Medford, MA 02155-3202
www.springstep.org
Lesson: 8-9PM (included in price of admission)
Dancing: 9PM-12AM
About T Step: 
We are so happy to support the upcoming T-Step Workshop weekend featuring Steven Mitchell & Virginie Jensen.  These two teachers are amonst the best in the world, and have not been to Boston in many many years!  Come out and show them what the Boston scene is al about!  They’re fantastic and really inspirational and when they teach at camps like Swing Out New Hampshire, the classes are packed. 
Fortunately for us, Albert Law, the coordinator for the T-Step event, has been to enough of these packed classes and has decided to limit the class sizes for a more intimate learning experience.  He’s also tracked the classes and his strict placement of everyone should guarantee a great learning experience for all.  Steven and Virginie are great at all levels, their beginner classes work heavily on the stuff that we all need, from the beginner to the intermediate.  Steven has many pearls of wisdom and insight into the dance that he shares with you.  His exercises can be non-intuitive at first, but after you reflect back upon them some time later, you’ll come to new realizations.   And this is what our scene really needs.  We need gurus such as Steven & Virginie to come in and shake up the status quo. 
So come and join us the weekend of September 25 – 27th for a workshop weekend like no other.  Sign-ups are still available!  Check it out on their website at http://www.tstep.org/!
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Sep 18

A Tribute to Swing Royalty

Category: dances

We’re rolling out the red carpet at Boston Swing Central because tonight as our DJs will be saluting the royalty of swing music!  This includes the various Kings and Queens soul, jazz, swing, and R&B.  And let’s not forget the Count, the Duke and many others who comprise the very elite and noble in the swing world.  Leave your white gloves and red cape behind to come and hob nob amongst the best the swing world has to offer.  You don’t need to dress like royalty to feel like royalty from your ears to your feet…moving to the the hoppin’ heralds of America’s musical Kings and Queens. 

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 @ Extreme Dancesport
288 Norfolk Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 492-2122
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Sep 13

CANCELED: Outdoor Summer Dance – Copley Square

Category: dances

We regret to inform you that due to the Jimmy Fund’s occupation of Copley Square the Copley Square Dance has been canceled for today.

 

We’re very sorry for the late notice, but when we went to set-up before 2 PM today, we found that the Jimmy Fund had taken over the Copley Square area.   The City of Boston who issued our permit several months ago, unfortunately did not alert us of the change.  While we did try, we couldn’t get into where we would normally set-up by Trinity Church…and they had set-up a big white tent there.  Sorry for any inconvenience, but of course, we had no idea!  At least we sacrificed our dancing today for a good cause!  More dancing outside next summer, and inside dancing this Friday at the BSC!

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Sep 11

Back to School Swing

Category: dances

Fall is in the air and Boston is buzzing with all of the students new and old coming back to the city.  To welcome them back,  we’ll be spinning some Back to School tunes with our house DJ, Jason Provost and special guest DJ Joe Perrone. 

 

We’ll challenge them to evoke the good times of back to school….hugging your parents goodbye at the station wagon, the crush you had on Sally who sat in the front of your history class, walking the campus on a beautiful fall day, jumping and singing with the music at a Friday night party (before you could swing dance).  So put down those pencils and come sharpen your dance skills.  The BSC will be alive with the energy the new school year brings, playing some of your favorite tunes to get you swingin’ back in time.  

 

We also have some exciting news on the horizon about our new venue.  We plan to announce our new space in two weeks at our dance.  So if you want to be among the first to hear the exciting news, be sure to be there on Friday nights!

 

Brian and Kellian will be teaching our lesson this evening.  More fun than any gym teacher!

 

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 @ Extreme DanceSport

288 Norfolk Street

Cambridge, MA 02139

(617) 492-2122

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Sep 4

Closed for Labor Day

Category: dances

We’re closed for labor day, but will be back September 11th!

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Aug 28

Gordon Webster Trio

Category: dances

Once again, BOSTON SWING CENTRAL is proud to welcome back Gordon Webster, this time he plays as a trio.  Which will give him a chance to really stretch out his chops and play some soulful piano and some groovy stuff….so this will be quite  different than when he is with his full quartet.  Gordon’s sincerity, his honesty to the music really shines through in whatever form he takes, so we’re really lucky and excited to have him back.  He’s truely a dynamic artist, whether he’s challenging himself by playing with the Cangelosi Cards, or with his own quartet, or with his expanded quintet.  We’re lucky he lives close by and really loves visiting Boston, and he’s inventive enough as to keep us guessing as to what he’s bringing.  He just got back from some time in Europe and this Fall he’ll head out to the West Coast, so the World is definitely becoming enlightened to the talent that lies within, so let’s enjoy him while we can!

This wildly popular group draws a big crowd, so come early to guarantee your spot on the floor! 
Lesson 8-9pm
Dancing 9:pm-12 midnight
Admission: $15 / $12 for students (with valid ID) and seniors

 

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Aug 21

A Tribute to the Dog Days of Summer

Category: dances

The dog days of summer are here at last.  If we knew starting back up our dance would bring on the heat, we’d have done it a lot sooner.  We’re happy to inform you that Boston Swing Central is continuing our dance at our new temporary venue in Inman Square, Extreme Dancesport.  It is our intention that we’ll be here only a month or two while we work on the details of a more permanent venue.  But to keep us running in the interim, we need you all to show up and dance!  We had a great turn out last week and we hope you’ll keep coming out for more!

 
This Friday we will challenge our DJs to keep things fun and cool in the hot summer night, spinning tunes to celebrate summer or chill you with a tease of cooler weather just around the corner.  We will also issue a challenge to the many air conditioners in the windows of Extreme Dancesport to keep it the temperatures down.  So come and dance into the summer night with us..
 
Boston Swing Central
at Extreme Dancesport
288 Norfolk St # 3
Cambridge, MA 02139

Lesson: 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with valid ID): $8

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Aug 16

Summer Outdoor Dance Series Continues at Piers Park!

Category: dances

Boston Swing Central ready to be back at Piers Park!  It’s been such a strange summer with all the rain and unseasonably chilly temperatures, but we’re still glad it’s summer.  In July, we had a wonderful day in Copley Square and we’re hoping that our return to Piers Park in East Boston is just as lovely.  So keep your fingers crossed for a warm, dry day with gentle breezes.  Piers Park Swing is Sunday, August 16th. 

On September 13th, we’ll be back in Copley to wrap our outdoor dance series. 

Details

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

Lesson: 2pm – 3pm

Dancing: 3pm-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

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Aug 14

We’re back Starting August 14th!

Category: dances
Hopefully you’re enjoying all of the outdoor dances that Boston Swing Central has been presenting, we’re getting closer to finding our new venue, but for now, we will be at Extreme Dancesport in Inman Square, Cambridge.  This is an urban loft space dance studio, not far from our previous locations in Central Square, just a few blocks walk up, Prospect St.  Extreme Dancesport is located at 288 Norfolk St, 3rd Floor Cambridge.  And there’s AIR CONDITIONING!
 
We are excited to start our dance up again for you and we hope you’ll turn up.  Tonight will feature the fine music of our house DJ Jay Provost with special guest DJs Ogden Sawyer and “Blues Brian” Mullin
 
 
Boston Swing Central
at Extreme Dancesport
288 Norfolk St # 3
Cambridge, MA 02139

Lesson: 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing:  9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors: $8

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Aug 8

Category: sidebar_posts

 

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Aug 8

Dirty Water Lindy Staff Registration

Category: dances

Hello,

Here is the Paypal button with all the options for the Dirty Water Lindy & Blues Exchange Staff registration. Please be sure to register as well, as we will be generating door lists from a script and the recorded registration will help us with head counts, etc. Also if you can host anyone or are hosting someone please sign up for housing….we’re looking forward to a great exchange.

We’ve given you a discount in the weekend registration price that barely covers the band fees for the weekend, we’ve also given you a discount on the T-Shirt price if you want one of them. Unfortunately, the Fenway Park tour, and the bus fees for the apple picking are the same as anyone else, as we are just charging the face value for them.

Step 1: Payment (make Paypal payment here)


Please Choose an Option




Step 2: Go here and register.

Step 3: Go here and put your name in for housing.

Thanks!

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Aug 1

Swingin’ on the Charles

Category: dances
Boston Swing Central is very excited to tell you that this year, we’ve been asked to host Swingin’ on the Charles.  Swingin’ on the Charles has been an annual tradition and is one of the highlights of the Summer season.  This dance is outside underneath the twilight sky along the Charles River on the docks of the Community Boathouse on August 1st.  If it rains (and lord knows this is a possibilty), we’ll move it inside the Boathouse.  Previous years we’ve been lucky with the weather and we’ve always had a large crowd of both experienced and new dancers.
 
The dance features one of Kellian & Brian teaching our beginners dance lesson which gets started at 7:30pm.  The dance starts early at 8:30pm and ends at 11:00pm.  We will be featuring some of Boston’s best swing DJs.  We hope you mark this on your calendar, as this is definitely not the weekend to go to the Cape or up to Maine…
 
Please note: All proceeds from this dance go to benefit the Community Boating’s Junior Program which allows children to sail for $1.  More info: http://www.community-boating.org/acc_geninfo.php
Parking: Parking is available at Mass Eye & Ear for $5 (validated voucher by CBI).  In the past some folks have been frustrated to realize they need to bring the voucher into CBI and have it validated, please don’t forget it, or you’ll have to make a trek back to your car. More info describing those restrictions: http://www.community-boating.org/benefits.php 
 
Community Boathouse
Storrow Drive 
near Charles MGH T-Stop
Lesson 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Dance  8:00pm – 11:00pm
General Admisson: $10
Students and Seniors: $8
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Jul 17

BSC Incorporation and New Venue Fund Raiser!

Category: dances
If you missed us this last couple Fridays, well, we missed you too. But as promised, we’ll be back soon! And to help speed our return, we are doing this dance as a special event fund raiser to get some much needed cash for our incorporation, which requires us to carry some insurance and kickin’ new venue we’re moving to in late August/early September (which we hope to tell you about soon!).

We will be dancing tonight at the awesome facilities at Springstep in Medford. And to give you your bang for your buck, we’ll be running late until 2 AM.  And we’ve also convinced The Cangelosi Cards to come up from New York  to make it extra special. This band is amazing, they will delight you with their unique mix of Hot Club Jazz, Gypsy swing, and Blues. Most people leave their shows  swinging on a cloud with the bouncing chugga-chugga rhythms and the haunting trill of Tamar Korn’s mellifluous voice reverberating in their heads.

As this is a special event to raise money for the BSC, we will not have an active door list, accept passes, or discount cards on this night. We will also have a limited number of volunteer spots, and will not be able to offer reduced admission to angels. However, if you would like to angel for us anyway, please email Khrysti Smyth. We’ll also be holding a silent auction to raise some additional funds!

We hope with how hard we have worked to give back to the dance community, as many of you as possible will come out on this special night. We need you if we are going to continue to bring great dances to the Boston Community. So grab a friend…or two…or three…  and we’ll see you on the dance floor!

Lesson: 8-9pm

Dancing: 9pm-2am

Price: $20 General Admission, $15 Students and Seniors (with valid ID)

Address:

Springstep
98 George P. Hassett Drive
Medford, MA 02155

www.springstep.org

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Jul 12

Copley Square FREE Outdoor Dance

Category: dances
Boston Swing Central is really excited that Summer has finally arrived! (well sort of, you wouldn’t know it by the chilly temps and rain we’ve had lately, but technically it’s summer).  And with our fingers crossed for a warm and dry day, we are letting you know about Copley Square Swing on Sunday July 12th. 
 
This is a free dance, it’s open to the public and we’ll be teaching a lesson for those that are interested from 1pm – 2pm…and of course there will be open dancing throughout the afternoon.
 
In August, we’ll be back at Piers Park in East Boston one more time, hopefully this time it won’t be so windy!  
 
Below is a complete calendar of the remaining BSC Summer Outdoor Dancing events:

July 12th Copley Square   1pm – 4:00pm  FREE
 
Saturday August 1st – Swingin’ on the Charles at Community Boathouse  7:30pm – 11pm.  Admission $10/$8 students and seniors

Aug 16th Piers Park, East Boston 2pm – 5pm  FREE
Sept 13th Copley Square  1pm –  4:00pm  FREE

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Jul 10

Closed

Category: dances

We will be closed July 10th.

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Jul 3

No Dance – July 4th Weekend

Category: dances

We’ll be closed this Friday for the July 4th weekend.  Enjoy the fireworks!

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