Dance, Romance at Valentine's Day Swing Dance Feb. 14, 2017

January 27, 2017

Dancing, romancing, sweets, flowers, photos and a silent auction are on tap at the best-kept party secret in Gainesville when the 7 annual Valentine's Day Swing Dance happens 6-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, in the lobby of the Fine Arts Hall at Santa Fe College, 3000 NW 83 Street, Gainesville. The Santa Fe Big Band, Santa Fe Jazz Combo and student vocalists will provide the music.

Tickets are $10 per person. For ticket information, call the Box Office at 352-395-4181 or visit the Fine Arts ticket website at:

https://www.sfcollege.edu/finearts

Swing dance is a partner form created by African Americans that then evolved multi-racially with the swing style of jazz music that was popular from the 1920s to the 1950s.

"Come early for the dance lessons that will start around 6:15 p.m.," advised SF Music Professor and Band Director Dr. "Doc" Steve Bingham, Ph.D. "We'll have a swing dance couple who will teach you the basics for about an hour. Then the 19-member SF Big Band will play from 7:30 to 8:30, we'll have a silent auction for the music club and the seven-member Jazz Band will do a couple of standard sweetheart songs. Then the Big Band will perform their second set until 9:30 p.m."

Roses will be sold, finger foods will be served, and the SF College Photo Club will offer sweetheart photos. The silent auction benefits Musicians United, the student club that raises funds in support of the college's music programs.

Featured swing dance tunes will include favorites by artists such as Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Les Brown: "Leap Frog," "Bandstand Boogie," "String of Pearls," "In the Mood," "April in Paris," "Moten Swing" and "Jumpin at the Woodside." The Rodgers and Hart tune "My Funny Valentine" is on the program as are vocal performances of "Route 66," "Blue Skies," "Night and Day," "Sway" and "Witchcraft."

The vocalists are Julia Truman, Avital Masri, Matthew Young, Ethan Ellis and Julie Diven, all from Music Professor Lynn Sandefur's vocal studio.

"Make plans now to join us for a swingin' good time!" Bingham exclaimed.

The event is sponsored by and is a fundraiser for Musicians United. For more information, call Bingham at 352-281-4035.

For more information about the Fine Arts Hall and SF College Fine Arts programs, call Fine Arts Department Chairperson Alora Haynes at 352-395-5296.