Karen Lile and Michael Arntz

Out and About with Karen and Michael

Wednesday December 30, 2009. Swing with Mood Swing Orchestra

Doors open at 7:30 pm; Show at 9:00 pm

East Coast Swing dance lesson with Nick & Leah at 8:00 pm

$10 advance & students / $13 day of show

1317 San Pablo Avenue(near Gilman St.) Berkeley, California

This is a great opportunity to practice all those moves you learned in our swing class. We will be there dancing with the rest, so look for us and say hi. Our good friends Nick and Leah are teaching the class before the party, so come at 8pm if you want the lesson too. This is a great band. We love them!

Mood Swing Orchestra

One doesnÕt need a tux and gown to dance to the MoodSwing Orchestra, but the music presented under the leadership of saxophonist Michael Young is in the elegant ballroom style of big band East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop. MoodSwing has performed regularly at venues from the Claremont Resort to BimboÕs. The little big band was launched in 1995 and was chosen as one of the best local swing bands in the March 1999 issue of ÒSan FranciscoÓ magazine. Trumpeter Peter Anastos provides many of the arrangements of classic big band dance hits of the 1930s and Õ40s by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Xavier Cugat, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Artie Shaw.

Friday January 8th, 2010. Swing Lesson with Karen and Michael and Great Music with Stompy Jones.

East Coast Swing dance lesson with Karen and Michael from 8:00-9:00 pm

Doors at 7:30 pm; Show at 9:00 pm

$13 / $10 students (w/valid ID)

1317 San Pablo Avenue(near Gilman St.) Berkeley, California

Come practice your swing dancing, or bring a friend to the lesson and learn to swing. Then stay for the party. Want to learn more, join our Thursday Swing Group Class Series in the Back Studio starting January 7th, the day before or join us on January 14th

Stompy Jones has got what it takes! We love them and we think you will too

Stompy Jones

With revivalist zeal, the Stompy Jones band doesn't just recreate, but breathes new life into the most jumping, rocking, and swinging small band music of the '30s, '40s, and '50s. It has performed everywhere from San Francisco's Top of the Mark to Disneyland. Big band leader Les Brown said that the sextet has "the best small band sound that I've heard in years." The group, originally known as the Swing Session Band, was formed in 1998 to play East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop. In 2007 it released "That's Alright", its fourth CD (and second under the name Stompy Jones). Songs come from the various recordings, featuring rousing revivals of classics by Louis Jordan, Earl Hines, Fletcher Henderson, Louis Prima, Roy Milton, and John Kirby as well as several band originals.

Stompy Jones boasts musicians who have been playing this music all their lives, with sizzling horns, slapping bass, and irrepressible dance drum beats. Louisiana native Chris Binnings belts and shouts the blues, with trumpeter Rob Dehlinger and saxophonist Jeff "Erv" Ervin trading riffs with boogie-woogie pianist Scott Lawrence. Drummer Leor Beary and bassist "Little David" Rose keep the rhythm section tight.

Visit their website: www.stompyjones.com

Past Events in 2009 - Thanks for Coming! We had a great time!

Swing Saturdays July 25th and August 29th at Ashkenaz

Doors at 7:00 pm; Show at 8:30 pm. East Coast Swing dance lesson with Karen and Michael at 7:30 pm. $10. 1317 San Pablo Avenue(near Gilman St.) Berkeley, California.

Getting ready for the event? Take Swing Classes with Karen and Michael on Monday and Thursday nights. See: Swing with Karen and Michael for more info.

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit music and culture venue that specializes in presenting live world and roots music. Ashkenaz brings people of all ages, cultures and lifestyles together with music and dance programs. For more info see: www.ashkenaz.com.

July 25th Stompy Jones

Click here for more info

August 29th LaVay Smith

Click here for more info about LaVay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

Tango Saturday August 8th 9:30pm to 2am

Nora's Milonga at Allegro Ballroom. This is a great opportunity to meet our other students and enjoy a traditional style Milonga. Also, the floor is quite big, so there is room to dance without overcrowding. They usually have some light refereshments and wine. We will be dancing til about midnight and will be there to answer questions and introduce you to the host and hostess and the culture of tango.

Please call or email us to let us know if you are coming, so we can look for you and show you where the table is that we reserved.

La Milonga de Nora

$15

Allegro Ballroom

5855 Christie Avenue

Emeryville, California 94608

(510) 655-2888

http://www.allegroballroom.net

East Coast Swing on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at Ashkenaz in Berkeley

Doors at 7:30 pm; Dance at 9:00 pm. Swing dance lesson with Karen and Michael at 8:00 pm. $13/$10 Students. 1317 San Pablo Avenue(near Gilman St.) Berkeley, California

Join us for Swing at Ashkenaz. This is a friendly group of dancers who rotate partners and primarily dance East Coast Swing. Some dancers also do Lindy, Charleston, Westcoast Swing, Foxtrot and Rumba to the music of the band. Singles, couples, and families are all welcome.

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit music and culture venue that specializes in presenting live world and roots music. Ashkenaz brings people of all ages, cultures and lifestyles together with music and dance programs. For more info see: www.ashkenaz.com.

Map and Directions

About the Band: Swing Thing

As Duke Ellington put it so directly, “It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing.” That could be the motto of SwingThing, a band dedicated to swinging the best old and new jazz and pop songs, from Ellington to a jump blues reworking of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire.” The group features two singers trading vocal leads and harmonizing with each other: Lisa Gonick and longtime Ashkenaz dance instructor Cheryl McBride. They mix sizzling swing with a few slow-dance ballads, and along the way cover East and West Coast swing, Lindy Hop, cha-cha, jitterbug, and other fun dance rhythms. They may also pass through the blues and bossa nova. In addition to McBride and Gonick, SwingThing is guitarist Clifford Moser, saxophonist Jay Witt (who also plays clarinet and flute), bassist George Palen, and drummer-singer Dave Rogers. For more info see: www.swingthingjazz.com

Contact: Karen and Michael 925-360-3527 karenandmichael.info

Tango Dance at La Tangueria de Oakland at Just Dance Ballroom on Friday May 15th at 9:30pm

Hosts Felipe Martinez and Rosa Carisco

9:30pm til after 1am. Just Dance Ballroom. 2500 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94606. Just Dance Ballroom

Never seen or been tango dancing before? Karen and Michael are inviting their Lafayette Absolute Beginner and private tango dance students for a night out at the Milonga La Tangueria de Oakland. We will be there to introduce you to the culture of Argentine Tango. Join us at our tables. We will explain how this dance party is structured and how to interact socially within the culture of the Milonga. And if you also like Ballroom Dance, your admission to this party allows you to go to the ballroom in the next room for a little ballroom dancing.

Salsa Rueda Lesson with Karen and Michael

Come join us for a fun evening with friends. Salsa Rueda is a particular type of round dancing of Salsa. It was developed in Havana, Cuba in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Pairs of dancers form a circle, with dance moves called out by one person, a caller. Many of the moves involve the swapping of partners. This is a beginning lesson, so no previous experience with Salsa Rueda is required. For more info about Salsa Rueda, see: salsarueda.info

Doors at 8:00 pm; Show at 9:30 pm. Salsa Rueda dance lesson with Karen and Michael at 8:30 pm. $10. 1317 San Pablo Avenue(near Gilman St.) Berkeley, California.

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit music and culture venue that specializes in presenting live world and roots music. Ashkenaz brings people of all ages, cultures and lifestyles together with music and dance programs. For more info see: www.ashkenaz.com.

TITO Y SU SON DE CUBA

Tito leads his band dedicated to playing authentic Cuban traditional dance music: rumba, guaracha, and son montuno, pioneered by such greats as Arsenio Rodriguez and later revived by Buena Vista Social Club. Before moving to America, Tito played and sang in several of the great Cuban bands – including a Rodriguez tribute group assembled by Arsenio’s daughter. Heriberto “Tito” Gonzalez explains, “Since I was a child I’ve been in music and I’ve always loved it. The music, and especially El Son, is part of my being.” Tito, who now lives in Richmond, sings and plays the Cuban tres guitar that drives the sound of the son, leading a band that includes percussion and horns in shows at clubs and festivals around the Bay. Music is a mix of son classics and tunes from the band’s 2005 debut CD.

titoysusondecuba.com

Free Dance Classes in Honor of National Dance Week on May 2, 2009

Come Join us on May 2, 2009, 2:00 pm to 5:00pm for Free Ballroom, Salsa and Hustle Dance Classes for National Dance Week - sponsoried by Just Dance Ballroom. Just Dance Ballroom, 2500 Embarcadero Ave, Oakland, CA; 510-436-9888.

Learn Salsa, Hustle and Ballroom Dances. Just Dance Ballroom has 3 beautiful ballroom floors and teachers of every kind of partner dance. Absolute beginners through all level dancers are all welcome.

This event is in honor of National Dance Week. See: DanceTeachers.org for more information

2:00pm

EC Swing with Citabria Phillips

Salsa with John & Liz of Salsamania

3:00pm

Hustle with Karen and Michael

Bachata with Paulina

4:00pm

Waltz, Rumba & City Swing with Julie Lowe

5—6pm

Open Dancing FREE to All!

East Coast Swing Dance Lesson with Karen and Michael in Honor of National Dance Week

Thursday April 30th, 2009 at Ashkenaz

Swing Dancing at Ashkenaz in Berkeley

Doors at 7:00 pm; Show at 8:30 pm. East Coast Swing dance lesson with Karen and Michael at 7:30 pm. $10. 1317 San Pablo Avenue (near Gilman St.) Berkeley, California. ($5 if you are a dance student in one of Karen and Michael's weekly classes and you contact us in advance to be put on the list).

Getting ready for the event? Take Swing Classes with Karen and Michael on Monday and Thursday nights. See: Swing with Karen and Michael for more info.

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit music and culture venue that specializes in presenting live world and roots music. Ashkenaz brings people of all ages, cultures and lifestyles together with music and dance programs. For more info see: www.ashkenaz.com.

This event is in honor of National Dance Week. See: DanceTeachers.org for more information

Little Wolf and the Hellcats

Little Wolf and the Hellcats

This is the third installment of “Stomping the Blues,” Ashkenaz’ new monthly blues dance series. Overseen by Jackie Taylor, it is both a showcase for the best of the Bay Area blues scene and a return of regular West Coast Swing dancing to Ashkenaz. “It’s community and culture,” says Taylor, who has long worked in the blues scene to bring music to the public, from clubs such as Dorsey’s Locker and the Baltic to festivals such as the Reno-Tahoe Blues Festival. “With a lot of the blues clubs closing in recent years, it’s important to have a place to keep the music alive.” This month the band that launched Stomping the Blues in February returns, Little Wolf & The Hellcats. The group started at Ashkenaz and has quickly built a following for its driving, dance-oriented brand of blues.

Malik Shabazz was nicknamed “Little Wolf” years ago when fellow Bay Area blues veteran Ronnie Stewart told him he sounded like the legendary Howlin’ Wolf. That powerful voice and a charismatic stage presence earned him recognition as 2007 Male Blues Vocalist of the Year by the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame. As a band leader and accomplished drummer in the early ’80s, Shabazz managed and arranged backup bands for blues luminaries such as Big Joe Turner, John Lee Hooker, and Jimmy McCracklin. In the late ’80s and early ’90s Malik Shabazz and the Plus Factor entertained the Bay Area and beyond. Now he leads the Hellcats, a band of blues veterans. Bassist Chuck Trujillo played with John Lee Hooker in the ’70s and was named the 2007 Blues Bass Player of the Year. Doug Logan’s guitar playing is true to the music while being influenced by many modern players. David Sobel plays tight grooves and soaring solos on piano and organ. Rock-solid drummer Brian Berson played with the late Red Archibald and appears regularly with Bernard Anderson. www.hellcatblues.cm

Tango Dance at La Tangueria de Oakland at Just Dance Ballroom on Friday April 17th at 9:30pm

Hosts Felipe Martinez and Rosa Carisco

9:30pm til after 1am. Just Dance Ballroom. 2500 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94606. Just Dance Ballroom

Never seen or been tango dancing before? Karen and Michael are inviting their Lafayette Absolute Beginner and private tango dance students for a night out at the Milonga La Tangueria de Oakland. We will be there to introduce you to the culture of Argentine Tango. Join us at our tables. We will explain how this dance party is structured and how to interact socially within the culture of the Milonga. And if you also like Ballroom Dance, your admission to this party allows you to go to the ballroom in the next room for a little ballroom dancing .

East Coast Swing and Lindy on Wednesday April 8th 2009 at Ashkenaz in Berkeley

Doors at 7:00 pm; Show at 8:30 pm. East Coast Swing dance lesson with Karen and Michael at 7:30 pm. $10. 1317 San Pablo Avenue(near Gilman St.) Berkeley, California

Join Karen and Michael for a Swing dance lesson, followed by great live music and dancing at Ashkenaz. This is a friendly group of dancers who rotate partners and primarily dance East Coast Swing. Some dancers also do Lindy, Charleston, Westcoast Swing, Foxtrot and Rumba to the music of the band. Singles, couples, and families are all welcome.

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit music and culture venue that specializes in presenting live world and roots music. Ashkenaz brings people of all ages, cultures and lifestyles together with music and dance programs. For more info see: www.ashkenaz.com.

Map and Directions

Contact: Karen and Michael 510-234-1075 karenandmichael.info for more information

Steve Lucky Quartet

Steve Lucky and the Rumba Bums

The Rhumba Bums break down to a hard-swinging quartet featuring leader Steve Lucky and guitarist-singer Miss Carmen Getit, who offers vocal sparring matches with Lucky and guitar playing that, whether swing, blues, or even some bebop licks, is inspired, fast, and faithful to the genre. In pre-Rhumba Bums years, Lucky discovered Getit (who had played piano before she could read and has played guitar since shortly thereafter), bought Getit her first electric guitar and introduced her to the music of T-Bone Walker, Ruth Brown, and other swing-R&B legends, and they formed a piano-guitar duo in New York City. www.luckylounge.com