[Dixielandjazz] Music for swing dancers

Sun Mar 9 11:46:04 PDT 2008

The ballroom bands that I have played with usually play five tune sets that 
consist of a slow foxtrot, a medium foxtrot a up tempo tune, a Latin and a 
waltz or polka with an occasional novelty like the Chicken Dance, stroll, 
bunny hop etc.  Not necessarily in that order.  They also are fond of circle 
dances where everyone changes partners when the music stops.   There is a 
five minute or so break between sets to put away music and get the next set 
up.  One of the band leaders uses a slate and chalk for the numbers which 
saves a whole lot could you call the numbers again etc.

The sets are played pretty much without a stop between tunes  just a short 
tune announcement.

Some ballroom bands use "chasers" (little short snappy tunes at the end of 
the set.  Usually no more than 8 bars) too which seem to me to be useless 
and a distraction, especially to me, and I can see no useful reason to do 
them.  Anyone have a good explanation of why these guys do them?

I think ball room people like the sets done that way because they know 
what's coming more or less.  A couple of the traveling groups have their 
books set up in sets and you just turn pages with an occasional request to 
pull.  There isn't a whole lot of number calling or fooling with music that 
way.  It also saves a lot of wear and tear on the charts too and you don't 
spend a half hour after the gig putting the book back in order.
Larry
St. Louis

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert S. Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 8:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Music for swing dancers

> Once again I find myself agreeing with Steve Barbone . . . Geeze, what is 
> happening???  This really has me worried.  (grin)
>
> As far as the list of tunes, if the tempos are to the liking of the 
> dancers, and the beat is there, they will dance to anything.  The length 
> of tunes that Steve mentions below is right.  Sometimes they want the 
> 3-minute tunes because they are used to dancing to the 3-minute 78s, plus 
> they don't want to get stuck with the same partner for long.
>
> Sometimes they like the longer tunes, especially if they are dancing with 
> their long-time dance partner.
>
> I cannot believe how fast the really good, young swing dancers like to 
> dance.
>
> The main thing is to be very observant of the dancers, and their age.
>
> The young swing dancers that we play for will dance every dance from 9:00 
> PM to midnight.  Then go somewhere else and dance every dance until 5:00 
> AM.
>
> Remember the days when we had that kind of energy?  Play a 4 or 5-hour gig 
> and then go somewhere and jam until dawn?
>
> --Bob Ringwald
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Stephen G Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
> To: "Bob Ringwald" <robert at ringwald.com>
> Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 2:32 PM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Music for swing dancers
>
>
>> Interesting about dance tempi. Here's what we find at swing dances 
>> within 100 mile radius of Philadelphia PA. Forget the high heals, they 
>> wear flat soled athletic shoes and will bring their own sand if  dancing 
>> on cement or on the streets outdoors etc.  Most are in their  20s/30s 
>> while rest are up to 80s. Info based upon our experiences with  both 
>> beginners and those who know how to swing dance expertly. (And  Peabody 
>> or Foxtrot)  We play for several different clubs one for  beginners, one 
>> for experts and the rest with a combination. On the  other hand, we find 
>> ballroom dancers are very particular about tempo  and song length, 
>> however swing dancers dance to everything in the  Dixieland repertoire 
>> all the way up to as fast as we can play.
>>
>> 1) The most experienced swing dancers love:
>>      a)  FasterTempos - viewing them as a challenge for Balboa and/or 
>> Charleston and/or athletic throws.
>>      b)  Longer tunes -
>>            1) because that's what the dancers did in the 1930s at the 
>> Savoy
>>            2) they are dancing with their favorite, experienced 
>> partners.
>>            3) they are in great shape and like to flaunt it.
>>      c)  Solos don't bother them if the rhythm is steady. We love to  see 
>> them dance to drum solos.
>>      d)  The high energy of loud bands and/or loud solos and/or long high 
>> notes excites them.
>>
>> 2) The less experienced swing dancers love: a)  slower medium tempo 
>> tunes,
>>           1) They only know a few basic slow tempo step routines
>>           2) The cannot dance to faster tempi yet.
>>
>>      b) 3 or4 minute tunes because:
>>           1) They only know a few basic steps and will exhaust them  in a 
>> short time.
>>           2) They want to change partners a lot, not get stuck with a 
>> dud for 8 minutes.
>>           3) They learned from and practice with 3 minute records.
>>
>> Particular dance favorites (for you Berl)  at specific Dixieland 
>> Concerts Jazz Societies etc., include "If I Had You", "I Can't Get 
>> Started", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Blue Room" "I Want A Little Girl", "I'm 
>> Confessin, "I Get A Kick Out Of You", etc.  Kern-Gershwin-Berlin - 
>> Rodgers et al. Basic society two step that Lester Lanin and Meyer  Davis 
>> Society Bands played just before and after WW2 when everybody  who was 
>> anybody  learned to dance to them.
>>
>> For anyone near the Philadelphia area, Barbone Street is doing 3 swing 
>> dances as outlined above in the next three months. Come on out and  dance 
>> or watch us play a mix of speeds, lengths and volume. See the  dancers 
>> react.
>>
>> Apr 19 (Sat) High Street Ball Room, Pottstown PA 9 PM to Midnight. 
>> (lessons at 8 PM) $15
>>                        A Swing Kat event. Great group of friendly 
>> people.
>>
>> May 10 (Sat) Killen Pond State Park, Felton DE, 2 PM to 4 PM (lessons  at 
>> 1 PM) $17
>> Part of the Central Delaware Jazz & Blues Festival 11AM to 8:30 PM
>>
>> June 5 (Thu) West Chester PA Swinging Thursday Night Out on Gay  Street. 
>> 6:30 to 9:30 PM
>>                         FREE Street Festival Two bands, sidewalk 
>> restaurants etc. (Bring sand)
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Steve Barbone
>>
>>
>>
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>
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