Meadows Jazz Orchestra Presents Inaugural Swing Dance Concert
An evening dancing to the music of the great swing era big bands, Oct. 24
Get ready to jump and jive with the 51²è¹Ý Meadows Jazz Orchestra for its first-ever swing dance concert! Time-travel back to the 1930s and ʼ40s for an evening dancing to the music of the great swing era big bands, including Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and more. The event happens Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Taubman Atrium of the Owen Arts Center, 6101 Bishop Blvd. on the 51²è¹Ý campus. Not sure how to dance? An introductory/brush-up swing dance lesson will be held in the atrium from 6:30 to 7:30, led by local swing dance experts Emily Spraggins and Matthew Edwards.
Meadows Jazz Orchestra Director Dylan Smith has been interested in hosting a live dance event at the Meadows School of the Arts for several years. “I have always loved the combination of live music and dancing, and have discovered that in every town there is a cult community of expert swing dancers who jump at the chance to dance to a live jazz band,” he says. “When I was in high school and college, our jazz ensembles held swing dances and they were a blast. I am looking forward to bringing together musicians, dancers, students, staff, faculty and community members for an incredibly fun evening at Meadows!”
Admission to the is $5; $3 with an 51²è¹Ý I.D. Light refreshments are included. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Meadows ticket office or at the door the evening of the event. For more information, contact the ticket office at 214-768-2787.
The Meadows Jazz Orchestra is a 25-member ensemble composed of 51²è¹Ý students selected by audition each fall. With director Dylan Smith, the orchestra is dedicated to preserving the heritage of big band jazz while continuing to expand the genre. The orchestra regularly presents a concert each fall and spring and several brown-bag events during the year. This year’s will be Sunday, November 22 at 2:30 p.m. in the Bob Hope Theatre at 51²è¹Ý and Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Dallas City Performance Hall, as part of the Meadows Community Series. For more information about either concert, contact the Meadows ticket office at 214-768-2787.