Swing Dancing in Connecticut

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Some of you in eastern Connecticut might be interested in checking out what's across the border in Rhode Island. Of course, people as far as Hartford are only two hours from Boston . Western Massachusetts should be pretty close to you. There's some limited information for New York, too.

If you teach classes, hold workshops, play in a band, or hold dances, please read the list of frequently asked questions before you ask to have your information listed here.

Hartford Swing Dance/Jam

West Hartford and Wethersfield.

Dances with live music on the first Friday of each month at the West Hartford Town Hall.
Swing Jams (DJ dances) feature East Coast and West Coast Swing dancing and are held on the 4th Saturday of the month at the Wethersfield American Legion Hall.

Shoreline Swing Dance Society

East Lyme and Mystic.
For more information, contact the club. No dances during July and August.

Monthly dances (third Saturdays) with live music at the East Lyme Community Center, East Lyme.
Weekly dancing (Sundays) at the German Club (Frohssin Hall), exit 90 off Route 95, Mystic. Lesson at 7:00, dancing 7:30 to 10:00 pm.

Connecticut Swing Dance Society

For information, contact Mike or call the hotline at 203-985-1112.

Friday Night Swing Review & Practice Parties, 3rd Friday of the month..
Second Saturday Swing dance each month.

Yale College Swing Club

CT USABDA
US Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association chapter serving the Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, Tolland, and Windham counties.

USABDA of New London County
US Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association chapter serving the New London county.

News! From Cynthia Lyons of Eight To The Bar:

RE: Swing Sundays in Wallingford (Opens September 28, 2008)
Dear Fans:
We are trying this out on an experimental basis. In order for it to work the hall has requested that the audience NOT bring their own beverages or food but instead purchase them at the bar. If it is successful, we will have a dance on the last Sunday of each month but ONLY if you support the bar! Bottled water, sodas, chips, popcorn, etc. will be available for sale at the bar (along with alcoholic beverages). 5,000 sq ft. wooden dance floor! Cash bar! Ample free lot parking!

Help!
Sometimes I'll see a favorite dance band play at a non-standard venue and I sometimes wonder if these venues are conducive for dancing, i.e., do they have a dance floor? Some of the venues and some of the bands aren't very helpful in providing that information, particularly if it discourages people from showing up. I don't get a chance to check out most of these venues so please help me provide better information to my readers by letting me know which venues are suitable for dancing. Thanks!

Bill Miller's Castle, Branford
I'm guessing they must have a dance floor, but it'd be nice to confirm it.

Swing DanceWorks

Wethersfield American Legion Hall, 275 Main Street, Wethersfield. 860-655-7064. Swing dancing 8:30-11:00 pm every Thursday except second Thursday of each month. DJ plays a balanced mix of tempos to dance primarily East Coast/Lindy and some West Coast/Hustle, Waltz and Latin based on attendance and requests.

Weekly Dancing
Mondays:
	The Palms, Stamford.
Tuesdays:
	Vinnie's lindy hop dance/practice, Middletown, featuring the Hot Cat Jazz Band. 8:00-11:00 pm.
	West Coast Groove, East Hartford.
	Rhythm, Norwalk.
Wednesdays:
	Lighthouse Inn Resort, New London.
	Rhythm, Norwalk.
Thursdays:
	Swing dancing,
Fridays:
	Polish Home, Windsor,
	Friday Night Swing Review & Practice, Naugatuck. (twice a month).
Sundays:
	Shoreline Swing record hop, Mystic.
	Chowder Pot, Branford,featuring the Galvanized Jazz Band, 6:30-10:00 pm
	Bill Miller's Castle, Branford. 7:00-11:00pm

Friday Night WCS in Windsor

Polish Home, 9 First Avenue, Windsor Locks. West Coast Swing dancing on Friday. Beginner lesson at 7:00, intermediate lesson at 8:00, and dancing from 9:00 to midnight. For more information, write to Ken Mercik or call 860-749-5434.

Vinnie's Jump and Jive

Vinnie's Dance Hall, 424 Main Street in Middletown. A non-profit community-based organization committed to promoting health and wellness. Vinnie’s offers classes in Swing, Nia, Argentine Tango, B-Boy Dancing, Country Line Dancing, salsa, Capoeira, and Yoga. For more information, contact Vinnie's at 860-347-6971x3777.

Swing Dancing
From 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm, 1st Saturdays and sometimes 5th Saturdays. DJ music for (EC) Swing, Lindy, and the Blues. Lesson at 7:30.
Tuesdays: Lindy/Swing dance/practice, featuring the Hot Cat Jazz Band. 8:00-11:00 pm

Classes & Dances with Erik
Erik Novoa runs classes and dances during the week:

The Palms, 78 West Park Place, Stamford. 203-299-0711.
WCS lessons every Monday at 7:00 & 8:00, dancing until 11:00 pm.
Rhythm (formerly the Dream Cafe), 731 West Avenue, Norwalk. 203-299-1385.
Hustle lessons every Tuesday at 7:00 & 8:00, dancing until 11:00 pm.
Rhythm (formerly the Dream Cafe), 731 West Avenue, Norwalk. 203-299-1385.
WCS lessons every Wednesday at 7:00 & 8:00 pm, dancing until 11:00 pm.

The FairWestSwing Project
Swing dancing in the Fairfield (CT) and Westchester (NY) county areas.

West Coast Groove
Jim & Abbie offer West Coast Swing dancing every Tuesday from 9:00 pm until closing at the Circle of Life dance studio, East Hartford Cultural Center, 50 Chapman Place, East Hartford. WCS classes from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. For more information, contact Abigail at 860-887-0052.

Black-Eyed Sally's
350 Asylum Street, Hartford.
Not a regular venue, but it has a small dance floor and occasionally has live music suitable for dancing.

Lighthouse Inn Resort
New London. Dancing to the sounds of the Cartell Trio on Wednesdays. Dance lesson at 6:15pm (for a cost); dancing only is 7:00-10:00. All-you-can-eat pasta bar (for a fee). Dancing is free but please spend money at the bar or restaurant to encourage them to keep this venue going. For more information, contact Debbie Odom.

The Scandinavian Club

1351 South Pine Creek Road, Fairfield. Ballroom dancing on Thursdays from 7:00 to midnight, with a lesson from 7:15 to 7:45. For more information, contact Gene Paes at 203-560-1458.

Norwich Social Dance Club
VFW Post 594, 30 Connecticut Avenue, Norwich. Sundays, with lesson at 6:00 pm; dancing from 7:00 until 10:00 pm. Please bring a change of shoes for the dance floor. For more information, contact Debbie at 860-237-5457.
This venue has been discontinued effective 04/12/08.

Bill Miller's Castle
834 Main Street, Branford. Dancing every Sunday night from 7:00 to 11:00 pm. Cover charge.

For additions or corrections, write to dancenet@havetodance.com.