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• Posted Wednesday, August 22, 2007
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Press release Synopsis:

Swing Dance USA-October 5,6,and 7 in St. Petersburg/Tampa Florida Entertainment: Friday- Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers Saturday- George Gee and his Jump Jive and Wailers Sunday- After party DJ dance in Tampa Celebrities: Norma Miller-“The Queen of Swing” and friends is scheduled to attend Workshops: Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5 pm Multi Level- Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Bal Swing, Blues, Jazz, Charleston, Tap and more Instructors: Kim Clever, David Frutos, Chester Whitmore, Rusty Frank and many more. Competition: Friday-Swing Dance USA Open Championship Saturday-USA Pro-Am, Jack and Jill and Championship Showcase Competition with Lindy Hop, Balboa and Jitterbug/East Coast Swing Sunday-Groups and Dance Troupes compete for the Swing Dance USA Team Division For all of the details and web links and ticketing please read the full press release below.

Swing Dance USA 2007 – Released to all media: August 08, 2007

St. Petersburg, FL – Swing Dance USA 2007 is October 5, 6 and 7. This is a not to be missed annual event. For the third year in a row sponsors from all over the United States are hosting a national 3 day Swing Era Convention featuring remarkable shows, dances, workshops, competition and much more at the historic St. Petersburg Coliseum in St. Petersburg Florida. Attending will be international stars of stage, world champion instructors, living legends of swing, social dancers of all levels, swing dance and swing music enthusiasts and swing dance competitors of all ages and talents. Venue The historic St. Petersburg Coliseum is a true vintage Show Palace built in the 1920's – as grand as it can be, and created for the many vintage films, big bands and dance marathons it has hosted during its rich history. With an incredible 15,500 sq. ft. oak dance floor the Coliseum still has room for an additional seating capacity for 2,000 guests. Some of the performers appearing at the Coliseum during the Swing Era are Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw and many more. The Coliseum is located at 535 Fourth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 (727) 892-5202. Instructors International swing dance stars Kim Clever, David Frutos, Chester Whitmore and Rusty Frank are the featured instructors and will be teaching intermediate to advanced classes as well as the Master's Classes. Regionally popular and National champion instructors from across the US will also teach classes throughout the weekend . Norma Miller – The Queen of Swing Dance Legend Norma Miller will be attending at Swing Dance USA with an entourage of friends and celebrities associated with her new film, Queen of Swing. Watch for scheduled times to meet and talk with her. Workshops Workshop classes are held Saturday and Sunday between 10 AM and 5 PM. A full workshop schedule with a list of instructors and class titles will be listed on http://SwingDanceUSA.com. Participants have the option of choosing which classes to attend, including Lindy Hop, Balboa, Bal-Swing, Jitterbug, Jazz, Blues, Charleston, Tap and more. Beginning dancers can follow a beginner track that progresses them along with more detailed instructions than intermediate or advanced classes. All classes are categorized by their level of difficulty as Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced or Masters. In order not to slow down the group, attendees are asked to qualify before taking Advanced and/or Masters Classes. Master's Classes are especially fast-paced classes recommended for instructors and advanced dancers. Masters classes are the only classes priced separately. 3 Days of Competition Swing Dance USA is holding dance competitions for national titles, in a variety of categories Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday night there is the Swing Dance USA Open competition at 8 pm. Saturday night is the USA Pro-Am, Jack and Jill and Championship Showcase Competition with Lindy Hop, Balboa and Jitterbug/East Coast Swing starting at 6 PM. Winners of the Championship Showcase Division win $750 or they may choose airfare and admittance to the American Lindy Hop Championships in New York City. Groups and Dance Troupes compete Sunday for the Swing Dance USA Team Division. Official Chief of Judges is Debra Loran heading the dance departments at both the University of Tampa and University of South Florida. Honorary judges include Gabe Abella (Austin/Tampa),Chris Crawford (Virginia), Rebecca Strickland (Tallahassee), Tim Munsell (Tennessee), Rusty Frank (Los Angeles), Debra Kee (Tampa/St. Pete) and more. See the http://SwingDanceUSA.com website for rules, divisions and the entry process. Unbelievable Nightly Dance Shows Friday Night October 5, 2007 is the Opening Premiere of Swing Dance USA – Lavay Smith This weekend event starts with a free-to-the-public Meet and Greet Reception held in the balcony of the Coliseum at 7pm, where there will be refreshments, music and a presentation of the History of Swing. Meet the legendary Norma Miller who inspired several books and a documentary movie about her life called the Queen of Swing. The Meet and Greet ends at 8 PM as ticket holders begin to fill the Coliseum for San Francisco bombshell Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers playing live at 9 PM. Many publications have sung the praises of Lavay Smith and her band, including Downbeat, The Los Angeles Times, Jazziz, The Boston Globe, Blues Revue, The New York Press, Living Blues, and the Alternative Press. Television and Radio appearances include Public Television's "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer", Fox TV's "Fox Files", and NPR's "To The Best of Our Knowledge". World famous celebrities have jumped on the Lavay Smith bandwagon as well. Johnny Otis says "Lavay is wonderful! She and her band are a breath of fresh air." Dan Aykroyd, a.k.a. Elwood Blues, says of Lavay's debut album, "One Hour Mama", "...this CD is guaranteed to make you feel better." Even President Clinton has seen the light, proclaiming, "I love this band - they're great!" Tickets for Friday Night's Show are $19 in advance and $23 at the door. Doors open for Meet and Greet at 7 PM. Ticket holders enter the Coliseum at 8 PM and the Lavay Smith Show starts at 9PM and goes until 1 AM. Advance tickets and group ticket sales are available at http://SwingDanceUSA.com. Visit the website for details. Saturday Night October 6, 2007 – Opens early for National Swing Dance Competitions – George Gee Saturday night opens with a spectacular National Swing Dance Competition with Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Jitterbug competitors in Jack and Jill and Strictly Swing divisions. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the competition starts at 6 PM. Qualifying winners can win up to $750 or win airfare and entry into the American Lindy Hop Championships in New York City. See the website http://SwingDanceUSA.com for rules, divisions and how to enter the competition. Hitting the stage at 9 PM is New York City's finest Big Band, the world famous George Gee Jump, Jive and Wailers. When George Gee's Band plays, in an instant, the swing era returns. Comprised of younger and older veterans of the world's most legendary big bands, George Gee's Orchestra appears across the world at top concert halls, and is a favorite headliner of the top Swing and Lindy Hop events. Saturday's special presentation includes a vintage runway show held at 10 PM. All attendees are encouraged to wear vintage swing dance attire and may enter. Tickets for Saturday Night's Show are $19 in advance and $23 at the door. Included in the price of the tickets is Swing Dance USA's National Swing Dance Competition starting at 6 PM. Doors open at 5:30. The George Gee Show starts at 9 PM and goes until 1 AM. Advance tickets and group ticket sales are available at http://SwingDanceUSA.com . Visit the website for details. The After Party At the workshop's conclusion Sunday at 5 pm, everyone is invited to attend the Big After-Party in Tampa at Tampa's Biggest Weekly Swing Dance as the Grand Finale continues until midnight at the Zendah Grotto. For more information on the Sunday dance location, please visit http://Swingang.com Vendors and Sponsors Vendor and advertising opportunities are available. Individuals and companies can help young competition dancers by becoming contributing sponsors of the Swing Dance USA Championship Prize and Scholarship Awards by emailing sponsor@SwingDanceUSA.com or calling (813) 5-SWING-5. Tickets Advance tickets are only available for purchase online; however, you may purchase Day of Show tickets at the registration booth at the Coliseum. For a limited time, early-bird purchasers may purchase the Ultimate Weekend Pass, which includes access to all events from Friday night through Sunday at midnight PLUS a very cool 2007 event T-shirt. Advanced purchases of the All-Access Pass is $109 (regular price $119), for a limited time only. The Master's Class workshops are the only item not included in the Ultimate Weekend Pass. An ala carte menu of individual tickets and passes are available for each day's workshops, as well as each evening dance. Please see http://SwingDanceUSA.com for all your ticket options.