Midsummer Night Swing Week Two Line-Up

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing, now in its 20th Anniversary season, continues with a second week of dancing under the stars with eclectic performances by orchestras from around the globe.  Because of the ongoing construction on Josie Robertson
Plaza, this program will take place in Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park, W. 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

A big noise from Chicago will start off the week when the Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra blows into town for their very first New York appearance on Tuesday, July 15th.  Known for their legendary Thursday night stand at Chicago's Green Mill, the Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra plays the rock n' roll of the 1930s, including rarely-heard big band songs of that era.   It's a jumping, jiving, swinging sound from the golden age of American dance music.

Gresik is followed on Wednesday, July 16th by Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar (photo above), the father and son virtuosos that blast their trumpets into the next century.  The aural assault from this raucous brass band has earned them the title of "best band in Serbia" for nearly 20 years running.  Next up on July 17th is Orquesta Tίpica Imperial, a group of young musicians who play the pure tango of their native Argentina with all of its harmonic and rhythmic richness. Famous throughout Europe and Latin America, this marks their
long-awaited US debut.

Midsummer Night Swing is made possible in part by grants from Daisy and Paul Soros and Charina Endowment Fund.

On Friday, July 18th there's an explosive triple bill of the Budos Band (direct from Staten Island), followed by Chico Mann, then topped off with Jeannie Hopper's Liquid Sound Lounge with Jay Rodriguez. It's a night of Afro-soul, electro Afro-funk, and throbbing dance music.

The week closes out with two performances on Saturday, July 19th:  a special Kids Day! with Father Goose, followed with an evening of Cuban son with the sizzling Albita. The Kids Day! is a dance lesson/dance party for children of all ages where they can learn reggae, dance hall and ska from popular performer Rankin Don (aka Father Goose.)  In the evening Albita, the queen of Cuban son, will reign over a dance party of Latin rhythms.

Midsummer Night Swing's evenings of dance are ticketed events.  Each evening begins with a dance lesson at 6:30 pm for all levels with some of New York's foremost instructors. Lessons are included in the price of admission. Live music and dancing begin at 7:30 pm and runs until 10 pm.   All events take place on an elevated dance floor in Damrosch Park.

Tickets and passes are on sale now. Multi-evening Swing Passes are priced at $78 for six nights, and $225 for the full season.  Tickets
for individual evening events are $15, and Kids Day! events are $5, with children under 5 free.

The Swing box office is located in the lobby of Avery Fisher Hall, Broadway and 64th Street. Tickets for individual events and passes can be purchased in advance or on the night of the event at a box office in Damrosch Park.  All major credit cards will be accepted.  Tickets and passes can also be purchased through CenterCharge, 212-721-6500, or by logging on to www.LincolnCenter.org.

Rain Policy If it rains before 8:30, Swing staff waits to see if it stops; if it does, they go on with the lesson or show.  If steady rain
continues past 8:30, the show is cancelled and ticket holders may bring their bracelet or ticket for a future evening of dancing, or
they may receive a refund.  If rain starts after the completion of the first set, Lincoln Center is unable to make refunds or exchanges.

The schedule for Midsummer Night Swing – Week Two:

Tuesday, July 15
Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra – New York debut
Big Band Swing
The jumping, swinging music of the 1930s and 40s bursts into life with arrangements originally created for orchestras at radio stations more than 50 years ago.  This Chicago institution plays with the vibrancy that epitomizes the golden age of American dance music.
NYC CHI: Dance Partners**
Lesson: Eva Carozza – American Ballroom Theatre
DJ: Tomo Tanaka

Wednesday, July 16
Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar
Balkan Brass Band
The trail-blazing brass band from Serbia, led by trumpet virtuosos Boban Markovic and his rising star son Marko, whips dancers into a
frenzy with its stunning blasts of exuberance and ingenuity.
NYC CHI: Dance Partners**
Lesson: Michael Ginsburg
DJ: Joro-Boro

Thursday, July 17
Orquesta Tίpica Imperial – US debut
Tango
Torrid tangos are driven by the rousing energy of these eight young Argentinean musicians – three bandoneons, three violins, a double bass and piano - who update the music of tango's golden age.
Presented in cooperation with Americas Society.
NYC CHI: Dance Partners**
Lesson: Mariela Franganillo – Tangoba/Dance Manhattan
DJ: Carlos Quiroga – ReporTango

Friday, July 18
Budos Band 7:30 pm
Chico Mann 9:00 pm
Jeannie Hopper's Liquid Sound Lounge with Jay Rodriguez
Afro-Soul, Funk, Afro-Latin Electro, Garage-House
New York's underground club scene comes uptown with a triple bill led by the unheralded emperors of Instrumental Staten Island Afro-Soul: the Budos Band. Also on tap — Chico Mann, the brainchild of Antibalas' guitarist, Marquitos Garcia, will perform Latin-infused, synth-driven electro Afro-funk. And to celebrate the Liquid Sound Lounge's 15th anniversary, DJ Jeannie Hopper, joined by Groove Collective's Jay Rodriguez, on sax and flute, spins soul-drenched grooves.
Lesson: Courtney Ffrench Vissi Dance Company with guest Louis "Loose" Lee
DJ: Jeannie Hopper

Saturday, July 19
Albita
Cuban Son
Note: one 90-minute set at 8 pm
Grammy-winning singer Albita electrifies the bandstand with rumba, son, mambo, guajiro and the Afro-Cuban rhythms of Miami's Little Havana and her native Cuba.  One of the premier interpreters of Cuban son – the music that takes elements of Spanish canciόn and Spanish guitar and combines them with African rhythms and percussion instruments – Albita has been described as "incendiary."
Lesson: Carlos König
DJ: Danny Ramirez

Special Event for Midsummer Night Swing 2008:
Saturday, July 19 at 11:00 am
Kids' Day! With Father Goose
($5 per person, children and adults, children under 5 free)
Reggae, Dancehall, Ska for kids
Reggae, dance hall and ska music will rock the summer air with Father Goose, a.k.a. Rankin Don, best known as a featured performer with Dan Zanes & Friends.  Young dancers and their families can learn the most popular Jamaican dance styles as little feet learn all the right moves.Lesson: JoJo7
DJ: Mr. Vacation
** NYC CHI: Dance Partners

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing and Department of Cultural Affairs' Chicago SummerDance, two of the nation's most prominent festivals of live music for social dance, are proud to collaborate on a trio of special evenings.  Showcasing styles ranging from classic Big Band swing to tango to Balkan brass bands, the kindred series are working together to spearhead rare and debut appearances by international artists and the local premieres of hometown favorites from each respective city.

To celebrate this collaboration, dance enthusiasts have the opportunity to win a trip to Chicago's SummerDance, for a weekend of music and dancing.   To enter, go to Lincoln Center.org and click on My Lincoln Center to enter to win.

-  Roundtrip airfare for two from New York to Chicago on Continental Airlines**

- Two nights of accommodations

-  VIP access for two to 2 nights at Chicago SummerDance, which runs
every Thursday through Sunday June 12 – August 24

Winner to be selected at the Alan Gresik Swing Shift Orchestra on Tuesday, July 15. Winner need not be present  to win.

For information and program updates for Midsummer Night Swing visit LincolnCenter.org or call 212-875-5766.