WHAT A 12-YEAR PARTY!!

I'm still coming back down to earth from Wednesday night's gala party celebrating 12 years of Rusty's Rhythm Club & Lindy By The Sea. There were so many things that touched me about the night:

Watching the band getting the same kick that we dancers were all through the night!

Watching our newer dancers' eyes light up with that same thrill we "old-timers" remember so well upon seeing a great performance number for the first time.

Watching that great performance number, of The Hollywood Hot Shots, and still getting that same thrill, myself.

Watching all of you dancing with such great heart.

Seeing a gang of my original 1998-1999 students and regulars for the first time in ages.

Dancing with a bunch of the dancers I came up with back in the Derby days (Bernard, Minn, Steve, Josie...).

Watching everyone enjoy the delectable of Nancy's Dessert Buffet and, at the same time, visiting with old and new friends as they munched away.

So now as we enter our 13th year of all this fun, let's get ready for my "Bat Mitzvah" party next year!

FROM GEORGE GEE TO US!

AND, AGAIN,
MY THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE

George Gee and all his fantastic musicians for swingin' the roof off Rusty's Rhythm Club.

MC Maxwell DeMille adding his brand of class.

The Hollywood Hot Shots for an thrilling vintage Lindy Hop routine.

Nancy Magnante for the yum, yum, yummy Dessert Buffet (Katie Albee, Petra Acosta, Tish Cabezas, Marc Nuno, Christa Gomez, Gail Melikian, Kathleen Hashaguchi, and Natalie Leyton - excuse us if we forgot someone!).

Robert "The Professor" Vangor - our DJ.

All our volunteers (Ray, Jon, Jessica, Becca & Dad, Emily, Peter...).

Our photographers, Dave & Magdalene, thank you for photodocumenting the night (and we look forward to seeing all your pictures!)

And all of YOU for being part of our community.

I couldn't ask for anything more in celebrating 12 years of music and dancing.

Thank you all!

DID YOU MISS IT? DO YOU WANT TO RELIVE IT?
CLIPS FROM THE NIGHT

I have posted a couple of clips from the night. Pardon my shaky camera work; with the excitement, I couldn't keep steady.

Hollywood Hot Shots - "Shout & Feel It!" Flying Lindy!*

George Gee play "The Victory Stride" at Rusty's 3/24

HAVE YOU NOTICED SOME CHANGES?

I love getting feedback from all of you to help make our dance scene the best possible. As a result of many of your comments we have already made the following changes (did you notice?):

1. Weekend Rusty's Rhythm Report: The newsletter now comes out on the weekend, so you can read it away from work and get a head start on planning your dancing week.

2. More Seating. We now put chairs around the walls for more comfortable seating. We even put tables out when we know it will be a "cozier" night.

3. Earlier Birthday Dance. We moved up the birthday dance and raffle to right after the band's first set, so our early birds can still catch it.

4. Our Great Dance Floor. The floor is being cleaned every Wednesday morning, so it's perfect of us!

5. Fewer Announcements. I'm talking less (I heard you!). So make sure to check the flyer table for all our dance and workshop info.

6. Some Cheaper Nites. We started "The Cheap & Cheerful DJ Nites" for those of you on a budget. (But remember, you can always talk to me privately if you need some help, and I would be more than happy to work something out so you can attend at whatever is affordable for you - including free.)

HERE ARE SOME MORE

1. Raffle Gift Cards. You all told me you like the free passes to the club, but that it would be nice to mix it up. In the weeks to come you'll see gift cards for iTunes, Sees, and Coffee Bean & Tea. You may be the lucky winner.

2. "$10 After 10." For those who can't get to Rusty's early enough for both sets, and sometimes opt out because you don't want to pay full price for missing part of the night, we are now charging only $10 after 10:00pm.

3. Beginner Swing Class EVERY Wed. Starting in April, we are going to have a beginner's swing dance class from 7:30-8:00 every Wednesday. These classes will be taught by a "staff" of teachers from our corps of regular advanced students/dancers. Friends & Family Nite will still be in effect on the first Wednesday of the month, and I will be teaching those along with Ray.

4. Comment Cards. In order to see how you liked the bands, we'll have comment cards at the front table.

5. Occasional Friday Nite Dances! This may be one of the biggest pieces of news on the entire list. Yes, we have managed to book Rusty's for some Friday night dances. We are thinking maybe once a month. What do you think? Save the date for our first one, May 7th with Stompy Jones. (More info to follow shortly)

MAIL IN YOUR REGISTRATION OR
CLICK HERE FOR PAYPAL REGISTRATION

START DATES FOR THE NEXT SERIES: TUESDAYS: APRIL 6 THURSDAYS: APRIL 8 REGISTER FOR CLASSES HERE CHECK FUTURE START DATES HERE

Back to Top

BE PROUD TO SAY: "I SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!"

Back to Top

THE KILLER DILLERS

Back to Top

THIS WEEK'S CONTEST!!*
It's a new year ~ everyone play!

The first person to send us an email with the answer to the following wins a free pass to the Rhythm Club:*

Send your answer to us at info@rustyfrank.com.
Only the weekly winner will receive a response to their Contest Answer.

NOTE: Google is your friend! All the answers are only a Google search away. Have fun and learn about our swing history at the same time.

LAST CONTEST

*Contestants may play as many times as they wish, but may only win the prize once a year. Contestants must use their Rhythm Club pass for the week they won the contest.

Back to Top

UPCOMING EVENTS

EMAIL RITA IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING!

Hello Hoppers (Lindy, that is):

We have 1 date to dance:

March 13, 2:00
Lomita Care Center
Lomita

I am attempting to contact Mary Crest in Culver City for April.

Rita

HOW TO JOIN THE CLUB:

1. Join our Facebook page "Swing Shift Rhythm Club"
or
2. Send an email to Rita

"Fun & Philanthropy"

Back to Top

WE GOT A COMPLIMENT FROM FRESNO

Isn't it nice?!

Back to Top

PORTABLE DANCE FLOOR FOR SALE

Back to Top

LOST YOUR JOB? TOOK A PAY CUT?
DON'T BE A STRANGER!
WE'LL WORK SOMETHING OUT FOR YOU

Every now and again, people just disappear from our scene who have been regular dancers. I wonder why. Did they get married, did they move, or did they suffer some financial hit.

If it's economics, please know that you are always welcome. Don't stay away. We can work something out! Here's some options:

~ I am happy to work out trades... you could sit at the door for a bit at the Rhythm Club in exchange for the dance that night.

~ Find me at the Rhythm Club, and just pay what you can.

~ I'll give you some Rhythm Club passes until this era blows over for you.

~ And the same thing goes for all Lindy By The Sea classes!

I know that dancing really helps in hard times. So don't be a stranger! We'll work it out to meet your needs.

Back to Top

TheKillerDillers.com I don't even know where to begin. This newly formed dance troupe is the top of the top of the heap of great Lindy Hop dancers in the world. It includes our favs, Juan & Sharon, Kevin & Joe doing what they do best - dance and entertain!!

Back to Top

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGES

I started these Facebook pages to give all of us a chance to network, to know what's going on, to set up carpools, post photographs, videos, etc.

Back to Top