August Bands

Tuesday August 1

Buena Vibra | Salsa

Baskeball Court in Cal Anderson Park, 6–9:30pm

Buena Vibra's mission is to recapture the glory days of the classic era of Salsa, Joe Cuba and Cheo Feliciano, Jimmy Sabater and the more modern sounds of Ruben Blades and Seis del Solar. The sextet is comprised of Fred Hoadley, piano and back up vocals; Jeff Norwood, Bass; Scott Ketron, Vibes and back up vocals; Sammy Alamillo, Timbales; Steve Guasch, Bongo and back up vocals; and Joe de Jesus on Conga and lead vocals. BuenaVibra is the newest addition to the Seattle salsa scene and promises to keep you dancing the night away. Buena Vibra Sextet on Facebook

Salsa lesson by Hallie Kuperman | CenturyBallroom.com
Hallie Kuperman is the owner of Century Ballroom and The Tin Table restaurant in Seattle, Washington. Since 1991 she has taught pretty much every form of social dance with the exception of Argentine Tango (for which you have to have prettier legs!). Currently she teaches Salsa and Waltz. She produces, co-choreographs and performs in Century's cabaret shows.

Since 2005 she has been the co-instructor for NW School's Social Dance Program. Since 2010 she has helped produce the "Dancing With The Stars"-style fundraiser, "Seattle Dances," for Plymouth Housing Group. She has taught at Google, Microsoft, Team Survivor Northwest, EMP, University of WA, Cornish College of the Arts, Folklife and more schools and private lessons than she can remember.

Hallie's passion is Century Ballroom, her students, clients of the Ballroom and The Tin Table and creating a community that people will never forget.

Thursday August 3

WCS DJ Battle with Savoca, Lingane & Carter | West Coast Swing

Westlake Park, 6–9:30pm

Three of your favorite DJs battle it out with their favorite tunes. There is no "de-feet" — just spectacular dancing. Wear your sunscreen, you won’t want to leave the floor!

Beginning West Coast Swing lesson with Wren and Scot
Wren has been partner dancing for 20 years and teaching for 15. While she enjoys many different forms of dance, West Coast Swing (WCS) is her personal favorite. She has been dancing, teaching, competing and judging WCS around the world for the last 10 years.

Scot has also been dancing for 20 years, and along with WCS he loves to dance and teach Country 2-step.

Wren and Scot have been teaching together for years and firmly believe that there is nothing better than sharing their love of dance with everyone who wants to learn.

Tuesday August 8

Billy Joe Show | Honky-tonk Swing

Baskeball Court in Cal Anderson Park, 6–9:30pm

Billy Joe Huels, leader and trumpeter of the established band The Dusty 45s, has inspired and fired up crowds for over two decades from coast to coast. Beginning in 2016, when not on tour, Huels created a weekly gig in various juke joints throughout Seattle called, "The Wednesday Night Club." He joined forces with guitarist and singer Rod Cook, upright bass player Robin Cady and drummer Kohen Burrill to form "The Billy Joe Show."

"The Billy Joe Show" brings a dynamic sound and vintage style to the stage. They champion the foundations of American roots music, honky tonk, jump blues and rock and roll. The band belts out and delivers signature Dusty 45s tunes while mixing in classic and obscure covers ranging from Buddy Holly to Hank Williams and Louis Armstrong. facebook.com/dusty45s

Beginning Honky-tonk Swing lesson with Sean Donovan | GatorBoyProductions.com and Erika Olsen
Sean Donovan combines passion for music and dance with his great love of teaching to provide joyful, exciting dance classes for all skill levels. Positive and playful, Sean is a creative and highly effective communicator, with intuitive movement awareness and a focus on the vital power of dance to delight and transform us. A professional instructor and DJ since 1999, Sean teaches partner dance nationally as well as year-round in Seattle, and has been on faculty with Northwest Dance Network, nwdance.net, since 2004. In addition to Swing (his first love) and Zydeco (a profound connection prompting numerous expeditions to Louisiana and Texas), Sean revels in teaching Blues, Waltz, Whiskey River Jitterbug, Country Two-step, Cha Cha Cha and more. A professional DJ as well, Sean produces dances, provides music for special events and can be heard hosting live radio on KBCS 91.3 FM. Contact Sean about private or group lessons.

Erika Olsen has loved to dance since she was a little girl. As a teenager when she was doing professional theater, the dancers would dress her up and sneak her into the discos to dance. As an adult she took her first Zydeco partner dance lesson from the Gator Boy and Li’l Biscuit in 2011. Fast forward to today and you’ll find her partner dancing around Seattle…she loves zydeco, country 2-step, east coast swing, and cha cha.

Thursday August 10

Mark DuFresne Band feat. Billy Stapleton | Blues/Swing

Westlake Park, 6–9pm

Mark DuFresne is one of the most sought after Blues talents in the Northwest. The Washington Blues Society has awarded him for best vocalist, songwriter and harmonica more than any other artist. He has recorded three CD’s of all original music. “Out of That Bed”, “Have Another Round” and “There’s A Song In There”, which featured the lineup of the former Hollywood Fats Band. Since reforming in 2016 with founding guitarist, Billy Stapleton, this current version of the Mark Dufresne Band has been wowing audiences around the Pacific Northwest.

Mark's work on the chromatic harmonica is considered as some of the most innovative in Blues music. His ability to circular breathe has left audiences amazed. markdufresne.com

“DuFresne is as distinctive as a vocalist as he is a fiery player; rather than recycling old riffs, his original compositions are tuneful, melodic and grooveworthy..” — Blues Review Magazine

Swing lesson by Lilli Ann Carey and Claire Carey / danceforjoy.biz
Lilli Ann Carey loves to dance almost anything but focuses her teaching on Waltz, West Coast and East Coast Swing, Zydeco, Polka, Foxtrot, One-Step/Blues, Fusion and a few vintage dance forms. Lilli Ann promotes dance classes, workshops and events through her company, Dance for Joy!, and is committed to developing a creative, connected and playful dance community here in Seattle.

In line with that committment, Lilli Ann also coordinates this highly successful Dancing til Dusk program for Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Claire began learning swing dance at the age of seven in 1998, and began teaching partner dance in 2008. She discovered her passion for West Coast Swing in 2010, where she has achieved multiple first placements, and competed in the All Star division. She has loved teaching Cross Step Waltz, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Blues, Foxtrot, Nightclub Two Step, and other vintage waltz forms in Seattle for Dance For Joy! Claire and her mom, Lilli Ann have taught together both nationally and internationally, and are known for their fun, innovative, and technically-minded teaching. In class, Claire specializes in empowering follows to have strong skills in connection, intuition, and self expression. She also loves teaching private lessons to leads and follows, and helping students find the nuances that make everything click into place!

Tuesday August 15

Elnah Jordan | Blues

Ballard Commons, 6–9pm

Elnah Jordan's passion for singing was discovered when she was a child in the church choir. Originally from Ohio, Elnah was influenced and encouraged by her mother who is an accomplished pianist. She developed her natural and raw talent on a path that winded through the choir stands of her gospel roots to the streets of San Francisco and its clubs and eventually with much persistence, to the theater. She was awarded a nomination in 1986 in that city for Jazz Vocalist of the Year.

Elnah performed in several other theatrical productions including a two and half year stint in “The Evolution of the Blues” produced by Jon Hendricks in which she portrayed the legendary Bessie Smith. Her performance in the off Broadway musical drama, "Street Dreams” landed her the prestigious Cabaret Gold Award. She has also given opening performances for artists such as Gil Scott-Heron and Bobby Blue Bland.

Having moved to Seattle, Elnah has been embraced by the community of gifted performers and artists here. She continues to grow in her appreciation of the music and for the blessing of being able to do what she loves dearly. She has graced stages through-out the Pacific Northwest: She been a featured performer at Egan’s Ballard Jam House, The Sorrento Hotel, Tula's Jazz Lounge, The Royal Room , Grazies and the New Orleans. She even found her way into the Seattle theater scene performing in the last season of Black Nativity.

Blues lesson with Lila Faria | lilaffaria.wixsite.com

Lila Faria is a Seattle-based blues dance instructor and organizer.

Lila first encountered blues dancing in 2015, hidden in the back rooms of New York City bars. After 8 years of training in synchronized skating and ice dancing (2004-2012), she fell in love with the partner dance, pursuing learning opportunities across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

She finally settled down in Seattle (2018), where she launched Lila's Living Room Lessons, took a day job as a Montessori educator, and spent her nights supporting the local blues dance scene.

Lila approaches blues dancing as an opportunity to connect body, emotion, and history. Through her teaching, she hopes to create environments where her students feel safe, supported, and empowered to be their true, authentic selves.

Thursday August 17

The Buckaroosters | Swingin’ Country

Westlake Park, 6–9pm

The Buckaroosters started out in 1998 with the idea of playing the music of the great Buck Owens as authentically as they could - complete with all of the duet singing, tele-twangin', steel-cryin' rhinestone-wearin' they could muster. Playing the best of Buck Owens and his Buckaroos music from '59 to '69! "Free buckeyes while they last!” facebook.com/thebuckaroosters

Beginning dance lesson, instructor TBA

Tuesday August 22

Ben Thomas Tango Quartet | Tango

Pier 62, 5–8pm

A favorite with Seattle dancers (and non-dancers alike) since 2007, the Ben Thomas Tango Quartet is dedicated to playing music that engages both dancers and listeners. With repertoire ranging from classic Golden Age tango to more modern and original compositions, they bring decades of combined professional experience to create a rich ensemble sound. Ben became infatuated with the bandoneon after learning to dance tango. In 2007 he went to the Academia Nacional del Tango in Buenos Aires and studied with several tango greats, including the maestro bandoneonist, Osvaldo Montes. He has been performing tango music, traditional to Nuevo and original compositions, over the last decade with Tango Abrazo, Q. E. D., and the Ben Thomas Quartet. http://notesbyben.com/

Beginning Tango lesson by Jennifer “Gwen” Richard

Gwen brings a lifetime of movement-arts to her dancing. She has studied ballet, gymnastics, ballroom, belly dancing, Indian Kathak dancing, Flamenco, Swing, and finally found herself falling in love with Argentine tango. When she found Tango she broke up with all the other dances in her life. “I threw myself into it with no instruction and danced, blissfully unaware, for years before I figured out that I needed to actually study and work. I can appreciate how hard it is to learn Tango and what people struggle with while putting in the effort.”

Since then she has studied extensively with several traveling teachers, has trained in a close salon style of dancing, and has traveled and danced until her feet have begun demonstrating against the beautiful shoes she loves. Currently, Gwen is studying and dancing Tango at least 8 hours a week.

“I believe we should work hard at dancing, and study seriously, but also that dancing is about joy. Teachers should make you feel good about yourself, and classes should have laughter.”

Rescheduled! Tuesday September 12 

Jacqueline Tabor Jazz and Blues | Swing and Blues

Pier 62, 5-8pm

Jacqueline Tabor, also known as the "Seattle Chanteuse," is an accomplished jazz, blues, and swing vocalist who enchants audiences with her powerful tones, style, and dynamic stage presence. This 4-time Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year and Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association Award Winner continues expanding her talents to entertain every audience. Tabor's unique bluesy style and charismatic personality have made her one of the most beloved jazz vocalists and storytellers in the Pacific Northwest. Some call it the "Tabor Sound," which is drenched in the natural rhythm of everyday life. She brings herself to every performance that encapsulates an authentic feeling of humanity. Tabor combines excitement and professionalism to everything music with a unique ensemble of Seattle's most talented jazz musicians to create a community-centered experience.

Swing dance lesson with Taylor Stender and Travis Whetman

Taylor Stender has found a way to dance most of her life. Her first love was Lindy Hop, her true love is Balboa. She has been dancing since 2007, teaching since 2010 locally and regionally; feathers in her hat include placing and being a finalist in several national Balboa competitions. Enjoying both the social connection and self expression in Swing dance, Taylor has developed her own unique voice as a follower and instructor and strives to encourage her students to do the same. She finds value in comfortable and fun movement and you can be sure to find your own flare in her classes. Swingitseattle.com and Centuryballroom.com