March 18, 2010, 9:00 am
JOEY THOMAS BIG BAND TO PLAY SARATOGA SAVOY DIAMOND DANCE 7TH ANNIVERSARY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY—On Saturday, March 20th the Saratoga SAVOY Diamond Dance will celebrate its Seventh Anniversary Dance from 7:30-11:30 PM in the third floor ballroom of the historic Saratoga Music Hall located at 474 Broadway (corner of Broadway and Lake Avenue) in downtown Saratoga Springs. The event features live music by the award winning Joey Thomas Big Band. Admission is only $15 for over three hours of fun-filled, calorie burning entertainment!
“We are not only proud to be celebrating our Seventh Anniversary on March 20th, but also to feature the Joey Thomas Big Band, the band that played at the inaugural dance in March, 2003 and one of our flagship bands,” says Dave Wolf, the Dance’s coordinator.”
The Seventh Anniversary Dance offers dancing, seating for those who do not wish to participate in dance activities, food, beverages, and ice cream provided by Ben and Jerry’s. The Saratoga SAVOY offers a dance lesson at 7:30 PM when the doors open. The Joey Thomas Big Band takes the stage at 8:00 PM. The event also includes a special video/slide show, DJ SAVOY during intermission, an impromptu Swing Jam circle, a professional performance and more!
Since March 2003, the Diamond Dance has been presented by Saratoga SAVOY every third Saturday of the month at the Saratoga Music Hall. Featuring a live swing or big band, The Diamond Dance series has grown to be the most attended dance series in the Northeastern United States. Says Dave Wolf, “Incorporating a big band like the Joey Thomas Big Band in our band rotation makes our concert/dance series unique and so successful.”
The diversity of Diamond Dance followers are also key to its success. Jenna Caputo, a professional ballroom dancer and instructor at the Saratoga SAVOY, comments, “I’ve been attending these [dances] for years. There’s nothing that compares to the Diamond Dance ... There are so many people of all ages enjoying themselves.” Caputo refers to how multi-generational the event has become. “It’s not unusual to see teenagers dancing with seniors, or professional dancers mingling with beginners.” The Diamond Dances have become known entertainment for all ages. With tables and chairs, the event is also suitable for anyone wishing to come merely to watch the dancing and listen to the sounds of the Joey Thomas Big Band.
It is also notable that the Saratoga Savoy Diamond Dance is the most successful continuous dance or musical concert series to take place at the Saratoga Music Hall. Since the Music Hall’s bell tower was dismantled in 1936 and the Hall was reconfigured, the venue was no longer home to an ongoing music or dance series. With the success of the Diamond Dance, this has changed.
“We are proud of our growth, and I think the success of the Diamond Dance lies in the fact that we focus on the community gathering and entertainment experience rather than honing in on just the dancing,” says Wolf. He is referring to the several artistic events that culminate in the one event. In addition to a dance in the elegance of the historic Saratoga Music Hall with an authentic big band performance by Joey Thomas and his group, the evening also includes video mash-ups and an exhibition of unique art.
The Joey Thomas Big Band is dedicated to the perpetuation of big band music, swing dancing, and the Great American Songbook through live performance and recordings of the classic arrangements used by the original hit makers and new works written specifically for the Band.
The Diamond Dance is sponsored by The Saratoga SAVOY, Ben and Jerry’s, and dedicated patrons. In 2009, the Dance Flurry Organization (DFO) recognized the Saratoga Savoy Diamond Dance’s mission of promoting traditional dance and history. While the Diamond Dance worked with the DFO since its inception, it has since become an official affiliate dance to further promote the shared vision.
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