General information for Dancing til Dusk —
10 Evenings of FREE dance lessons and glorious outdoor dancing in Seattle's Downtown Parks.

Please note the location of each dance as they are in one of two parks downtown. Maps and address for Occidental Park in Pioneer Square and Freeway Park in the downtown core are located at the bottom of this page. All dances and lessons are FREE thanks to the support of our sponsors — please support and acknowledge their contribution!

Every night from 6-7pm there will be a beginning lesson in the dance style most predominate for the evening. There is a dance floor, if possible wear shoes that slide and do not black-mark the floor. No experience or partner is required for the lesson, but be on time if possible to get the most out of the lesson. Each lesson will start at the beginning with the basic and will build in complexity over the hour.

The exception—The contra dance on July 30th will begin at 6pm with all dances taught and called.
Parking is available on the street or in lots close by. Meters are free after 6pm.

DANCES

July 2nd — Kevin Buster's Lunch Money | Rhythm and Blues/Swing) in Occidental Park

Opening the season is Kevin Buster's Lunch Money, one of the hottest blues/jazz bands around. Kevin's band brings out the best in the creative dancers heart with a jazziness that inspires. This band is as fun to listen to as to dance to with tunes that stretch from earthy blues to rhythm and blues to big band swing.
6-7pm- Beginning Blues lesson with Kevin Buster www.kevinbuster.com

Kevin Buster teaches the Beginning Swing lesson in Occidental Park

Salsa dancing to Cambalache in Occidental Park

The Portage Bay Big Band swings the crowd
at Freeway Park

July 9th — Tangabrazo | Tango in Occidental Park
The Seattle-based Tangabrazo is dedicated to playing music that engages both dancers and listeners. With repertoire ranging from the classic tango groups to more modern and original compositions, they bring decades of combined professional experience to create a rich ensemble sound. www.tangabrazo.com
6-7pm Tango lesson with Christa Rodriguez and Jaimes Friedgen
of The 8th Style School of Tango www.the8thstyle.com

July 16th — Cambalache | Salsa and Latin
in Occidental Park
Cambalache has challenged and redefined the characteristic sound of the Northwest Salsa scene — never afraid to incorporate new ideas, or to drop others that have been exploited. Cambalache’s eclectic style is an embodiment of the richness and diversity of Latin America. Deeply rooted in the latest music movements developing in Cuba and Puerto Rico, Cambalache’s performances are a blend of great salsa classics and contemporary tunes. At each performance, audiences are seduced by the energetic atmosphere of Rumba and Nueva Salsa. www.cambalachesalsa.com
6-7pm Salsa lesson with Hallie Kuperman of The Century Ballroom www.centuryballroom.com

July 23th — Portage Bay Big Band | Big Band Swing
in Freeway Park
Kicking off dances in Freeway Park is PBBB, one of the most consistent and popular Big Band Swing bands in the Northwest back for their second year. They deliver a sound fully encompassing the hot vitality of the swing years and really know how to show the swing crowd a great time. www.portagebaybigband.com
6-7pm Swing lesson with Lilli Ann Carey www.danceforjoy.biz

July 30th — Conniption | A Contra Dance
in Freeway Park
Deb Kirkland violinist, and company — extraordinary musicians playing music you can't help dancing to. www.debkirkland.com
Contra Dance is community dance to infectious music. Much like Square or old English Country Dance, it is danced in sets and squares, dancing with a partner, with your set or even with a whole line of dancers. Most steps are walking steps and so the dances are accessible and friendly to beginners.
The dance begins at 6pm and runs to 9pm with all dances taught and called by Jennifer Youngman. home.earthlink.net/~dunedance

August 6th — Maia Santell and House Blend | Swing (East and West Coast) and Blues in Freeway Park
One of the busiest bands in the Northwest, this band rocks with Blues, Big Band Swing, Jump blues and Rhythm and Blues with hits from the 50's to the 90's. www.maiasantell.com
6-7pm Blues lesson with Ari Levitt www.rolluptherug.com

August 13th — Tumbao | Salsa and Latin in Freeway Park
TUMBAO CANCELLED due to rain
"Full of life from beginning to end, singer Carlos Cascante sings salsa music filled with elements of Timba, Jazz, Traditional Salsa and include masterful solos of Grammy nominees Paoli Mejias, Ray Vega, Thomas Marriot, and Julio Jauregui." (CD baby review) www.tumbao.us
6-7pm Salsa lesson with Jodi Fleischman www.leftfootboogie.com

August 20th — Steve Rice Orchestra | Waltz, Swing, Foxtrot, Polka and more in Freeway Park
The concluding dance for the season in Freeway Park is a Ball Blanc with the Steve Rice Orchestra- the orchestra that played this last year for the Evening in Vienna Ball. Steve Rice is a musician of depth and breath who has brought together some of the best musicians for this special evening. This is a Ball Blanc, wear something white — T-shirts to Tuxes, Shorts to Ball Gowns and delight in the magic of swirling dancers as the sun sinks into the evening. www.myspace.com/stevericemusic
6-7pm Waltz lesson with Lilli Ann Carey and Jamie Shamseldin www.danceforjoy.biz

August 27th — DJ Gatorboy | Louisiana Night in Occidental Park
We return to Occidental Park for two more dances. Louisiana Night with Zydeco and Cajun music by will be DJ'd by Sean "Gatorboy" Donovan. Sean will spin the latest and the greatest. Zydeco music hails from SW Louisiana and Texas with influences of Cajun, Blues, Rock 'n Roll and Afro-Caribbean Rhythms — hot music with rhythms that compel you to move. www.gatorboyproductions.com
6-7pm Zydeco basics lesson with Sean Donovan and Lilli Ann Carey

September 3rd — KGB | Waltz, Swing, Foxtrot, Polka and more in Occidental Park
(Ball Blanc, wear something white!) ***
No security clearances are required to enjoy Seattle's KGB. With fiddle, mandolin, guitar and piano, KGB creates subversive music lulling the unwary with traditional New England contra dance tunes, then jumping off into Balkan modalities, tango riffs and bluesy jigs. KGB's extraordinary waltzes captivate dancers song after song, each melody more delightful or exquisite than the last. This is the last but but so very not the least of the bands to play for the season. This event will send you away fully satisfied as the last of the summer dances. Our Ball Blanc of last season was so successful we have two this year — the finale of each park's dances. Wear something white — T-shirts to tuxes, shorts to ball gowns and delight in the magic of swirling dancers as the sun sinks into the evening. kgbmole.com
6-7pm Waltz lesson with Lilli Ann Carey and Jamie Shamseldin www.danceforjoy.biz

***And on this night a special treat — This dance will be followed by an outdoor presentation of "Shall We Dance," the RKO movie production with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers."Shall we dance? On a bright cloud of music shall we fly?... "
Bring a blanket or chair to sit on and a jacket or that special someone to keep you warm.

LOCATIONS

Dances/Concerts dates in Occidental Park in Pioneer Square

July 2nd, 9th, 16th, August 27th and September 3rd
250 Occidental Ave S
Seattle, WA 98104

Dances/Concerts dates in Freeway Park

July 23rd, 30th, August 6th, 13th and 20th
Enter the Park at 6th and Seneca
600 Seneca Street
Seattle 98101

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Dancing Til Dusk illustration, poster and web page design: Deane Nettles