Lindy on the Rocks Swing Festival August 5 – 7 August 5, 2011

Lindy on the Rocks Swing Dance Festival

returns to Denver August 5-7

featuring Choreographers and Trainers from Cirque du Soleil and

Hollywood Golden Era Song-and-Dance Man - Ray Hirsch

cmDance is proud to announce the 7th annual Lindy on the Rocks swing dance and music festival. Lindy on the Rocks has come to be known as one of the most fun and best-attended swing dance festivals in the country. Featuring 23 instructors (many are national champions) and special guests that include a Cirque du Soleil connection. Max Pitruzella and Annie Trudeauworked as a choreographers for the new Cirque du Soleil show, “Elvis: City Center” in Las Vegas. Patrick Szmidt and Natasha Ouimet(married since May)talent and reputation as dancers and teachers was noticed by the Cirque du Soleil, who hired them to train artists of their show "Banana Shpeel" in the art of Swing aerials. Todd Yannacone is one of the most recognizable names on the swing dancing circuit today. He has won countless championship titles from the most prestigious competitions around including The American Lindy Hop Championship.

On Saturday, August 6 cmDance is thrilled to be in The Loft, at the Denver Performing Arts Complex's Ellie Calkins Opera House. This special night is a fund-raiser and includes world class performances that will include Hollywood Golden Era Song-and-Dance Man - Ray Hirsch. This amazing Lindy-Hopping veteran partnered with the stars of Hollywood's golden age including Mickey Rooney, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, Busby Berkeley, Alan Ladd, Fred Astaire and the Marx Brothers. Dinner, catered by Kevin Taylor's at the Opera House, will be served from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. followed by dancing to live music from 8:00 p.m. - midnight with Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators and special guest performer, Hellzapoppin'. Silent auction items will be available. Tickets $20.00 – $52.80 Tickets are available athttp://www.lindyontherocks.com/alacarte

This festival is expected to draw 400 of the best swing dancers from around the nation and will feature focused workshops in swing, lindy hop, blues & aerial swing dancing over the weekend.

Lindy on the Rocks will also have social dances open to the public every night featuring Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators. Their musical influences, from the 1920's, 1930's and early 1940's, include jazz greats such as Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, John Kirby, Jelly Roll Morton, and more. In addition to performing classic songs, the Syncopators perform new songs composed in the vintage style by bandleader Glenn Crytzer.

Friday and Saturday night dances will also feature exciting swing dance competitions and champion performances. The late night dances will be held at the Turnverein Culture Center Ballroom, 1570 Clarkson St. and the Saturday night main dance will be at Kevin Taylor’s at the Ellie Calkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex. Sunday night Lindy on the Rocks will close out with a pool party and then back at Denver Turnverein Ballroom from 10 p.m. – 4 a.m.



Lindy on the Rocks Swing Festival August 5 – 7 Events

Friday, August 5 at Denver Turnverein Ballroom, 1570 Clarkson St., Denver - DJ Dance from 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. Evening dance at 9:00 p.m. to the live music of Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators. Late Night Dance from 1:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m. Tickets are $20 at the door, Live music with the Careless Lovers quartet and National Dj’s.

Saturday, August 6 at Kevin Taylor’s at the Ellie Calkins Opera House, The Loft, in the Denver Performing Arts Complex - 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. dinner catered by Kevin Taylor's at the Opera House. Dancing to live music 8:00 p.m. - Midnight with Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators and Special Guest performer, Hellzapoppin'. Tickets $20.00 – $52.80 - Tickets are available at http://www.lindyontherocks.com/alacarte - Late Night Dance from 1:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m. at Denver Turnverein Ballroom, 1570 Clarkson St., Denver. Tickets are $15 at the door Live Music with the Careless Lovers Quartet and National Dj’s.

Sunday, August 7 Late night dance at the Denver Turnverein Ballroom, 1570 Clarkson hosted by international DJ’s Peter Strom and Scott Angelius from 10 p.m. – 4 a.m. Tickets are $15 at the door. Swing, Jazz and Blues classes and workshops daily Fri- Sun at The Newman Center, 1101 13th Street, Denver, CO and Denver Turnverein Ballroom, 1570 Clarkson St. Call 303-883-6691 or check website for full class schedule www.lindyontherocks.com. Register online at www.lindyontherocks.com

CMDance is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Denver, Colorado, USA dedicated to the arts. Our primary mission is promoting the education and preservation of vintage dances of the Americas from the early 20th century such as Tango and Swing dancing in the forms of Lindy Hop and Balboa as well as Folkloric Dances of South America. We run several all-ages national events and provide on-going programming that offer classes for all levels of dancers so that future generations will continue to foster the love of these dances. Questions? Contact us at [email protected] 303-883-6691 www.lindyontherocks.com

All proceeds from Lindy on the Rocks are donated to jazz dance and music school

programming for Denver metro area youth, so your participation and enjoyment at

Lindy on the Rocks also supports a great cause.

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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact

Caryn Carbonaro Carrasco at 303-883-6691 or e-mail her at [email protected]

www.cmdance.org