Website

The new website is up www.dancegumbo.com We are excorcizing the gremlins and trying to upload our Paris Hilton & Jimmy Carter Tango demo, so be patient. I've been dot commed. I will have the Upcoming and Ongoing, but they remain in the newsletter below for now.

Paris and Jimmy Tango

Dance Gumbo

Next New Improved Themed Dance Gumbo is June 27. We will be doing 50% the classic mix of swing, latin, waltz, ballroom, zydeco, etc. and then 50% of the nights theme. Methinks it will be Cajun/Zydeco but maybe something else. Mark the calendar and cancel the wake.

NOLDJ

Thank you to those who attended Night of the Living DJs 10. We tried to shrink the size from the Woodstockian NOLDJ 9 by giving faulty directions, and so people are still wandering around Sanford, but I think I overshot a bit, and missed my break even, and the kids will need to stay in the pawnshop for now.

We were giving it away before at $10 for four lessons, dozen demos, and elephantine hors but $20 at the door was a bit much, and like my friend Debbie of Wes was telling me, the recession has hit the dance community as everything else so we will return to affordable for our next NOLDJ tentatively set for October.  

Dance Shorts 

SalsaforU is now working with DJ Mike and Carolina Latin Social to do a combined First Saturday event. The first Saturday social, as before will start at Triangle Dance Studio with a lesson at 8 PM and Dance from 9-11. At that point the crowd moves to Carmens Cuban Cafe where DJ Mike spins until the cows come home. You can do both for $8. 8-11 social alone is $5 before 9 PM, $7 after. www.salsaforu.com www.carolinalatinsocial.com  

I am working on doing a series of Cajun Zydeco lessons soon. If interested in some classes let me know. Details soon. 

Best Bets:

Sandra's Sammiches June 4-10 

Saturday June 6. New First Saturday Salsa Social. As above start at Triangle Dance Studio with  lesson at 8 PM and Dance from 9-11. then move to Carmens Cuban Cafe where DJ Mike spins until the cows come home. You can do both for $8. 8-11 social alone is $5 before 9 PM, $7 after. www.salsaforu.com www.carolinalatinsocial.com  

Saturday June 6. Red Clay Ramblers with North Carolina Symphony Orchestra at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary. The Ramblers are classic NC folk and the symphonic twist is intriguing. $30/25 www.boothamphitheatre.com

Saturday June 6 Loafers Shag Contest. This begins at 2 PM at North Hills Commons and finishes up that night with an After Party at Loafers Beach Club in Raleigh. Ovger $1700 in prize money, so we expect some good dancing. www.loafersbeachclub.com

Tuesday June 9. Steely Dan. Durham Performing Arts Center. 7:30 $65-115 youch. www.dpac.com

Wednesday June 10. Steve Earle ArtsCenter, Carrboro www.ArtsCenterlive.org $39. SOLD OUT. See rap on Steve Earle in Upcomings below.

Thursday June 11 Beverly Guitar Watkins. Durhams, classic blues guitarista, with a rockin boogie band. She swings: http://www.myspace.com/beverlyguitarwatkins  American Tobbacco Historic District Music on the Lawn Concerts 6-8 PM www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com

 

 

Durhams's Beverly Guitar Watkins- Looks Serious

 

Saturday June 13. Fiesta Latina. At Shakori Hills Festival site in Chatham county. Bands, acrobats, crafts, traditional dance. Only $2 2-7 PM. Bands include Saludos Compay, Bravo Nortena, and Firehouse Rhythm Kings. Ballet Folklorico Guadelupano and acrobatic troupe Galumpha will perform.

 

 

Galumpha

 

The event is organized by Hispanic Liason, a community outreach program that works with the hispanic population in Chatham County. www.hispanicliason.org

Sounds like a fun event though I grouse a bit about them never having a good salsa dance orchestra. More info and rant in Upcomings below.

Saturday June 13. Latin Project Orchestra at the Cobo Brother's Copa Night at George's Garage in Durham. 11 PM George's Garage, Durham. $20 door, $12 and $15 advance at www.cobobrothers.com The band is in the NY RIcan salsa orchestra vein, pretty good, not exceptional. Catch my rap on salsa bands below and more details in Upcomings below.

Down the Road A Piece

June 19 and 20 Mountain Aid with Kathy Mattea and others. Benefit at Shakori Hills in Chatham County. www.mtnaid.com The event is a benefit those opposing mountain top removal coal mining.

Besides Kathy Mattea, Donna the Buffalo, Ben Sollee, and Si Kahn are performing. Ben Sollee is a wonderful cellist, singer songwriter, I saw at LEAF festival a year back and blew me away.Check this sample out: here  and info at www.bensollee.com 

Ben Sollee 

The event is both Friday and Saturday, but all the best bands are Saturday. Events are at Meadow and Grove Stage and they are not using the dance tent, so it will be doing it in the grass. $30 door/ $23 advance.

July 29- August 1 Bayou Boogaloo. Road trip! Road trip! Norfolk, VA. Steve Riley, Dr. John, Terrance Simien, Radiators, Little Feat, Nathan and the Cha Chas, Marc Broussard. A must for Louisianophiles. Sandra and I are going. www.festeventsva.org  

Dr. John "The Night Tripper"- Man has some threads.

UPCOMINGS

Disclaimer- I didn't do it. You thought you were going to the hot salsa dance and ended up at a clam bake for Latvian shower curtain wholesalers. Check first !!!  

6/5 3 Ongoing Fridays. Carolina Inn Fridays on the Front Porch. Summer series through mid 10/16 features local acoustic bands. 5-8 PM. Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill. Free. www.carolinainn.com Mick Mixon and Franklin Street