upcoming events

nyc events list

past events

Ongoing: Russian Banya Parties 12.31.14 - The Court of the Snow Queen 10.25.14 - Masquerade Macabre 07.12.14 - The Lost Circus 05.03.14 - Cantina at the End of the Universe 02.15.14 - Meet Me in Paris 12.31.13 - The Bootleggers' Ball 10.26.13 - Masquerade Macabre 08.09-11.13 - G&S 10th Anniversary (First-ever NYC Steampunk Weekend) 10.27.12 - Masquerade Macabre 12.31.12 - Black & White Masked Ball 08.11.12 - The Lost Circus 04.12.12 - The Drowned Ball 02.11.12 - Meet Me in Paris 12.31.11 - The Glitter Ball 10.31.11 - Speakeasy Dollhouse 10.29.11 - Masquerade Macabre 08.21.11 - Black & White & Red All Over Ball (Coilhouse Magazine BDay party) 07.16.11 - The Lost Circus 07.14.11 - Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing 2011 - Swing House 12.31.10 - The Bootleggers' Ball 10.30.10 - Masquerade Macabre 07.31.10 - The Lost Circus 04.24.10 - Swing House 2-Year Anniversary 03.07 & 21.10 - JaNk! 02.14.10 - The Vault of Golden Vapors 12.31.09 - The Bootleggers' Ball 10.31.09 - Masquerade Macabre 07.17.09 - Nouvelle Époque Cabaret-Salon 06.27.09 - Hobos & Mermaids on the High Seas 04.03-05.09 - Luminous Flux NYC - video art weekend 03.15.09 - Swing House 1-Year Anniversary 11.01.08 - Halloween Vintage Masquerade Ball 10.31.08 - Voodoo Culture Clash 2008 - Swing House vintage dance monthly 02.14.08 - Get Off...Line VI: Roaring 20th 08.18.07 - Radiate Fire! 10.31.06 - Halloween Parade Afterparty II: Devils n Dolls 10.31.05 - Halloween Parade Afterparty: Mardi Gras 06.21.05 - Exotica: Tiki Lounge Shindig 02.14.05 - Get Off...Line III: Say Cheese (and Chocolate) 02.14.04 - Get Off...Line II: Code Red

03.22.08: Swing House: A full-club launch of a dazzling vintage dance monthly inspired by our sold-out "Roaring 20th" Valentine's Day bash

Bootleggers and speakeasies...wild dancers and smart mouths...art that sizzles and music that roars... With live swingin' dance sounds of the early 20th century, re-bopin' DJs remixing and reinventing vintage grooves, awesome aerial artistry, dazzling dance numbers, blazing burlesque and performance art to make you swoon. Plus: projections, stilt walkers, tarot readers, fire performers, oh my. The Jazz Age never ended, it just got funky. Dress accordingly!

This month's music theme: smokin' 1920s hot jazz & early swing

With:
  • Free Charleston dance class before the event
  • Live authentic 1920s hot jazz bands all night:
    - Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra
    - Baby Soda Jazz Band
    - The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn
  • Blazing burlesque by Molly Crabapple & Amelia Danger
  • Dazzling dance numbers by Angela Harriell's Love Show Dancers
  • Awesome aerial stunts by theatrical circus arts duo Olseaux
  • Masterful magic from the Amazing Amazini
  • Re-bopin' jazz swingin' beats by resident DJ Dhundee
    and special guests DJs Shakey, Qool Marv & Miss Bliss
  • Hot live grooves by guest musicians on horns & drums
  • Plus fire spinners, stilters, tarot, magic and other unpredictable surprises

See below for details on all the performers.

Full club event at Galapagos Art Space, 70 N 6th St, Williamsburg, BK


Video by Rikomatic

Video: Blue Vipers hot jazz band

Video: Fire spinner Lynnea Solberg


More videos by Rikomatic: Blue Vipers (hot jazz) and Amelia Danger (burlesque)


Photos by Seze Devres for Flavorpill (full coverage)

Photos by Holly Van Voast (1-2), Taryn Brandt (4,6,9), Jenn Pozner (5,7,8)

More on our artists:

In the front room: Live authentic hot jazz bands!

Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra

An 11-pc ensemble steeped in the hot-dance band tradition of the Roaring Twenties, The Dreamland Orchestra is authentic. Arenella transcribes by hand their entire repertoire from period recordings. Their delivery, as well as their instruments, attire, and equipment - are faithfully accurate. Arenella's strong yet vulnerable baritone lacks pretense or sarcasm. He treasures each lyric, and has faith in the songs he sings. Even the most optimisic Tin Pan Alley tune has a disarming quality in his hands.

The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn

Winners of Subway Idol contest, The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn play old-time music from 1910 to the 1940's, just like your hip great-grandma's great collection of scratchy 78s.

Baby Soda Jazz Band

Baby Soda is on the cutting edge of a new movement loosely known as street jazz; with an eclectic set of influences ranging from New Orleans brass bands, jug music, southern gospel and hot jazz. The ensemble doesn't desire to recreate the past, rather they bring the concept and joy of the music to the present. Baby Soda is an adaptable and ever-changing group made up of New York's finest musicians; featuring trumpet, accordion, clarinet, washboard, banjo and one string bass. Accordionist Patrick Harison also does double duty as the band's vocalist, with a voice described as Tom Waits meets Rudy Vallee. Both Pediatrics and Geriatrics agree, Baby Soda is the sure cure for the aches and pains of the modern world!

Also in the front room: mind-blowing performance!

Blazing burlesque: Molly Crabapple

The lovely Molly Crabapple wears many hats (only some of which come with giant plumes). She's an illustrator for fine places like Marvel Comics, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Playgirl; creator of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, a cabaret-life-drawing class with nearly 50 branches around the world, and its companion book, "Dr. Sketchy's Official Rainy Day Colouring Book"; and artist for "Backstage," a murder mystery webcomic set in the burlesque halls of old New York. Oh yeah, she's also a burlesque dancer.

Blazing burlesque: Amelia Danger

This winsome, witty coquette is a crowd favorite on the NYC cabaret and burlesque circuit. Coney Island crowned her Miss Coney Island Pin-Up 2007 Runner Up, and Go Magazine has named her "a must see, a bouquet of beauty." Classically trained from the age of 7 at the School of American Ballet, she went on to become a Corps member of the New York City Ballet. In addition to performing at some of New York's most reknowned opera houses, she's been cast in Broadway, Off-Broadway and everything in between. She is one of the regular fetching cigarette girls on TLC's "Fashionably Late with Stacy London," and has appeared on IFC (2007 Western "Shroud") and MTV Europe (starring in Modjo's video "Lady").

Awesome aerial stunts: Oiseaux, featuring
Jordann Baker and Anya Sapozhnikova of Lady Circus

Oiseaux (wah-zoh) is a high-flying spectacle of class, wonder and funk. Tantalizing audiences with feats of danger and raw athleticism, Jordann Baker and Anya Sapozhnikova have been gracing the ceilings of NYC speakeasies since 1920.

Masterful magic: Jeff Grow aka Amazing Amazini

The rich simplicity and direct nature of Jeff's performance makes it accessible to a wide scope of audiences from Fortune 500 companies to arts festivals. His work has been included in events for such notables as: Chrysler Corporation, Jive Records, Computer Associates and the NFL. Jeff's sleight of hand has been featured in award-winning films as well as national and international commercials. His original theatre work includes: Magicians, Wise Fools and Ordinary Magic (Center Stage NYC); A Story About Magic (numerous venues in NYC/Prague); Transfix (Madison Square Garden); City of Bells (HERE Arts Center). "Delightful" - NYTheatre.com; "A riot" - The Post.

Dazzling dance numbers: Angela Harriell's The Love Show

Angela Harriell's narrative choreography is both autobiographical and universal, witty and sexy. The Love Show performances have been named "pick of the week" by L Magazine and the Village Voice and have been seen at venues all over the city, most recently at Theater For The New City with their second sold out run of Nutcracker: Rated R, Harriell's twisted take on the children's classic ballet. Collectively, The Love Show dancers all haveimpressive resumes, performing with such companies as The Rockettes, Ballet X, Randy James Danceworks, Brooklyn Ballet, Jerboa Dance, Buglisi/ForemanDanceCo., Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Lydia Johnson Dance, and the LizGerringDance Company.

"It was The Love Show that really turned on the crowd" - Ortgeist.com
"Harriell's visual witticisms are wonderful" - OffOffOnline.com
"It sure isn't your New York City Ballet Nutcracker, but it's a hell of a lot more fun" - BackStage.com

Our lindy-licious dance teachers:
Malcolm Holt and Lisa Casper

Malcolm Holt and Lisa Casper have been dancing together for three years. Malcolm grew up in Cleveland where he taught and performed with Get Hep Swing. Lisa started competing in ballroom dance and swing when she was 15 in her hometown in Massachusetts. Their performances have included events at Lincoln Center, The 92 Street Y, Julliard School of Dance, and The New York Swing Dance Society. They also perform with The Big Apple Lindy Hoppers Dance Company. For more information please contact them at Seaadream *at* aol.com

In the back room: swingin' beats, reimagined & remixed!

Resident DJ: DJ Dhundee

DJ Dhundee is known for his eclectic and soulful sets that fuse delicious 1920s-30s jazz and broken beats. From his extensive music collection filled to the brim with classic gems, popular songs, and rare finds, he serves up the sounds with his signature style and seamless flow. Performing throughout New York, with appearances from LA to London, Dhundee also curates the legendary party "Brooklyn Bounce" alongside DJ partner Stimulus of The Real Live Show. He has spun at private parties for Comedy Central, Istar Financial, Spike TV 2006 US Tour, Straight No Chaser Magazine, Good Magazine, HOME Magazine, Wired Magazine, David Torres Productions, and Danny Simmons Gallery. Winner of four gold International Promax/BDA Awards for its music compositions for Comedy Central and MTV, Sugarcuts, Dhundee's boutique music production company, also supplies such top TV networks as Showtime, Nickelodeon, VH1, FUSE, Spike TV, and many more.

Guest DJ: DJ Shakey

Julie has been a professional nightclub / mobile disc jockey / wedding dj for over 14 years. She is also a record collector, music consultant, and veteran of the music video industry. She specializes in diverse music, music in media, dance parties, and special concepts. Her music collection includes over 9000 vinyl recordings and cds. She is a party co-ordinator, promoter, experienced host, and has performed on radio, internet, and television broadcasts.

Guest DJ: Qool Marv

Intertwining many styles for many faces from many places, Qool DJ Marv captivates you with his blend. The effortless flow & continuously ascending momentum of his wide ranging sets is inviting, hypnotic & breathtaking. An inventive pioneer, Qool DJ Marv deliberately defies categorization to great effect. An evening of Qool DJ Marv may include mind boggling array of selections spanning many eras and decades of music including Rhythm & Blues, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Latin, House, Jazz, Funk, Rock and Soul classics, and Eclectic beats from around the world.

Guest DJ: Miss Bliss

Miss Bliss has performed for crowds of 1000+ on four continents over the last eight years, touring Europe, Asia and South America three times each. She has performed in 19 countries, 22 US States, and at over 150 venues worldwide. In 2006, Miss Bliss decided to hang up the headphones and dedicate herself to environmental conservation and international development. Since then, she has spent over 20 months living in developing countries including Tanzania, Nepal and Costa Rica, including 10 months in Zanzibar as a Fulbright scholar studying community-based marine conservation. Now back in New York, Miss Bliss is returning to DJing again -- only this time look out for her in the speakeasys and cabarets because she's DJing jazz and swing!

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