These days, young people are embracing the music and steps that kept their grandparents out late at night — swing dancing. And they are moving to the uniquely American big band sound that filled dance halls all over the country during the 1930s through the 1940s. “Several years ago, when I first put together my orchestra, the people who knew swing dancing were in their 60s and 70s,” said Eric Felten, founder and band leader of the Eric Felten Jazz Orchestra. “The baby boomers never learned how to dance; they were into rock [music.] Happily, the 20- and 30 year-olds are inspiring the boomers to get with it.”
For two weeks, beginning Friday, the Kennedy Center presents a star-studded tribute to Billy Taylor, the center’s late artistic director of jazz, in a festival of events that honor both his jazz legacy and the dance phenomenon known as swing.
| ON STAGE |
| ‘Swing, Swing, Swing’ |
| For more information on the jazz festival at the Kennedy Center running from Friday to Nov. 26, and for a complete listing of stars and performances, call 800-444-1324 or log on to kennedy-center.org |
Swing not only referred to the dance and style of music, but also to the time when jazz hits dominated the pop charts and the music of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Ella Fitzgerald and even a young Frank Sinatra livened spirits and, in a small but most effective way, took a bit of the sting out of World War II by entertaining the troops at home and abroad.
For the festival, the Kennedy Center Dance Hall at the north end of the Grand Foyer will showcase free, daily performances each evening at 6. Four of the nights will feature additional dancing at 10 p.m. Jazz artists such as Nellie McKay, Asleep at the Wheel and the Firecracker Jazz Band, perform numerous styles of Swing Era music and dance such as big band, Dixieland swing, Western swing, jump blues, Gypsy swing, Cajun swing and more. Dance lessons will be given en masse before the performances with everyone learning new steps and moving together.
“A great jazz drummer once talked about dancers ‘giving back to the rhythm,’ ” Felten noted. “The dancers are not just enjoying the music, they are contributing to it, and that makes it more fun for us.”
Felton’s Jazz Orchestra opens the festival on Friday and closes it on Nov. 26 prompting his remark, “I like to think we’re anchoring this festival and it’s a real treat and honor to do so.”
Throughout the period, guest artists will include the Manhattan Transfer, performing along with Jon Hendricks. The NSO Pops present “An Unforgettable Tribute to Nat King Cole with George Benson.” These ticketed events take place in the Concert Hall.
