“Downtown Clayton Dance Party” Set to Swing Tomorrow at Horne Square

The second “Downtown Clayton Dance Party” will be held Thursday August 11 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm with a Swing theme.

The Clayton Downtown Development Association, Inc. (CDDA) has partnered with DPM Studios owner Raquel Williams to provide some swing dance lessons and then a dance party under the stars at Horne Square at Main & Lombard streets.

“The first ‘Dance Party’ attracted about 50 people which was great for lessons,” said CDDA Promotion Committee Chair, Debbie Romano. “Everyone who attended said they really enjoyed it and wanted us to continue the event.”

The $5 per person dance lesson, taught by Ms. Williams, will be held from 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm and then she will play swing music from various eras until 9:00 pm for people to enjoy. Refreshments will include Pelican Sno-balls, DD&J’s Kettle Corn and the CDDA will provide beer, wine and soft drinks.

"Swing dance" is a group of dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s-1950s, although the earliest of these dances predate swing jazz music. The best known of these dances is Lindy Hop, a popular partner dance that originated in Harlem and is still danced today. While the majority of swing dances began in African American communities as vernacular African American dances, some swing dances, developed in ethnic communities.

Today there are swing dance scenes in many countries. Each local swing dance community has a distinct local culture and defines "swing dance", and the "appropriate" music to accompany it, in different ways.

DPM Studios, located at 468 E Second Street, offers instruction for various types of dance, including salsa, Latin, ballroom, east and west coast swing, country western, and even line dancing. They are available for onsite instruction at parties, reunions and wedding receptions.

The Clayton Downtown Development Association’s mission is to lead the redevelopment of Clayton’s historic downtown as a primary art, cultural and social center.

For more information call Clayton Downtown Development at 553-1545 or DPM Studios at 655-5346 or send an email to claytondowntown@gmail.com. Updates can be found at www.downtownclayton.org.