Valentine's Swing Dance

Swing into the Spirit of Valentine’s Day at Santa Fe College

Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy a night filled with laughter and dancing at Santa Fe College. This year’s Valentine’s Swing Dance begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 14 in the lobby of the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall, 3000 Northwest 83 Street, Gainesville. The semi-formal event will include light refreshments and free swing dance instruction.

Tickets are $10 per person and are available from the Fine Arts Hall Box Office at 352-395-4181 or online at: showpass.com/valentines-swing-dance-3.

From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., experienced instructors will teach the basics of swing dance. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., SF Associate Professor of Music and Band Director David L. Smith will conduct the SF Jazz Ensemble providing live music for the evening. The band will perform popular jazz tunes and arrangements from some of the most important big band leaders from that era including Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. 

With live music and a focus on timeless classics, the evening will immerse participants in the vibrant culture of the Swing Era.

“Jazz,” Smith said, “was the most popular form of music during the 1920s and 1930s and was played in ballrooms and hotels for entertainment and dancing. That period was known as the ‘Swing Era.’ Marked by segregation, this music had the ability to break racial barriers by bringing people together to enjoy the music, to dance and to have fun.”

Smith emphasized the event’s inclusivity, saying, “Everyone is welcome! This event isn’t only for romantic couples but also for friends and groups of friends.”

The Valentine’s Swing Dance is sponsored and organized by the Santa Fe College Fine Arts and Entertainment Technology Department.