The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is collaborating with Sylvia Sykes and the Santa Barbara Swing Dance Committee to reinstate the Friday Night Swing. This monthly event is held at the Carrillo Ballroom in the Carrillo Recreation Center. It includes beginner and intermediate swing dance lessons, followed by a live band performance. The music changes monthly, featuring genres like jazz, jive, blues, and rockabilly.
The event is accessible to all skill levels, with dance lessons included in the $20 admission fee. The beginner lesson is designed to help new dancers, while the intermediate lesson is for experienced dancers. The Carrillo Ballroom’s cantilevered floor provides a unique dancing experience.
The event starts with lessons at 7:30 p.m., followed by the dance from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with an intermission and a raffle. The bands for the 2024 Friday Night Swing include Flattop Tom and His Jump Cats in February, Dave Stuckey and the Hothouse Gang in March, San Lyon in April, Crown City Bombers in May, Alpha Rhythm Kings in June, and Carl Sonny Leyland and His Boogie Woogie Boys in July. Bands for the remaining months are to be announced.