Event/Site: Piedmont Swing Dance Society Swing Dance at the Vintage Theater in Winston-Salem

Date: Second Saturday of the month; 7:30pm-11:30pm; Introductory lesson at 7:30pm. Dance starts at 8:30pm.

Type: Open swing dance, featuring regional musicians (jazz, blues, early R&B, swing) and swing dancing held monthly at a renovated church/theater.

Location: The Vintage Theater is located at 7 Vintage Drive at the corner of Vintage Drive and South Main Street in Winston-Salem. From the east, take 1-40 (NOT Business 40). Exit at Silas Creek Parkway (exit 193C). Turn right at the light. Turn left at the first left onto South Main Street. Go about one half mile north toward downtown. Look for Vintage Drive on the left. Turn left onto Vintage Drive, then immediately right into the Vintage Theater parking lot. From the west, take I-40 East to Winston-Salem. Exit at US 52 N (exit 193B). Stay in the right lane and immediately take the Sprague Street exit. At stop sign, turn left. Go to South Main. Turn right onto South Main and follow directions above. Click here for a map.

Cost: Admission: $10 nonmembers; $8 PSDS members.

Parking: Free in the lot beside and behind the building. Parking adequate for bus tours.

Special Needs Access: Venue is fully accessible.

Signage: Signs at location, but not en route.

Sponsor: Piedmont Swing Dance Society, Inc.

Web Site: www.piedmontswingdance.org

Contact: Piedmont Swing Dance Society
PO Box 39354
Greensboro, NC 27438
(336) 508-9888
psds@mail.com

Description of Event: The nonprofit Piedmont Swing Dance Society presents monthly swing dances with live bands at the Vintage Theater in Winston-Salem. Several local jazz bands, notably Martha (Bassett) and the Moodswingers play swinging, bluesy, big band music that keeps the dancers jumping til closing time. The energetic dances are attended by people of all ages and from all walks of life. Beginners are welcome, and an hour-long introductory jitterbug lesson is offered before each dance begins.

History of Event: The event began at the Vintage Theater in 2000. Big band swing music, popularized nationally by Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and others held court throughout the country in the 1930s and 40s, and many forms of swing dance evolved to accompany it. Then rock 'n roll came along in the 1950s and dethroned both the music and the dance. Swing dancing caught on again in the late 80s and by the 90s was big.

Description/History of Site: The Vintage Theater, built in 1947, was a former church. Sold in 1972 to the NC School of the Arts, it was first used by the school as a recording studio and then as a black-box theater. The building was purchased in 1991 by a private owner who revived its use for arts events open to the community for rental. Its suspended wooden floor is excellent for dancing.

Significance of Site/Event to the Community: In February of 2002, the Piedmont Swing Dance Society was awarded an ECHO grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation in recognition of its impact as a catalyst to help "increase social capital throughout our community." The dances create an informal social environment, reintroduce older dance forms, and provide another public arena for local jazz and blues musicians. In addition they are a link to the region's past. Winston-Salem's history reverberates with stories of dances taking place in tobacco warehouses such as Peppers and "Big Winston", and clubs such as the Kosmopolite in its heyday.