upcoming events

nyc events list

past events

Ongoing: Russian Banya Parties 12.31.13 - The Bootleggers' Ball 10.26.13 - Masquerade Macabre #5 08.09-11.13 - G&S 10th Anniversary (First-ever NYC Steampunk Weekend) 10.27.12 - Masquerade Macabre #4 12.31.12 - Black & White Masked Ball 08.11.12 - The Lost Circus 04.12.12 - The Drowned Ball 02.11.12 - Meet Me in Paris 12.31.11 - The Glitter Ball 10.31.11 - Speakeasy Dollhouse 10.29.11 - Masquerade Macabre #3 08.21.11 - Black & White & Red All Over Ball (Coilhouse Magazine BDay party) 07.16.11 - The Lost Circus 07.14.11 - Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing 2011 - Swing House 12.31.10 - The Bootleggers' Ball 10.30.10 - Masquerade Macabre #2 07.31.10 - The Lost Circus 04.24.10 - Swing House 2-Year Anniversary 03.07 & 21.10 - JaNk! 02.14.10 - The Vault of Golden Vapors 12.31.09 - The Bootleggers' Ball 10.31.09 - Masquerade Macabre 07.17.09 - Nouvelle Époque Cabaret-Salon 06.27.09 - Hobos & Mermaids on the High Seas 04.03-05.09 - Luminous Flux NYC - video art weekend 03.15.09 - Swing House 1-Year Anniversary 11.01.08 - Halloween Vintage Masquerade Ball 10.31.08 - Voodoo Culture Clash 2008 - Swing House vintage dance monthly 02.14.08 - Get Off...Line VI: Roaring 20th 08.18.07 - Radiate Fire! 10.31.06 - Halloween Parade Afterparty II: Devils n Dolls 10.31.05 - Halloween Parade Afterparty: Mardi Gras 06.21.05 - Exotica: Tiki Lounge Shindig 02.14.05 - Get Off...Line III: Say Cheese (and Chocolate) 02.14.04 - Get Off...Line II: Code Red

2011: Swing House 3rd Anniversary

and Bettie Page Birthday Celebration

Shangri La loft, Greenpoint, BK | 3/26 Facebook | 4/24 Facebook

A dazzling vintage dance event:
"Gatsby-era fun with a twist of new-school vibe" - The Village Voice

A costumed dance ball with blazing burlesque divas, exotic cocktails, live swingin' sounds by vintage jazz bands, and re-bopin' DJs remixing and reinventing vintage grooves, held in a soft-lit wood-paneled ski-chalet loft in Greenpoint, BK. The space is eclectic and cozy, with many secret nooks and soft couches to lounge on.

"We love any excuse for a fancy-dress party, and Gemini & Scorpio present a doozy with Swing House...patrons in zoot suits and full flapper regalia dance the night away to live swing, jazz, and be-bop." - Flavorpill. "Gatsby never attended a party this good" - 24/Seven. "It's like a remixed version of the Roaring '20s, with live music and burlesque dancing." - TimeOutNY

With:

  • Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra, a 1920's hot jazz ensemble celebrating the release of their debut album Hothouse Stomp
  • Hot Sardines, playing prohibition-era hot jazz, dixieland and gutbucket blues
  • LES Hot Club paying homage to classic gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli
  • Poum Tchak, here on tour from Marseiiles, France, rocking out virtuosic gypsy punk swing
  • Sucre d'Orge, the spun-sugar baroque burlesque darling from Paris; Clams Casino, NYC's tassle-twirling sensation; titillating Bettie Page-inspired burlesque by Veronica Varlow; daring dance moves by Zahra Hasemian
  • Re-bopin' jazz swingin' beats by Miss Bliss, DJ Dhundee, DJ Shakey, Zemi17
  • FREE dance class before the bands with Akemi Kinukawa of Dardo Galletto Studios and Angela Harriell of The Love Show
  • Tarot readings by Marcy Currier
  • Handmande vintage-inspired photo booth by FilmCycle
  • Celebrating Bettie Page's Birthday with giveaways from the upcoming authorized documentary "Bettie Page Reveals All!" by Mark Mori
  • "Best Bettie" costume contest at 11pm, with group photo and DVD voucher to the winner
  • The makers of "Bettie Page Reveals All!" will be shooting the party, the performances, and the costume contest, for inclusion in the documentary
  • Exotic cocktail menu featuring herbal concoctions by The House of St Eve and other delectable potions

The Jazz Age never ended, it just got funky. Dress accordingly: "An event worth wearing that ridiculous zoot suit for." - TimeOut NY. "Corsets and top hats tweaked with studs and leather are totally appropriate." - The New York Times. Suggestions: classy, tailored, glamorous, vintage (1920s-1940s), evening, hats, feathers, sequins, beads. No casual attire. Past Swing House details & photos here and here; hi res press photos here and here.

See below for detailed info on all performers.

More on our artists:

Live foot-stopming hot jazz!

Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra

The Ghost Train Orchestra performs unearthed music mined from the dusty vaults of a basement record collection, new arrangements of "voodoo music" and spirited stomps from the most incredible of the late 1920s Chicago and Harlem jazz bands, plus original music commissioned for cartoon scores and vaudeville shows. Trumpeter Brian Carpenter resurrects spirited stomps from the most radical of the late 1920s Chicago and Harlem bandleaders. The band was formed in 2006 after Carpenter was selected as the musical director for Voltaic Vaudeville, an event marking the 90th anniversary of the historic Regent Theater in Arlington, MA. "A band this good deserves a stand at the Vanguard" -- Lucid Culture NYC.

The Hot Sardines

The Hot Sardines play liquor-drinking music. From salty stride tunes by Fats Waller to foot-stompers in the vein of early Louis Armstrong, they're steeped in the sounds of a near-century ago, peppering their blend of hot jazz, Dixieland and gutbucket blues with early French tunes and live tap dancing. If anyone's ever left a Sardines show sober, we haven't seen it.

Live foot-stopming gypsy swing!

Poum Tchak

Between frenetic swing and frenzied gypsy punk, Poum Tchack's live show is a virtuosic and raucous experience, loaded with dance energy. Hailing from France and touring all over the world for ten years, Poum Tchack is visiting New York to celebrate the release of its new album "Billie," an astonishing and unexpected tribute to Billie Holiday.

LES Hot Club

LES Hot Club plays hot, energetic, passionate gypsy swing in the tradition of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli. Featuring veteran gypsy swing musicians, the band really knows how to bring the swing. Expect to hear some hot jazz standards from the 1930's & 40's as well as some ballads, waltzes and bossas.

Blazing burlesque & daring dance moves!

Sucre d'Orge

She was born during an orgy such as this century has never seen. She was once playing with a cup of tea with Marie-Antoinette, when she suddenly fell down. She was saved from drowning by the King himself, and she thanked him with a dance quite burlesque. The courtiers asked her why she was leaning over the edge of the cup. "I wanted to see the sugar inside it," she said. Decadent aristocrats thereupon started to call her "Sucre d'Orge" (barley sugar). When you see the delectable Sucre d'Orge perform, she will charm you like she charmed the Court, with style, grace and fantasy.

Clams Casino

Called "a burlesque queen" by the New York Times, "spectacular" on the New York Post's Page Six and an "NYC Culturemaker" by Time Out New York, Clams Casino is a nationally recognized producer and one of New York's favorite stars of the bump 'n' grind. She has brought her unique mix of sexy hilarity and curvaceous glam to a wide variety of stages across New York City, and to Las Vegas, Boston, Washington DC, Key West, Atlanta, Toronto and many more cities around the country with her troupe Dangerous Curves Ahead! Clams was the winner of two coveted trophies, for "Most Innovative" and "Most Comedic" at the Miss Exotic World Pageant, sponsored by the Burlesque Hall of Fame. She is also a Golden Pastie Award winner at the New York Burlesque Festival.

Veronica Varlow

Perfectly embodying the classic vintage spirit, Veronica Varlow is pure Bettie Page meets Jessica Rabbit at their femme fatale best. Aside from being an award-winning actress and an international burlesque star, Veronica runs the DangerDame.com website and online boutique, featuring 1950s style pin up photos galore and the vampiest pin-up dresses you've ever wanted to rob a bank in.

"Projects an image of a siren so alluring you simply can't resist her, even when you know you're headed straight for hell (or jail)" - The Gothamist

Zahra Hashemian

Zahra Hashemian is a dancer, actor, and vocalist living in New York City. She had the privilege to perform at Lincoln Center as the lead solo dancer for the Metropolitan Opera production of Thais, during the 2008-09 season. She is a member of the Desert Sin Dance company. Zahra has performed at such venues as the Merce Cunningham Theater, Webster Hall, club Element, The Knitting Factory, Club Sol, FIT Theater, The Zipper Factory Theater, Producer's Club, Shanghai Mermaids, Theatre de Menilmontant (Paris, France), and the 2008 Whitney Biennial. Her dance training includes Bellydance (emphasis on Tribal Fusion style), Swing dance, Modern, Jazz, Tango and some Flamenco.

Jazz swingin' beats...original, reimagined & remixed!

DJ Miss Bliss

Miss Bliss has performed for crowds of 1000+ on four continents, touring Europe, Asia and South America three times each. She has performed in 19 countries, 22 US States, and at over 150 venues worldwide. In 2006, Miss Bliss decided to hang up the headphones and dedicate herself to environmental conservation and international development. Since then, she has spent over 20 months living in developing countries including Tanzania, Nepal and Costa Rica, including 10 months in Zanzibar as a Fulbright scholar studying community-based marine conservation. Now back in New York, Miss Bliss is DJing again, spinning classic jazz & swing in speakeasies and cabarets.

DJ Dhundee

DJ Dhundee is known for his eclectic and soulful sets that fuse delicious 1920s-30s jazz and broken beats. From his extensive music collection filled to the brim with classic gems, popular songs, and rare finds, he serves up the sounds with his signature style and seamless flow. Performing throughout New York, with appearances from LA to London, Dhundee also curates the legendary party "Brooklyn Bounce" alongside DJ partner Stimulus of The Real Live Show. He has spun at private parties for Comedy Central, Istar Financial, Spike TV 2006 US Tour, Straight No Chaser Magazine, Good Magazine, HOME Magazine, Wired Magazine, David Torres Productions, and Danny Simmons Gallery. Winner of four gold International Promax/BDA Awards for its music compositions for Comedy Central and MTV, Sugarcuts, Dhundee's boutique music production company, also supplies such top TV networks as Showtime, Nickelodeon, VH1, FUSE, Spike TV, and many more.

DJ Shakey

DJ Shakey, aka Julie Covello, has been a professional nightclub / mobile disc jockey / wedding dj for over 14 years. She is also a record collector, music consultant, and veteran of the music video industry. She specializes in diverse music, music in media, dance parties, and special concepts. Her music collection includes over 9000 vinyl recordings and cds. She is a party co-ordinator, promoter, experienced host, and has performed on radio, internet, and television broadcasts.

DJ Zemi17

Composer, musician and DJ Zemi17 creates some of the most unusual music you'll have ever heard on the dance floor. He sources his sounds from custom digital samples he's collected over the years like a vacationer does photographs. He's sampled archaic electronics, ancient sacred gamelan orchestras, frogs from 4 continents, and insects from the rainforest to the desert. Sometimes the sounds are sampled live, then cut and layered as a sonic college. The sound sources are relayed through various digital and analog effect processors, then syncopated into multi-layered tapestries of sound that range in style from ethnic Indonesian and African traditions, to ambient soundscapes, and techno. Zemi can usually be found spinning his magic at the best underground parties in NYC, weaving an infectious groove that keeps the dance floor moving long after the sun has come up.

Plus!

FREE dance class: Akemi Kinukawa

Since Akemi fell in love with Lindy Hop in Washington, D.C. over 10 years ago, she has been an avid social dancer who performs, competes and teaches Lindy Hop. She has performed with New York based dance team, Lindy Hop All Stars as well as Big Apple Lindy Hoppers, at several major events including the Midsummer Night Swing Opening Night at Lincoln Center. Most importantly though, she held the Guinness World Record for Dance Marathon by dancing for 52 hours! She currently teaches swing dancing classes at Dardo Galletto Studios near Times Square every Wednesday.

FREE dance class: Angela Harriell of The Love Show

Known for the witty, sexy, and outrageous numbers she choreographs for The Love Show, her cabaret dance troupe, and for Nutcracker: Rated R, her underground holiday hit, Angela has been teaching swing dance for over a decade. Her lovingly iconoclastic approach to the classics produces a style that bridges the generation gap and demolishes preconceived notions. She has taught at SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Binghamton, as an adjunct professor, and at Peridance, and is currently teaching at Ridgefield School of Dance and Brooklyn Dance Center.

Tarot readings: Marcy Currier

Irrepressible mystic and visionary, Marcy Currier is an intuitive healer skilled in the metaphysical arts. Unphased by the impossible and guided by the Unknown, Marcy's mission is to engage as many people as possible in celebrating life as an endless series of experiments in Truth and adventures in Love.

Our fabulous sponsor!

Bettie Page Reveals All!

In a docu-comedy romp through 1950's American pop culture, the reclusive "Dark Angel," Bettie Page, chronicles the behind-the-scenes story of her rise as a cult icon and for the first time fully reveals the story of her mysterious appearance at the height of her career in 1957. Unseen for more than 50 years and known to the public only by her iconic photographs, an unparalleled mystique has built up around Bettie Page. Here, she reveals the real woman behind the iconic image.

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