Desert City Swing SUNDAYS!

Mike Gadberry is quite possibly the KING of Swing Dance Event Organizers!!!

The MAGNIFICENTLY Brilliant director of the smashingly successful event, Desert City Swing, has out-done himself this time!

Arthur Murray Dance Studios is the scene of a spectacular west coast swing dance every Sunday night in Phoenix! 

This PHENOM is outrageous! I could feel the vibe all the way out to the end of the very full parking lot - where even a bunch of CATS were enjoying the party!




The dance was like an event kick-off night at any major convention in the country!!! 

Everyone brought their A-Game and came to play like it was the US Open!  

Some of the most talented dancers in the country really impressed me on the floor.

And these people are nice, too.

There was no clique - no attitude - and no BSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

Why can't everyone be like this?

Check out this beautiful smiling face in the picture to the left. That's Kirsten Radoff, co-owner (with Mike Gadbury) of Paragon Dance Center.

She knows how to welcome dancers!

There is also a very popular Tuesday west coast swing dance at Paragon by Robert Campos - a very popular teacher in Phoenix.

http://www.paragondance.net/

And the music - WOW! I limped out at the end of the night because I couldn't sit one dance out! (Not that I'm complaining!)

Shawn Jessup is an amazing DJ!

It was very contempo - with an R&B feel. THANX for playing some FRESH tunes!

The same old list from USA Swing Dance Network is played everywhere. Enough already!

By now, everyone knows that I love Strictly Westie dances in NYC most in THE WHOLE WORLD!!!

Nobody is nicer, or throws a greater dance PARTY than Michael Diener and Jen Czarkowski - BUT:

Mike and Kirsten are right up there as close as anyone can get. That's the best endorsement I can give.

This is a NOT-TO-BE-MISSED venue. It is possibly the BEST west coast swing dance party west of the Mississippi River!

If you are within 100 miles on a Sunday evening - you have to be certifiable to miss it!
                                     

http://desertcityswing.com/SundayDance.htm
                                                            

There is a beginning lesson taught by Mike Miller at 6pm; an intermediate lesson taught by Robert Campos at 6pm; and youth lesson taught by Maddy Finley at 7pm.

The class is $7 and dance admission is $7. (7pm to 11pm).
As the old timers in Tucson say: THAT's A GONGA! 

(And there's food - too!)

Mike Gadberry is also responsible to creating the
"For the Love of Dance Foundation":
http://www.fortheloveofdancefoundation.org/




This site is quite interesting and says a lot about both Mike and Kirsten (who is a hands-on treasurer). FLOD is a non-profit, designed to offer dance opportunities to at-risk and underpriviledged children.

The proceeds of last year's Desert City Swing event were donated
(as well as the proceeds every Sunday night).

Just in case you are coming for the Spectacular Desert City Swing in September (or are visiting for some other reason), there will be articles coming up on what else there is to do in the Phoenix metropolitan area in the coming months. http://www.desertcityswing.com/

Thanx Mike and Kirsten for giving me a major highlight on my visit to Arizona. Loved the dance and loved you guys. Desert City Swing and all of its endeavors are just what "Get A Really Good Social Life!" is all about!