By
Aaron Cowman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
'Swingin' to the Season' blends big band, dancing
Thursday is Dead Day, and along with a break in classes, students will have the opportunity to break out their dancing shoes.
The UA School of Music and Dance is presenting "Swingin' to the Season, A Dance Extravaganza" at 6:30 p.m. in the Memorial Student Union Arizona Ballroom.
The concert will be the first of many Dead Day performances for the jazz department as a form of release for stressed-out students.
"We're hoping it will be a Dead Day tradition," said Mona Elleithee, administrative assistant to the University of Arizona Vocal Jazz Ensemble. "It's a way for them (students) to get away and relax."
Vocal Ease and nUAnce, two of the jazz department's premier vocal jazz ensembles, are scheduled to perform along with the classic swing music of the Joel Gottschalk Big Band.
"They're hot," said Jim Taylor, an adjunct assistant jazz professor and the event's director. "He (Gottschalk) is just an outstanding player."
However, the performance is directed mainly toward dance.
"We're advertising it as a dance event," Elleithee said. "This is the first time we are doing a major collaboration. It's more interactive with the campus community and more interactive with the audience."
Taylor said that he hopes people will get involved with the show.
"Instead of just watch-my-feet type of stuff, the show will be very interactive," Taylor said. "People can get up and dance with the music."
The show will begin with dance lessons followed by performances from the vocal groups. The Joel Gottschalk Big Band will close out the four-and-a-half hour long production with classic swing music from the 1930s through the 1950s.
"The music should attract a lot of people," said Elleithee, who also sings in nUAnce. "We'll have an audience of people in their 60s and 70s and college students."
Besides providing entertainment, the performance will also serve as a benefit show. Taylor is pushing the university to add a vocal jazz degree to the fine arts program, and the show's proceeds will go to help the cause.
Degrees are currently available in instrumental jazz performance, but vocalists are left out in the cold.
"The university does not consider voice as an instrument as far as jazz goes," Elleithee said.
Tickets for "Swingin'" are $10 in advance or $12 at the door, but discounted tickets are available in room 214 of the Music building. They are two for $16 there, or two for $20 at the Harvill Copy Center. Dance lessons and refreshments are included.
Taylor and Elleithee said that they expect a big turn-out for this final project of the year.
"It's going to be an amazing show," Elleithee said. "People can be assured that they will be entertained."
Aaron Cowman can be reached at catalyst@wildcat.arizona.edu.
