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Great Music at
Hepcats Events! |
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Other than actually learning to swing dance, the cornerstone of swing dancing is
the music.
The Hepcats believe the music is important,
and that it's impossible to separate the music from the dance.
At Hepcats events,
you'll hear great swing music that will make you want to get up and dance! |
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Big Band Swing Dance Collaborations with the
UK School of Music |
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The Hepcats sponsor twice a year
Big Band Swing Dance collaborations with the
UK School of Music. One of two
organizations normally provide the music: |
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o The
Kentucky Jazz Repertory
Orchestra (KJRO). KJRO
consists of the finest and most talented
faculty, alumni and musicians from Kentucky area
colleges and universities. KJRO is
co-directed by UK School of Music professors
Miles Osland and Dick Domek. |
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o The University of Kentucky (UK) Jazz
Ensemble (UKJE). UKJE consists of the
most talented students in the award winning and
nationally recognized UK Jazz Studies program.
UKJE is directed by UK School of Music professor
Miles Osland. |
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For information about the next
Big Band Swing Dance collaboration, click
here.
For more information about how
these collaborations got started, click
here. |
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Hepcats
Swing Dances! |
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The Hepcats sponsor regular (1-3 times a month)
swing dances. These dances feature great
music provided by DJ's from the Hepcats.
These dances normally take place at 1801
Alexandria Drive (Arthur Murray dance Studio),
Lexington, KY. |
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Mike
Richardson is the primary DJ for most Hepcats
events in Lexington.
He is a well known
swing dance
DJ, respected for his
thorough knowledge of swing-era music, genres and styles.
He has DJ’d at numerous regional and local
events in Louisville, KY, Cincinnati, OH and
Columbus, OH. |
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Mike's
love of swing dancing naturally meshed with his love for the great music of
the swing era.
As a
youngster much of
the popular music of his day was
the sound of Motown and Stax records (and he sometimes spins tunes from that
great era of soul music). But more often than not, Mike was listening to the
“oldies” music played on the radio, which at that time was the 1930’s and
40’s big band
and jump blues music, his true loves in swing music. |
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Hepcats dances, Mike likes to play great music that's really fun for swing
dancing, primarily Big Band and Jump Blues, but also some R&B, 50's, Rockabilly, etc..., at
a variety of tempos from his collection of over 10,000 (and still
counting) songs! |
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For information about the next
Hepcats Swing Dance, click
here. |
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The Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra (KJRO)
The Hepcats Favorite Band! |
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KJRO has released two CD's. |
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 Ellington
Celebration
In 1999,
KJRO released their first CD “Ellington
Celebration”, a retrospective of Ellington’s music
from
the 1920’s to
the 1970’s (1999 was also the
centennial year of Ellington’s birth). With the
release of “Ellington Celebration”, KJRO
established itself as one of the best jazz
repertory orchestras currently performing.
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Flying Home
Released in 2009,
Flying Home is KJRO's
newest CD, recorded just
for
swing dancers!
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CD Track Listing
o
Review of the CD
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Where to buy the
CD
You can get this CD at any
Hepcats event.
All
proceeds from the sale of the CD go to the band. |
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Artist
Spotlight |
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The Hepcats often receive compliments about the great music
played at it's events, both live music and DJ'd events.
But of course, the credit goes to
the bands and musicians! Click on the
Artist Spotlight link below to learn more about the
musicians/bands whose songs are often played at Hepcats events! |
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Artist Spotlight:
Louis Jordan
& His Tympany Five |
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Other
Hepcats Events |
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Hepcats are one of the sponsors for
Swingin' on Main, Lexington's
annual street dance. Mike Richardson
selects and coordinates the details for the band
that plays for this event. |
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Keep an eye out
on the Hepcats web site for future Hepcats events/collaborations!
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Why
Learn to Swing Dance
with the Hepcats?
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We teach the original swing dances of the swing-era, accept no substitutes!
•• Already know some
swing dance? Move beyond
"step, step, rock step" and take
the challenge
to
be
a Lindy Hopper!
••
Learn
Balboa! To be a well-rounded
and versatile swing-era swing dancer, you
need to learn - and embrace - Balboa! Plus
it's really cool to dance effortlessly to
200 bpm while other dancers just watch
and wonder
how you do that!!
•
It's a great way to meet people.
•
Dancing will help you stay
physically active.
Men's Health
magazine named
Lexington the
least active city in the nation. Obviously theyhaven't
been to
a Hepcats event!
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Learn from instructors with the
knowledge, experience and expertise
to get you out on the dance floor,
looking cool and
having fun!
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The Swing Era = great dancing and great music! |
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Questions about Hepcats events?
Contact
Mike Richardson,
info@Luv2SwingDance.com,
859-420-2426. |
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Hepcats
EMail!
Sign up and stay
in the know
about swing dance events in
Lexington/central KY!
Note: we don’t sell, lend or provide
email info to anyone! |
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