United Arts announces the addition of
swing dancing to First Friday activities in downtown Raleigh.
On July 6, from 6-8 pm, the Exploris courtyard will host the big band sounds of the Casablanca Orchestra. Dancers young and old are invited to dance under the stars as Debra Ramsey Boz, a prize-winning professional dancer and instructor, offers swing dance instruction. Demonstrations of swing dancing will help to get the party started and entertain wallflowers.
First Friday is one of Raleigh’s most popular evening events. Enjoy the first Friday of each month downtown and take full advantage of Raleigh’s exciting cultural scene featuring art, music, and dining. The “gallery walk” welcomes visitors to a citywide gallery open house. Many restaurants offer specials and museums frequently launch new exhibitions. The entire evening is free to the public. “United Arts is pleased to add dancing to the evening already filled with visual art and good restaurants,” said Eleanor Jordan, President and CEO of United Arts. “Bring the arts to our community is what United Arts is all about.”
Jordan added that a private donor had helped to make the swing dance component a reality for First Friday and that United Arts would like to offer the event in August and September if it proves popular.
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Casablanca Orchestra is a powerful, well-rehearsed 18-piece Big Band. A repertoire of over 300 songs includes many Big Band Swing, Jazz, Latin, and Blues standards from the 40’s to the 90’s, by such greats as Count Basie, Woody Herman, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, and contemporaries Thad Jones and Harry Connick, Jr.
Details about First Friday events and activities is listed at
godowntownraleigh.com.