Big Bands, Jazz Dance & Social Change | CCSF

Submitted by the Event Organizer

City College of San Francisco Presents Dawn Hampton in Honor of Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, Jazz Legend Dawn Hampton will speak, perform, and social dance at City College San Francisco, accompanied on stage by Chris Lee, Ashley Sarver, and renowned San Francisco musicians Lavay Smith, Leon Oakley, Clint Baker, and Chris Siebert.

Schedule of Big Bands, Jazz Dance & Social Change:

7:00 to 7:15 pm—Dawn Hampton ‘Feels’ the Music

The legendary Dawn Hampton expresses her belief that social dancing is the solution to almost every problem. Her narrative addresses issues of civil rights, New York City politics, and social transformation. Watching Dawn dance heightens the experience of listening to jazz, and reinforces the relationship between music and movement.

7:15 to 8:15 pm—The Legacy of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Billie Holiday & Ella Fitzgerald

San Francisco musicians Clint Baker & Leon Oakley perform a few early jazz standards, and talk legacy left by Louis Armstrong. Pianist Chris Siebert and singer Lavay Smith perform songs by Count Basie, while reflecting on the raw Kansas City sound and the tremendous rhythm section of the Basie orchestra. Lavay goes on to talk about how the legendary voices of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald forever changed American popular music.

8:15 to 8:30 pm—Lindy Hop & The Castle Dance Project

Chris Lee, a producer, dancer, and choreographer, and Ashley Sarver, the director of a high school, work together to advocate for the inclusion of jazz-dance programs in K – 12 schools. They discuss The Castle Dance Project: their effort to raise awareness of dance as a way of life, by using the project’s website to showcase grass-roots efforts to incorporate swing music and dance into schools’ curricula.

8:30 to 8:45 pm—Dawn Hampton ‘Feels’ the Music, Part II

Dawn again performs her dance, and this time invites the audience to join her on stage. She shows us that the swing rhythm transcends musical and cultural boundaries, by dancing her swinging style to Bhangra music from India.

8:45 to 9:00 pm—Intermission / Q & A

9:00 to 9:30 pm—Lindy Hop Dance Lesson

Chris and Ashley teach the fundamentals of the Lindy Hop: feeling the pulse of the music, connecting with your partner, and moving musically and confidently through space. Free admission. New dancers welcome, and partners rotate.

9:30 to 11:30 pm—Band Performance & Swing Dance

Join Clint Baker, Leon Oakley, and an all-star band, along with Dawn, Chris, and Ashley for an evening of live jazz music and social dancing. Open dance floor. New dancers welcome, come with or without a partner. DJ’d music during band breaks.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.