RDU Rent Party

RDU Rent Party: Sugar Rush Eeeedition featuring Bumper Jacksons – November 7, 2013

Between EBC, Costumed dances, TPing houses, and scary movie marathons, it’s easy to forget what this Halloween Holiday Season is all about. That, my friends, is of course CAAAAAANDY!!!! So, the Thursday following the Eastern Balboa Championships, RDU Rent Party will be throwing a post-Halloween candy cleanup and costume one-last-use party. We’ll be bringing back the Bumper Jacksons from Baltimore, MD and have been told we are likely to have a ridiculously costumed band for the night. 🙂

So consider it your Hero’s Duty (not that kind of doody) to dress up for this event. The best dressed will win a special prize from our resident Stinkbrain, Laura Windley. Bonus points will be given for those dressing as video game characters. Anyone attempting to go Turbo and cheat the game will be candy-coated and locked in the Fungeon where you will be forced to play the game (http://www.disney.co.uk/wreck-it-ralph/games/?game=sugar-rush) and listen to the Sugar Rush song on an endless loop.

So bring whatever leftover Halloween candy you have for the build-a-racer mini game (NOTE: The racer factory may have been destroyed by a game-jumping bad guy). You can gorge yourself on refined sugars and dance like mad until the clock winds down, then it will all go up in a giant geyser of Mentos and Diet Coke and we’ll reset the game to do it all again.

The Bumper Jacksons are a big, fat party. Hot and sweet, their trad jazz and pre-war country repertoire paint’s America’s story from New Orleans’ brothels to Appalachian hollers. Unafraid to scrap together new sounds from forgotten 78’s, the Bumper Jacksons boldly and elegantly balance paying homage to the traditions while fashioning their own unique, DIY style. They perform the old traditional sounds of America, heart-wrenching and youthful, and always in the spirit of raw adventure.

Triangle Dance Studio – The Lindy Lab Studio Room
2603 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC

Free Beginner Lindy Hop Lesson at 7:00 pm
Dancing Starts at 8:00 pm
Admission is pay what you can with a $10 suggested donation

Please also be aware that parking may be limited so please find overflow parking at the Dentist’s or Vet’s offices and not on the street.

October 24, 2013 – RDU Rent Party: Philly Invasion Edition featuring Perseverance Jazz Band

On October 24th, the City of Brotherly Love is sending some love our way. No, we are not erecting a statue of Rocky (or Jason posing as Rocky) at TDS, but we will be getting some swing love in the form of the Perseverance Jazz Band.

This New Orleans inspired band has been keeping Philly dance floors hopping for some time now and is making a pilgrimage south which naturally has to include a stop at RDU Rent Party. They will also be christening the first Rent Party dance in the new Lindy Lab studio at TDS, meaning this is the first band that gets to start at 8 and not have to work their way around Salsa classes to setup. So they’ll be fresh and ready to come out swingin’ for a knockout of a dance.

In addition, Ms. Breanna Perry, also of Philadelphia, will be accompanying the band, spinning tunes for the night and teaching a solo Charleston workshop from 7-8. So we’ll be forgoing the normal beginner lesson to give everyone a shot at picking up some of Breanna’s hot moves and we imagine there will be a multitude of Charleston jams accompanying the band at this dance.

Suggested price for the dance is $10 and a suggested additional $5 for the workshop which will be collected in a separate hat. As always, all money collected goes directly to the entertainers.

Triangle Dance Studio – Lindy Lab Studio (look for the orange door frame)
2603 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC

Beginner solo Charleston lesson from 7-8 p.m.

Dance from 8-11 p.m.

August 15, 2013 – Rent Party: Oregon Trail Edition featuring Bumper Jacksons

August brings a new band to the RDU Rent Party lineup, the incredibly fun Bumper Jacksons. This five piece band from the DC/Baltimore region is a relative newcomer to the dance scene but is already making impressions and drawing attention for their versatility and showmanship. They’ll be playing two Triangle dances on their trip down south, one at TSDS focusing more on trad jazz while their Rent Party debut will trade out a band member and bring pedal steel to the mix giving the RP night a Western swing and country blues flavor.

And, of course, we can’t think about going out West without immediately jumping to that penultimate game of river fording and buffalo slaughter, Oregon Trail. Nothing quite rings in our childhood quite like the frustration of that 200lbs weight limit on carrying meat back from a 5 buffalo hunting excursion. Or pushing the party hard when someone got dysentery just so you could scrawl inappropriate messages on a digital headstone. And of course you’d choose to be a banker and load up on bullets because who cared about the points bonus when you could be rolling 20 oxen deep like a stretch limo of the open plains? This Rent Party will help you relive all those memories without the 2000 mile journey and you won’t have to change disks at Fort Laramie.

To check out why we are so excited for this band go to www.bumperjacksons.com

Rent Party dances are pay-what-you-can with a suggested $10 donation and all money collected going directly to the band.

Triangle Dance Studio
2603 S Miami Blvd Durham

Beginner lesson at 8
Band plays 9-midnight

NOTICE: Please be aware that street parking is NOT allowed. Please park at the dentist’s office or veterinary office across the street. Last Rent Party we got complaints about people parking on Rolling Pines in front of houses. Your cooperation in respecting the neighbors’ space is integral to us keeping Rent Party going. Thank you for your cooperation.

Rent Party: Sweet Sixteen Bars Edition featuring Ethan Uslan and Silent Film Night! July 18 & 19, 2013

July 18th will mark the return of a fine gentleman pianist, Mr. Ethan Uslan to the RDU Rent Party stage. This unassuming 2-time world champion hammered out some amazing tunes the last time he was here, so we are bringing him back, this time for a double header. First on July 18th, he’ll play the Thursday night dance and then on July 19th, we will be hosting a silent movie night at Triangle Dance Studio with Ethan playing the soundtrack live as would have happened in the original silent film days.

In addition, the 18th happens to be the 16th birthday of one Ms. Nicole Dove who you may know from her work on the dance floor or that math test she just aced. Nicole will be partying down in South Carolina for the weekend, but before she does that, we will get a chance to celebrate her birthday in style with cake, dancing, and even some late night dancing if folks stick around for it. For more information on the full celebration, check out the NiBBLS Facebook event.

DJ Matty V will be spinning tunes on the band breaks (well, the Ethan breaks) and we may see some other musicians sit in.

Triangle Dance Studio
2603 S Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC

Live music from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. in the back studio

Free beginner class at 8:00 p.m. in the TDS Guest House

We’ll also be featuring Ethan on July 19 at Triangle Dance Studio for a silent film screening of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid,” featuring live soundtrack by Ethan Uslan! Movie night starts at 8:00 p.m., admission is pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $7.00.

Check out some of Ethan’s most excellent tunes in the YouTube videos below:

RDU Rent Party: Back to the Future Edition featuring the Mint Julep Jazz Band, January 10, 2013

I am really looking forward to the Mint Julep Jazz Band‘s special performance for RDU Rent Party on January 10, 2013 – we’re not exactly going back to the future, but we will give you a full preview of all the songs we are recording for our album in the second set! Polish up your dance shoes and come swing out to the tunes that will make up “Durham on Saturday Night.”

Triangle Dance Studio, back studio
2603 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC
Band plays 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Admission: Pay what you can with a $10.00 suggested donation

Double Rent Party Week! Jessy Carolina and the Hot Mess (1/26) and the Floyd Council Memorial Blues Dance (1/28)

It’s a busy week for RDU Rent Party as we play host two two music events – first, on Thursday, January 26, 2012, Jessy Carolina and the Hot Mess return to North Carolina for a dance at Hot Club of Durham’s weekly Lindy Hop and swing night. This 5 piece New York based hot jazz band is full of energy and Jessy belts it out like no other.

Trotter Building
410 W. Geer Street
Durham, NC

Beginner Lesson at 8:00 p.m. with Adam Speen and Abigail Browning (who will be teaching a Dean Collins and Jewel McGowan class series for Hot Club in February – check it out! http://hotclubofdurham.com/2011/12/intermediate-lesson-dance-like-dean-and-shine-like-jewel/)

Dancing from 9:00 p.m. to midnight

Admission is pay-what-you-can with a $10 suggested donation, with all donations going to the band.

Floyd Council

Second, RDU Rent Party welcomes back th’ Bullfrog Willard McGhee and Tad Walters for a very special edition of Rent Party, where all the proceeds of this dance will go to the Floyd Council Memorial Project. Floyd Council was a Piedmont Blues guitarist and singer who began playing in Chapel Hill in the 1920’s and rose to prominence in the 1930’s when he recorded with blues musician Bind Boy Fuller. His influence is widespread, including serving as inspiration and partial namesake of the band Pink Floyd. Floyd Council presently lies in an unmarked grave in the White Oak A.M.E. church cemetery in Sanford, North Carolina. The goal of the Floyd Council Memorial Project is to raise funding in order to:

1) Clear trees and brush at the cemetery
2) Place a marker to memorialize Floyd in recognition for his contribution to Blues
3) Establish long term care and maintenance of the memorial and its immediate surroundings
4) Possible creation and promotion of an annual Floyd Council Memorial Blues Festival

Come out and support th’ Bullfrog’s efforts to promote North Carolina’s blues music heritage and honor one of its most prominent musicians. It will be a night of blues that will make you sway and keep your toes tapping, at any tempo!

Triangle Dance Studio
2603 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC

7:00 p.m. – Beginner lesson

8:00-11:00 p.m. – th’ Bullfrog and Tad play, with special guests John D. Holeman and Lightnin’ Wells

As always, Rent Party is pay what you can with a suggested $10 minimum donation to the band

RDU Rent Party: Glenn Crytzer Takes the Cake Edition, October 13, 2011

Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators played for the Gatsby Edition Rent Party last year and burned it down, so RDU Rent Party is honored to be hosting Glenn on his birthday and would like to cordially invite you to attend and help us celebrate in style.

We will be providing a cookie cake and beverages, you provide the energy. Feel free to bring other refreshments and let’s make sure and give Glenn an unforgettable birthday!

In preparation for the Eastern Balboa Championships, Chris & Holly Owens will be teaching Balboa for the Intermediate and Beginner lessons. Bring your slick shoes and canning wax.

This Rent Party will be held at the Trotter Building in lieu of/collaboration with the normal Thursday night Hot Club of Durham festivities.

The Trotter Building
410 W. Geer St.
Durham, NC

Admission is pay-what-you-can with a suggested $10 donation.

7:00 p.m. – Intermediate Balboa lesson
8:00 p.m. – Beginner Balboa lesson
9:00 p.m. – Birthday boy takes the stage and plays until midnight

RDU Rent Party: Some Like it Hot Edition featuring the Solomon Douglas Sextet

On September 1, 2011, RDU Rent Party is partnering with Hot Club of Durham to bring you a special Thursday edition swing dance at the Trotter Building in Durham, featuring Seattle bandleader Solomon Douglas and his sextet. A special 7:00 p.m. intermediate Role Reversal class will be offered as well as the usual 8:00 p.m. beginner class. The Solomon Douglas Sextet goes on at 9:00 p.m. and plays until midnight. We will also be hosting a J&J (that’s Joe & Jerry) role reversal dance contest!

The Trotter Building
410 W. Geer St.
Durham, NC

As always, Rent Party is pay what you can with a suggested $10 minimum donation to the band. For more information about the event, see http://www.rdurentparty.com.

Rent Party: Piedmont Blues Edition featuring th’ Bullfrog Willard McGhee and Tad Walters, August 12, 2011

On Friday, August 12, 2011, RDU Rent Party is playing host to the swing dance debut of Bullfrog Willard McGhee. Simply known as th’ Bullfrog to many of his fans, his bio describes him as “A multi-instrumentally talented, rambling-shaggy-dog-story-telling, torch-song-sentimental-beer-hall-bawdy-songwriting genius.” He is every part a serious blues man, storyteller and historian of Piedmont and Mountain blues. If you have any interest in blues, southern culture, or serious dance music, you owe it to yourself to be here.

And if you are not blues dance inclined, never fear! There will still be plenty of danceable music for at a variety of tempos and a beginner blues dance lesson before the dance.

Triangle Dance Studio – upstairs studio
2603 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC

Beginner blues dance lesson from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., band plays from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Admission is pay what you can with a $10 suggested donation.

Rent Party: Bad Mofo Edition Featuring The New King Rippers and TCF Bake Sale, July 23, 2011

It’s time for another edition of RDU Rent Party, featuring Triangle trad jazz superstars The New King Rippers. Jason Sager and I will be teaching an intermediate swing dance lesson that will focus on enhancing your performance and inspirational skills on the dance floor. Come as your favorite Bad Mofo and throw down in the World Famous Jack Rabbit Slim’s Twist Contest. Can you dig it? Lesson from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Triangle Dance Studio, band plays from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Also, The Carolina Fascinators will be having one of their famous bake sales at the July 23 RDU Rent Party – come dance, buy some goodies, and support this local jazz dance performance troupe!