Swing lovers then and today enjoy the way the music takes you to another place of happiness; they live the music and not only sit listening to it.
On November 22, 2018 – NEAT initiated what could be aregularly reoccurring event; an evening of performances featuring Prohibition-era Swing Dancing, Swing Music and Gypsy Jazz. Tiffany Estrada and Nadia Duran organized this highly successful and entertaining evening whichfeatured performances by Dancers, Musicians and an appropriately attired Audiencein period dress.
The Jazz Age originated at the end of World War One and was born out of a prevailing optimism;a sense that something new was happening and that America was finally breakingfrom European culture and coming into its own.
With the passing of the Prohibition Act, America officially became “Dry” in January 1920 and people keen to bypass the law also looked for music to accompany their actsof rebellion. Alcohol was sold illegally in SPEAKEASIES and the early big band jazz formations best expressed the new swinging, effervescent, exuberant lifestyle.
Staunchsupporters of a “Dry America” described the genre as a rebellious, desynchronizedform of music. But Young America quickly fell in love with this “strange music”.The off-beat rhythm and romance of early jazz and Big Bands whose rhythmsintrigued them and led them to the dance floor, where dancing to jazz music at SPEAKEASIES became a popular way forkids to blow off steam.
The SPEAKEASY show featured THE NONOS, Swing Dancer ANIKA KOPFÜBER, the Swing Dance Formation HAPPY FEET STUTTGART, Soloists JANINE, KIMBERLEY TREES, the Swing Guitarist SALVATORE PANUNZIO, PianistFLORIAN EISENTRAUT, with Guest Vocalists MAX OISIN KINNARNEY, SYLVIA OWENS, TIFFANY ESTRADA and an array of Shady Characters played by RABAH KHILFEH, SUSANSCHWARTZ and the SWING KULTUR DANCERS.
Photos by Jim Martin
New English American Theater Stuttgart 