For 39 years, a Levitt Pavilion tradition — besides great, eclectic entertainment by the banks of the river — has been dancing.
Little kids dance to any kind of music. Older folks swing to the music of big bands. Members of my generation sometimes get up (and down) to the sounds of our rock ‘n’ roll youth, to the mortification of any teenagers nearby.
But the Levitt also offers a RiverSwing Series. They’re free pre-concert dance lessons in the style of whatever music is featured that night.
There’s professional dance instruction, demonstrations, even a dance floor.
Rekha, the Bhangra DJ. (Photo/Nisha Sondhe)
Seven evenings are planned this summer — starting this Saturday (June 30). Popular DJ Rekha returns, merging hip-hop with traditional South Asian Bhangra music. Time to get your Punjabi freak on!
The next day (Sunday, July 1) Duchess Di & the Distractions — an 8-piece band with a classic horn section — offer blues, jump and swing in the Ruth Brown, Dinah Washington and Louis Prima style.
The series continues throughout the season, with tango, Brazilian forró, two-step and Irish step.
There’s even belly dancing (men are invited, though I’m sure most will prefer to spectate).
The rest of America enjoys “Dancing With the Stars.”
In Westport, we dance under them.
