by John  Stanley
Mar. 16, 2010 01:37 PM
The Arizona Republic

A Night in the 40′s Big Band Dance

Ticket Prices are $35.00 in advance and $40.00 on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased on the Night in the 40s Dance website, http://www.bigbanddance.com and at the Museum Gift Shop, 10:00am – 4:00pm, seven days a week: Commemorative Air Force Museum, 2017 N. Greenfield Road, Mesa.

Great music transcends time.

Consider the years surrounding World War II, say the decade from 1937 to 1946.

“There’s a kind of romance about the music of that era, even though we were in the middle of a terrible war,” said Valley jazz singer Kathy Donald. “But such music came out of it, such beautiful music. I think it will go on forever.”

There’s no mystery to its appeal, she said.

“It’s the rhythm, the beat. It’s catchy, especially the swing style. It really gets the toes tapping and makes people want to dance,” she said.

Experience that for yourself Saturday evening, when the exhilarating sounds of Glenn Miller and the sweet harmonies of the Andrews Sisters fill the air at A Night in the 40′s.

“The idea is to keep the music and history from this time period alive,” said Rick Senffner, wing administrator at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Mesa’s Falcon Field, which is hosting the dance. “And to honor our veterans.”

One of their guests of honor at the dance this year, he said, is a World War II pilot who was shot down and spent almost two years as a POW.

The evening’s festivities also commemorate the 65th birthday of the B-17 now known as “Sentimental Journey,” which will be on display. Guests can have their photo taken in front of the aircraft, which bears a painting of Betty Grable in her famous pinup pose.

About 1,100 guests typically attend the annual dance, Senffner said, making it one of the largest big band events in the nation.

The evening will begin with an appearance by the Walk In-Dance Out group, doing some of the popular dances from the era. Then the Kathy Donald Jazz Ensemble takes the stage for a “WW II Musical Show.” One of the highlights, Donald said, comes when she and two other singers perform some of the Andrews Sisters’ biggest hits, including “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Rum and Coca Cola.”

They’ll be followed by the Sun Lakes Big Band, which plays the pulse-pounding music of such popular WW II-era composers as Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey, Harry James and Stan Keaton.

Guests are encouraged to dress in the styles of the 1940′s. Anything goes, Senffner said, from military uniforms (Allied forces only) to zoot suits. One year, he said, a guest came as Albert Einstein, complete with slide rules and wild hair.

Costumes will be judged by those in attendance, with the top three men and women receiving trophies.

There will also be a swing dance competition. Because of the renewed interest in swing dancing in recent years, the organizers have created two categories – over 40 and under 40.

Although guests of all ages enjoy the music and dancing, it seems to mean the most to the veterans from that era, and their families, Senffner said.

Donald recalled the moment last year when she and others performed an a cappella version of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“The response was amazing,” she said. “When everybody stood and put their hands over their hearts to sing the anthem, it was very emotional. We didn’t know if we were going to get through it last year. We were all
crying as we were singing. We don’t have enough of those veterans left.”

Proceeds from the evening will benefit the CAF Museum at Falcon Field.

When: 4:30 – 11 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Commemorative Air Force Museum,
2017 N. Greenfield Road, Mesa.
Admission: $35 in advance, $40 at the door.
Details: 480-924-1940, bigbanddance.com

http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/events/articles/2010/03/16/20100316night-in-the-40s-in-mesa.html

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B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey on display along with other warbirds. Come dressed in the styles of the 40’s for the costume and dance contests. Call (480) 924-1940 x111 for more information.

Ticket Prices are $35.00 in advance and $40.00 on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased on the Night in the 40s Dance website, http://www.bigbanddance.com soon, and at the Museum Gift Shop, 10:00am – 4:00pm, seven days a week:

Arizona Wing CAF Aircraft Museum
2017 N. Greenfield Rd
Mesa, AZ 85215

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