Saturday night, May 1 is the Next Generation Swing Dance Club monthly dance at Allegro Ballroom in Emeryville.   Dance starts at 6:00pm with DJ Rupert Schroeder. There is a beginning WCS lesson from 7pm -8pm in the back room with special guest Luis Crespo. This is the last Luck of the Draw contest before the Finals in June.   Please note that Next Generation gets to stay in the main ballroom for the entire evening from 6pm until late!  It helps Next Gen if you arrive before 9pm.  BRING YOUR CLUB CARD! Next Gen is checking for membership cards at the registration desk.

Sunday May 2, is  Swing in da City at Cheryl Burke Dance in San Francisco.    Special guest Luis Crespo teaches an intermediate class from 6-7pm.  Kim Sifter teaches a Beginning class at 6:00 at the same time.  There will be WCS Dance from  7:00 - 10:00 pm.  Snacks provided.  Lesson and party $14, party only $8.  This dance is now moving to the first Sunday of the month. Easy parking, good dance floor.  For information, please call (415) 252-9000 or contact info@cherylburkedance.net.

Sunday May 2, is  Top Of Beardsleys’  Anniversary Swing Dance Party at the Peninsula Italian American Social Club from 6-10pm.  Come celebrate 32 years of promoting Swing Dancing in the Bay Area. The Peninsula Italian American Social Club is located at 100 North “B” Street in San Mateo. The DJs are Kelly Casanova, Randy Krul of Two Left Feet, Phil Trau & Michelle Kinkaid.  Don’t miss this wonderful dance.  They gather a lot of dancers!!

Tuesday May 4, Tuesday nights in Novato, at the WnY Warehouse in Novato from 6:30-10:30 pm has a special guest instructor, Luis Crespo.  6:30-7:30pm Workshop 1, Dancing on Glass, making your basics smoother.  7:30-8:30pm Workshop 2 Social, sweet moves that work for both him and her! Both workshops for all levels of dancers.  Extended hours for open dancing from 8:30-11:30pm.  See below in the lesson section for details.  Open dancing from 8:00-10:30pm.  For more information, contact Yenni at dance@wnywarehouse.com, 415.828.3408 or check the website www.wnywarehouse.com .  Location is WnY Warehouse, 64 Digital Drive, Novato, CA 94949, Enter from the front of the building, the door to the warehouse is on the left hand side next to the roll up door/loading dock.

Please note that Kelly’s second Sunday dance at Ellington Hall has been canceled.  She will be relocating to Allegro Ballroom for the second Sunday dance starting in July.

Saturday night, May 15, is the Doc Kraft Band at the Presidio Yacht Club at Fort Baker in Sausalito under the Golden Gate Bridge from 8:30pm-1:00am.   Doc’s music ranges from Jazz, Blues, Country, Funk, Latin, Rock, to Oldies.  They play a selection of the best classic standards from the 1930’s to the 1980’s for your listening and dancing pleasure. Admission is $5.  This is not a strictly west coast swing venue so good to bring a dance partner with you.  Details and directions at www.dockraft.com and  www.dockraft.com/yacht_club_directions.htm

Sunday, May 16 is Mike Pyle’s Bayside Swing at the Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland which will be held every third Sunday of the month from 7:00-10:30 pm.  Intermediate WCS lesson from 6-7pm.   This is a large wood floor for WCS dancing.   Details and directions at www.baysideswing.com or //audiopyle.com/dances.html or www.justdanceballroom.com. Just Dance Ballroom is located at 2500 Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94606.

Saturday night, May 22, will be the Redwood Empire Monthly Swing Dance at Odd Fellows Hall at 545 Pacific Avenue in Santa Rosa.  Included at the dance is a free beginner lesson from 7:00-8:00 pm.  Dance also starts at 7:00 pm and continues to 11 pm. For information, please go to www.resdc.org or call (707) 762-8928.

Saturday, May 22, is the San Francisco Symphony Black and White Ball around City Hall in San Francisco.  I will not be organizing a group this year.  If you are interested, please go to the event website: www.sfsymphony.org/season/default.aspx?id=42038

Sunday, May 23, is Lakeside Swing at the Veterans Hall at Lake Merritt in Oakland now held on the fourth Sunday of the month from 7:00-10:30 pm.   There will an intermediate WCS lesson with Patty Vo from 6:00-7:00pm. DJ Mike Pyle then presents a great mix of swing, hustle and more for general dancing. This is a great room and floor for WCS dancing!   Details and directions at www.lakesideswing.com.   If you would like to be on Mike’s list directly, please contact him at mike@audiopyle.com . Oakland Veterans Hall, 200 Grand Ave. at Lake Merritt in Oakland.

New Monday night venue  Monday, May 10 and May 24 . National Champion, Melissa Rutz introduces a new West Coast Swing Lesson and Dance Party every other week at The Dance Loft, 2475 3rd Street near 22nd Street, Suite #311, San Francisco, CA  94107, 415-846-3154.  Event is every 2nd and 4th Monday.  Beginning WCS Lesson  7-8pm.   Dance Party 8-11pm.  Cost (cash only) $15 Lesson & Dance, $10 Dance Only.  Please be aware that since the dance is at a city loft, the front door of the building will be locked.  So you’ll have to knock at the door and someone will let you in and guide you upstairs to the loft. There will be someone available at the door around 6:45pm to start letting people in for the lesson.  Plenty of street parking. Light Snacks Provided.  Want a free pass? Volunteers needed for door duty.  Contact Melissa Rutz at mmrutz@aol.com or www.melissarutz.com/thedanceloft

Tuesday, May 25 is a dance with a live Big Band in Novato.  The People of Note, a 15 piece band, present their Tuesday Big Band Dance at the Margaret Todd Senior Center in Novato, 1560 Hill Road, from 7:30 to 9:30. Admission is only $5. The center has a nice, large dance floor. This band plays a mix of general ballroom, latin, and medium swing, much of it WCS friendly.  Range of attendees is seniors to teenagers.  Best to bring a dance partner.  Next dance will be June 27.  For more info or directions, call the Center at 415-893-7940.

Sunday, May 31,  is a special 5th Sunday Lakeside Swing at the Veterans Hall at Lake Merritt in Oaklandfrom 7:00-10:30 pm.  There will an intermediate WCS lesson from 6:00-7:00pm. DJ Mike Pyle then presents a great mix of swing, hustle and more for general dancing. This is a great room and floor for WCS dancing!     Details and directions at www.lakesideswing.com.   If you would like to be on Mike’s list directly, please contact him at mike@audiopyle.com . Oakland Veterans Hall, 200 Grand Ave. at Lake Merritt in Oakland.