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November 3-6 is Mountain Magic Dance Convention in South Lake Tahoe at the Montbleu Hotel and Casino (former Caesar’s Tahoe).  For more information, www.michelledance.com/mmm.html

Sunday, November 13 is Michelle Kinkaid’s “Second Sunday” Monthly Swing Dance  at the Imperial Dance Club in Redwood City from 6-10pm.   The DJ music mix is primarily west coast swing and also contains some hustle, night club two step, country two step, waltz, and latin.  Michelle Kinkaid is the DJ.  Refreshments included.  Check the website for more information. www.michelledance.com/dances.html .

Wednesday, November 16, Ashkenaz brings back West Coast Swing favorite Bernard Anderson and the Old School Band.    Dancers love these guys with a mix of Blues, R&B, Soul, and Funk plus great vocals.  This is the road house music for which West Coast Swing was created.  Bernard has a wonderful voice and also plays some mean sax.  Ashkenaz with its friendly atmosphere, excellent floor, and fine sound system, is a great place to dance.  Ashkenaz is non profit and needs the support of many people to continue its success. PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT ASHKENAZ AND DANCING TO LIVE MUSIC!  Music starts at 8:30 PM and continues until approx midnight.  Cost is $10.  There is a lesson before the music from 7:30-8:30 pm with Nick and Shauna.   Ashkenaz is located at 1317 San Pablo Avenue, in Berkeley.  Details at www.ashkenaz.com/html/calendar.php Nick at 510-524-2546, at nicklaw@pacbell.net

Friday, November 18, 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

Saturday, November 19, Samantha Buckwalter presents a Semi-Private Ladies Styling Workshop Review at the WnY Warehouse in Novato from 1:30pm- 5:00pm. This will be a review of all the prior Ladies Styling Workshops this year.  Workshop will be limited to the first 15 people that sign up.  Attendance at one or more prior Ladies Styling Workshops is a mandatory pre-requisite.  Content will be based on questions from the attendees and items they want to review.  Cost is $40 for the afternoon.  Samantha began dancing at the age of 10 under the guidance of her mother, Kelly Buckwalter Casanova. She has won many national titles and was awarded Top Teacher at America’s Classic. Register for the workshop with Samantha on Facebook, at 707-696-5401 or email Dancewings@aol.com

Saturday, November 19, at the WnY Warehouse in Novato from 7:00-11:30 pm is Kelly and Yenni’s MONTHLY DANCE IN MARIN”.   Both a beginner and intermediate lesson simultaneously from 7:00-8:00 pm each month.  Kelly and Yenni will alternate each month as to who teaches which class.  Open dancing from 8:00-11:30pm with your co-DJ’s Yenni and Kelly.   There is usually a Luck of the Draw contest with a twist.  Cost is $10 including the lesson.  For those under 21, cost is only $7.  For more information, contact either Yenni at  dance@wnywarehouse.com, 415.828.3408 or Kelly at kellycdancer@aol.com or 707-838-0388 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.  Future dances December 17

Saturday, November 19, Swing City Dancer of City College of San Francisco, hosts a special dance party with live music by The Reed Fromer Band from 7-11 pm in room 301 of the Wellness Center on the Ocean Avenue Campus of City College of San Francisco.  Their monthly dance lesson is from 7:00-8:00 pm followed from 8-11pm dancing to the live band.   Admission is $10.  Map and directions at swingcitydancers.wordpress.com/map-and-directions  For more information, Swing City Dancers website swingcitydancers.wordpress.com  Please contact Susan at sboeckma@ccsf.edu for directions and information.

Sunday, November 20, is the NEW Bayside Swing at the newly reopened Metronome Collective in San Francisco  on the Third SUNDAY of the month   from 7:00-10:30 pm.  Intermediate WCS lesson from 6-7 pm with Kurt Senser in the main ballroom.   NEW BASIC WCS LESSON WILL PRECEDE EACH BAYSIDE SWING from 6-7pm with Kim Sifter.  DJ Mike Pyle then presents a great mix of swing, hustle and more for general dancing.  This is a large venue for WCS dancing with a good floor!  Lots of free street parking in front and around the Metronome.   Water, soft drinks and refreshments included.   Details and directions at www.baysideswing.com .   If you would like to be on Mike’s list directly, please contact him at mike@audiopyle.com   The Metronome is located at 1830 17th Street at DeHaro St in San Francisco.

Monday, November 21, National Champion, Melissa Rutz restarts her monthly West Coast Swing Lesson and Dance Party on the fourth Monday only at The Dance Loft, 2475 3rd Street near 22nd Street, Suite #311, San Francisco, CA  94107, 415-846-3154.  There will be two classes.  Beginning WCS from 7-7:45pm and Intermediate WCS from 7:45-8:30 pm. Dance Party 8:30-11:30pm.  Cost (cash only) $20 for two classes including the dance. $15 for one class, $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.  Contact Melissa Rutz at mmrutz@aol.com  or www.melissarutz.com/thedanceloft.html

Tuesday, November 22 is the return of the 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.  For more info or directions, call the Center at 415-893-7940.  No dance in December.

Wednesday, November 23, at the WnY Warehouse in Novato from 8:00pm to midnight is a SPECIAL PRE THANKSGIVING EVE DANCE.    Burn those calories so you can really enjoy turkey day!.  Cost is $5.  For more information, contact Yenni at  dance@wnywarehouse.com, 415.828.3408 For directions, 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.

Saturday, November 26,  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 with Edna Lucero and Dick Jensen.   Dance also starts at 7:00 pm and continues to 11 pm with Club Member DJs.     For information, please go to www.resdc.org   or call (707) 762-8928.  Next dances December 10 (at Ellington Hall) and January 28 at Odd Fellows Hall.

Sunday, November 27, 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.   Intermediate WCS lesson from 6-7 pm in the main ballroom. 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.