Swinginfusion Hosts Community Swing Dance in Downtown Farmington

Swinginfusion Farmington will bring Ann Arbor-based Rampage Swing to the on Aug. 16, for a community swing dance. 

The evening will begin with a swing dance lesson at 8 p.m., followed by the dance from 8:30 p.m.-11:20 p.m.

“We wanted to continue in bringing in a great band like Rampage Swing, to give the community and our core weekly audience the experience of dancing to live music,” said Alexander Steward, DJ for Swinginfusion Farmington. “By hosting events like these, we can give opportunities to the surrounding area to learn how to swing dance, know that we exist as a place for young adults, and most importantly have fun!”

Rampage Swing, a nine-piece band, was formed to play music that swing dancers love, said bandleader Brian Einstein Lassiter. 

“Over the decades since the swing era, a disconnect has formed between jazz musicians and swing dancers," he said. "Because of our close collaboration with the swing community, we know what tempos and styles dancers want. The result is a band by swing dancers, for swing dancers.”

Rampage Swing has spent the past year writing compositions based on local people and places, including “Michigan Avenue Stomp”, “Ypsilanti”, and “My Girl Marie.” These tracks and more will appear on their upcoming album, which will debut on Sept. 5 at Swing Ann Arbor.

Swinginfusion Farmington was founded in 2007, the first of seven organizations that would be created under the name Swinginfusion. Originally called Gen Y Swing, it was created to be a place for young adults that were looking for a place to escape to a couple hours each week and create a safe environment to learn, dance, and interact with one another.

Groups have now formed in Brighton, Utica, Milford, Spring Lake and even beyond Michigan to Illinois and Arizona.

“It’s great to see a great response from all of the young adults between the ages of 15-30 that come out every week and dance with us,” Steward said. “We’re finding that our group is not only made up of young adults in Farmington, but from all around Metro Detroit.”

Swinginfusion Farmington is an all year round group, meeting at the Walter E. Sunquist Pavilion between the months of May through October, and at in Farmington Hills between the months of November through April.

This year's Rampage Swing event will cost $5 and is open to the public. “This truly is a community event for everyone, young and old,” said Steward. “Whether or not you’re a dancer, or just someone who enjoys live music, we really want those in the community to come out and have a great time!” 

--Swinginfusion Farmington press release