It is safe to say that The Swinger's Ball is the granddaddy of all annual and major swing events, both big and small that has happened in Chicago's Lindyhop community since swing's revival. Aside from the Aragon Ballroom show that featured The Big Swing, Indigo Swing, The Rocket 88's and The Atomic Fireballs in October of 1997, The First Annual Swinger's Ball, held at The (now defunct) Riverwest Brewery on February 14, 1998, was the next major swing event to happen. With close to 500 people in attendance, Miss Midori spinning swing music at the band breaks, The Riff Rockets (their full band) on the bandstand, Kristen Weinandt and Benjamin ? being named Queen and King of the ball, Big Tyme Riley Wimes and High Flyin' Bill O'Brien knew they had started a special tradition.
While Riley and Bill originally conceptualized and produced the "First" event, they at one time or another took less than principal roles in its' planning and final production. It was pretty much a Bill O'Brien event in 1999 with a lot of assistance from Jeffrey Cannon as well as powerhouse promoter Brad Altman. In 2000 Bill and Riley reunited and with their third partner, Jeffrey Cannon held the third event at Liquid "The Original House of Swing". In 2001 Bill and Riley played a very limited role, while Jeffrey Cannon, Julee Mertz (Big City Swing), and Evin Jacobson (Bluemoon Groove) combined wit, charm, and event experience, to pull together a great event held at Green Dolphin Street, the swankiest venue to date!
In 2003 the event went home once again. Jeffrey Cannon and Riley Wimes Jr. produced Swinger’s Ball #5. The name was changed to Kustom and the interior was totally gutted and reinstalled as Liquid was transformed. What we had was a deluxe, modern venue with superior sound and lighting and a neat place to have an annual event thanks to Sara and Dara (Kustom,Breathe’s management). This building no longer stands and is now part of the swing revivals most famous casualty.
In 2004, the Swinger’s Ball was held at The Willowbrook Ballroom for the first time in it’s six-year history. It was the first time the event was held outside of the city’s interior and it proved to be a winning combination. That event had the largest number of attendees to date as welll as great bands (The Rhythm Rockets, Douce Ambience, and Sam Burckhardt) and great dance demos by Big City Swing, Alex and Maren, Margot and Riley, Jeepers Creepers, and Peter Betbasoo and Phoebe. The Willowbrook staff and management were eager to assist and help make Swinger’s Ball Six the best it could be.
The event has now made Willowbrook Ballroom its home with two floors of live entertainment, contests, performances and incredibly dressed up folk who are looking to have a great time reminiscent of years gone by!
These events have always been well received and promoted (past and present) by the community at large including Chicago Swing Half-Breeds (Nicolle Wood now the Galaxie Owner) and Swing-Out Chicago (Howard Bregman), Big City Swing (Julie Mertz) and Bluemoon Groove (Evin, Noah, Andrew). Promotional contributions from all Chicago groups and dance establishments has contributed to the popularity of The Swinger's Ball!
The Swinger's Ball is an event that is broader than the scope of just dancing. It is about styling ,attitude, sipping wine, cosmos, martinis and things. It is about conversation, hanging out, and being social. It is about being with that someone special or treating yourselves especially nice. A date is not necessary. This event has traditionally had a lot of singles in attendance. It might be a good place to find a dinner date for the following weekend! There will be a King and Queen of the Ball, which is a very random choice by the promoters. They do not know what they are looking for until they see it! It is a dressy affair with great-looking folks.
This is the third year that the Ball will be held in the latter part of March, just as Spring blooms instead of around Valentine's Day. That calls for fresh attitudes and bright colors for the wardrobe.
This year's ball will take place on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at The Willowbrook Ballroom 8900 S. Archer Avenue in Willow Springs IL. The Willowbrook has a large Free parking lot. It will be the 13th Annual Event!
Come One, Come All to the 2011 Swinger's Ball!
.
