Queen City Swing Band of Helena to Play in Townsend
 | Author:
Nancy Marks, Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Queen City Swing Band of Helena to Play in Townsend Nancy Marks Reporter If you attended the Broadwater High School Junior Prom to see the kids all dressed up and out there dancing, it just makes you want to get out there and dance.
Here’s your chance: Queen City Swing Band will be performing Saturday, June 10 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Lodge for a public dance event complete with an eight-member group who participate in various concerts, musical theater and small ensembles in Helena and nearby towns. “Our love of swing band music from the '20s to the ’70s brings us together,” band leader Heather Bell said.
The current lineup of the swing group was formed by Owen Franks in 1992. After the group became inactive, Nancy Trudell revived it and led the band for four years during which they played at many different venues. “Our favorite, most cool place to perform is at St. Timothy’s Chapel at Georgetown Lake,” trumpet player Shaun Deola reported.
The band performs everything from fox trots to Jitterbugs with a few waltzes thrown in to get people dancing or just listening to great music. They play classics such as String of Pearls, Tuxedo Junction, In the Mood and Sing, Sing, Sing. They do play for special events, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries with music from movie themes, and hits from the Golden Age of swing. They also play salsa and tango music, a favorite of the Last Chance Tango Club of Helena. The band plays once a month.
How to dress is up to the dancers: some wear formal attire, others come in very casual dress. “It’s whatever is comfortable for you,” Shaun said.
The dance is sponsored by Broadwater Community Theater as the beginning of its 2023 season. Tickets are $10 per person. Beer and wine will be available with appetizers by Amanda. Broadwater Community Theater (BCT), was organized in 2018, and has sponsored several theater and music performances since then.
BCT is underwritten by the nonprofit Ryland KM Foote Memorial Trust which annually gives scholarships to K-8 students in theater, art, music and foreign language.
For more information on the Queen City Swing Band dance, please call (406) 980-0592 or email mtskydog@mt.net.
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PhotoCredit: Queen City Swing Band
Image 1 Caption: Members of the Queen City Swing Band
