YHS bands to ‘swing’ into 16th annual dance concert

YORKTOWN, N.Y. — Sixteen years ago, Emily Kluga, band director at Yorktown High School, introduced the idea of a swing dance concert as a one-time event. What began as a simple concept has since “blossomed into a beloved YHS band tradition” and an anticipated community event.” 

Kluga told Yorktown News the 16th annual event, rescheduled to March from its original February date due to snow, is typically held to honor Black History Month. However, she noted that March is “Music in Our Schools Month,” so she said, “it will also work out well.”  

According to Kluga, the concert is “a unique and effective method of teaching students jazz interpretation, jazz history, basic improvisation, and the history, pop culture, and musical icons of the Swing Era.” 

In the six-week unit, Kluga said she chose to highlight two musical greats for students to study: Duke Ellington and Count Basie.  

“Students are learning to play their most famous songs, listening to the original recordings to help interpret our arrangements,” Kluga said that they're also learning about the lives of Ellington and Basie “and their contributions to this uniquely American musical artform of jazz.” 

In this unit, sophomore Miles Fallon particularly enjoyed learning about the history and culture of jazz and applying that newfound knowledge to the classroom. 

“Something really valuable about the Swing Dance unit is how well it teaches us to love the music itself, and that love makes understanding it that much easier,” Fallon, an alto saxophonist, told Yorktown News. “Like jazz musician Thelonius Monk once said, ‘You've got to dig it to DIG it, you dig?’” 

Come March 1, Fallon is looking forward to the group dance lesson and added that “being involved in the Yorktown community is one of the most important parts of being in the band program, and the swing dance provides ample opportunity to do so.” 

Throughout the unit, on Thursdays, Kluga said instead of usual rehearsals that students spend time learning period social dances, like the jitterbug and shim sham—a line dance. 

“Getting teenagers to dance together, in a structured way is always entertaining,” she said. “Through social dance, students learn the etiquette of navigating each other’s personal space and to greet and thank each new partner.” 

The students, Kluga added, appear to have a fun time doing it.  

“In my 16 years teaching this unit, what begins as an awkward social situation always ends as a positive experience,” Kluga said, adding that the students now have a few dance moves that they know.  

She added that a key element in performing jazz music is “the ability to read ‘classical’ rhythmic notation —in which one beat is divided into two equal parts — but instead interpret the rhythmic notation in a ‘swing’ style — in which one beat is divided into three equal parts.” 

The concept, Kluga explained to Yorktown News, is difficult for many to grasp. 

“By having the students put the rhythm in their feet, and learn a bit of dancing, they are feeling the beat be divided into three equal parts and successfully interpret their music in a swing-style,” she said.  

 The Swing Dance Concert culminates weeks of study into one experience. 

And Kluga is quick to recognize the support behind the event. She credited the district administrators, athletic department and the First Nighters, the school’s parent booster group for the performing arts, for their unwavering dedication. 

“I am so proud of and grateful to the amazing team of people who work so tirelessly and creatively to make this event a success for our students,” Kluga told Yorktown News, acknowledging the parent planning committee, raffle team, community business sponsors, and community members like Paul Martin.  

Martin, according to Kluga, has a passion for this particular era of history. He will share a display of World War II artifacts and his “deep respect for those who served.”  

“Our annual YHS Swing Dance Concert brings students and the community together, through the joy of music and the connection it creates through dance,” Hailey Otero, a senior and French horn player, said. 

Devin Robinson, a junior trumpet player, said the unit has been “interesting,” particularly citing the history of the Swing Era in the 1920s.  

“I also think that having a performance at the Swing Dance is an effective way to put our talents on display at an event that isn’t another one of our regular concerts,” Robinson said.  

“Having people of all ages showing up to listen and dance to the music that we play, I feel really develops a sense of community between us and our audiences, and shows the people in band that the hard work they do to be able to play their music is appreciated by the people around them.” 

The 16th Annual Swing Dance Concert is open to all ages and will be held in the Yorktown High School gym on Saturday, March 1. A professional dance lesson will be offered from 7-8 p.m. by Kelly and Tank from The Dance Conservatory to give those with no dance experience basic skills. Then, all are invited from 8-10:30 p.m. to the dance floor as band students play swing music. There will be door prizes, as well as a dessert buffet. Swing Era attire is encouraged. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $15 for adults.