CenterStage

The Ballroom


Photo by Chris Sheasley

Come on down!
 

We're still dancing!

See the ella's  and Theatre pages--WITHOUT A MIRACLE, CENTERSTAGE WILL HAVE TO CLOSE.  BUT FOR THIS MONTH, THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF AN ANONYMOUS DONOR, WE'RE STILL DANCING IN THE BALLROOM TO THE GREAT MUSIC OF

 
"Variety Pak"

$10 cover
Every Friday night in August at 6:30

Variety Pak has been the core band at the BOF hall on 3rd and Monroe for more than 5 years.  Asked to describe the kind of music the Pak plays, founder Davis says, “We are a band that specializes in the great dance music of the 30s, 40s, and 50s – we play all rhythms, cha-cha, rumba, samba, all the Swings, Latins, Fox Trot, Waltz, and we cater to dancers!  We play what the dancers want to hear, and when they make a request, invariably, we seem to know the song.”

Variety Pak has performed at hundreds of private functions, at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, and at several Spokane clubs.  Some of the members played with the Jim Baker Band, which performed at the BOF in the late 40s and early 50s!

Bruce Davis is the quintessential story of the Spokane kid who made good.  Bruce played in and led innumerable Hollywood and Las Vegas studio and club bands.  He has arranged and played for Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, the King Sisters, Ernie Ford, Nat King Cole and Judy Garland.   He opened and was the musical director for George Burns, Johnny Carson, Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Mel Torme and the Mills Brothers, to name only a few!  He was a longtime leader of the first group Frank Sinatra played for in Vegas, and appeared, in the early 50s on almost every TV musical special.  Sinatra had him play with Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, The Lettermen, and The Smothers Brothers.


Photo by Chris Sheasley

Ballroom Basics

Instructor Shari Addington offers two classes every Tuesday evening.  She teaches different dances each month and the cost is only $5 a class.

New Hours! Starting August 5, we'll be learing:
7-8pm--West Coast Swing
8-9pm--Waltz

Dancing is a great way to meet new people, have and and even stay in shape.


Photo by Jeremy Bolton

We Love the Ballroom!


The Ballroom, on the first floor at CenterStage, offers one of the best dance floors in town. This room was known as "The Spot" in the late 1940s and early 1950s.  Teens from all of the city's high schools came to mix, mingle and dance to records (that’s vinyl, students!).

The Ballroom has seen chess tournaments, poetry slams, wedding ceremonies and receptions, Salsa dances (to the hot sounds of Son Dulce!), pinewood derbies, piano recitals, sit-sown banquets for 210 people, and all kinds of other, wonderful gatherings.