The Instrumental Music Program at Western Nebraska Community College hosts its annual community dinner and dance, Jump, Jive & Swing, Sunday, May 5 at the Gering Civic Center beginning at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. There will be a cash bar throughout the evening.
Unlike years past, there will be a buffet dinner available when the doors open at 5:00 p.m. The dinner includes pulled pork sandwiches, broccoli and bacon salad, Italian pasta salad, strawberry and spinach salad, brownies and other dessert bars, as well as coffee, tea, and water.
The show begins at 5:00 p.m. with music provided by the Monumental Rock Combo. The Combo will play music made popular by Aretha Franklin, Deee-Lite, Harry Connick Jr., Bonnie Rait, Lou Bega, Wynonna Judd, and others. Following the Monumental Rock Combo, The Fire in the Pan Swingers will play traditional swing, as well as other types of jazz. Sophomore Nick Brady from Gering will be featured with the Swingers, as will faculty members Steve Shell and Dr. Nathaniel Johnson. Also joining the Swingers this year will be "Yes, Ma'am," a female vocal trio specializing in music of the Andrews Sisters and other patriotic American music.
"This has been quite a semester for the Combo and the Swingers," said Dr. Johnson, WNCC director of bands. "Between Combo's tour and the various school performances for the jazz band, we have been very busy. It's wonderful to have so much exposure for our groups; they're playing great."
The Monumental Rock Combo played its first ever tour to northern Colorado last month, performing at high schools and middle schools, as well as restaurants from Scottsbluff down to Denver. The Fire in the Pan Swingers performed for a packed auditorium at Bluffs Middle School at the end of March in recognition of Music In the Schools Month, and they will play with the Gering high school and junior high jazz bands on April 25.
Jump, Jive & Swing has been an annual event since 2009. "Several years before that," said Johnson, "people started saying to me that they wished there was a community dance in Scottsbluff. They'd comment, 'We get lots of concerts around here, and they're great, but we never get to dance.'"
Johnson wanted to do a dance right away when he heard that feedback, but it was a few more years before the stars aligned. "The program has grown so much in the past few years. This year marks our fifth Jump, Jive & Swing; and it's great fun every time. We're really looking forward to putting on a fun show."
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in the WNCC Business Office or by calling 308.635.6020 during normal business hours. Seating is reserved. For more information, contact Johnson atjohnsonn@wncc.edu or 308.635.6046.