Every year, New York wakes out of its sleepy summer slumber to the dancing feet of hundreds of people to celebrate the annual Midsummer Night Swing. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is opening the 19^th annual Swing on June 19^th, 2007 and promises visitors to the event 25 nights of sizzling swinging dance action under New York’s summer stars. The event is hosted at Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza and is one of the city’s most popular summer celebrations.

This year’s Midsummer Night Swing will be launched with a Battle of the Bands opening night with David Berger and the Sultans of the Swing band pitted against George Gee and his Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra. The event continues through the rest of June and up till July 21^st and incorporates a diverse range of dance types, including hip-hop, Irish, tango, salsa and disco. Newcomers to any style can take advantage of dance lessons that begin at 6.30 every evening, before the main dance event. Dance lessons are included in the price of the admission ticket.

Other highlights of this year’s Midsummer Night Swing include a Midsummer Disco and Funk Party as part of the Gay Pride events, Saturday morning dance lessons for kids, as well as feature nights dedicated to music from around the world such as Brazilian Carnaval, Cuban Rumba and traditional Irish dance. Top bands, including Palladium Memories, Big Ranch Apple and Bill Haley’s Original Comets, will all perform at the Midsummer Night Swing, ensuring that it will be one of the city’s top cultural and entertainment events of the season.