Come join us for a night of Latin dancing Palladium Style to the Commodores Big Band!
Whether you are a seasoned dancer ready to tear up the dance floor or a music lover eager to soak in the infectious, feel-good energy of a historic 18-piece orchestra, this special thematic performance promises an unforgettable night of music and dancing that will keep you moving from the very first beat.
The Palladium Ballroom was a second-floor dance hall on 53rd St & Broadway in New York that became famous for its excellent Latin music from 1948 until 1966.
When the Palladium opened as a dance studio & hall, it had a floor that could hold a thousand couples dancing at once but had fallen into decline by 1947 due to lack of revenue. In 1948, it was one of the first club to open the doors to blacks, Puerto Ricans and Cubans when music promoter Federico Pagani started booking Latin music there on a Sundays and Wednesdays.
Everyone dressed to impress and brought their friends to the free Mambo lesson that started the night before dancing to live music all night. There were contests and dance performances too!
Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez & Machito were the “Big 3 but a lot of other great bands played there too- like Arsenio Rodriguez, Celia Cruz, Bene More, La Lupe, Israel Rivera and more and we will have live music by the Commodores Big Band!
The Commodores Big Band was born in 1975 as an offshoot of the local police band and carries over 50 years of rich musical history on Vancouver Island. This legendary ensemble is trading their traditional swing charts for a fiery, high-energy tour of all Latin arrangements! Led by music director Mark Fraser, the band will unleash the roaring power of their massive live horn section to celebrate the Palladium Era.
PALLADIUM PARTY
8:00pm Doors Open
8:30pm Beginner Mambo Lesson with no partner or experience required.
Dancing until 1:00am featuring live music by The Commodores Big Band and a show by Salsa Caliente!
AGES 19+
