PRESS RELEASE

A NIGHT OUT IN STYLE!

Sheri Harrington Nights filled with gowns and tuxedos. The miles of dance floor filled with couples in a display of mambo, cha cha, tango. The tinkling of champagne glasses can be heard to the sound of the band leader calling out "one more time!"

The instructor calls the steps. A CD player shuffles to the next tune. The dance is a fox trot. There's a rush onto the gymnasium floor by the anxiously awaiting students. Only two hours to practice their steps before the next group takes their place in the fight for a space on the floor.

It seems this last scenario is the best the '90's can do for the art of ballroom dancing. I'm referring to the largest club in Calgary where they boast 1400 plus members who only have three evenings a week to live out their fantasy. There are several other clubs that go through the same routine but their numbers only fall between 200-400.

The dance clubs do hold socials to display what they've learned in their studios. Once again they never really get the opportunity, if any, to experience the feel of a ballroom dance the way it used to be - the way of the swing era. The swing era and the '90's do hold a common bond - the love of the art of dance. But the days of glamour and 17 piece bands that made the dances so extravagant are gone.

Sheri Harrington, a former member of the University of Calgary Ballroom Dance Club as well as a former saxophonist in a big band, recognizes the gap between these two eras and in celebration of the release of her recording entitled "Sheri Harrington is Somewhat Jazz", Ms. Harrington has decided to make it an event comparable to yesteryear with the style of the '90's.

A jazz quartet shall begin the evening to set the ambiance for the 17 piece Oath Big Band to follow ringing out with the merengues, mambos, and cha cha's for a night of ballroom dance. Ms. Harrington has invited the University of Calgary Ballroom Dance Club as well as other dance clubs throughout the city of Calgary, to attend the special evening. An expected 600-900 will be plenty to fill the 2000 square feet of dance floor. This will be, without a doubt, a night out in style!

The ballroom dance event will take place Friday, November 8, 1996, in the Grand Ballroom at the Westin Hotel in Calgary. The media are invited to attend the pre-party in the foyer beginning at 6:30 p.m. and are encouraged to stay for the quartet and ballroom dance which begins at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information and tickets call 245-3305 or 680-2511.