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Dance The Styles Of The Roaring 20s At Historic L.A. Homes This Weekend
The Sowden House, one of the locations for The Roaring Twenties Street Jam (Photo courtesy of The Sowden House)
Show off your vintage dance skills or learn new moves while exploring stunning historic homes during a weekend-long festival celebrating the styles of the 1920s.The three-day event, known as The Roaring Twenties Street Jam, features dance classes and competitions for all skill levels with live jazz bands, along with other historically-minded events like speakeasy parties, architecture tours and silent film screenings. The events will take place at beautiful homes built during the era, including Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, the famed and storied Sowden House, as well as the Grace E. Simmons Lodge and the Griffith Park Carousel. There are individually priced tickets for each event, as well as package deals with a range of prices for the weekend. And if you're really feeling like a 1920s high-roller, you can spend all three nights at the Snowden House, a rare experience that will only set you back $1,895 per person.
The weekend kicks off on Friday, April 1, with self-guided tours of The Hollyhock House in Barnsdall—coincidentally on the birthday Aline Barnsdall—which will be followed by events starting at 5 p.m., including a silent film, performances by the Satin Dollz pin-up dancers, music from The Sour Mash Hug Band, and, of course, dancing. Advance sales for this event are $20.
The festivities will continue on Saturday at the Grace E. Simmons Lodge in Elysian Park, where there will be 1920’s style dance workshop classes, followed by dinner, a dance party, competitions and a special performance by singer Richard Halpern. Dancers will have a chance to learn and perform styles such as the Charleston, Argentine tango, solo jazz and early swing. The party will continue after 1 a.m., when guests will head to an undisclosed location for speakeasy-style after party.
Saturday night will also be the gala event at the Sowden House, where only 150 people will be able to join for the party with live music, performances and an after party.
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The weekend concludes on Sunday at the historic Griffith Park Carousel, and will feature a live band, Janet Klein & Her Parlor Boys, as well as a wine garden, carousel rides, an award ceremony and, obviously, more dancing.
To learn more and to purchase tickets visit The Roaring Twenties Street Jam website.
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This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
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