MOBTOWN BALLROOM’S 15TH ANNIVERSARY
Opened in 2011 by some mid-twenties swing dancers, the Mobtown Ballroom was built by our community, both literally and figuratively. Originally in an 1860s church, we built our 3,000 sprung wood dance floor with volunteers. In 2023, after moving to Station North, we did it again. For 15 years the Ballroom has been home to communities across the spectrum of Baltimore arts and culture. So we're throwing ourselves a party: three nights, live music, competitions, and lots of fun. Meschiya Lake, who sang our very first note back in 2011, is coming back to help us bring the house down. Scroll for the schedule, competition descriptions, and registration.
Mobtown Ballroom’s 15th Anniversary will feature 3 nights of live music featuring Meschiya Lake! See below for details.
Single night tickets for Friday and Saturday will go on sale 10/16, provided we aren’t sold out.
MUSIC
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For Thursday night’s Honky Tonk, local legend and leader of the Baltimore Honky Tonk, Alex Lacquemont, has put together a line of up of Baltimore’s best. On the mic showing off the music she plays a lot of recently, Meschiya Lake will be wailing out country and old time hits.
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Our Friday and Saturday night dances will feature a brand new band put together by infamous trombonist, Nick Garrison. Meschiya, who played for us opening night 15 years ago, will be on the mic both nights.
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Coming soon!
COMPETITIONS
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This progressive mix & match is different than any other competition we’ve done before. First, the prize is $1,000. Second, the prelims of this contest will happen during the month leading up to the anniversary party, and the finals will happen on Friday night of the event. How it works:
Enter the Mix & Match (by yourself; we randomly assign partners) on any the five Fridays leading up to the event: 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, or 10/30.
The format will be different and a surprise each time (but always a mix and match).
The winners of each Friday night prelim will be in the finals at the anniversary.
You can enter as many times as you want (unless you win; then you don’t enter again because you will be in the finals).
Do not enter if you aren’t coming to the event.
It’s $10 each time.
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For this competition, choreograph a 1 minute routine to a song of your choosing. This could be done solo, as a couple, or as a group. The routines will be performed throughout the weekend at assigned times (we will reach out as it gets closer) and the winners will be announced at the Saturday late night.
This can be creative and out of the box, but it should be based in Lindy/Charleston/Jazz/Blues/or swing in general.
Spaces in this comp are limited; don’t wait to sign up, and also please don’t sign up unless you plan to do it.
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This is your chance to watch some of the best dancers in the region improvise with a partner of their choosing.
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This will be a classic, Mobtown style competition (meaning, it will be chaos). No sign ups necessary; just be on the floor with a partner at 1:45am Saturday night. We will start fast and get faster, and competitors will be tapped out by the judges when they can’t keep up. We may take moments to say that you can only swing out, or we may make you go head-to-head with one other couple. You have to be there to find out! Last couple standing wins.
