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Reflections on Dancing at Swing 46

By Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
March 28, 2003

Swing 46 is a fantastic, dark, cozy and warm, Swing Dance Club on Restaurant Row, West 46th Street, NYC. It used to be Red Blazer Two, and I used to dance there quite often, both on Saturday nights and on Sunday afternoons, prior to the theater. As Red Blazer Two and as Swing 46, this Club created an ambiance of energy and excitement. In addition, in contrast to so many such Clubs, the food was not only OK, it was excellent and the chef was flexible, with my difficult style of ordering dinner or brunch. I have just heard that Swing 46 has been closed to the dancing crowd, and I am shocked. This Club is a tradition, no matter the name or the owner, it's a strong dance tradition in a City with so few wholesome venues, in which to dine, drink, and dance, especially an all-American dance such as Swing! Especially, in times of War!

In fact, remember the nurturing effect of the Swing Bands (Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman) during World War II? Swing music is uplifting, nurturing, aerobic, stress reducing, and melodic. Of all things to close, during an economic depression and agonizing War, a SWING CLUB? This is an incredible lack of good will to the Swing dance community, to the related bands and musicians, to the Swing audience that may attend just for the music, to the many tourists, who love to dance, and to the suppliers of all the food for the dinners, which will now be cancelled, in the midst of this City-wide economic malaise.

I can only imagine that there's some technicality that has been overlooked or misunderstood, which should be immediately righted. Otherwise, this Club would not have thrived for so many years, until now, and would not have generated so many happy memories, as I have, from Red Blazer Two and from Swing 46. Moreover, I actually learned about Swing at this Club. I first heard the great Bandleaders, Vince Giordano (and his Nighthawks) and David Berger (Sultans of Swing) at this Club, under the two different names. I remember Sol Yaged's Big band and his singing at the Sunday Brunches. I remember the sound, the smell, the synergy, the smiles, the scintillating lights, the soothing dance partners, and the sensational ambiance.

My suggestion is that the NYC officials, the Swing 46 owners, their respective lawyers, suppliers, musicians, and perhaps the neighborhood association all meet ASAP to remedy this sudden situation, in order to restore, immediately, what was a dance haven for Swing enthusiasts, before more malaise sets in, within this wonderful City, so famous for music and dance—all genres, for all people. Joy is being wasted.

Swing 46 is located at 349 West 46 Street, and can be found on the web at www.Swing46.com, by email at info@Swing46.com and by phone at 212-262-9554.