Dane Dances

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courtesy Slave

The members of the band Slave pose for a picture.

Slave

August in Madison means it’s time to let loose and shake it at Dane Dances, an annual series of community dance parties celebrating 25 years in 2024. This year’s lineup should get everyone moving: Aug. 2 features funky dance bands Montage and Slave, and Aug. 9 brings the return of international salsa star Luisito Rosario and disco party VO5. The following weeks mix R&B and Latin sounds, with The Funkee JBeez and Orquesta SalSoul del Mad on Aug. 16; Grupo Candela and the Eddie Butts Band on Aug. 23; and Aniba & the Sol Stars and Rebulu on Aug. 30. Each week begins with a dance lesson from DJ Francis Medrano at 5:30 p.m., and if it rains the party moves inside. Food and drink will be available at 5 p.m. from Kipp’s Kitchen, Lake Vista Cafe, La Taguara and Melly Mell’s Soul Food.

media release: Dane Dances is enthusiastically kicking off its 25TH season Friday August 2, 2024, “A SEASON OF CELEBRATION”.  This year we will engage the audience with DJ Francis Medrano & FREE dance lessons starting at 5:30 PM every week.  Dane Dances welcome everyone! Come with LOVE, be PEACEFUL, & enjoy your HAPPINESS.  GET UP...GET DOWN...GET TOGETHER that is the “MAGIC” of Dane Dances.

This year Dane Dances is celebrating the contributions of everyone in our GREAT COMMUNITY.   We want everyone to feel welcome at our events.

RAIN BACK-UP: Monona Terrace   Parking after 5:00 PM - $5.00

Week 1: August 2 Get up! Dane Dances open the 25th season with a Nepali Dance by Nepali American Friendship Association of Madison. Follow by two of the Midwest’s best diverse dance bands from Milwaukee & the Chicagoland area.  MONTAGE will get the night going with their high energy smooth dance jams with a taste of Funk/R&B at 6:00 PM.  Continue to jam the night away with one of the Midwest best International performing Funk/R&B, and Vocal dance bands SLAVE at 8:00 PM.  SLAVE will perform their newly release hit song “Girl, You Turn Me On” sending you home with vibrations running throughout your body.  SLAVE rank 29th favorite artist of all time on R&B chart.

Week 2: August 9 Get down! Dane Dances will celebrate its 25th Anniversary Special Night with a worldwide entertainer LUISITO ROSARIO at 6:00 PM.  Luisito is an international Recording Salsa Artist with high energy style of Latin music where he was the lead vocalist with the legendary Larry Harlow of the Fania All Stars fame orchestra for 23 years in New York City.  Enjoy the inferno of Disco rhythm and the groove of funky Soul with Madison’s favorite dance band VO5 at 8:00 PM.  

Week 3: August 16 Get together with The Funkee JBeez. They are best known for their high energy Clyde Stubblefield tribute that features songs “The Funky Drummer” performed with the God Father of Soul James Brown, led by Madison own award-winning drummer Joey B. Banks at 6:00 PM.   

Keep it going with Madison’s premiere Latin-Soul Band, bringing together the fire of Latin rhythm and the groove of Soul with English lyrics, ORQUESTA SALSOUL DEL MAD at 8:00 PM

Week 4: August 23 Get out with GRUPO CANDELA.  Candela brings the best of Latin Music from around the world to the rooftop at 6:00 PM.  You are going to love THE EDDIE BUTTS BAND.  Eddie is one of the Midwest Premier Vocalist and one of Dane Dances long time favorite dance bands at 8:00 PM.

Week 5: August 30 Get up!... Get down!... Get together!  Experience the “MAGIC” of Dane Dances with ANIBA & THE SOL STARZ from Chicago.  ANIBA’S soulful, Funk-Rock musical style embodies what they’ve termed, “The Natural Progression of Soul.”  They will share an exhilarating experience with Dane Dances at 6:00 PM.   Wipe away your sweat and get ready to sweat some more with Rebulu Group.  Rebulu will keep you dancing and jamming all night with their soulful blend of Cuban, Puerto Rican and African grooves.  One of Madison new hot Latin Jazz groups at 8:00 PM  

IMPORTANT SECURITY INFORMATION!

All bags will be checked by a security representative. This includes: food bags, food coolers, chair bags, etc. Guests should be prepared to open their bags for inspection and may be asked by a security representative to shift and possibly remove contents.

Contactless walk-thru security screenings will be in place. For the safety of everyone at Concerts on the Rooftop, all persons will walk through a metal detector or be screened with a hand-held metal detector to search for prohibited items (no weapons or alcohol). Guests may return items to their vehicle or surrender to security without return.

Dane Dances thank all of our Sponsors, Friends and Volunteers that enable us to continue the local tradition of free, family-friendly music, dancing, and community spirit each Friday in August on the Monona Terrace rooftop! This year we are inviting and reaching out to all ethnic groups, associations and businesses to help us connect and have everyone feel the welcoming “MAGIC” of Dane Dances!

DANE DANCES IS IN SERIOUS NEED OF SPONSORS/INDIVIDUAL DONATION & VOLUNTEERS

To volunteer: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/109406198011/false#/invitation

To Sponsor: https://danedances.org/sponsors.php