Love to dance or watch others do it or listen to music or sing along? Then, plan to attend the Starliters Big Band performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. There will be room for dancing. 

 
“For this performance, we are putting together big band arrangements of swing, Latin and polka dance tunes as well as popular, classic holiday songs and a few contemporary arrangements,” said Bill Denson, one of the group’s founders.

Big bands originated during the early 1910s and dominated jazz in the early 1940s when swing was most popular. This performance will include big band jazz classics from that era, such as songs by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin.

“Near the end of 2019, three of us – Sherman Curry, Leon Golder and I – had decided to form a jazz big band,” said Denson. “We knew there were a lot of good jazz musicians in this area who liked to play big band music but not many bands were doing it,” Denson said. So, the Starliters band was formed with musicians from Westfield, Mansfield and Wellsboro, Pennsylvania and Corning, Elmira, Rochester, and other areas in Western New York. 
 
“The Starliters Big Band based in Corning, New York had just started when the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down across the U.S. in 2020,” said Denson. “Sherman Curry had passed away, but since he had such a passion for the band, we wanted to make sure the Starliters continued. In 2022, when things opened back up after COVID, we were able to start rehearsing and booking gigs again for the first time,” Denson said.
 
Admission is $15. For tickets, call 570-724-6220 or visit www.deanecenter.com.

Free Dance Lesson
Being offered at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 is a free swing dance lesson in the Coolidge Theatre. “This is a great opportunity to come out and learn a few swing steps or brush up in advance of the Saturday night big band event, which is part of Christmas on Main Street,” said Kacy Hagan, owner and instructor for Kacy’s Learn 2 Ballroom Dance. 
 
“I encourage people to take this free dance lesson. It’s fun and easy for all ages,” she said.
 
People who attend the free lesson will be taught some basic steps in Single Swing, an easy-to-learn swing dance style perfect for dancing to big band music. No prior experience is necessary.
 
Attendees can come as partners or singles to the class. Singles will be paired up or can dance on their own, whichever they prefer. Wear comfortable shoes with smooth soles rather than sneakers to more easily turn on the dance floor. 

“Preregistration is not required. People can