Lincoln Center's MIDSUMMER NIGHT SWING Enters Week 2

Lincoln Center's 23rd season of Midsummer Night Swing enters Week Two on July 5 with the incomparable Gilberto Santa Rosa, an international star known as "El Caballero de la Salsa" - the Gentleman of Salsa. Santa Rosa's smooth sonero is the stuff of legend. Next up, on July 6, Austin's Hot Club of Cowtown plays Western Swing and Gypsy Jazz hot and sweet. July 7 gets everyone dancing with Loser's Lounge and No Parking on the Dance Floor: An 80s Dance Party. Favorites from Madonna to Prince to Michael Jackson along with New Wave classics will be presented in high energy, authentic renditions guaranteed to make the crowd move. Original MTV VJ Mark Goodman will be on hand to spin hits during the breaks.

Next up is an amazing evening, the Tribute to Ralph Mercado with the performers MioSotis, Tito Puente Jr., Ray Sepulveda, Tony Vega and Dave Valentin, under the direction of Bobby Allende. Ralph Mercado was perhaps the most influential Latin music impresario from the 1970s through the 90s, and these artists will commemorate his contribution to the genre with all the sizzle they have. Week Two closes out on July 9 with Ray Collins' Hot Club, making its New York debut. Their feverish, hard-swinging albums of 1940s and 50s jump blues sound has given them a huge following in Europe, and the excitement is ready to explode on this side of the Atlantic.

Each evening of Midsummer Night Swing is a ticketed event, with a special free ticketed event opening the season on Monday, June 27. The night begins with a dance lesson at 6:30 pm for all levels with some of New York's foremost instructors. Lessons are included in the price of admission. Live music and dancing is at 7:30 pm until 10 pm. All events take place on an elevated dance floor in Damrosch Park.

New this year: Developed by Restaurant Associates' very own celebrity chef Ed Brown (Ed's Chowder House, "Iron Chef"), Restaurant Associates will debut "Street Food BBQ" during the run of Midsummer Night Swing. Guests and dancers alike can dine on street food by the country or region that the music is from, including Texas barbecue, New Orleans po' boys, Japanese campfire dogs, tacos and much more - all for under $10.

Tickets and passes are on sale now. Multi-evening Swing Passes are priced at $90 for six nights, and $160 for the full season. Tickets for individual evening events are $17.

The Swing box office is located in the lobby of Avery Fisher Hall, Broadway and 65th Street. Tickets for individual events and passes can be purchased in advance at the Avery Fisher box office or beginning at 5:30 pm on the night of the event at a box office in Damrosch Park. All major credit cards will be accepted. Tickets and passes can also be purchased through CenterCharge, 212-721-6500, or by logging on to www.MidsummerNightSwing.org. Twitter users can sign up to follow Midsummer Night Swing @LCSwing for ongoing news and updates.

Rain Policy Midsummer Night Swing makes every effort to present each event of the season, as long as unpredictable weather allows. Performance cancellations due to inclement weather will not be announced until 8:30 pm on show night. In the case of cancellation, ticket holders are entitled to exchange for another performance or a refund. Pass holders are not entitled to a refund. If a performance has begun and is cancelled after 8:30 pm, exchanges or refunds are not offered.

The schedule for Midsummer Night Swing's Week Two:

Tuesday, July 5
Gilberto Santa Rosa Salsa*
A living salsa legend, Gilberto Santa Rosa's fervent vocals have made him an international star. He specializes in both lively, tropical salsa and ballads, bringing a smooth tone and a gift for 'soneo' (lyrical improvisation) to his performances. A native of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Santa Rosa will be singing salsa, guaraches, mambos, and boleros on this steamy summer night in New York.
Lesson: Carlos Konig
DJ: DJ Andreas
*Gilberto Santa Rosa will be playing one extended set at 8:00 pm.

Wednesday, July 6
Hot Club of Cowtown Western Swing, Gypsy Jazz, Classic Swing
The Austin, Texas-based Hot Club of Cowtown is probably the hardest-working and easily the most-traveled Western swing trio in the world. Their international cult following is based on their unique sound inspired by their two namesakes: "Hot Club" from the hot jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli's Hot Club of France, and "Cowtown" from the Western swing influence of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Their hot electric guitar, frenetic fiddle and jaw-dropping slap bass mix with three-part harmony vocals for Western swing they way it is meant to be.
Lesson: John Knapp & Meredith Stead
DJ: Meredith Ochs

Thursday, July 7
Loser's Lounge Does the 80s: No Parking on the Dance Floor Dance Pop, New Wave
The Loser's Lounge is a collective of some of New York's best musicians and singers who perform the great songs of the 60s, 70s and 80s. According to The New York Times, they "honor pop stars from these eras and validate the zeal of music fans." Started by session keyboardist Joe McGinty in 1993, Loser's Lounge has performed nearly 300 shows honoring 50 different artists. When Loser's Lounge performed a night of disco-era classics last year at Swing the dancers hustled themselves into the ground. History is about to repeat itself!
Lesson: Buddha Stretch
DJ: Mark Goodman

Friday, July 8
Tribute to Ralph Mercado, featuring MioSotis, Tito Puente Jr., Ray Sepulveda, Dave Valentin and Tony Vega Salsa
Bobby Allende, Music Director
A concert and record producer / promoter, artist manager, night-club owner, and all-around impresario, the late Ralph Mercado had more to do with the meteoric global spread of Latin music in the 1970s, 80s and 90s than just about anyone. Hosted by radio icon Paco Navarro and Damaris Luz Mercado(Ralph's daughter) and under the leadership of the great percussionist Bobby Allende, an all-star lineup of artists associated with Mercado's legendary RMM label, including beloved soneros Ray Sepulveda, MioSotis, and Tony Vega, timbale-player Tito Puente, Jr., and flutist Dave Valentin bring an unmissable tribute to one of the people who defined contemporary salsa.
Lesson: Eddie Torres
DJ: Henry Knowles

Saturday, July 9
Ray Collins' Hot Club Jump Blues, Swing, Rock 'n' Roll **New York Debut**
The wild red, white, and jump-blues of the 1940s and 50s is alive and kicking in Germany, no less, with Ray Collins' Hot Club. Playing both period classics as well as new compositions, the Hot Club is a nine-piece group whose hard-swinging CDs have dancers burning up the dance floors of Europe.
Lesson: Paolo Lanna
DJ: DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus

Midsummer Night Swing 2011 is sponsored by Macy's.

Midsummer Night Swing is made possible in part by grants from Daisy and Paul Soros and Charina Endowment Fund.

Additional support for Midsummer Night Swing 2011 is provided by Baisley Powell Elebash Fund, Amtrak, Zabar's and Zabar's.com, Samba 99 Antioxidant SuperFruit Bars, Great Performers Circle, Chairman's Council, and Friends of Lincoln Center.

Operation of Lincoln Center's public plazas is supported in part with public funds provided by the City of New York.

Movado is an Official Sponsor of Lincoln Center, Inc.

United Airlines is the Official Airline of Lincoln Center, Inc.

First Republic Bank is the Official Sponsor of the Fashion Lincoln Center Online Experience.

MetLife is the National Sponsor of Lincoln Center, Inc.

"Summer at Lincoln Center" is sponsored by Diet Pepsi and The Wall Street Journal.

Midsummer Night Swing is a presentation of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. (LPCA), which serves three primary roles: presenter of superb artistic programming, national leader in arts and education and community relations, and manager of the Lincoln Center campus. As a presenter of over 400 events annually, LCPA's programs include American Songbook, Great Performers, Lincoln Center Festival, the Mostly Mozart Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors and Live From Lincoln Center. In addition, LCPA is leading a series of major capital projects on behalf of the resident organizations across the campus.

Lincoln Center is committed to providing and improving accessibility for people with disabilities. Braille and large-type programs are available for selected Lincoln Center concerts. Wheelchair seating and assisted hearing devices are available at all concert halls and theaters. For further information or to receive a Lincoln Center accessibility guide, call 212-875-5375.