The Shortgrass Arts & Humanities Council presents “Spring Fling” Dinner and Dance, featuring the 17-piece band, All That Jazz--“A Big Band Experience,” Saturday, March 29, at the Best Western Ballroom, 2804 N. Main, in Altus.

The dinner begins at 6 p.m. with dancing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Main Street Grill of Altus will cater a steak and chicken buffet and a cash bar will be available. Appropriate dress will be semi-formal or dressy casual.

Tickets sell for $20 each, $35 per couple, or a table of eight for $150 and may be purchased by calling the Altus Chamber of Commerce, 580-482-0210, or going by the Chamber office, Altus Public Library, Shortgrass Arts and Humanities Council office and Crown Jewelry. Ticket deadline is Wednesday, March 26.

Band Director Kittie Huey encourages the non-dancing public to also attend. “

People who do not dance might want to come and enjoy a nice dinner, listen to the music and watch the dancers,” she said.

The 40s-era big band formed in the spring of 2000 to give Western Oklahoma musicians a chance to play the great music of the big-band era. Members are

classically trained and come from a variety of professions, including education, health care, U.S. Air Force, company executives and graduate students. They all hail from Western Oklahoma communities and enjoy performing the music from this “Greatest Generation of Americans.

They boast five saxophones, four trumpets, four trombones and a rhythm section, including piano, bass, traps and vocalist. “They bring back the music of Ellington, Dorsey, Basie and Goodman, just to name a few,” Huey said. “Their vocalist performs selections by Gershwin, Armstrong and Hammerstein and Kern.

”

Swing, Blues, Jazz, Latin, Bebop, Rock, the Beatles and movie theme greats

also grace the repertoire of this versatile group. Previous performances

include military balls, a reception for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, area

dances, state business conventions, weddings, as well as civic, school and

service club events. The jazz band’s “Fabulous Fourth of July” and New

Year’s Eve

celebrations have become annual traditions in Southwest Oklahoma.