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From Big Band to Broadway event
brings live music and dancing to Lincoln
[October 02, 2025]
The ballroom of the Lincoln
Park District was a lively and joyful scene on Saturday night as the
River Valley Big Band brought some swing to Lincoln in support of
Lincoln Community Theatre. Swing dancers from Springfield, Peoria,
Bloomington-Normal, Delavan, and other central Illinois communities
enjoyed a free swing dance lesson at 5:30 followed by classic swing
tunes of the Big Band era performed by the 16 piece band from
Peoria. Jon Young of Young Dance, Inc. organized and co-hosted the
event as a fundraiser for LCT, the first time he has organized a
benefit for this organization.
Following the performance by the River Valley Big Band, Young
deejayed a set list of Broadway showtune hits to keep the dancing
going and to appeal to the theatre lovers in attendance. The set
list included “Beautiful City” from Godspell and “I’ve Never Been in
Love Before” from Guys and Dolls as a nod to the musicals from LCT’s
last two summer seasons as well as a song from “Into the Woods” as a
look forward to LCT’s upcoming season. Other favorite showtunes
included songs from “Hamilton,” “SIX,” “Hairspray,” "Back to the
Future,” "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and many
more.
Although this was the first dance Young has organized for LCT, this
is not the first event that Young has hosted for nonprofits in the
Lincoln community. Previously, he has organized charity dances to
support the Lincoln Park District foundation, including April’s
Adult Prom, and he organized last December’s Jingle Bell Jive in
support of the Land of Lincoln Honor Flights. He has offered dance
lessons at the Lincoln Park District Recreation Center, as well.
Young hosts charity dances around central Illinois, most often in
Peoria. Proceeds from the dances go toward local nonprofits and
charitable organizations. Young’s goal is to provide an option for
fundraising different from the common fish frys and bake sales, and
one that provides fun and positive social opportunities for the
community.
With a mission of bringing a passion for ballroom, Latin, and swing
dancing into communities, Young keeps the ticket fees for dances and
classes very affordable. The From Big Band to Broadway event
accepted donations for Lincoln Community Theatre. By the end of the
night donations totaled over $700. These funds will help support
LCT’s mission to promote quality, family-friendly community theater
and youth education in the theater arts in Logan County.
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The next dance
lessons Young will offer at the Lincoln Park District start
October 2 and continue every Thursday in October from 6 to 7
p.m. The next charity dance Young will host will be in Blue
Mound featuring Rosie and the Rivets from Chicago in support of
Journey Like June and in Peoria at the Lindenhof’s new location
on October 19 in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities of
Central Illinois. These dances will offer all types of ballroom,
Latin, and swing dance opportunities. For more information about
upcoming dances and dance classes, please visit
www.youngdanceinc.com.
The next performance from Lincoln
Community Theatre will be a brand new Christmas show on stage at
Lincoln Community High School during Thanksgiving weekend. They will
also again present A Midwinter Night’s Dream in mid-February to
bring some cheer to the bleak midwinter. LCT looks forward to its
2026 summer season with performances of Neil Simon’s stage play
“Rumors” in June and Stephen Sondheim's musical “Into the Woods” in
July. LCT welcomes community participation and is always on the
lookout for directors, musicians, actors, and crew to join their
family-friendly summer productions. Watch for auditions for the
summer productions in March and keep up with LCT on social media or
at
www.lincolncommunitytheatre.org.
[Stephanie Hall]
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