There’s a new old-fashioned idea at The Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch 240.
Thursday afternoon tea dances, particularly geared to the Semiahmoo Peninsula seniors population, are being held once a month at the legion, courtesy of the White Rock Traditional Jazz Society (next will be Feb. 27, 2-4 p.m., at 2643 128 St.)
“It may be aimed at seniors, but we’re also doing this for young people,” the society’s Dave Roper explained at one of the first of the regular series, on Jan. 23.
Admission to the dances ($10, including coffee or tea and cake) will raise money for WRTJS’ second annual Youth Jazz Camp at Johnston Heights Secondary (Aug. 11-15), he said.
Last year the society put 32 secondary students through the camp, in which young musicians interested in traditional jazz got first-hand pointers from well-known exponents of the idiom like clarinetist and saxist Evan Arntzen.
At the Jan. 23 dance, participants – many of them from Chartwell Crescent Gardens seniors residence – got a chance to cut a rug to mellow, danceable standards from the 1920s through the 1960s played by drummer Scott Robertson’s Trio (also featuring guitarist Ron Thompson and bassist Brent Gubbels).
Vicki Jackson of Crescent Gardens said the facility bused in residents – and provided food – as a way of showing support for the concept.
“It’s a way of giving, not only to our seniors but also the community,” she said.
For information, call 604-888-0415, or email whiterock.tradjazz@shaw.ca