A Swingin’ Affair on the Hudson
Get ready for swing, fun, and glamour! Coming your way on Labor Day weekend! The Hudson Swing Affair being held September 4th – 6th at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City, is in its second year and promises to be a first class event.
This competition-free event is a series of theme parties and workshops. Event Director, John Festa has produced a uniquely camp infomercial to go along with his unique event. Watch it below. It gives you a taste of the great time to be had at what surely will be an affair to remember!
John also explains his inspiration for his video and why he created this event in a Q & A below.
Angela Risser: Hi John, Thanks for joining us. First off, as per Asia’s tradition, we’d like to ask, what sign are you?
John Festa: My birthday is June 22, I’m a Cancer.
Angela Risser: Oh, okay, great! Let’s get right to it John, we (The Rhythm Lounge staff) think your infomercial is so fabulous and creative, we rave about it to others and have repeatedly watched it, it’s brilliant! What inspired you to create this infomercial?
John Festa: TELEVISION! I watch a lot of TV and am completely entranced with infomercials and TV selling. I want whatever they’re selling. I need a pocket fisherman! [Editor's note; the same people make the Snuggie!!!] The Swing Affair is a new event, and I had to think of a better way to let people know about it. In this Internet age, the video could be easily accessible. Much gratitude to Sue Perla for the spectacular job of editing.
Angela Risser: We are dying to know, your wardrobe in the infomercial is so great. Are these things that you found in your own closet? 
John Festa: Yes! I own all those things! I LOVE the 70’s! Love the music, the fashion, the over-the-top-ness. I went through a retro phase and collected some awesome pieces. Normally I do not wear them all together or I end up looking like the infomercial.
Angela Risser: Your event has a unique concept in that there are no competitions and there are theme parties. Why did you decide to go this direction with your event? Why did you pick the themes that you did?
John Festa: It was both internal and external. Personally, I think most events have WAY too much competition. Nothing wrong with that except it consumes too much time. End up waiting to dance at a dance event. I’ve been around long enough to remember when events first started on the East Coast, they were just dance events with no competition, and they were sooo fun. As I traveled around the country to dance events, I began to realize that every event was the same: the same pros, the same dj’s, the same competitions — only the airport changed. The market seemed to be calling for something fresh and different.
I want every single person at the Swing Affair to have a great time. I want it to be an easy and fun place to be. The theme parties help people participate so everyone is involved. It gives a basis for social interaction. At first I was nervous — especially about the Black & White Ball. I thought ‘I’m the only one that likes to dress up’. Well, people turned it OUT! It is so much fun.
The Hyatt is a spectacular hotel which helps me create the event I want. Its location, its facility, the views, all make it an exciting place to be.
Angela Risser: I saw that you were able to show off your high kicks with the precision dancers from that Music Hall in New York City. How were you able to get those ladies to perform, and what is it like working with them?
John Festa: I wanted the show to be ‘other than’ the pros at the event. We all see the pros all the time. I aspired to professional dancers and a professionally choreographed show. And I just love showgirls. I thought those high-kicking ladies would be awesome. My choreographer Tony Savino called a friend who called a friend and BAM! They are a joy to work with. So fun, love what they do, very relaxed. And they are the fastest learners I have ever seen! This year they will be learning 2 four-minute numbers in 3 hours. Without giving too much away, we have 8 ladies this year — the show is going to be spectacular.
Angela Risser: What do you hope attendees will come away with after attending the Swing Affair?
John Festa: It is my job to make sure everyone has fun. They have to feel included, entertained, and maybe learn a thing or two. I feel like the joy of social dancing is slipping away. I want everyone to remember how awesome swing dancing is.
Angela Risser: And what about the staff?
John Festa: I think the staff is just superb. I did not use today’s top competitors since there is no competition. But rather, I hired the dancers who, to me, embody swing dancing. This is very exciting to me. And they stay out and dance all night. It’s all about the party.
Angela Risser: You obviously have a great passion for swing dancing. What is your view on where the West Coast Swing world is today, and what do think the future looks like for the dance?
John Festa: Swing dancing is in my heart. I am still enthralled by its genius and purity.Huge question. I could go on and on. I feel like the dance is getting secular and smaller. It is too competition-based. It used to be said that WCS was terrific for its diversity of music. Now one only hears juvenile pop and hip-hop. These two things limit its ability to reach a wide audience and dilutes its essence. As for its future, well, it’s not for me to say. I simply hope to add something to the WCS scene in any way I can. I invite everyone to visit www.HudsonSwingAffair.com for more info. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions: johnfesta [at] swingislove.com
Angela Risser: Thank you so much John, for participating!
John Festa: Thanks so much for this opportunity, Angela and best of luck with your web site.
Event photos Millicent Harvey Photography
For more information about The Hudson Swing Affair, visit www.HudsonSwingAffair.com
