No experience was necessary, as beginners through the more advanced took dance lessons with teacher extraordinaire Laurie Shayler (Dance Connection) during the two-and-a-half-hour event.  

The crowd immersed themselves in timeless favorites by musical legends such as Gershwin, Porter, Ellington, and more. 

Elevating the night’s charm were the captivating vocals of Christine Cornell, and swingin’ saxophone tunes by Jon De Lucia. 

“I’ve been invited here to provide some swing dance instruction, as well as some ballroom foxtrot instruction,” Shayler said, adding that one of the primary challenges she faced was entertaining such a large group of people all at once made up of various skill sets.

“We try and get everyone involved, and make everyone feel as comfortable as possible — in a very short period of time.”  

Cooper, executive director of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, said it’s really wonderful to bring people together through music.

“An event like this brings lots of people into our world that we might not see through our music education and therapy programs,” Cooper explained. “We try to make this accessible and not intimidating, as there are some absolute beginners in addition to very experienced dancers all sharing the dance floor and having a great time.”  

Dorothy Savitch, music director of the Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra, and director of the Music Partners Program at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, described the night as “a great joy.”

“It may take us eight or 10 weeks to put a whole two-hour concert together, but it’s so worth it in the end,” Savitch pointed out. 

Rose Crichton-White, director of marketing and development for the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, explained “We are here tonight to celebrate music, the orchestra, and all the great work that they do in the community.”

A remarkable history

The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music is a 126-year-old, non-profit community music school, founded by German immigrants in the 1890s, and it continues to make an indelible mark on the people of New York City to this day. 

The central location of the Conservatory is 58 Seventh Avenue, a historic Victorian brownstone located in Park Slope, where hundreds of musicians — aged two to 82 — gather each day to study, rehearse and collaborate. 

Within the historic building and beyond, the Conservatory also produces more than 200 low-cost musical events each year, and partners with some of New York’s most vital institutions — from art museums to refugee resettlement agencies to retirement communities.

Throughout New York City, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music provides music education, music therapy services, and opportunities for musical engagement at more than 70 sites across all five boroughs.

The Conservatory aims to transform lives and build community through the expressive, educational, and therapeutic powers of music, according to its mission statement.