CAAL Members attended the kick-off performance of Midsummer Night Swing, now in its 21st season, which heats up Damrosch Park with the rhythms that keep New York dancing. CAAL Members and guests had a dance lesson taught by Paolo "P Lindy" Lanna from Lindy Hop All-Stars with DJ'd tunes by Ryan Swift. After the lesson, CAAL Members tried out their new dance moves to New Orleans jazz and swing, performed by Kermit Ruffins and The Barbecue Swingers, who kicked off the season with New Orleans flair. The Star Tribune describes Ruffins by his "shimmering tone, street-honed chops and over-the-top personality." 

Kermit Ruffins (born December 19, 1964) is a jazz trumpeter, singer and composer from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He has been heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Eddy Jefferson. Ruffins accompanies a large portion of his songs with his own vocals, and he says that the highest note he can hit on trumpet is a fortissimo C note. Most of his bands perform New Orleans jazz standards, though he also composes many of his own pieces. Jon Pareles of the New York Times wrote of Ruffins in a July 16, 2001 article, stating that "Mr. Ruffins is an unabashed entertainer who plays trumpet with a bright, silvery tone, sings with off-the-cuff charm and never gets too abstruse in his material."

Lorraine Cates, '72SW
Judith Dattaro,'78NRS
Maureen Dempsey, '08PH
Harrison Fox, '09PH
Ellen Garber, '76NP
Ariela Rosenberg, '09CC
Bindu Suresh, '05CC
Sriram Vaidhyanathan, '08SEAS
Rachel Weinberger
Eliandra West, '83GS
Kaishin Yen, '96SIPA