All social ballroom dances feature live music from one of the bands below. See the Calendar section for a list of band schedules. Dance the night away to music ranging from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s up to contemporary hits. Music for Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Rumba, Cha-Cha, Swing, Samba, Merenge, and Polka are played at appropriate tempi for ballroom dancers.

HELMUT LICHT

Helmut studied at Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory of Music, majoring in composition. To earn his tuition he taught dancing at the Arthur Murray School of Dancing, where he was awarded the Arthur Murray professional Gold Medal. He received his BA from the Maryland Institute of Art and his MA from Towson University and taught for many years at Morgan State University and Towson University. On weekends he plays music from solo all the way to his 14 piece Ballroom Big Band, for which he writes and arranges most of the music. For the past 11 years he has been holding ‘Ballroom Dancing at the Belvedere’ every Wednesday evening. He loves what he does and enjoys life, because he does what he loves – play music, paint, dance and teach! Andre has been playing music with Helmut since the early 60’s. Their musical specialty and preference is playing for ballroom dancers!

Helmut’s website is www.ballroommusic.com  Check it out!
 

DARIA MATACIA -- ANGEL AND ACES

Daria was born in Washington DC., and has lived in the Metro area continually since then. Both parents were singers; her Mother was a semi-pro, singing mostly weddings and church gigs. She grew up listening to all kinds of music, and incorporates these many influences into her current style. Having done a lot of choral singing, and group sings around the campfire in Girl Scouts, she learned to love harmonies. After graduating from GMU, she studied with Joy Bosfield, who was a friend of Roberta Flack's and shared her vocal coach. She started performing in local piano bars and restaurants. Daria has a teaching studio with 40 piano and voice students and a band, Angel & Aces.

ANGEL & ACES has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the area. They had their debut performance at Blues Alley in Washington, DC in July of 2003. Other performances include: Ft. Myer and Ft. Belvoir Officer's Clubs, Springfield, Army Navy, Chevy Chase, and Avenel Country Clubs. Also, they have performed at BT's, Sea & Company, Sunset Grille, and Bangkok Blues Night Clubs. Angel and Aces is a tasteful, energetic band, playing your favorites for dinner and dancing, from the 1940's to the present. They play for dancers and pride themselves on the danceability of their arrangements.

Daria’s website is: www.dcjazz.com/daria/index.htm  
 

THE FAMILY BAND

The Family Band began in the early 70”s, playing at D’Angelo’s Italian Restaurant in Aspen Hill, Md. They played there for about 3 years, then started playing for dances and private parties at local country clubs, including Congressional, Columbia, Manor, Belle Haven and Bethesda. The Family has been providing music for the Friday Nighters Dancing Club for over 10 years. Although the band has changed personnel over the years, The Family has essentially remained a quartet, using keyboard, clarinet, bass, and drums. Occasionally an additional horn is added for larger venues. Frank (Jasper) Napoli, keyboard, Larry Kopp, clarinet and vocals, Adam Friedman on bass, and Frank Cocuzzi on drums and vocals make up the current Family Band. Although Jasper Napoli continues to play with The Family when his schedule allows, Alex Smith regularly plays keyboard with the band.

The Family Band's website is:  www.frankcocuzzimusic.com