Area senior citizens are invited to a monthly ballroom dance with a live orchestra at The Timbers of Shorewood retirement community.
The Timbers of Shorewood's monthly ballroom dances are always very well attended by not only Timbers’ residents but by many seniors who live in the Shorewood, Joliet and Plainfield area. With very few 1930s and ‘40s ballrooms still in existence, a dance such as the one the Timbers hosts, is very popular indeed.
The Jay Mau Orchestra provides the music of the Big Band era. This 10-piece band plays more than 40 gigs a year, the Timbers being a favorite. Orchestra members hail from Indiana, the Chicago area and Joliet. Jay Mau is a resident of Channahon.
Mau's kindergarten teacher unwittingly launched his musical career when she pronounced him director of the class's rhythm band. He embarked upon the serious study of music when he began playing the trombone in the school band at Taft School in Lockport.
"I picked the trombone, but my arms weren't long enough to reach all the positions," Mau said. "The director -- Pops Leedom -- switched me to the trumpet."
From the trumpet, Mau moved on to the tuba, then to the string bass, which Mau now plays. At Lockport Township High School, Mau played in the school band and for school sock hops with The Jimmy Stevenson Swing Band.
Following two years with the U.S. Navy, he joined a polka band, The Al Piazza Trio. Four nights a week, Mau also performed with Donna Rae and The Gentlemen. For 14 years, beginning around 1980, Mau played with the Roy Gordon Orchestra. When Roy "Carlos" Gordon died, Mau purchased the orchestra, added some new music, and renamed the band The Jay Mau Orchestra.
"I wanted to keep this music going for as long as I could," Mau said.
In addition to the big band tunes of the 1930s and 1940s such as "Stardust," Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" and Frank Sinatra's "Laura,” Mau's orchestra also performs songs by The Beatles, Bobby Darin and Wayne Newton.
"I keep adding music that appeals to all audiences," Mau said. "I like to mix it up by playing waltzes, tangos, cha-chas, rumbas and fox trots. With 'Dancing with the Stars' so popular, we're seeing more young people dancing."
Mau’s musicians are:
- Luci D’Mari – vocalist
- Geno Sciacca – drums
- Bob Ferrarris - string bass
- Tom Seroviak - tenor sax
- Don Martin – 1st chair alto
- Tom Drake – alto and tenor sax
- Jerry Luzinecki – baritone sax
- Norval Nicholls – trumpet
- Frank Katzback – trumpet
- Larry Zelek – trumpet
- Del Bergeson – trombone and vocals
- Bill Penn – piano
The dances are open to the public and admission is free. For more information, contact activities director Shelly Goggins at (815) 609-0669.
Recent and Upcoming Ballroom Dances:
- Winter Ballroom Dance - Jan. 26, 2012
- Valentine's Day Ballroom Dance - Feb. 16, 2012
- ‘In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb’ Ballroom Dance - March 15, 2012
- Spring Ballroom Dance - April 26, 2012
- May Flowers Ballroom Dance - May 24, 2012
- Seniors' Senior Prom - (7 p.m.) June 22, 2012
- In the Good Ol’ Summertime Ballroom Dance - July 19, 2012
- ‘No Dog Days Here’ Ballroom Dance - Aug. 23, 2012
- Autumn Leaves Ballroom Dance - Sept. 20, 2012
- Halloween Ballroom Dance - Oct. 31, 2012
- Thanksgiving Ballroom Dance - Nov. 15, 2012
- Christmas Ballroom Dance - Dec. 20, 2012