Columnist Joe Delaney: Miller and Co. celebrate swing dancing's birth at Savoy

LAST CHANCE. ... Tonight is closing night for Norma Miller's ambitious, very entertaining but under-financed, publicity-wise "Swinging At The Savoy," a tribute to Harlem's famed Savoy Ballroom and the many swing dance variations that were created there. ... Dancing starts at 7 p.m. in the Gold Coast's upstairs ballroom, showtime is 8:30, dancing resumes at 10 p.m.

Miller is an ageless performing wonder, one of the 1930s Savoy Ballroom originals, still active. ... Norma opens the show and hosts. ... She makes the point that "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing," sings, dances and tells the ballroom's story.

Jim Fitzgerald, his trombone and 17-piece Gold Coast Big Band orchestra play for dancing, great arrangements, at 7 p.m. and again at 10. ... This is a group of top musicians that can play the charts and hold their own with any of the so-called "ghost" bands.

Memory moment

Monday night's show was special because the honored guest was 91-year-old Leonard Reed, just back from a quadruple bypass heart surgery, producer of those great Cotton Club shows starring Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Lena Horne, among others. ... Reed got up and told several funny stories.

Then came that special moment that happens too seldom these days. ... Reed summoned all the dancers that had previously performed, taught them the Shim-Sham, which he had created, had them dance it with him, then added several variations, first by example, then with the 30 dancers, creating a memory moment for everyone present.

Norma Miller is a credit to this community. ... This evening, take your favorite dance partner. It's well worth the $25 per person to dance, be royally entertained, then dance the night away to America's music.

A suggestion

Dp you remember an underrated, wonderful film in 1989, "Tap," which co-starred Gregory Hines and the late Sammy Davis Jr., and included a number of tap dance greats including today's Broadway favorite, Savion Glover? ... Dancers Bunny Briggs, Steve Condos, Harold Nicholas, Pat Rico and Sandman Sims were also featured.

With the recent success of local dance arrivals, "Lord of the Dance" (New York-New York) and "Tap Dogs" (Stratosphere), why not a production show featuring dancing, music and humor, recreating the magic of the Four Steps, Berry Brothers and Nicholas Brothers, plus a few of the hoofers listed above? ... Think about it.

Norma Miller lives here. ... She could put it together as well as anyone. ... Cholly Atkins, a recent Tony Award winner who choreographed Gladys Knight & The Pips, among others, lives here. ... Call them.

Star policy update

Bally's Celebrity Room and Caesars Circus Maximus are both dark this weekend. ... Elsewhere, it's Don Rickles, Friday through Sunday (Desert Inn); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); The Four Tops (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Oak Ridge Boys, Friday through Sunday (Orleans); Danny Gans (Rio); and the Coasters, Drifters and Platters (Sahara).

One night stands: Meredith Brooks (Sunset Station) and Tracy Lawrence (Texas Station), both on Friday. ... Saturday, it's the Harry James Orchestra (Stardust Ballroom) and The Doobie Brothers (Texas Station), at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.

Australia's Raquel Maartel and The Untamed Groove, blending dance music with precision choreography, is the new Friday night attraction at the Harley Davidson Cafe, starting at 10 p.m.

Thursday addenda

Saturday night's special: Rich Little will appear in concert in Harrah's showroom at 8 p.m. ... Look for an in-depth update on Rich in Friday's Sun column. ... Kristine W, a longtime fixture in the LV Hilton's Night Club, has moved to the MGM Grand's Studio 54, performing at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., Wednesdays through Fridays.

Let's send every possible youngster to camp this summer, please give what you can to the Sun Summer Camp Fund. ... See you Friday.

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