Swing It Seattle is the very first group to hold a live music social dance since Nippon Kan Theatre reopened in May 2024. Their “Swing It Fall Ball” with Jacqueline Tabor’s Jazz & Blues kicked things off in a spectacular fashion on Saturday, October 5.
Swing It Seattle manages weekly and monthly social dance events and is produced by its co-founders, Katie & Mark Kihara. Producing their first event in Nippon Khan, Mark Kihara explained his relationship to the venue.
“My grandparents frequented this venue, they were also dancers,” said Kihara. “After the internment, it was no longer used by the Japanese community in the same way.” The Nippon Kan Theater was established in 1909 and served as Seattle’s de facto Japanese community center before World War II.
“And my uncle played this music in the Seattle area with a youth swing orchestra called the Lotus Skyliners,” Kihara added. “But they were not able to play here.” Therefore, it was a remarkable night for them and the community as the event connected their Japanese family history, venue, and community.
As Swing It Seattle welcomes people who all love dance, music, and community, the night was bright and colorful. “We’re very proud of this community we’ve helped to build, and tonight is going to be a very special night, I think for all of us,” said Kihara.
