DATE: Monday, May 26, 1997                  TAG: 9705260082
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: KENNAN NEWBOLD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   52 lines

BIG BAND WEEKEND DRAWS FANS OF ALL AGES, BUT FEW CUT THE RUG

A small barricade of lawn chairs occupied by easy listeners was all that separated the devoted from the daring and the shy from the swingers during the last night of the Oceanfront's Big Band Weekend.

Despite an audience of more than 200 fans, fewer than eight couples at a time took to the brick dance floor before dark at the 24th Street Park to tap their toes and swing their hips to the big band sounds of the Richmond-based Dreamstreet. Most of the audience preferred a seat on the lawn to the spotlight of center stage.

Gusty winds and a threat of rain had little effect on audience members who were in the mood to jitterbug.

Some of the bravest just happened to be some of the youngest.

Sue Haller, 29, took to the stage almost immediately. With three years of ballroom dancing experience, she wasn't the least bit shy.

``I love it because it's real dancing,'' she said. ``It's not bumping and grinding.''

Douglas Freeman, 32, has been taking ballroom dancing lessons for more than a year and says it looks more intimidating than it really is. A self-proclaimed introvert, Freeman likes the non-threatening atmosphere that big band music provides.

``Some of the ballroom dancing steps can be incorporated into top-40 music dancing,'' he said.

Haller agreed and said it's one of the reasons she likes it so much.

``I can do it anywhere,'' she said. ``At clubs . . . they'll clear a space for you on the dance floor.''

The veteran dancers Sunday had just one complaint: They missed the smooth linoleum floor on which they danced on Friday and Saturday nights. According to concert workers, high winds Saturday night ripped the temporary linoleum tiles off the dance floor, leaving a much rougher surface.

Those with no formal dance training didn't notice or mind the difference.

Sunday night's audience was split evenly between first-generation fans and a crop of youngsters drawn to the new sound of the 1920s, with a handful of father-daughter couples sharing space on the dance floor.

Anita Rhind worked at the park all weekend and was surprised at the number of young people who showed up. She said the pattern of Sunday's attendance wasn't much different from the previous nights'.

``By 8 p.m., it's beautiful out there,'' she said, nodding at the dance floor. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON/The Virginian-Pilot

More than 200 fans peppered the lawn of the 24th Street Park on the

Oceanfront to listen to the 1920s sounds of Richmond-based

Dreamstreet. Most, however, were content just to listen, not

jitterbug.

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