Shorts and Sandals Party

Labor Day weekend just got hotter, stop by the Royal Esquire Club for a fun-filled day party!

Enjoy the outdoor beer garden and live entertainment as we celebrate the last holiday of the summer. In addition to two great artists, Zhanea June and Dwayne D'Arby, Styles of Steppin' will be performing and offering Chicago Step lessons. Grab your summer attire and meet us at the Royal Esquire!

Dwayne D'Arby

Take a plate of Red Beans and Rice, add to it a side of mustard greens and Hot Buttered Corn Bread, Mac-N-Cheese, and Bar B-Q- Rib Tips, together with a cold sweaty glass of Sun Brewed Ice Tea and you can call it “MeeK” With his soul felt gospel influence and silky R&B lyrics, this Artist is about to make you remember why you love R&B so much. Does the term “Oooh Das’ my song” ring a bell?

Dwayne D'Arbys' music brings your mind to a spiritual consciousness while phatening up your groove muscle with his hip-hop grooves and sultry love ballads. How do you sum it all up? Just count on endless listening pleasure.

Born and raised in the California sunshine, this 1st born son of a preacher man is no dried up raisin! “I remember asking my mom to be completely honest and objective of my piano skills” she replied, “Baby that’s terrible”. “I laugh now, but it drove me to reach deeper and try harder”.” Always my biggest fan, mom’s would say, baby you can sing anything but that ‘ole nasty music”. She said,” Sing about life and love”!

Influenced by his Uncle, also an accomplished musician, the singing/composer/producer remembers him comically yet firmly chucking a size 13W at his head in the middle of choir rehearsals, challenging him to rise to his potential. “I thank God for it now because it made me more critical and aggressive about creating music that I try put my heart into”.

D’Arby influences range from R&B and Jazz to Gospel and Pop. Artistic influences include Stevie & Donny, Daryl Coley, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Clark Sisters, Luther, including some of today’s artist like Aaron Hall, Joe, and Dave Hollister and the list goes on.

“Most important to me is that my music mirror’s and respects my creator, while bring joy and healing to the lives of my listeners…ok, ok I hope it makes you bounce too!”

Follow Dwayne D'Arby of Facebook at Dwayne D'arby

Zhanea June

Originally from New Orleans and based out of the Seattle area, Zhanea is the Youth Choir and Art Director at the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship. She is known in some circles as the Songstress Supreme. Zhanea June (Zha_Nay-ah June) formerly known as Zhane Juniea, (Zha-nay Juneee-ah) is an American singer-songwriter and inspired actress born in Seattle and raised in New Orleans Louisiana. June performed and won various singing and dancing competitions as a child captivating the hearts of those who heard her. In 2004 June put together her own girl group called Zealous where she was the lead vocalist. The group became well-known in the community creating a local bus for Zhanea June. Tragically in 2005 the group was dismantled due to Hurricane Katrina and June became a solo artist. She pressed forward and became the McDonalds Gospel Fest Youth winner in 2005 and at age 14 her first single under the name Zhane Juniea, titled “Baby Baby Baby” was released on ITunes. Zhanea June classifies herself as an artist not stuck in the box and will sing all types of music with a positive message to inspire all. This led her to become the 2010 Washington States Nashville of Country Star winner. Zhanea June studied at the prestigious Howard University and Musician’s Institute to further her education in singing, composing, dance and theatre; which has led her to perform for various venues such as the Paramount Theater, Benaroya Hall, Muckleshoot Casino, Iron Horse Casino, 88 Keys, Highway 99 Blues Club, Tacoma Convention Center, Moore Theater and the Issaquah Theatre as well as made radio appearances on the Gospel Show 89.5 and the Vanessa Waller TV Show. Zhanea June mesmerizes her audiences as she performs at various festivals in the Seattle and Portland area such as the Kent Splash, Festival Sundiata, and Good in the Hood Festival. June has such a Soulful and angelical voice that keeps you yearning for more. In 2015 and 2016,she released three singles titled “Press”, “Feen,” and “How,” which she wrote and co-arranged. Zhanea June is a force to be reckoned with, her motto is, “ God gave me the gift, I just hold the mic.”

Follow Zhanea on Facebook at Zhanea June

Styles of Steppin'

Styles of Steppin' also known as S.O.S., began teaching the Art of Chicago Steppin' in the Western Washington area, December 2003. In addition to teaching Chicago Steppin', S.O.S. also teach popular Soul Line Dances seen around the Country. S.O.S. is known in the Steppin' Community as the Best Organization for Hosting Fabulous Annual Events such as Go Red for Women Fundraiser, Step, Dine and Wine Tasting, Steppers Boat Cruise along the Sound on Argosy, Masquerade Ball and Black Tie Holiday Anniversary Ball.

Chicago Style Steppin is an urban dance that continues to evolve defining its unique style and culture within the context of mainstream swing dance. Steppin has gained popularity throughout the United States particularly but not limited to urban America. The dance is a male lead eight-count swing and can be any combination of various movements such as Ballroom, the Lindy Hop, East / West Coast Swing, Jitterbug, Ballroom, and even the Tango.

Historians have noted that the early dance movements of Swing dances laid a superb foundation for the elements of dance to be shared and improvised over a period of time. Although the dance is a Chicago Style step everywhere, each city bears organizations with their own unique names such that the dance is also ever evolving from state to state. The history however extends as far back as the predecessor of modern American music, Ragtime, which documents polyrhythm movements and sounds of its heyday.

Today, the Chicago Step is more widely known nationwide in Major Cities than its ever been. The modern day music brings attention to the dance: Gerald LeVert's "Didn't We"; R Kelley's "Step in the Name of Love"; and, Jeffree's "Love's Gonna Last" to name a few.

Check out Styles of Steppin at http://www.stylesofsteppinseattle.com/index.html