On Valentine’s Day last year, the hangar deck of the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum filled with the sound of big band swing. This year, the Death and Taxes Swing Band is preparing to bring that energy back for its second annual Valentine’s Day Swing Dance aboard the Hornet, continuing what may become a fun local tradition of romantic and upbeat energy.
The band’s first Valentine’s Day event aboard the Hornet exceeded expectations and sold out. Guests ranged in age and dance experience, from longtime swing enthusiasts to couples simply looking for something new.
The night begins with a short swing dance lesson, making the event welcoming for first-timers. A dance teacher introduces people to swing dancing as exhibition dancers perform mild acrobatics and encourage people to jump onto the dance floor. Guests can dance, watch, or do a little of both as the band moves through 1940s hits like “In the Mood” along with fun songs from the ’90’s swing revival such as “Istanbul, Not Constantinople.”
Built in 1943, the ship itself is part of the experience. The dance floor is on the indoor hangar deck, where guests can twirl, spin, and boogie surrounded by the historical war planes, and even head out on the fantail for the best view of the city skyline. As band co-founder Rebecca Roudman recalls, “Last year’s event was an absolute blast! The USS Hornet was built in 1943 and hearing the music from that period echo across the hangar deck is like stepping back in time. The whole evening felt magical and the dance floor was packed.”
Death and Taxes Swing Band began with the goal of preserving jazz and swing for the next generation. Founders Roudman and Jason Eckl’s love for swing music goes back decades. As college students in the 1990s, during the swing revival era, Roudman and Eckl snuck into swing clubs with fake IDs to go dancing. At that point, they were both classical musicians, but the energy of swing inspired them to take up jazz instruments.
As educators at a local college, Roudman and Eckl learned that a jazz band was in danger of being canceled. “We were worried that all of the young performers in the group wouldn’t have a chance to play jazz,” Roudman explains. In response, the couple hastily assembled a swing band that paired seasoned professional musicians with younger, up-and-coming players. The original jazz band ultimately survived, and Death and Taxes kept going. Now they have the opportunity “to create the kind of swing dances we remember from our college years.”
That mix of experience and youthful energy remains central to the band’s sound. Their performances carry the polish of longtime professionals alongside a sense of excitement that comes from musicians still discovering the fun of live performance.
For the 2026 Valentine’s Day dance, the band hopes to recreate last year’s sense of joy while keeping the event approachable—it’s designed to be comfortable, not too expensive, with plenty of easy parking. That’s a happy contrast to a lot of Valentine’s Day events.
The founders guarantee: This dance is very romantic! Plus, it brings people together across generations. “The swing dance community and people who just want a fun night out are all together,” Roudman explains. “In an era of disconnected, internet-based entertainment, we love to use the Hornet to party like it’s 1943.”
Details
The big night is February 14. Doors open with drinks and appetizers served at 6:30 p.m., and the swing dance begins at 7 with free lessons from the pros. Tickets may be purchased online in advance for $30 or at the door for $35.
The USS Hornet is located at 707 West Hornet Avenue.
Vivian Delchamps Wolf (English PhD, UCLA, 2022) is a professor of English at Dominican University of California and a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. She is also a disability justice advocate, ballroom dancer, cat lover, and board game enthusiast. Contact her via [email protected] Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Vivan-Delchamps-Wolf.
