Area residents looking for an upcoming excuse to twist and shout their way out of Austin will soon get that opportunity.

Saturday, Feb. 12, The Austin Big Band will perform a Valentine’s dance in Grafton, Iowa, at the Grafton Community Center. The event will run from 7 to 10 p.m. with $10 admission for individuals or $15 for couples.

Nathan Wradislavsky, manager of the band and tenor saxophone player, said the band performs a wide variety of pieces for different tastes. Slow, fast, Latin and waltz are a few examples of what enthusiasts can expect. Some specific songs include: “You Make me feel so Young,” “What is this Thing Called Love,” “It Had to Be You” and “It Had Better be Tonight.”

“There will be a little bit of something for everybody,” Wradislavsky said.

And with room for 350 people, The Grafton Community Center should be able to house everybody. Wradislavsky has previously played at the facility with the band. He said, “They really do a good job with decorations … and there’s plenty of room for people to dance.”

The Austin Big Band has been performing throughout southern Minnesota for the past 15 years and is made up of 17 musicians from southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. It can often be seen throughout southern Minnesota and northern Iowa and is available for private parties, weddings and corporate functions.

For more information contact Nathan Wradislavsky at 507-271-5745 or at austinbigband@yahoo.com.