FARMINGTON — The annual Autumn Dance featuring the music of the Al Corey Big Band and the Mt. Blue High School Jazz Band will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in the gym at Mt. Blue High School.

A fundraiser for the high school and middle school jazz ensembles, the dance is preceded by a one-hour dance clinic with New York dance instructor Gary Smith starting at 6 p.m., Director Karen Beacham, who leads both ensembles and the Mt. Blue High School Concert Band, said.

“The existence of these ensembles would not be possible without help from community members. All of the jazz bands are extracurricular ensembles, and are therefore not included in the Mt. Blue RSD 9 budget,” she said in a statement about the ensembles major yearly fundraiser. Along with the Al Corey Big Band, the event includes chocolate fountains by Pam West from the Chocolate Shoppe and the dance clinic.

Last year was an active year for the Mt. Blue High School Jazz band with performances at Farmington Fair, last fall’s Autumn Dance and Saddleback’s Veteran’s Day celebration in January.

In February, the band received the highest ranking at the District 4 Jazz Festival, which qualified it for the State Jazz Festival in March. In April, the band participated in the Heritage Music Festival that took place at the Riverside Church in New York City. The band received a silver award and represented the community well, she said.

Based on the band’s success and younger students interest, Beacham started a middle school jazz band last year and plans to start a sixth-grade jazz band this school year.

This year’s Mt. Blue High School Jazz Band members include Noah LePage, Miranda Voter, Ashlie Hardy, Taylor Harris, Kevin Foley, Morgan Spencer, Matt West, Zach Veayo, Sophia Bunnell, Miles Brooks, Nick Nile, Scott Storer, Brittany Holden, Jordan Williams, Kjell Nordstrom, Peter Coleman, Seth Wegner, Jake Correll, Silas Rogers, Kyrie Harnden, Josh Hiltz, Steven Yardley and Eli Cohen.

Tickets for Saturday’s dance are available from Beacham and the Mountain View Chocolate Shoppe by calling 778-2500 and at the door. They are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. Donations will be appreciated and proceeds benefit the Mt.Blue Jazz Band ensembles.

For more information, call 645-3322 or 778-4215.