Instructors

www.carlaheiney.com
Among many of her accomplishments, Carla has choreographed for Fox’s hit T.V. show, So You Think You Can Dance season 6 creating a routine for contestants Ryan & Ellenore. She is also the 2008 Camp Jitterbug Champion, Canadian Swing Dance Champion & International Lindy Hop Champion as well as the 2007 National Jitterbug Champion, 2007 American Lindy Hop Champion, & 2006 US Open Showcase Champion. She has also won the US Open Lindy Showcase division with in 2001, 2002, 2004 and the US Open Strictly Lindy division in 2003. She is a 6 time American Lindy Hop Champion and the 2005 World Lindy Hop Champion in the Improvisational division.

She has worked with great artists such as Aretha Franklin, Jeff Tyzik, B.B. King, Erich Kunzel, Nell Carter, and Rita Moreno. She has had the wonderful opportunity to dance at prestigious places such Carnegie Hall & the Kennedy Center as well. She has appeared on ABC's revival of the TV show "Dance Fever" in 2003 and was a featured dancer using Motion Capture technology in the 2004 Feature Film The Polar Express in 2004. Carla will also be featured in the upcoming 2008 movie Love and Dancing.

www.swingnick.com
Nick Williams has embodied the passion and spirit of swing dancing ever since his first lesson in 1998. His in depth understanding of Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag stem from studying with the original dancers. Nick's desire for authenticity, combined with his passion for dance evolution, leads to a style known for precision, lightness, musicality and dynamic energy. His successes include World Lindy Hop Champion, U.S. Open Swing Dance Champion, American Lindy Hop Champion, National Jitterbug Champion, International Lindy Hop Champion, Ultimate Lindy Hop Champion, American Classic Balboa Champion and California Balboa/Swing Champion. He is also an accomplished choreographer and has been featured on the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance. As an instructor, he is known for his ability to break down movements and technique to create a fun and light-hearted learning environment. His true love for music and dancing will forever inspire him to learn, teach, and grow. In 2004, Nick was honored to be recognized by the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.

www.toddyannacone.com
Todd Yannacone is one of the most recognizable names on the swing dancing circuit today. He has won countless championship titles from the most prestigious competitions around - The American Lindy Hop Championships, The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, The U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships, The National Jitterbug Championships, The Rhythmic Arts Festival, Lone Star Championships - to name just a few. Todd has been nominated for induction into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame, and has been interviewed for articles by Swing Dancer Magazine as well as various other publications. He teaches vernacular jazz, balboa, lindy hop, and other vintage swing dances both locally and internationally, and loves spreading his passion for social dancing. He has been a featured instructor, performer, and judge at camps, workshops, and competitions the world over - from the legendary Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden to Asia, across North America, all over Europe, and everywhere in between. He specializes in connection and musicality, which is apparent every time he steps on the dance floor. He has worked with dance and music legends alike, and frequently can be found performing and competing with the acclaimed dance troupe to which he belongs, the Silver Shadows.

www.johoffberg.com
Although Jo Hoffberg calls California her home, she spends most of the year traveling with her dance partner Kevin St. Laurent. She holds 1st place titles from the US Open, Canadian Swing Championships, Camp Hollywood, American Lindy Hop Championships, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown and the International Lindy Hop Championships. Her first international working experience was in Japan working for Universal Studios, and since then she has taught in the US, Asia, Australia, South America, Western and Eastern Europe. Currently performing with The Killer Dillers, she is thrilled at the idea of new costumes. She is a passionate and avid dancer, instructor and competitor.

Jo is also a notorious movie quoter and inundates her friends and students with her sassy attitude and one liners from Anchorman, Blades of Glory, Wedding Crashers and How I met your Mother, as well as breaking out into song at inappropriate moments. When Jo grows up, she wants to be a secret agent and have language skills, knife throwing skills, shorthand skills, and the power to read minds. When she is not learning a new skill, she plots to take over the world! After that accomplishment she’s not entirely sure what she’ll do. Long walks on the beach and cold weather aren’t for her, but she does enjoy wearing boots and drinking cups of hot water.

www.daxhock.com
Dax is the mastermind behind a few good ideas in the world. He is kind of addicted to finding better ways to do things. Better ways to teach, dance, learn, do, act, visualize, dream, function, live and the list goes on. This is where his brain is constantly at work, he really can’t help it. The hamster is on crack, constantly running. It is just part of his like he says “inner freak”.

Dax has also been pretty creative in developing simple, effective ideas to help dancers open the cage, discover and tame the Rhythmical Beast that lurks inside. Regardless, his methods are creative and totally unorthodox without trying to be different, just more effective.

www.sarahbreck.com
Sarah has been training and competing in dance with an emphasis on Vernacular Jazz dance since the age of 10. She holds two titles in the U.S. Open and the Jr. Olympics.

Sarah has also consistently worked in film; commercial and music videos along side artist such as Benji and Lacey Schwimmer (So You Think You Can Dance); Christina Aguilera; Fall Out Boy; Richard Blayne (Project Runway); Mariah Carey; Will Smith; and Gavin Degraw.

www.laurakeat.com
Laura began her swing dance career in Denver when she joined the Championship Lindy Hop performance team, 23 Skidoo! She immediately took off with her dancing and started winning national titles after dancing for a relatively short time, including American Lindy Hop "Classic" Champion, US Open "Strictly Lindy" Champion, Camp Jitterbug "Lindy Hop" Champion, both Northern California and Northwest Bal-Swing Championships and the 2007 US Open "Fast Dance" Champion. Her classes emphasize the use of excellent connection and technique to enhance individual style, and maximize room for musicality and rhythmic dance. Laura's passion for teaching compliments her passion for swing dancing itself, bringing an energy to her classes that is a unique benefit to her students.

www.fastandfancyfeet.com
Jeremy united with Laura Keat in January of 2006. Since then, they have been accumulating Championship Titles, teaching all around the world, and even performed on ABC's hit TV Show, "Dancing With The Stars." Jeremy and Laura were each individually inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in 2008!

Jeremy and Laura have earned Championships at many National events such as: National Jitterbug Championships, American Lindy Hop Championships and the US Open to name a few. They travel to teach all across the United States and around the world both individually and as a couple, including jobs across the US, France, England, Germany, Sweden, Canada and Japan. They also teach regularly in Southern California and combine their interests to bring well-rounded, interesting and entertaining swing dance classes to the floor. Jeremy's focus on style, authentic movement and unique moves along with Laura's passions for styling and musicality using good connection and technique will inspire and elevate dancers at all levels.

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Karen was first seen on stage at age 9 performing a tap dance to Lollipop in a striped leotard and has been dancing ever since (in fact, she can still be seen dancing around in a leotard from time to time). She discovered Lindy Hop during the Swing craze in 1998 and has never looked back. Karen originally honed her dance skills in Minneapolis, MN and now currently resides in Santa Barbara, CA.

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Andrew was first exposed to the Lindy Hop back in 1998 but didn’t actually develop rhythm until booty dancing in college. Since 2005, Andrew has developed a uniquely energetic style of Swing dancing with a focus on fun and learning things right the first time. His only hope is to share his love of the dance and the energy it brings forth with as many people as possible.

Andrew and Karen are basically the same person except Karen likes unicorns and rainbows while Andrew likes dragons and beer. All they want to do is dance the Lindy Hop and make each other laugh. Having fun is awesome. They hope you like awesome too.

www.mikeypedroza.com
Since 1998, Mikey Pedroza has taken his perfect blend of ethereal grace and classic style to every performance, competition and instructional event through out the United States and the world. Coming out of the mean, but clean, streets of the Orange County, California, Mikey has earned acclaim for his hard edged, but playful, style of Lindy Hop & Classic Jazz Dance. Mikey’s passion for Lindy Hop can be seen on every social dance floor he walks on - dancing every song to the fullest ability of his heart & soul. Mikey is also a member of Hot Club Stomp.

www.nikkimarvin.com
Nikki Marvin is a woman of many talents. Wife, mother, and ATOMIC Ballroom owner by day, Champion Lindy Hopper by night!

Nikki travels the world teaching, performing and competing with her partner Mikey Pedroza. Together they hold winnings from: National Jitterbug Championships, US Open Swing Dance Championships, World Swing Dance Championships, Boston Tea Party, Camp Jitterbug, Swing in the Colony, Lindy and Party Weekend, Rhythmic Arts Festival, Reno Dance Sensation, California Girl Jam and many other local competitions.

In 2007, Nikki was a featured performer on ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars. Nikki is also a prominent member of one of the largest Swing Dance scenes in the world as well as an organizer of the Orange County Swing Dance Club, 24 Hour Cancer Dance-a-thon, Inspiration Weekend, and founding member of the all female dance troupe the ATOMIC Cherry Bombs. Nikki is also a member of the All Star dance team Hot Club Stomp.