Instructors

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.ninjammerz.com
Annie is an former competition gymnast. She is a co-founder and co-owner of Studio 88 Swing in Montreal (Canada) where she has taught swing since 2001. As the artistic director, she also manages and dances in the Montreal Swinging Air Force dance performance troupe, along with her partner Max Pitruzzella. She is passionate and enthusiastic as a swing dancer, teacher and competitor. Her style joins dynamism and power with a subtleness that is very feminine.

www.andyandnina.com
Andy Reid is one of the most well known and influential Lindy Hop dancers out there. Since he started dancing in the late nineties, Andy has left an indelible mark on the dance scene. Andy's style is a balance of the refined and the eccentric, and his soulful proficiency with rhythm and partnering make his dancing rich and inspiring to watch and experience. He has performed and taught all over the world including Korea, Australia, Japan and all over Europe. He is a founding member of Silver Shadows, which is undoubtedly one of the most influential dance teams currently. He is also a member of the highly influential troupe Minnie's Moochers. Finally, Andy is also a founding member of Mad Dog!, a Lindy Hop Crew who is infamous within the Lindy community for some reason. Andy also holds a variety of regional, national and international competition titles. Andy currently resides in New Orleans, LA.

www.andyandnina.com
Nina Gilkenson - Lindy Hopper. Belly dancer. The mysterious figure that is known only as "Nina" (and sometimes "Naomi") has many titles from prestigious dance competitions. But that's only a small part of her accomplishments. For instance, she can swivel in midair. She can simultaneously create vintage-style dresses and then destroy them while dancing. She can make 12-minute biscuits in 10 minutes. She writes upbeat musical theatre involving funeral homes. And last, but not least, she is a part of the award-winning Lindy Hop team the Silver Shadows, which sounds like it's a group of super heroes. And that's what she is. A Super Hero--one whose main super power is doing swivels in midair. And one day, they might save the world. Until then, she lives in Baltimore and falls down a lot.

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.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.

Stefan has been teaching Lindy Hop for a few years now, and he has won some stuff at a variety of Lindy Hop competitions, but none of that really means anything because the real issue at hand is his unflagging, lifelong love for and devotion to partnered jazz dance. In his classes, Stefan likes to teach ideas, rhythms and moves that are fun, edifying, and adjustable to each dancer's needs. Stefan likes dancing really fast and really slow. He likes Charlie Chaplin and the traditional dances of Guinea. He can do the Mill's Mess and a pretty sweet scorpion kick. And he likes syncopating his steps as he's walking down the street, all cool-like.

Bethany, a Maine native, was never 'classically trained' but has found a haven in the dances of the proletariat. You know, getting down. She quietly achieved the threshold of Lindy Hop savvy in the Portland and (recently) DC scenes of the past few years and, having fared well in recent competitions throughout the country, would like to advert that she dominated three-legged-races as a child. Bethany is intrigued by the interplay of assertion and concession that makes for good cooperative art. She would rather dance to the hot hot jazz. In spite of herself, she's really beginning to enjoy choreographing and teaching choreography. Bethany's style of teaching is to keep the fun focused and the focus on fun, although she would be embarrassed to hear it described that way.

www.falty.com
Mike Faltesek brings to the dance floor an incredibly diverse social and performance dance talent that includes not only Lindy Hop but also Cakewalk, Black Bottom, Traditional Jazz, Tap, Charleston, Breakaway, Balboa, Big Apple, Blues and many other Authentic Jazz dances.

Mike has been dancing for almost a decade, in that time he has traveled to instruct, compete, and perform internationally. From Harlem to Los Angeles and all throughout Europe, Mike is well known for his charismatic personality, approachability, and passion for the essence of Authentic Jazz dance and music. He possesses an enthusiastic ability to convey ideas and movements explicitly, making him a popular instructor wherever he goes. He teaches workshops internationally, each time leaving a lasting impression on his students.

www.mikeandlauralindy.com
Laura grew up in a little hick town with more cows than people. It didn’t have much dancing, and the only radio stations were country, rap, and country. However, she was always enchanted by the classical CDs her parents had and danced around the living room constantly. She bumped into Lindy Hop, Swing, and Jazz ( <3 ) in San Antonio while at Trinity University. She learned her first swingout from Mike Lenneville and Lani Steffens and, since then, has been dedicating every spare moment (and dollar) to learning more about this amazing dance. She has taught in Canada, France, Estonia, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the US.

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.

evitaarce.blogspot.com
Evita Arce is a Swing dance star, known internationally for her endless energy, high-flying aerials, and dynamic jazz movement. Whether she’s on stage or leading a class, her vibrant persona inspires on-lookers to dance and live in the moment. Evita played the feature Lindy Hop role in the Broadway musical “SWING!” on the 2008 Japan tour, at The California Music Circus, and at The Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Evita also choreographed and danced for Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at The Kennedy Center in DC celebrating MLK and President Obama’s inauguration. Television appearances have popped up frequently since Evita, with partner Michael Jagger, advanced to finals in Las Vegas on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance–the only Lindy Hop couple to do so. Evita choreographed for the NY Times Square production, “Sleigh Bells Swing,” with George Gee’s Orchestra at the Edision Ballroom. Other exciting performances have included The Edinborough Jazz Festival in Scotland with Ryan Francois’ company Swing Extreme, The Rudolstadt Festival in Germany with the Vanaver Caravan, a Latin and Ballroom series with Tango y Mas, and numerous shows at top venues in New York City including the Rose Theater, The Rainbow Room, The Waldorf Astoria, The Gramercy National Arts Club and The Plaza at Lincoln Center.

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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.