Evita Arce

Evita Arce is a Swing dance phemon, known internationally for her endless energy, inspiring performances, and elegant, feminine movement. Whether on stage or leading a class, her vibrant persona inspires on-lookers to dance and live in the moment. She has taught all over the world at Lindy Hop events spanning the US to the UK, Japan to Australia, Canada to Europe.

As a teacher, Evita's patience and bright, friendly classroom manor belies the extraordinary depth of her technical knowledge. She is adament about understanding anatomy and efficiancy of movement. Her open, enthusiastic connection with people lends to her entertaining communication in the classroom. Evita has had the great privileged of partnering several amazing teachers including, Michael Jagger, Nathan Bugh, Joel Plys, Manu Smith, Steven Mitchell, and Ryan Francois!

As a performer, Evita has appeared on television, and on major stages in three different continents. Evita danced the feature Lindy Hop role in multiple tours of the Broadway musical "SWING!". At the landmark 'Frankie 95' memorial, Evita was among the hand full of performers to appear before 2,000 Swing dancers from around the globe.

Evita is a member of Ryan's company, Swing Xtreme. With the company, she has performed at The Edinburgh Jazz Festival and the prestigious Lyric Theatre in London's West End. Evita is also a member of The Killer Dillers who won the team division at ILHC and are quickly appearing all over the world for their array of authentic jazz dances.

Evita has 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. Evita choreographed 'Sleigh Bells Swing', a 2 week show in Time Square with George Gee's Orchestra at the Edison Ballroom. Evita is exceptionally proud of her recent success directing the 2009 New Years Eve show, The Red Hot Rythnm Review, at Lindy Focus.

Commercials and television appearances have popped up frequently since Evita, with partner Michael Jagger, advanced to finals in season three of FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance'--the only Lindy Hop couple to do so!

www.evitaarce.blogspot.com

Nina Gilkenson

Lindy Hopper. Belly dancer. Hair-removal Laser Technician. 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.

www.andyandnina.com

Jo Hoffberg

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.johoffberg.com

Maryse Lebeau

Maryse Lebeau, from Montreal, Canada, is loved by her students for her friendliness, her dedication to their success and her strong respect for the individual's expression in any form of dance.

Co-founder of two of Canada's biggest swing dance schools (Studio 88 Swing in 2001 and Swing ConneXion in 2005), she has led many - including herself - to success in competitions, and is the current holder of a rare privilege: Triple Crown at the Canadian Swing Championships 2009 for Team Division, Canadian Showcase and Strictly Balboa! With partner Zack Richard she has accumulated successes over the years and is one of the rare dancers to be acknowledged as a gracious and talented follow in Lindy Hop, Balboa and Shag. Always the innovator, she likes to push dances in unexpected directions: Founder of the first Balboa team of the modern era in 2003, she never does anything the same way and thrives for unexpectedness and new things to try on the dance floor.

Her rare time off the floor is spent with her daughter Camelia, watching bloopers reels on YouTube, avoiding gluten food - an always present peril - and shopping. Her other passion is singing, and she's been a member of Wabiza, an African gospel singing choir.

www.swingconnexion.com

Dominique Blouin

Dominique has been teaching dance for the past eleven years. Speaking both English and French, she studied and taught a number of different dances including Salsa, Flamenco, Tango, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Shag and Balboa. She is a much sought-after instructor appreciated for her attention to her students and for her understanding of movement, especially when it come to following. She has been recognized among top dancers for her sense of style and grace on the dance floor.

Dominique only began competing in Balboa four years ago and has already made a name for herself placing 1st in the Eastern Balboa Championships, placing 2nd at Camp Hollywood's National Jitterbug Championships as well as the Canadian Swing Championships and 3rd at All Balboa Weekend Showcase division. A versatile and dedicated social dancer, she made a sensational entrance showing her abilities by making it into the finals of both Balboa Rendezvous and All Balboa Weekend within her first 8 months of learning the dance. In addition to competing, Dominique performed in many prestigious Theatres in Canada, USA and Europe with Mikey Pedroza, Jeremy Otth, Joel Plys, Nathan Bugh and Davis Thurber.

Dominique has taught locally and internationally in both Balboa and Lindy Hop with some of the best including Mickey Fortanasce, Max Pitruzzella , Marty Klempner, Bobby White, Joel Plys, Nathan Bugh and Mikey Pedroza. This diversity of partnerships made her teaching concise and gave her a vast perspective of the different techniques used today. She also organizes successful events, Followlogie as well as the Montreal Balboa Revue. Currently she teaches locally in Montreal and coaches the Balboa Connexion Team.

www.dominiqueblouin.com

Lunou Samson-Poirot

Lunou Samson Poirot has a passion for dancing ever since she started dancing at the age of 4. In her youth, she sailed between ballet jazz and gymnastics. Later, she found creative dance and hip-hop. Her real passion for dance was obvious when she discovered swing in Quebec City in 2003. Dancing and teaching are part of her every day life since then.

Having an academic background in education, she is set apart by her educational approach and contagious energy. Her experiences in dance education vary from dance classes to children in disadvantaged areas; dance classes in preschool, primary, secondary and university and achievements with the Port-O-Swing school since 2005.

In Quebec, she had sucess as a dancer, choreographer and as a coach. She has participated in numerous international swing events in recent years. Her love of Lindy Hop, Charleston, Blues and Jazz led her to become involved in several projects: she is a member of the team Nothern Lights since 2008, founder of the Cocottes Minutes duo with Celine Cartelli. She's also an artist in Swing Station, a Genevieve Kerouac show.

In short, what is particularly important is that you will surely love her classes! Ask the students, they love them. She leads, she follows, does it all and loves what she does.

www.lescocottesminutes.com

Natalia Rueda

A full-time dance teacher, Natalia's many competition awards include earning six 1st places at the Canadian Swing Championships in 2010 alone and having won 1st place in almost every style of dance represented at this event!

Born in Colombia, Natalia grew up dancing Salsa and Merengue. As she puts it, "I never went to a party where people didn't know how to partner dance until I came to Canada!" Luckily, as soon as Natalia arrived in Canada, she discovered swing dancing, rising quickly to become one of Canada's top swing dancers. While her first swing love is Lindy Hop, she's developed a sweet spot for Blues, West Coast Swing, Charleston, Shag and Balboa. In short: everything swing!

Coach and choreographer for every Swing Dynamite team except for the D-Boyz, Natalia began her career as a choreographer in Colombia, where her song and dance routines won dozens of 1st place prizes. She also won 1st place in her provincial cheerleading championships, making her a natural for swing acrobatics! Not only is she a Lindy Hop champion, she's been seen performing on stage with the National Arts Centre Orchestra at the NAC, at the Casino du Lac Leamy, on TV with Rogers and ATV, as well as numerous other performances!

As a teacher, Natalia's known for her positive energy and her ability to inspire her students to push themselves. Students appreciate how Natalia's precise feedback helps them learn, and they rave about how her enthusiastic encouragement makes it all worthwhile. Natalia's taught a wide range of ages, including children and teens aged 7-17, in groups as large as over 200 people!

Natalia speaks English and Spanish fluently, and she's working on her French!

www.swingdynamite.com

Mikey Pedroza

Since 1998, Mikey Pedroza has taken his perfect blend of powerful movement and classic grace to every competition, performance 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 winning and placing in many national dance competitions. His hard edged, playful style of Lindy Hop & Classic Jazz Dance, can be seen on every dance floor he walks on. His performances showcase the passion he has for Lindy Hop by constantly pushing himself to the fullest of his ability.

He brings that same fantastic energy to the classes he teaches. While focusing on the classic jazz dancing look, he never forgets to add the purpose to everything he does through a great technical feel. Mikey’s teaching focuses on lead and follow techniques in every sense of those words. With focal points on connection, body leading, movement, and frame.

A strong dedication to the understanding and preservation of the classic American made Jazz dances, is what drives him to continue learning these Swing Dances that include: Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Slow Drag (Blues) and Classic Solo Jazz Dance. Now he would like to share his unique approach to these classic jazz dances in the hopes that you will be able to feel for the American art form of dance as much as he does.

www.mikeypedroza.com

Claudia Joyal Laplante

Specialized in Musicals and passionate about dance, Claudia fell in love with Swing dancing in January 2006. Strong from her diverse background in many dance style including Classical Ballet, Ballet Jazz and Tap, She became an active Swinging Air Force Member in October 2006. She met her actual partner Davis Thurber in 2009 and now teaches Lindy Hop, Balboa, Blues and West Coast Swing with him. We can see her competing at many events around the world, when she finds the occasion to hit the floor.

Claudia teaches at Studio 88 Swing since 2007, her passion and her energy make her a very devoted teacher who always find the best way of getting you hooked yourself.

Gabriella Cook

Hailing from the sunny city of Seattle, Gaby is a dancer, choreographer and teacher in all things vintage jazz. She has competed and taught all over the country and holds national titles in Bal and Lindy Hop. She is a principal choreographer for the prolific group, Sister Kate, and shares her vision of swing through their many performances at Camp Jitterbug's Jump Session show.

Find out more about her dance troupe at sisterkategirls.com.
See her dance at freeswingdancelessons.com.

Delilah Williams

Delilah can be found truckin' at dance events all over! She was classically trained in ballet since birth and bumped into swing dancing at 15. It was then in 2005 that she got the bug, the lindy bug! Delilah learned how to swing dance at the Mercury Café and started traveling to workshops. Over the years, she has performed and competed individually and with numerous teams including the CU Jitterbuffs, Atomic Rhythm, Baltown Grapplers, Woodside Jumpers, and 23skidoo! She is part of Denver's premiere girl troupe, The Diamond Dolls. Her cheerful smile, playful presentation, and creative movements will put a smile on your face.

Annie Trudeau

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. 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.

Her partnership with Max Pitruzzella lead too many wins in the last year including, in 2007, Boston Tea Party (1st Place Stricly Lindy) , CSC (1st Place Fast Dance, Just Do It and Classic Division), Seattle's Camp Jitterbug (1st Place Lindy Hop Couples), Beantown (1st Place Stricly Lindy Slow and Fast), Minneapolis' Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown (1st Place Liberation - Fast Dance) and the American Lindy Hop Championships 2007 (1st place Open Showcase). They also just won first place of the 2008 Boston Tea Party Stricly Lindy division and the Canadian Championship Swing Couple Division. They also choreographed and trained the Canadian Team Champions - Swinging Air Force Squad! They are also proud members of the Ninjammerz, a team of international performing Lindy Hoppers.