Jeremy Cook (a.k.a.
J.C.)
Has been dancing lindy hop since 1991 and
teaching since 1997. Learing to dance first from
Jonathan Bixby and Silvia Sykes, he has also studied
with PBDA, Steven Mitchell, Ryan Francois, The Rhythm
Hotshots, Frankie Manning, and many others. J.C.,
though Savoy style at heart, dances a unique blend of
different lindy hop styles. A vital dancer and
teacher in the Sacramento/Davis swing scene, J.C.
taught and DJed at many local venues. In 1999, J.C.
left Northern California to take a Lindy hop
specialist/dancer position in the Broadway-style show,
"Work That Skirt" at the Reno Hilton, which ran for
the year 2000. Now back at home in LA, JC continues
to teach and promote Lindy hop and DJ at clubs, camps
and exchanges locally and nationally.
Vicky Chan
first fell in love with Lindy Hop when she enrolled in a Ballroom dancing class at UCI
with Audry Wilson in 1996. She loved the dance so much that she founded the UCI Swing
Dance club in 1997 with fellow students and began teaching and spreading the joy of the
dance on campus. Over the years, she has discovered the joy in other dances such as
Salsa, cha cha and WCS. Vicky is now retired as a swing instructor, but still goes out
dancing frequently.
Tise Chao
started her dance education in her early
years. Not only is she skilled in Jazz, Salsa, and
Flamenco, but also taken up Swing since 1997. Her
swing repertoire includes Smooth Style Lindy Hop,
Collegiate Shag, Balboa, East and West Coast Swing.
She has appeared in numerous music videos, film, and
live performances. She has consistently placed top
three and won many awards in dance competitions at the
national level, her most recent wins include 1st in
the Shag Jam at Camp Hollywood 2001, and 1st in the
Shag Division at the National Jitterbug Championship
2002. Aside from performing and competing, Tise is also the
founder and manager of the Rhythm Rollers, a Southern
California based dance team. Tise provides her Swing
expertise by providing both group and individual
private lessons in Southern California, and throughout
the country at major dance camps and events. Tise is
dedicated in preserving and innovating the dance, and
bringing the spirit and fun to everyone, and hope to
inspire other dancers find their own sense of style
and grace, and spread her knowledge, joy, and energy
to people who appreciate the fine art of dance.
Adam Fernandes recently relocated
to Southern California from San Francisco.
He has appeared in numerous music videos, television spots,
and has performed for several public and private events.
He began teaching Lindy 5 years ago in the fledging dance
communities of San Jose and Santa Cruz, and continued to teach throughout
the SF bay area until his recent departure.
Neil Figuracion
Bio and photo coming soon...
Peter
Flahiff and Jen Greer bring loads of enthusiasm
and skill to their teaching and dancing. As partners, they have a smoothness and style
that sets them apart on any dance floor. They have been teaching group classes and private
lessons together since 2004 and LOVE teaching the intermediate classes at the world famous
LindyGroove once a month! Peter has been teaching and dancing for quite a while, and Jen's
fabulous skills and infectious love of swing dancing has made her one of the top follows
anywhere -- Their classes are always a blast and filled with great moves and technique.
Don't miss a chance to learn from these wonderful teachers!

Carol & Tony Fraser
Carol has over 20 years of formal dance training in ballet, tap and
jazz. She began her dancing career when she was 3 years old and performed in numerous
troupes throughout the US. Since then, she's taken to swing dancing like a Turkish Van to
water. Her awards are too numerous to list.
Tony is one the founders of the Varsity
Swing dance troupe and has been on several other troupes in his dance career. When
he's not practicing a routine or rock climbing, he's probably on the phone with his
clients discussing the next three generations of internet technology.
Details and workshop info at: http://www.tonyandcarol.com.
Patrick Fredrickson
Bio and photo coming soon...
Steve & Heidi
Thrive on bringing their style of Balboa, Bal-Swing and Lindy Hop to
dancers all over the globe. Steve & Heidi are the 2005 National Jitterbug Pro Balboa
Division Champions , the 2005 International Bal-Swing Champions and the 2006 California
Swing Dance Hall of Fame Rising & Nova Stars, but much more important they are superb
swing dance instructors sought after for classes, workshops and private lessons worldwide.
With over 20 years of combined teaching experience, Steve & Heidi not only bring their
knowledge of the way Balboa & LA Style Swing was originally done in the 30's &
40's but also bring lots of fun and exciting moves they have created and innovated over
the years, combining LA Swing and Savoy styles with Balboa.http://www.steveandheidi.com
Debbie Gitt
Born and bred in Southern California, Debbie has fast become one of Los Angeles' favorite
followers, known for her unique and innovative styling, creative musicality, and high
energy on the social and competitive dance floor. She began dancing the lindy hop in 1997,
and has had the privilege of training, competing, and performing different styles and
techniques of lindy hop with dancers all over the United States and Europe. Continuing to
add to her repertoire of crazy yet musical styling variations, Debbie has also trained
under many of the top Westcoast Swing Dance and Carolina Shag Dance Champions.
Here in LA, Debbie is one of the key players in maintaining the world renown dance venue,
LindyGroove. She can be found there every Thursday night teaching the beginning lindy hop
lesson with JC at 7:30pm. Once a month Debbie also teaches a Follower's Workshop
(follower's only!) for follower's that want to pursue becoming an 'active follower'.
Debbie is the 2002 American Lindy Hop Championship's 'Classic Division' Champion, and was
the 1st place champion in the Strictly Lindy Division at Boogie By the Bay 2002 and 2003.
In 2003 she was runner up in Strictly Lindy at the US Open Swing Dance Championships, and
most recently at the 2004 National Jitterbug Championships she received 2nd place in the
Pro Lindy Division and 3rd place in the Pro Jack and Jill division. You can reach her by
email at kickindeb@yahoo.com
Dave Graybill has been
lindy hopping since 1994, and teaching since 1998. He has become an American Lindy Hop,
U.S. Open, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, Virginia State Open, Georgia State Open, and
Swingin' New England Champion over the past 10 years and still tries to push the envelope
of Lindy Hop in competition every chance he gets. He has taught in Asia, Europe, and all
over the United States... and now calls Los Angeles his home, where he teaches, DJ's, and
dances at Lindygroove and several other locations around Southern California. He's a nice
guy, ask him to dance...
Ben Morris
Maintaining an uncommon dualism with West Coast Swing and Lindy, Ben is a champion West
Coast dancer and received the Spirit of Lindy Hop award at the 2004 National
Jitterbug Championships. He moved from Colorado to Westwood in the fall of 2004 to
attend UCLA. www.benandmelina.com
Dax
Hock
Originally from San Diego, CA He has been teaching, competing, and performing
internationally for the past seven years. Highly regarded for his teaching abilities,
creativity and energetic performances, Dax is now based in Osaka Japan. For the past 4
years he has worked professionally as a performer/dancer/choreographer. Dax focuses mostly
on basic fundamental principals that make up not just swing, but dancing as a whole.
Students learn the art of connection-based movements, while emphasizing swingin' body
movement and rhythms.
He is the 2003 US Open Swing Dance Champion, the leader of N'Back, and the founder of Mecha Kucha Swing.
Sean and Tonya Morris
Each became interested in Lindy Hop when they each started dancing in 1997. They have
taught workshops across the country, some of which include Seattle, Boston, Hawaii, Los
Angeles, Houston, Nashville, Reno and Albuquerque. They have also taught internationally
throughout Canada and were featured instructors in Melbourne, Australia in 2003 and 2004.
Sean & Tonya got married in August 2004 and currently reside in Los Angeles, CA. Sean
& Tonya run a Monday night lindy hop & charleston venue in LA called Sugarfoot
Stomp where Tonya is a house dj.
Sean and Tonya are recognized for their creativity and tight technique while blending the
elements of musicality and maintaining the roots of early Lindy Hop and Charleston. Their
energetic and often comical teaching style makes their classes unique and enjoyable while
effectively breaking down the material.
www.jitterbugclub.com
Mikey Pedroza has been dancing and
performing for 7 years. He is dedicated to the understanding and preservation of the
classic American dances Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, and Traditional Blues.
In addition to teaching at many national, swing dance, instructional weekends Mike has won
many national level competitions in such places as: Los Angeles, Cleveland, Nashville,
Seattle, Denver, Hawaii, Minneapolis, New York, Stamford, and Phoenix. His teaching
focuses on lead and follow techniques with a focus on connection, body leading and
movement and frame.
Kristin Sorci (Bio and photo coming
soon)
Doug Silton
began swing dancing in 1992 and for the past nine years, he has been teaching, competing,
and performing internationally. Doug is a two-time American Lindy Hop Champion (2001
Strictly Division and 2002 Classic Division) and has placed in numerous NASDE West Coast
Swing and CSA Carolina Shag competitions. Doug is the co-founder of LindyGroove and
teaches group and private lessons weekly in Los Angeles. He currently has 5 instructional
videos for sale. For his Los Angeles schedule or his national travel/tour schedule and to
purchase videos, see www.dougsilton.com
Peter Loggins
Born and raised in Los Angeles California, Peter is undoubtedly one of the
most knowledgeable people on the history of authentic Jazz dance. He has
traveled all over world doing workshops, lectures, film presentations and
judging major competitions.
As a historian his focus has been on the origins of American dance and their
evolution through time, the music that feeds them and the cultures that
caused them.
As a dancer he has learned from the originators of these dances "I was
fortunate to learn from some the greatest that ever lived, the fact they
created it and shared what it meant to them, I will always be in debt and
will continue to spread what they generously gave me".
During the swing movement of the 1990's Peter helped put the Los Angeles scene
on the map by bringing back onto the social dance floors, dances such as the
Balboa, Collegiate shag and Charleston. During these years he is also
credited as reintroducing the Dean Collins Shim sham as well as earlier
styles of Lindy Hop which has since become a international
Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas
Legendary Dance partners for 8 years, they most recently
starred in the Broadway Musical "Swing". The Musical was nominated for 6 Tony
awards including Best Musical and Best Choreography. Ryan as Associate choreographer and
Jenny as assistant contributed most of the choreography to the show, earning them lasting
respect from the cast and the Broadway community.
They have appeared at the Tony Awards, Macy's Thanks Giving Day Parade and the Rosie O'
Donnell Show performing Ryan's popular finale number 'Sing Sing Sing'. They have also
appeared as special guest artists with Wynton Marsalis and The Lincoln Center Jazz
Orchestra.
Known as one of the top Lindy Hop couples in the world, they have taught master classes
Worldwide.
They were American Swing Dance and U.S. Open Swing Dance Champions (Lindy Division) in
1997 though they are not ready to give up their competition shoes just yet. So watch out
all you Lindy competitors out there!
Jenny has been dancing since the age of 4. In her teens she was All England Tap Champion
for 3 consecutive years. She then went onto performing arts school and soon after
graduating joined the London cast of Andrew Lloyd Webbers "Song and Dance".
After appearances in West End Musicals, television and theatre, she joined Ryan's Dance
Company "Zoots and Spangles", which Ryan founded in 1987.
Ryan started dancing at 18. A self taught dancer he honed his skills watching old film
footage of his dance hero's such as Whitey's Lindy hoppers, Fred Astaire and The Nicholas
Bros. He danced in the Spike Lee Movie 'Malcolm X' and was a choreographer of the cult
movie classic 'Swing Kids'. His Dance Company has appeared in TV specials, commercials,
Music Videos and countless theatre productions.
www.ryanandjenny.com
Minn
and Corina are without a doubt one of the fastest couples dancing in the
scene today. They are 1st place winners of the 2003 American Lindy Hop Championships, and
winners of the California Balboa Swing Championships, dancing their way to 1st place three
years in a row. They are two-time award winners of the U.S. Open Lindy Hop Championships,
and just recently took home the title of undefeated champion for the second time in a row
at the 2004 Hellzapoppin' U.S. Nationals.
Lisa Wade has been dancing lindy hop since 1998.
She learned how to dance in San Francisco and soon moved to Madison, Wisconsin where she
taught for six years. Lisa has placed in competitions at the MidAmerican Dance
Championships, the North Atlantic Dance Championships, and the American Lindy Hop
Championships; she has been an instructor at Midwest Lindyfest and Cowtown Jamborama; and
she judged the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown for three years. She moved to LA in 2006. Her
classes at Lindy Groove focus on the way in which strong lead-follow technique facilitates
natural movement, interesting footwork, creative teamwork, and (good) surprises on the
dance floor.
Nick Williams
has embodied the traditionalist style of swing dancing since 1998. He is known for his
"fast and fancy" footwork. His understanding of Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, and
Balboa come from learning from the original masters. His accomplishments thus far include:
2001 Jitterbug Jam, 2002 and 2003 National Jitterbug Championships, and the 2003 American
Lindy Hop Championships.
Todd Yanacone is one of Lindy Hop's fastest rising
stars. He is a well known social and competitive
dancer on the national swing circuit. Todd is known
for his smooth style and musical creativity. He has
consistently placed amongst the top competitors at
numerous events across the United States. To
highlight some of his more distinguished awards, Todd
is a champion at three of Lindy Hop's most prestigious
competitions: the American Lindy Hop Championships,
the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, and the National
Jitterbug Championships.
Ben and Sheri Yau have long been known for their footwork,
creativity, and unique blend of Lindy Hop styles. (Is it Savoy? Hollywood? Hip-Hop? Ben
and Sheri say "Yes!"). They first came into the spotlight in 2000 in competition
placing 3rd at the 2000 American Lindy Hop Championships and 4th at the World Lindy Hop
Championships. Since then, they have enjoyed teaching and dancing in and out of Southern
California. As teachers, Ben and Sheri enjoy making their classes both fun and
entertaining (and of course educational!). http://www.one2swing.com