Instructors of the Rock That Swing Festival 2012

Norma Miller & Chazz Young (USA)

Norma Miller

With her amazing dancing in the breathtaking Hellzapoppin’ movie routine, Norma Miller is a living legend and role model for the entire swing dance community. Although she was actually too young to enter the Savoy Ballroom, she participated in the contests and won over famous Whitey, who managed the best Lindy Hoppers of the Savoy Ballroom. Her presence, rhythmical playfulness and comical style won her the prestigious spot in Whitey’s team... even though she was still too young to enter the Savoy. After a lifetime in show-business as dancer, singer and comedienne (e.g. Bill Cosby Show, Las Vegas), Norma Miller has enriched our lives with several biographies. With her recounts of the swing era she continues to touch the hearts of modern swing dancers. At the Rock That Swing Festival 2012 you will have the opportunity to meet her in person and hear her stories first hand.

Chazz Young

His father Frankie Manning, the great icon of Lindy Hop, inspired Chazz to start dancing and he decided for a dance career at the early age of 12. At 17, he graduated from the famous Harlem Dance School and joined Norma Miller’s dance troupe. He performed at places like the Apollo Theater and other legendary venues with celebrated bands such as the Count Basie Orchestra as well as touring the world with "Norma Miller’s Jazz Men". In 1992, Chazz was a dance assistant for the movie Malcolm X starring Denzel Washington. Today, 80-year-old Chazz continues to inspire his audience and students. His motto: If more people danced, the world would be a better place! Meet and chat with Chazz at Rock that Swing Festival 2012!

William Mauvais & Maeva Truntzer (F)

William and Maeva are not only dance champions, they are also great teachers. This charismatic couple has been teaching at international events and is forever surprising people with their professionalism and humor. William and Maeva’s teaching is based on a great technical ability and just plain fun. They focus on connection and musicality. While taking classes with them, you will discover a new way to learn how to dance. Their priority as teachers has always been to make sure that people leave their class having learned something new. However, their top priority has been and will always be to share their passion for dance. That’s what they like best and that’s what is most rewarding to them!

William and Maeva have an impressive career path. After dancing for many years in the same club, they became dance partners in 2004. Since then, they have gained an impressive number of international titles. They are three times World Champions, twice European Champions and four times French Champions.

www.williametmaeva.com

Juan Villafañe & Sharon Davis (ARG/AUS)

Juan

Juan hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina and has been a leading proponent in the revival of vintage jazz dances in South America. Today, he spends most of his time travelling the world with his dance partner Sharon Davis, and with dance troupe The Killer Dillers.

His background in gymnastics, acrobatics and martial arts strongly influence his dancing and teaching, giving him a unique perspective on body movement and awareness, and a distinct – and often spectacular – personal style. Known for his high-flying acrobatics and eye-catching slides, Juan is a consummate performer, a creative dancer and an insightful teacher.

www.sharonandjuan.com

Sharon

Sharon hails from Perth, Australia, where she honed her unique and feminine dance style, and has since built an international reputation in not only Lindy Hop, but also 1920s Charleston, authentic jazz, blues and classic burlesque. She now spends most of her time traveling the world with her dance partner Juan Villafane from Argentina, and dance troupe The Killer Dillers. She holds 1st place titles at the International Lindy Hop Championships, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, Canadian Swing Championships, Camp Hollywood and Camp Jitterbug, and has claimed numerous other awards internationally.  As an instructor and a DJ, she is known for her dedication to the history of vernacular jazz dances and the music they evolved to. With her bright and bubbly personality, Sharon’s teaching style is energetic, creative and fun. Sharon is also a founder of the European Swing Dance Championships held in Barcelona, Spain.

www.sharondavis.com.au
www.sharonandjuan.com

Thorbjørn Solvoll Urskog & Susanne Sandberg (N)

Susanne and Thorbjørn started dancing the Boogie Woogie together in 2003, and have been competing internationally since October 2004. They are now the current World and European Champions in main class Boogie Woogie. Besides competing, they teach on a weekly basis for university students in the dance club NTNUI Dans in Trondheim. In the last couple of years they have also been teaching at several international Boogie Woogie and Lindy Hop festivals, something they truly love and appreciate.

Both Susanne and Thorbjørn study to get a five year master of technology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim (NTNU), Norway. Susanne is studying communication technology, while Thorbjørn is studying engineering. In 2010 they also began an additional two-year trainer study for elite sports (Topptrener II), which is a collaboration between NTNU and Olympiatoppen.

www.susanneandthorbjorn.com

Thomas Blacharz & Alice Mei (F)

Thomas

His unique style is defined by free form body movement and intricate musicality and he is constantly pushing the limits of swing as we know it. With over 12 years of dance experience, Tommy not only exudes expertise on the social dance floor, but he can clearly articulate the various elements that make up his dancing. His classes are filled with fun, humor, good dance technique and most of all great dancing. His talents have been passed on to some of the top dancers in the world today and he is a major organizer/teacher in one of the strongest dance scenes in Europe, Montpellier, France. The last few years, Tommy has placed in major international competitions such as Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown & International Lindy Hop Championship. He is a key member of the famous troupe "The Ninjammerz" who performed their Jitterschoreography at Frankie95 in New York City. Lately, they proudly performed alongside the famous Electro-Swing Band Caravan Palace and have been involved in running the project "I charleston the world"! If you haven’t already had the chance to let this man inspire you, it is one opportunity you would never want to miss!

Alice

Alice started swing dancing 8 years ago and hasn’t stopped ever since. She is definitely at her happiest when she is swinging it on the dance-floor and you will most likely hear her giggling from the other side of the room when she is social dancing. It seems like her silliness has reached enough people since she won several titles (Jack’n’Jill, Classic, Strictly) in major competitions such as ULHS, ALHC and ILHC. In her classes, she teaches the same principles that she cherishes as a dancer and she mainly focuses on keeping things simple and in rhythm. You can follow her on www.alicemei.com. She is also a founding member of the Ninjammerz with which she performs all around the world.

www.ninjammerz.com

Jeremy Otth & Laura Keat (USA)

Jeremy and Laura united to create this dynamic dance partnership 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 honored by 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 won both first place titles at NJC (at Camp Hollywood) in Shag and Pro Balboa in 2008. They took 2nd in the American Classic Balboa Championships at All Balboa Weekend, were 3rd in the Champions Lindy at the International Lindy Hop Championships in 2008, and in 2007 were Fast Dance Lindy Hop Champions at the US Open! They travel to teach all across the United States and around the world both individually and as a couple, including jobs across the US, UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Canada and Japan.

www.fastandfancyfeet.com

Remy Kouakou Kouame & Moe Sakan (F/UK)

Remy

A Boogie Woogie World Champion in 2006, Remy can look back on a successful career as Boogie Woogie competitor. He started dancing as little kid and came across the Boogie Woogie through several versions of the Rock’n’Roll and now, after years of dancing, he shares an extraordinary feeling of a passionate dancing with an instinct for the swing.
Remy’s dance style is characterized by a lot of energy, a mixture of several dance styles as well as a "certain piece of spice" given by his personality. His Boogie is open for the West Coast Swing, the Lindy Hop, the Charleston and of course also the HipHop which allows him to perform to a mix of modern music well combined with the good old rockin’ beat.

Moe

Moe had professional training in jazz, ballet, tap and contemporary dance, and has been dancing Lindy Hop since 1999. A pearl of the Orient, she has brought a sparkle to the London Swing scene since she moved there in 2000. Moe is UK’s top female dancer. She won several UK and US competition titles. She has been teaching Lindy Hop internationally. Including-Sweden, Spain, Japan, France, Belgium and of course UK. Also has danced for TV, Movies and theatres. Her most recent appearance was in the music video KT tunstall’s "Hold On". Moe is thrilled to be teaching at her favourite dance camp Rock That Swing Festival in Munich!

Michael Jagger & Evita Arce (USA)

Evita and Michael are full time dancers in NYC. Their combined resumes span the globe from Dubai to the UK, Sweden to Australia! They were the featured Lindy Hop couple in the 2008 Japan Broadway tour of SWING and they advanced to the finals on the American show, "So You Think You Can Dance" – the only Lindy Hop couple to do so in the United States. They have been members of Ryan Francois company Swing Xtreme and had appearances in commercials and television.

Michael and Evita have won many awards at several national Swing events, most notably are their 1st place wins in the Cabaret Divisions at ALHC and ILHC. Michael and Evita are recognized for their ability to combine technical feats with phenomenal dancing and theatrical storytelling.

As teachers, Michael and Evita emphasize anatomy and efficient use of the body. Connecting movements and clearly projecting direction help create their lead and follow technique. They are inspiring to watch and always radiate exuberant energy and joy. Above all other descriptions, they possess a warm welcome to any student of Lindy Hop.

www.michaelandevita.com

Pontus Persson & Isabella Gregorio (S/I)

Pontus

Pontus Persson has been dancing continuously since he was 5 years old, actively competing (since the age of 6) and started teaching professionally as a 16-year old. After graduating, he moved to Stockholm in 2008 to evolve his dancing, being offered membership of the dance company, Harlem Hot Shots. He has since then been spreading the dance on a full-time basis through shows and competitions, not to mention, teaching.

Isabella

Isabella has been dancing different kinds of dance since she was a child. She has been in the entertainment business for a long time, dancing as well as singing.

She is a well-known international dancer, teaches and performs around the globe, exhilarating students and audiences of all ages. Isabella is often mentioned as one of the top three followers of the world. She is well-known for her crazy style and her great expression. Her professional career started in Italy 2002, with a quick start of claiming several titles in numerous international competitions as well as teaching across the world together with Vincenzo Fesi.

Isabella and Pontus started to actively dance together in January 2011. In this short time dancing together they have won the hearts of the audience around the world and been able to collect following titles, amongst others:

Swedish Champions 2011 in Boogie Woogie
Swedish Champions 2011 in Lindy Hop
Vice European Champions 2011 Boogie Woogie
Vice World Champions 2011 Boogie Woogie
1st place World Cup 2011 Lindy Hop
3rd place at the famous ILHC 2011 (Strictly Lindy Champions division).

www.swingcrashfestival.com

Olivier Harouard & Natasha Devyatkina (F)

Natasha is Russian and has been dancing since she was seven (ballroom dancing, competing and teaching at a very high level). In 2001 she discovered swing dancing and simply fell in love with it. She joined innumerable swing dancing workshops in Russia and other countries, and soon became one of the best Russian dancers and teachers. Olivier is French and discovered his big passion for Swing in 2001. He started competing and soon he placed in the first eight in the French Boogie Woogie ranking list. They have met at the Herräng Dance Camp in Sweden in 2001 where they fell in love with each other.

They studied together and started teaching in 2003. Since their marriage they have build up regular classes in Toulouse and in 2005 when they moved to the Côte d’Azur near Cannes, they have started to develop the Swing culture there. They teach mainly Lindy Hop, Boogie Woogie, Balboa and West Coast Swing. In 2006 Natasha and Olivier started competing together and became NJC Balboa Champions in the Amateur division for their first run in US Championships and 5th in the NJC Lindy Hop Championship and jumped up into the Pro Division. During the same year they became finalists in Jitterbug competitions in Italy, Munich and in the Balboa Open (BOTP in Cannes), the Euro Bal’ Cup (Frenchie Balboa Festival in Toulouse) and reached 3rd place in the Balboa Cup at the Rock That Swing Festival in Munich.

They compete for fun but they enjoy especially the social dancing and exchanges around the world by sharing their passion with others. Since 2003 their blend of two cultures has been creating an original style of dancing and a very personal style of teaching in particularly all kinds of swing dancing: Lindy Hop, Boogie Woogie, Balboa and West Coast Swing. Natasha fills the most complicated step with grace and makes it look so easy. Olivier is one of the best leaders in the world and bewitches each lady with his French charm and esprit. They are permanent students in all styles of dancing and are constantly trying to learn how to improve their skills and way of teaching.

www.rockswing06.com
www.balboaonthepromenade.com
www.westieonthepromenade.com

Bernard Cavasa & Anne-Hélène Cavasa (F)

It all started in 1998 when the two of them fell in love with Lindy Hop and soon they were participating at workshops all over the world. Thanks to the dancing background of Anne-Hélène (ballet, jazz and modern-jazz) and the experience of Bernard as a musician, within a short time they developed their unique style.

They have learned their swing dancing skills from the very best international teachers and they are now well known as teachers on the international dance scene, everywhere in the world. They are most responsible for the existing Balboa scene in France. They have put a lot of work and effort into the built-up of the Balboa community. In Toulouse, France, they opened their own school in 2003 and ever since they have been busy organizing Lindy Hop and Balboa workshops. They are the organizers of the Frenchie Balboa Festival, the Studio Hop Summer Camp, and the Crazy Rhythm Challenge.

Since 2001 they have been teaching at international Lindy Hop and Balboa Festivals all over Europe, in the United States, Canada, Australia... They are especially noted for clarity in their teaching methods (but always with a bit of humor thrown in!), their emphasis on musicality and connection, their fluid style and the originality of their variations.

They very rarely take part in competitions but when they do, they do pretty well, like the third place of the International Balboa Championship 2007 and a first place at the American Classic Balboa Championship 2007 in Cleveland and 2nd in 2011 !

www.studiohop.com
Studio Hop Summer Camps
Frenchie Balboa Festival
Crazy Rhythm Challenge

Joel Plys & Valerie Salstrom (USA)

Joel

Joel, owner of 2PlySwing Productions, has been dancing since 1998 and is committed to providing exceptional Swing dance instruction and events. Besides organizing dance events (e.g. Swing Camp OZ (January in Australia), Balboa Rendezvous (April in San Diego, California), Catalina Jazz Dance Festival (November on Catalina Island), he teaches around the globe with different partners sharing his love of Swing: Balboa, Charleston, Lindy Hop, Blues, Collegiate Shag, Jazz Movement, and pre-Swing era dances. 

Joel began his swing dance career on a date in Chicago. He learned very quickly from countless workshops and non-stop dancing and brought his skills to Cleveland, Ohio, where he started Get Hep Swing, LTD., and taught swing full-time. In June 2001, he co-created the very first All Balboa Weekend with Valerie Salstrom. He moved to San Diego in 2002 and taught all over the world with Alison Scola. 

Over the years, he has developed a full knowledge of various styles that he shares in his instruction. He believes that to ‘preserve’ a dance, you must understand the technique and characteristic fundamentals of that dance, and that for a dance to ‘evolve’, you must be open to everyone adding creative elements to that dance. Joel encourages students to study and be open to ‘differences’ so that they can make the dance their own. He embodies these qualities in his instruction and dancing while remembering the true reason we dance…for FUN!

www.2plyswing.com

Valerie

Valerie Salstrom has adored swing dancing since she first saw it as a little girl while watching old black and white movies at her Grandparents’ home. In the early 1990s while living in the LA area, she discovered that swing dancing existed in REAL life and she has been smitten ever since. Valerie loves exploring all of the forms of swing dancing and feels very honored to have studied with some of the original swing dancers.

Her first loves are Lindy and Balboa and she has won numerous National and International titles in both dance forms. Her most recent achievements are winning the Balboa title at the 2011 National Jitterbug Championships at Camp Hollywood and taking first place at the 2011 Balboa Rendezvous. Valerie hosts the All Balboa Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio every June. ABW is the largest Balboa camp in the world and is the best place to go for amazing instruction, inspiring competitions and fulfilling social dancing.

Valerie loves being in the class room sharing her ideas and she is eager to teach beginners through advanced dancers. Valerie has a very playful and fun attitude when it comes to teaching dance, social dancing, performing and competing. Her proudest achievement to date happened at the International Lindy Hop Championships in 2011 when some of the members of her elementary school aged swing dance troupe; The Cleveland Junior Jitterbugs, took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the Juniors Division. She is hopeful that her work with the Junior Jitterbugs will inspire more people to become involved in teaching swing dancing to young people.

www.AllBalboa.com

Ali Taghavi & Katja Uckermann (D)

It was love at first dance: Ali & Katja have been dancing together ever since they met on the dance floor in 2003. Based in Heidelberg and Darmstadt, Germany, they are working to spread the Lindy Hop bug through their local classes and workshops around Europe.

Ali & Katja’s unique background of PhD studies in chemistry and translation studies allows them to compose classes that are focused on clarity while letting you explore your own creativity and understanding of the dance and technique. Ali & Katja have the ability to transform fuzzy conceptual elements like "having fun", "musicality" and "stretch" into clear, step by step "how to" instructions that you can use on the social dance floor the same day to impress your partner.

Ali & Katja’s classes stand out because of their counter-intuitive teaching methods. For example: you learned that stretch means moving away? Does that sometimes feel heavy or like pulling to you? Learn to mimic the “middle molecules” of a rubber band that stay still (here comes the chemistry) and how to be stretch instead of stretching your partner. Feel the magic of dancing with just the right “weight” .

In their classes, you’ll also get the tools how to practice and tell if you’re “doing it right” outside the class room. This way, you can continue to improve and practice on your own and take your dancing to the next level.

www.swingstep.de
www.AliandKatja.com
www.TippingSwingDancing.com

Nicolas Deniau & Mikaela Hellsten (F/S)

Nicolas

For Nicolas Deniau, dancing has been a big part of life since childhood. Starting with Rock’n Roll at the age of eight he did his first competition after only one year of dancing. Touring France for competitions Nicolas quickly got experienced within the entertainment aspect of dancing, during his performances you can feel his energy from the very back row. Nicolas later fell in love with swing dancing and in particular with Boogie Woogie. After several victories at the French Championships in Lindy Hop and Boogie Woogie he started to compete internationally. In Boogie Woogie Nicolas has been part of the international elite for many years, taking the fourth place at the International Championships in 2010.

In 2005 Nicolas formed the dance group "The Crazyers" together with William Mauvais, with which he has been touring and performing in all of Europe. He has also toured with the famous choreographer Charlie Moser and his troupe for the musical "Fashion ou l’infer d’Eurydice". To deepen his general dancing skills, Nicolas attended a dance education in jazz, ballet and contemporary dance in 2008.

In the last years Nicolas has focused a lot on his Lindy Hop, resulting in a 2nd place at the European Swing Dance Championships 2011. Today Nicolas travels all over the world to compete, perform and teach Lindy Hop and Boogie Woogie. When teaching, Nicolas radiates great energy and focuses completely on his students. With a smile on his face he shows you that even the trickiest things can be possible to learn.

Mikaela

Mikaela Hellsten was born in Stockholm, Sweden and grew up with a love for music and dancing. Already as a kid she had a special liking for Swing and Rock’n Roll music, with favorite artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Bill Haley. At the age of 13 she discovered Lindy Hop for the first time and since then she has never stopped! Today Mikaela travels all over the world to teach, compete and social dance. When dancing Mikaela often has a big smile on her face, so if she’s at the dance you won’t miss her.

Mikaela started competing in Lindy Hop 2007 and has since managed to take several placements at international competitions. Among those a 2nd place at the ULHS 2008, 3rd place at the ILHC 2009 showcase division, 1st place at the World Championships 2009 and a 2nd place at the European Swing Dance Championships 2011 classic division.

Besides dancing Mikaela is also passionate about teaching. The last three years she has been studying to become a maths teacher, but for the moment she has put her studies on hold to focus more on her dancing. Her great interest in pedagogy shines through in her classes, where mistakes are encouraged and fun is inevitable. No question is too dumb to be asked, Mikaela will happily do her best to answer any possible wonders.

Mikey Pedroza & Laura Glaess (USA)

Mikey

Mikey is a powerhouse dancer in the world of swing, having competed, performed and taught American Jazz dances - Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Slow Drag (Blues) and Solo Jazz - throughout the United States and the world. Starting in 1998 he has earned international acclaim for their impeccable style and technical precision. His classes focus on developing individual style and a confident connection through proper lead/follow techniques and body awareness. And as an instructor, his rigor can only be overshadowed by the joy and self-confidence Mikey initiates his students.

mikeypedroza.com

Laura

Laura bumped into Lindy Hop, Swing and Jazz in San Antonio while at Trinity University in 2001, and, since then, have been dedicating every spare moment (and dollar) to learning more about this amazing dance. She has taught in Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, France, Estonia, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the US. She is known for her energy and joy on and off the dance floor.

Grateful for what Lindy Hop has done for her, Laura gives back by being a leader in the Austin community. She has served on the board several times and co-owns a teaching company, The Lindy Project, where she teaches Lindy, Swing and Charleston to the Austin locals.

www.mikeandlauralindy.com

Pavel Sotnikov & Daria Chupyrkina (RUS)

Pasha (Pavel) & Dasha (Daria) is one of the best Boogie and Lindy couples in Russia. Energetic and talented they are not only good competitors, but also a quite experienced teachers known all over former Soviet space.

This couple is not addicted to only one style - their dance is a crazy mix of Boogie, Lindy, Shag and Charleston. Combining different dance moves and styles is one of the main their strengths.

During whole their life they dance: Pasha did Ballroom dancing for 6 years in the early childhood, attended theatre classes, learnt basics in choreography and art of directing shows; Dasha did modern dances for numerous years, did tap, performed in theatre. As a couple they dance since early 2007, when the immediately become winners of almost all Russian competitions.

What is most important - that Dasha and Pasha are winners of almost any Jack&Jill contest they participate, which means that they are not only good competitors, but also great social dancers.

At the classes they put a lot of attention to the leading and following and connection in couple - the art of enjoying the dance and creating something new together with your partner. Being able to split the move to pieces they are able to describe the most difficult things in simple and understandable words.

www.pashadasha.com

Matthias Rein & Regina Kuglstatter (D)

Regina

Her early passion for the music of the 20s to 40s was the initial spark for her first Boogie Woogie steps in 2007. Only three years later she could call herself a German Champion. Besides her main focus on Boogie Woogie the blonde girl has a broad experience in Lindy Hop, Modern Dance and Hip Hop. That way she developed her personal dance style - with a pinch delicacy of feeling, a splendid shot of power, and a love for details. As a practicing physiotherapist not only Matthias calves benefit from her trained eyes but especially the students in the workshops.

Matthias:
The year 2000 was a lucky one and meant the beginning of a great friendship. Since that day, he has been a competitive dancer and instructor in the European region. His passion is the diversity in dancing and the love for Swing music and Lindy Hop. Different kinds of dance educations have shaped his understanding of motion and expression. Fun and interest in the good old times are driving him to explore the never-ending possibilities of music and motion.

As the present German Champions, members of the national team and teachers, they are travelling the world of Boogie Woogie together since 2010. They show that they love what they do. With their newly founded "Tanzkommune", they bring the "good-old-Rock'n'Roll" closer to everyone between the Königssee and the Chiemsee.

www.tanzkommune.net

Sergey Kryuchkov & Yulia Kalegina (RUS)

Sergey

Sergey is a dancer with a 25-years’ experience in Ballroom Dancing and Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll. Since 1998 he dances Boogie Woogie and has become a real veteran of this dance in Russia. Starting in 2000, he hasn’t missed a single competition.

There are more than 60 writes in his qualification book. Sergey is a multiple champion of Russia and has won lots of other prizes. In 2003 Sergey took part in the European Championships.

In 2005 Sergey was the first who taught Shag in Russia and since then he has been actively promoting this dance. He initiated the Shag Competitions in Russia.

Yulia

Yulia Kalegina came to Boogie Woogie in 2003 starting to exercise and dance with Sergey. In 2007, 2010 und 2011 Sergey and Yulia took part at Boogie Woogie World Cups.they have earned a lot of prizes and became finalists in important Boogie Woogie competitions in Russia and ex-USSR countries. Several times they have won Shag competitions.

Sergey and Yulia are in the organization team of the Moscow Christmas Dance Camp since its beginning. The Moscow Christmas Dance Camp is an annual event with about four hundred dancers from Russia and abroad. 

xmasdancecamp.org/en

Stephen Sayer & Frances Dougherty (USA)

Stephen

Steve Sayer started dancing in 1998 in Dayton, Ohio. Since he moved to Los Angeles in 2005 he has taught at Joe’s Great American Bar and Grill every Tuesday, as well as teaching at Lindy Groove, Do Something Blue and his new venue The Low Down. His passion is in partner connection, solo movement and musicallity to all tempo’s of music. He was featured in the LeAnn Rimes music video-Swingin’ and is the 2010 National Shag Champion. He also placed 4th in the 2010 National Jitterbug Championships Advanced JnJ and 3rd in 2009, 2010 International Lindy Hop Championships JnJ.

Frances

Frances "Fancy" Dougherty was born and raised in Van Nuys, California, and enjoys guitars, foreign languages, bubbles and a great swing out. In her dancing career, she has performed with bands such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Captain Jeffrey and his Musical Chumbuckets. She has also been featured in recent productions such as Lee Ann Rimes’ grammy nominated music video "Swingin," and Paula Abdul’s ’Live To Dance’ show. Competitively, she has carved her place in the scene with wins in fast lindy and the Camp Hollywood Collegiate Shag Championships. Her other talents as an Olympic sleeper, criminal mastermind and aquatic singer are currently on hold, as lindy hop has stolen her heart.

Silvia Plankl (D)

Dixie Dynamite, in her everyday life known as Silvia Plankl, is a Munich based professional Vintage Dance Artist. She is highly specialised in the dances of the 1920s to 1950s. She likes to mix tap dancing, clogging, charleston and sometimes singing into her vintage inspired solo burlesque acts. In tap dance she is a four-time German champion.

She recently opened her own Vintage Dance Studio in the heart of Munich (Maillingerstr. 6) where she teaches evening classes, privates and workshops in the dances of the good old glamorous Hollywood musical era: burlesque, tap dance, charleston/vintage jazz and clogging. She performs all of these dances at many events and showcases. If you want to see her on stage: since 2009 she is a member of the Nuremberg based Late Night Burlesque where she can be seen in Germany’s first ever full evening burlesque show. The current show is called "That’s Burlesque" (tickets/info: www.rote-buehne.de)

She is also a select performer of the 2011 London Burlesque Festival (opening night, April 26th). Dixie is a dancer, instructor and assistant to the choreographer on the recent DVD "Learn the Art of Vintage Burlesque", which was produced in Los Angeles by Rusty Frank (sold by Silvia in Germany). She taught and/or performed in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, USA, Russia and Ukraine and is very happy that she could make her vintage passion to her profession.

mail@silviaplankl.de
www.silviaplankl.de

Marcus Koch & Bärbl Kaufer (D)

Marcus and Bärbl are the organizers of the Rock That Swing Festival. They are well-known around the globe for their great knowledge, fun and high energy classes. Despite their great successes they are down to earth and love to pass on their knowledge and joy for the vintage dances.

Marcus & Bärbl are multiple national and international Boogie Woogie and Swing Champions and hold a World Champion and three Vice World Champion titles. They introduced Boogie Woogie, Swing, Balboa, and Shag in many corners of the earth. Their World of Swing videos are worldwide popular and well-liked learning objects.

They have been distinguished by the prestigious Feather Award in the USA and by the International Dance Teacher Award in Germany. Marcus was also deeply involved in building up the Boogie Woogie in the German Rock ’n’ Roll and Boogie Woogie Federation in his function as a sports manager.

Marcus and Bärbl celebrate their 20th anniversary of their dance partnership in 2011 and are one of the longest working international teacher couples. They teach regular classes in their new dance school "Vintage Club" in Munich. With a lot of dedication they are working hard to get more people to experience the great joy of Swing and Boogie.

www.worldofswing.com
www.worldofswingstore.com
www.rockthatswing.com