The Teachers
The main teachers for this year's festival are:
(Note: all levels will get at least one class with each of these teachers)
Sylvia Sykes (USA)
An internationally recognized authority on several different forms of swing dance, Sylvia Sykes has lectured and taught dance workshops all over the world since 1985. She has competed in numerous dance competitions, appeared on television, been featured with orchestras such as Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Count Basie, as well as being voted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.
Sylvia studied Balboa with Maxie Dorf and spent years learning from the greatest Southern California Balboa dancers. She was also privileged to study Lindy Hop with Dean Collins, and was a member of his last dance troupe. Together with her original partner Jonathan Bixby, Sylvia was a six-time U.S. Open Finalist and the undefeated Southern California Balboa Champion.
Sylvia will be partnered by Dan Guest. See below for more information about Dan.
Dan Guest (UK)
Based in London, Dan specialises in Afro American partner dances and vernacular Jazz from the 1920 to 1940s. He is a respected dance historian as well as a teacher and performer of the dances. His particular specialities are Lindy Hop, Balboa and Charleston.
He is a former UK Lindy Hop Champion and has made a major contribution towards popularising Balboa both here in the UK and across Europe. He has become a popular guest teacher at dance events in many different countries around the world. He has appeared in various media including the Times and Telegraph newspapers, Hello magazine, Radio 4, BBC1, BBC3, and Channel 4 television.
Dan has a relaxed and lighthearted teaching style. Being a perfectionist he emphasises lead and follow technique together with developing good basics. An excellent communicator, he has a knack for simplifying and explaining complex ideas.
Dan will partner Sylvia Sykes for her classes.
Peter Loggins & Mia Goldsmith (USA)
Peter Loggins and Mia Goldsmith paired together in 2006 to teach at the Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden and have been a team ever since.
Before partnering, they were internationally known for their own achievements. Peter is a leading historian on American Jazz Dance. Credited for bringing back many of the dances that he learned from the original dancers of the 1920's and 30's, he brings a first hand historical approach to his classes.
Mia, along with her incredible string of competition wins, has undoubtedly become known as one of the best Balboa Swing dancers in the world. Her unique approach to teaching is full of energy and creativity, bringing a passionate and motivated air to the duo's partnership.
Together they have become famous for their footwork, improvisation, individual approach, and style. Their expansive knowledge of social jazz dances and the music that drove them allow students to learn the history of these dances and how they've evolved through the years.
Steve Garrett & Heidi Salerno (USA)
Coming from California, Steve & Heidi teach regular weekly Balboa classes in Los Angeles. They are without a doubt one of the top Balboa couples in the world having both an impressive string of competition results and also a wealth of teaching experience.
Steve originally got hooked on the dance in Los Angeles and was fortunate to have learned much of his Swing and Balboa directly from the old-timers. He studied on a steady and regular basis with the greats: Maxie Dorf, Willie Desatof, Ann Mills, Bart Bartolo, Hal Takier and others. Steve has an international reputation gained through his Balboa videos sold throughout the world. Heidi has an in depth knowledge of dance and movement acquired as a dance major as well as from a long history of ballet, tap and jazz spanning several decades. She too has been fortunate to learn many moves directly from the old timers.
Together their love for the dance, and each other, has created a teaching style which combines education and humour. They combine authentic moves with their own new innovations and most importantly, they can impart the true Balboa "feel" which is at the heart of this close, romantic dance.
Rob & Diane van Haaren (Netherlands/USA)
Rob has danced Lindy and Balboa since 1984 and Diane since 1995. They have a thorough understanding of the different styles of Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, Single and Double Shag and Traditional Jazz and their history.
Rob and Diane have worked with many of the original masters in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Shag. Rob holds numerous national titles and together they have appeared in many T.V. specials. But Rob and Diane are mostly known for their teaching style, choreography and for their cool, sophisticated, elegant style on the dance floor.
Together they were instrumental in building the San Francisco Bay Area Swing scene in the late 90's. Today they live near Santa Barbara and you can find them at Swing Camps and events around the world teaching, judging and performing. They are looking forward to sharing their passion with you!
Rob and Diane are exceptional dancers and instructors, they will truly bring your dancing to the next level. Experience their easy going, fun, fresh, thorough and inspiring approach.
Mickey Fortanasce & Kelly Arsenault (USA)
A native of Pasadena California, Mickey was introduced to Balboa early on in his dance-life. His captivation for this particular dance resulted in his subsequent efforts to learn as much as possible about Balboa. For the last eight years, Mickey has lived in New York where he has been working to bring a greater love and appreciation for Balboa to the city.
Originally from Tennessee, Kelly Arsenault has been a dancer for the majority of her life. She has participated in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. In 2003, Kelly moved to NYC and teamed up with Mickey soon afterwards.
Together they are now nationally recognized teachers and competitors, placing in both Lindy Hop and Balboa. Most recent winnings include a repeat victory at the International Balboa Championships, held at the Balboa Rendezvous. Their commitment to fostering Balboa in New York also led them to establish the city's first and only regularly occurring social dance event devoted to fast footed dancers of all types, known as White Heat.
Bernard & Anne-Hélène Cavasa (France)
Anne-Hélène and Bernard are the founders of Cave à Swing, an association aimed towards promoting swing dancing in France and the rest of Europe. They are well known for their teaching abilities and for the past six years they have been teaching Lindy Hop and Balboa in their own dance studio in Toulouse, 'Studio Hop'. During this time they have also formed and trained their own performance group, 'Tagada Swing Swing'.
Anne-Hélène, previously a jazz dancer and Bernard, a jazz and blues musician, learned their swing dancing skills from the very best international teachers. They are now well known as teachers on the international dance scene in both Europe and the USA. They are especially noted for clarity in their teaching methods but always with a bit of humour thrown in! With an emphasis on musicality and connection their style is both fluid and innovative, having created many of their own original variations.
Passionate about Balboa, they are the creators of the 'Frenchie Balboa Festival' held annually in their hometown of Toulouse.
Andy Spitz & Christelle De Cruz (Belgium/France)
From the young generation of French swing, Christelle and Andy have danced together since 2004. They live in Lyon and teach lindy hop and balboa there. In spite of their young age, they've distinguished themself in many internationals competitions and teach all over Europe. Their unique style is much inspired by hollywood style and the Californians Old Timers, mixing flexibility, aesthetic and dynamism. They're also known for their speedy footwork having loads of sophisticated variations and slides.
They have worked several times with famous people such as Michel Drukker (french TV) Ray Gelato and his Orchestra, Ray Collins and his Orchestra, and the Big Beat Band.
They are well liked for the simplicity with which they get across their ideas when teaching. Their geniune kindness has won them many friends around the world and will without a doubt charm you too!
Additional Teachers
These teachers will also be teaching taster classes at the festival:
Ray Cunningham (USA)
Ray Cunningham is a Balboa dancer who grew up just along the coast from the Balboa Peninsula in Long Beach. He first started dancing in 1948 and in addition to his Balboa and swing dancing he is also now regarded as the world's expert in Laminu. This dance is generally described as a slower version of Balboa although it has a style and feeling all of it's own.
Ray's patience and easy going manner allows him to explain the movements required whilst also inspiring confidence amongst his students. He will be teaching two taster classes in Laminu and sharing his considerable knowledge with us over the course of the weekend.
Marcus Koch & Bärbl Kaufer (GERMANY)
Marcus and Bärbl are from Munich Germany and have been dancing together since 1991. During that time thay have travelled the World bringing their own brand of Boogie Woogie and Swing to every corner of the globe. With an excellent synthesis of Boogie Woogie, Lindy Hop and Hollywood Style they formed their own style with their own outstanding character. Their performances and classes are full of energy and fun.
Their performing and teaching skills comprise Boogie Woogie, Hollywood Style Lindy Hop, Savoy Style Lindy Hop, 30’s and 50's Jazz, Shim Sham, Charleston, Collegiate Shag, Balboa, Jitterbug Stroll, Big Apple, Swing Rueda. They have been teaching Balboa around the world for many years and have played a valuable part in the resurgence of the dance. They have drawn their inspiration from many of the great Balboa dancers such as John and Anne Mills, Willie Desatoff, and Hal Takier.
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