Dean
Raftery
One of the True Masters of the Dance who danced
at Balboa Pavilion in the 1930's. Having been coerced
into teaching at many current day Balboa Events
he keeps the energy of swing alive! He continues
to dance in Southern California and never misses
the Balboa Rendevous!
Freda
Angela Wyckoff
Freda
says she has danced at every nightclub and ballroom
in Southern California since the 1930's including the
Balboa Pavilion Freda is still active today in the swing
dance community and goes to Balboa Rendevous and Camp
Hollywood frequently! She says she has won over a thousand
swing dance contests over the years and has been a featured
dancer in many swing movies in the 1940's and 1950's.
Freda's main partner was George Christopherson, but
say's she never really had a regular partner.
A
Few Films she is featured in are:
1944-Four Jills in a Jeep
1945-Twice Blessed
1946-Junior Prom, Teenagers At The
1954-Untammed Youth
1954-Living It Up
1956-Rock Around The Clock
1956-Don't Knock The Rock
1956-Bundle Of Joy
1957-Carnival Rock
1959-Juke Box Rhythm
1982-Bobby McGee's Dance Party (TV)
Jonathan
Bixby
The man whose names is synonymous with Balboa!
Inductee into the National Swing Dance Hall of Fame
Inductee into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame
Two-time Southern California Balboa
Champion
The first to perform Lindy Hop at the first Gay Games!
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Lila
Desatoff
Widow
of the late great Willie Desatoff.
Fixture in the Southern California swing dance community
as a "mid-timer" learning from Dean Collins
and other greats!
Clip of Lila & Willie dancing with Willie commentary:
http://video.blessedfeet.com/clips/2004/willie-comments.html
Ray
Hirsch
Spunky barely describes this youth from the heyday of
swing! We have added an extra time for him to share
his films and stories! This Legendary Lindy Hopper and
1930's-40's silver screen featured dancer will dance,
tap and talk his way into your heart! (Ray
Hirsch pictured above dancing with Judy Garland &
here as Mickey Rooney plays drums.)
A
Few Films he is featured in are:
1939-Blondie Meets The Boss
1940-Mad Youth
1941-Buck Privates
just to name a few...
Burnie
Organizor
of the SF Bal Fest & Nor Am Open
2008 California Same Sex Lindy Hop Champion
2007 American Same Sex Swing Champion
2006 Nor Cal Same Sex Swing Champion
2005 California Same Sex Swing Champion
2002-2005 Various California Same Sex Balboa Champion
titles...
His mom says he was conceived on Balboa Island (eeww)
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