TEACHERS

(below on right):

Learn from champions dancers & guest teachers...

Guests invited so far:

Stephen Sayer and Chandrae from L.A.,

Rebecka and Emelie from Sweden,

Dabney Hopkins
& Karen Vizzard from Arizona,

Morgan Day from Riverside,

Jofflyn Valencia from L.A.

& more tba...

See their details below:

Emelie and Rebecka Decavida are instructors and performers of Lindy Hop and other vintage swing dances. They hail from Uppsala, Sweden, but teach and perform all over the country. Emelie and Rebecka have recently started teaching and competing on an international basis with great success. They currently perform with the swing dance troupes Mess Around (Uppsala, Sweden), Swing-amajig and Rainier Rhythm (Seattle, US). Together they are known for their endless enthusiasm and and passion for the dance. As instructors Emelie and Rebecka strive to teach good technique in a positive, humorous and effective way.

Emelie and Rebecka have been teaching and performing together since 2007 and competing together since 2009. Despite their quite short competition history they have been successful in a number of competitions. Emelie and Rebecka took 1st place in The Harvest Moon Ball at The Killer Diller Weekend 2009 (Seattle), 1st place in the Strictly, Showcase and Slow divisions at Lindy Bout 2011 - The Lindy Hop Championships in Western Canada (Vancouver BC), 1st place in Strictly at MWLF- Midwest Lindy Fest 2011 (Minneapolis), 3rd place in Strictly Lindy at CRC 2010 (Toulouse) and were finalists in ULHS 2009 and 2010 (New Orleans) and The Battle 2009 (Stockholm). Individually they have taken 1st place prizes in competitions such as Stockholm Open 2009, Sweden Balboa Weekend 2007 and MWLF 2011 Jack and Jill.

Emelie and Rebecka live for social dancing. Inspired by the beat of the music, they place special emphasis on creativity and improvisation. This is how they stay energized for hours on the dance floor, and maybe why so many people love to watch them dance.

Emelie and Rebecka teach on a regular basis in Uppsala and Stockholm, but travel to teach all across Sweden and also in other parts of Europe as well as South America and the US. As teachers, they are known for their clear instruction, dedication and good teamwork. Emelie and Rebecka strive to teach good technique while keeping it fun with positivism and humor. They particularly value the interaction between the leader and the follower and find it important that both dancers inspire each other and together form the dance.

In addition to dancing, Emelie and Rebecka have a great interest in vintage fashion. In the near future they plan to combine their interests, swing dancing and vintage fashion, in a swing dance clothing company.

Stephen Sayer is a dancer/instructor who is dedicated to preserving the great American partner jazz dances of the 1920's-1950's. Originally from Dayton, Ohio Steve began dancing in 1998 at the age of 16. Falling in love with lindy hop and other dances of the swing era he traveled to the east and west-coasts to dance, study and learn the different styles of swing dancing.

In 2005 he moved to Los Angeles and soon began teaching weekly at Joe's Bar and Grill in Burbank where he still teaches every Tuesday. In 2009 he began competing, winning many Los Angeles contests such as the Bayside Lindy Battle and the Paladino's Jitterbug contest. In 2010 and 2011 he won 1st place in the Collegiate Shag division at the National Jitterbug Championships with partner Fancy Dougherty. Also in 2011 he won 1st place with partner Chandrae Roettig at the National Jitterbug Championships, US Open, and 2012 Camp Jitterbug Strictly Lindy divisions.

Today Steven teaches weekly at Joe's in Burbank and at Madilyn Clark Studios in North Hollywood. He is also the host of Swing Revolution which holds dances and workshops the 2nd weekend of every month. He is committed to improving and pushing the limits of his own dancing as well as those who take his classes. His focus of connection to partner and music are what makes his dancing and teaching so unique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFYkBWPBy_U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGcjGabtxt8

Dabney Hopkins has been teaching, dancing, DJing, and competing for over 10 years. He is the organizer of The Kats Korner, the weekly Saturday night swing dance in Mesa, and the Phoenix Lindy Exchange. He has taught workshops in Florida, California, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, all over Arizona, and on Carnaval Cruise Lines. He has placed in various national swing dance competitions, including: Lindy-Hop at the National Jitterbug Championships, the Jack and Jill at the National Jitterbug Championships, the Balboa Contest at the National Jitterbug Championships, the Strictly Lindy at Lindy On The Rocks in Denver, and he was invited to participate in the invitation only Champions Jack and Jill at Lindy On The Rocks in Denver. He has also performed regularly for corporations and television. His passion is the original form of swing from the early twentieth century, and his goal is to spread these dances to keep

Karen Vizzard, first became enamored with Lindy Hop in 2003, when she was introduced to the dance at a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert in Santa Monica. Since then, she has dedicated herself to becoming an exceptional follow, as well as a versatile dancer with experience in Tap, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and Solo and Partnered Charleston. Her competition experience includes, placing 1st in Utah’s 2007 Invitation Lindy Hop Jack & Jill, 2nd Place in the Pure Balboa Division at the 2008 San Francisco Balboa Battle, 4th place in the Collegiate Shag Division at The National Jitterbug Championship in 2009, and in October 2009 she was named the winner of the Los Angeles Fastest Feet Cup. At the 2009 San Francisco Balboa Battle Karen placed 1st in the Bal-Swing division, 2nd in the Blues division, 1st in the Shag division, and 1st in the “Same-sex Any Swing Goes” division. While attending school in Utah, Karen was a Lindy Hop instructor at Utah State and the University of Utah, and coached the Swing Team at Brigham Young University. Her other credits include performing with the Hollywood Hotshots, as well as being cast as a dancer in Katy Perry’s music video “Thinking of You” and being cast as a principle dancer for the episode “Static” on the TV show “Cold Case...

Morgan Day is owner and operator of CollegiateShag.com Morgan Day has been dancing since 2001, and regularly teaches at the Riverside Junction and the Sunday Swing Jam in Riverside, California. He has placed in many competitions at events such as: National Jitterbug Championships, the North American Open Shag Champ 2009(SF Bal Fest), the San Francisco Shag Jam, and Inspiration Weekend.

Most recently, Morgan was awarded the "Golden Budgie" trophy at Camp Hollywood 2011 for his Super Mario Bros Themes showcase performance. Video of Lindy Routine as Super Mario Brothers: Morgan Day (in red) & Emily Wigger (in green):

http://youtu.be/D6nI2d3rUIM

Jofflyn Valencia of Bobbysox Brigade
Jofflyn is an amazing Lindy Hop, Shag and 20's Charleston dancers. He has titles in 2005 and 2006 as Nor Cal Charleston Champion with former partner Amber Villa at SF Bal Fest.

The award-winning Bobbysox Brigade is a non-profit (umbrella division of Kings and Clowns – 501-c3 #2237358), professional performance troupe specializing in dances from the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. From Ventura to San Diego, its members represent the best of what the Southern California swing dance community has to offer.

Since its inception in 2003, the Bobbysox Brigade has competed and performed at several world-renowned events:

• US Open Swing Dance Championships, Anaheim, California

• National Jitterbug Championships, Los Angeles, California

• USS Hornet with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Alameda, California

• Opening performance for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Eureka, California

• Harvest Moon Swing Out with Frankie Manning, Pasadena, California

• Carnival Cruise Lines, Ensenada, Mexico

• The Great Los Angeles Air Raid, San Pedro, California

• Redwood Coast Jazz Festival, Eureka, California

• Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, California

• Los Angeles County Fair, Los Angeles, California

• Kats Korner, Phoenix, Arizona

• …and many more!