Instructors
We are so excited to bring you a stellar lineup of amazing instructors in 2023! They can't wait to help bring your dancing to the next level.
Marie has been dancing almost as long as she has been walking, but she fell in love with Lindy Hop in 2006. Since then Marie has been fortunate to work and dance with the fantastic teachers of the Cat's Corner Studio in Montreal and is now based in Stockholm where she teaches at the Chicago Swing Dance Studio. In her classes, she combines modern knowledge and authentic style with a good measure of fun!
Dee started Swing Dancing at the age of four with her Dad in the basement, wearing her Mom’s heels and her favorite plaid skirt. With a hiatus into hip-hop during her school years, she was called back to Lindy Hop, becoming an influential member of the Minneapolis scene, where you can find her teaching at Uptown Swing.
Dee loves feeling free on the dance floor. She advocates for self-expression and individual creativity as the spirit of solo jazz and Lindy Hop. She loves Lindy Hop's particular way of encouraging collaboration between music and partner, priding herself on making each dance unique to the musical experience and partner.
Dee has taught, performed, and choreographed nationally and internationally. She specializes in vintage jazz, Charleston, and Lindy Hop.
Bobby White is known worldwide for his individual dance style, expressive teaching methods, and floppy hair. He is a passionate dancer of Balboa, Lindy Hop, and Solo Jazz and has won many national and international championship placements in those dances, which he teaches all over the world. His welcoming nature and humorous personality are complemented by his passion for the dance and in-depth instruction.
Dancing has always been a passion for Irina, her expression completely and boundlessly inspired by music. She began learning Lindy Hop at the age of 15 and fell in love with it after her first night of social dancing. Since then, her passion for Swing dancing expanded to include solo Jazz, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag.
Since her start in Lindy Hop in 2009, Irina has competed and taught across the U.S. as well as Europe, Asia, and Australia. As a teacher her goal is to patiently guide her students through building solid foundation and technique as well as inspiring unique and personal movement and rhythm. Irina’s greatest joy as a teacher is to see her students progress with their dancing, no matter the increment.
Beginning with his more traditional roots, Anthony started dancing at age 8 when his parents convinced him to learn and perform Chinese lion dances. At age 15 he was introduced to breakdancing at a speech and debate tournament, and shortly thereafter he found his home in the local swing community in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he quickly fell in love with Lindy Hop. Throughout his dancing career he has trained in several other styles from hip-hop to Argentine Tango to West Coast, but most of all he enjoys using this background to expand upon his technique and creativity in Lindy Hop. On the social dance floor, he is known to be playful, musical, and clear. He holds first place titles from events such as Lindyfest and Lone Star Championships, Montreal Swing Riot, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, Lindy Focus, and International Lindy Hop Championships. His teaching style focuses on energy, technique and connection theory, and his love of both leading and following has been instrumental to making the classes that he teaches both clear and intuitive. He is an active scene builder in his community and founded Salt Lake Swing, where he also teaches locally.
Chisomo Selemani is a speech-language pathologist, professor, and dance enthusiast. She is from Zambia, but has spent much of her life in the U.S. Even so, her very first dance lessons were from her mom and sisters. Chisomo became passionate about Afrobeats and dance fitness through dancing, performing and teaching with ZOCA dance Zambia. She has taught and performed across the U.S., mostly in conjunction with another dance passion, Swing. She loves to dance, perform, compete, and teach Lindy hop and Balboa. Part of her artistic journey has included an investigation of how these different Afrocentric dance styles collide. She and her teaching partners believe in collaborative and reflective teaching approaches, giving class participants the opportunity to explore, share, and grow. She is also the co-founder and co-host of the podcast Integrated Rhythm. She and her co-founder, co-host, editor, international swing dance instructor, bestie, and all round amazing guy about town, Bobby White seek to have meaningful conversations around hard topics with featured guests on the Integrated Rhythm podcast. Chisomo loves Beantown and feels privileged to be a part of the Beantown family and featured instructor this year.
Felix started dancing in the Swedish competition scene at age 9 and hasn't stopped since. His first visit to Herräng in 2009 was was a big turning point in his life, as he saw that dance and the music had so much more to offer. Since then he has tried to inspire and learn everything that he can and develop his skill of dancing, music and teaching. He wants to pass on this knowledge to people all over the world, and is a strong believer of the freedom and the authentic style of the dance and the connection you create with your partner and the music.
Felix is part of both the Swedish National team in both Boogie Woogie and Lindy Hop and made some fine results in the last 3 years. He sees swing dancing as a way to bring people together and bring happiness into their life. Because when he dances that is all he can think about and express. Pure happiness.
Grace was first introduced to swing dancing in 2009 when she instantly fell in love. She has been dancing, competing, and teaching ever since. As a competitor, she has placed and won in regional, national, and international contests across Lindy Hop, Shag, and Balboa.
Grace loves seeing people grow as they learn this dance. As an instructor, she enjoys empowering her students. Focusing on connection, Grace teaches techniques that help dancers be versatile and creative. Enabling them to dance with anyone and feel freedom to express themselves.
Alain Fragman hails from Montreal and is one of the top Lindy Hop dancers and instructors in Canada. He has taught in countries as far away as Australia and can be seen regularly teaching workshops and competing in North America. In 2013, he won the coveted ULHS Showdown battle and placed 2nd in the ILHC Showcase division. Alain is a founding member of the Northern Lights Team and had the privilege of performing with them at Frankie95 and the Jump Session show.
A talented and musical dancer, Alain teaches dancers to connect to the music and to their partner through active listening and response. When he dances, teaches, performs, or competes, Alain’s purpose is to spread the joy of dance and inspire others.
Sylwia Bielec is from Montréal, and has been a fixture on the local teaching and social circuit for many years. She began dancing at age ten, and fell in love with Lindy Hop in 2000. Sylwia's teaching combines her love of partner dancing and her belief that each of us embodies primal internal rhythms and a biological impetus to move. She is a charismatic, sensitive and versatile follow, and an articulate and skilled teacher who understands and works with individual learning styles. Her dance motto is "This little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine!", and she delights in igniting the light in others. Sylwia and Alain Fragman count several 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes at national competitions in couple and team divisions. They are members of the Northern Lights and teach at Cat's Corner in Montreal.
Dan is immersed in the music and the movement. He constantly travels to continue learning, happily sharing his ideas along the way. In his teaching, Dan’s enthusiastic approach brings a focus on innovation, connection, and attention to your partner. Dan is also a veteran DJ, spinning for events across the continent and locally on a weekly basis, and has dabbled in organizing for events and local dances. In the end, Dan is most excited to push his dancing and to see his students break through their boundaries.
Alcina Chiu has been dancing, organizing events, DJing and teaching swing since 2003. She runs her own studio, Scherzo School of Music and Movement, and also contributes to the other schools in her local scene of Montreal. She loves to share her passion for the fun, creative spirit of the dance, the great feeling of partnership, and of course, jazz music. As part of her relationship with the culture, Alcina did research on the music and history for her university thesis, and continues to do so while actively following discussions on the subject. She is known for her student-centred approach to teaching and her infectious joy in class. She is so excited to be teaching at her favourite Lindy Hop camp this summer.