Instructors
We are so excited to bring you a stellar lineup of amazing instructors this year! They can't wait to help bring your dancing to the next level.
Sylwia Bielec is a curriculum designer, dancer and swing dance teacher from Montreal. Above all, Sylwia values collaboration, authenticity and community on and off the dance floor. She is a long-time teacher and community builder at Cats Corner in Montreal, teaching classes at all levels, working with teachers and facilitating choreography projects like the Lindy Project and the Cool Cats Coleslaw Collective. Sylwia has taught regionally with multiple partners including Alain Fragman, Aleix Prats-Ferrer and Meghan Gilmore and has led teacher development workshops with teams of teachers in cities across the United States and annually at Swing Out New Hampshire.
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.
Laura Glaess has been an influential voice in Lindy Hop competition, performance, and education for the past 20 years. She has won countless awards and acknowledgments at international competitions, and has taught at festivals in 19 countries spanning 5 continents. She is an original cast member in Caleb Teicher’s groundbreaking show Sw!ng Out, which has performed at the Joyce, Jacob’s Pillow, and has toured around the United States. Her Youtube channel dedicated to Lindy Hop history, vocabulary, partnering, and body movement is one of the most popular and influential in the scene.
Javier Johnson is a rocket scientist by trade. He is well versed in all the swing dances, but specializes teaching in Balboa and soul. From the basics with Basie to hot jazz of Django, he'll play almost anything as long as it's good and has a little spice to it.
Jenn Lee (She/Her) is a respected swing dance instructor with an approachable nature and dynamic style that have made her a popular presence at dance events and workshops. Jenn's passion for swing dancing is evident in her performances and classes.
While acknowledging the deep roots of swing dancing in Black culture, she strives to create a collaborative and supportive learning environment that encourages students of all levels to develop their unique style. With a strong music background, Jenn focuses on integrating rhythmic concepts and musicality into her classes, helping dancers connect with the music and express themselves through dance. As a professional follow without a dedicated partner, Jenn has developed a versatile dance style that adapts to various partners and teaching collaborations. Her commitment to providing equal attention to leads and follows contributes to an inclusive atmosphere that sets her apart as an instructor.
Katie Piselli has a passion for African American jazz dance and has been humbly teaching the dance, its traditions, and history for over 10 years. She has inspired students from as close as her home scene in Boston, MA to as far as Bucharest, Romania. Katie is also dance faculty at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she has been teaching Lindy Hop and Solo Vernacular Jazz for six years.
Katie grew up dancing in her mom’s studio in New Hampshire and went on to study musical theater performance at Emerson College in Boston. During a post-grad dance rehearsal in 2009 she serendipitously met her (now) husband, who taught her a swing out…. And she fell in love with him AND with Lindy Hop!
Katie is an approachable teacher and strives to help her students develop practical movement skills to support the evolution of their own unique style, musicality, and partnerships. While she has received a variety of awards for her own expressive dancing, Katie is most proud to be a recipient of the Spirit of Lindy Hop social dance award at Swing Out New Hampshire. Her favorite place is always on the social floor. Both as a follower and leader, she is thrilled to dance with everybody! When not dancing, Katie is a dedicated full-time mom to a train-loving little boy.
Annabel is known far and wide for her huge grins and prodigious laughter on the dance floor. A student of music all her life, Annabel caught the Lindy Hop bug in 2003 while a student at Colgate University. Addicted to the communication and spontaneity of social dancing, she continued to delve into swing dances while completing her Masters in Music History and Theory at Penn State where she was introduced to Balboa, Blues dancing, and Collegiate Shag. For the past decade, she has traveled near and far to teach and to compete, taking home top prizes in such events as the International Lindy Hop Championships, All Balboa Weekend, the California Balboa Classic, and Camp Hollywood to name a few. Annabel is passionate about fostering a fun and inspiring class environment that honors the history and legacy of the various swing dances while spurring her students to explore their potential and embrace their individuality. Currently, she resides in Washington, DC and is a founding board member and Director of Education at New Columbia Swing, DC’s premier swing dance organization.
Dan is immersed in the music and the movement. As a teacher, his enthusiastic approach brings a focus on innovation, connection, and attention to your partner. As a veteran DJ, he's played for events across 4 continents, DJing everything from international events to local dances. He’s also organized both locally and for international events, including a Head DJ role in BluesSHOUT! and The Balboa/Blues Experiment. In the end, Dan is most excited to work hard at improving the dance and to see people break through their boundaries.