Nina hails from Washington D.C. As teacher, performer and competitor of Lindy Hop and Belly Dance, she is a member of both Silver Shadows and Ancient Rhythms Middle Eastern dance troupe. Nina teaches Nationally and can lay claim to many titles from some of the most prestigious competitions in the world. Her classes will focus on innovation and personal style while striving to keep sight of Lindy Hop's roots. Nina is very excited to be back in Seattle, this is one of her favorite places to dance.

Nina is one of the top follows in the world and is a great role model and inspiration to other follows. Her high energy and seemingly effortless fast dancing has set her apart. Her fun and carefree teaching style makes workshops very entertaining. She brought the house down with her incredible burlesque/belly dancing number in the 2007 Jump Session Show. We are pleased to have Nina back as always!

Andy Reid is well known for his powerful presence, movement and technique. His style is a balance of the refined and the eccentric, and he succeeds highlighting the wildness of Lindy Hop without compromising underlying technique.

Andy has performed and taught all over the world including Sweden, Italy and France. He is a founding member of Silver Shadows, a recently formed troupe who performed in Harlem, NY at a tribute event for the surviving members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, as well a member highly influential troupe Minnie's Moochers. Andy is also a founding member of Mad Dog!, a Lindy Hop Crew who is infamous within the Lindy community for some reason.

Andy has one of the most beautiful swing-outs I have seen. He is the master at making the simplest of moves stand out. Not only is Andy one of the best dancers in the world, he is a great teacher that effectively breaks down unique and advanced concepts. We are honored to have him back in Seattle to continue to inspire us.

Ramona is known internationally for her wildly graceful style and spontaneity on the dance floor. She was only 14 when legendary swing dancer Frankie Manning introduced her to New York at the Mid-Summer Night Swing series at Lincoln Center. Since then she has been teaching and performing all over the world. In 1998 and 1999, she placed first at the American Lindy Hop Championships in the junior division. As a founding member of Minnie's Moochers, she taught and performed in Singapore in 2000. That same year she also performed in Tokyo representing Swing Dance America. In 2002, Ramona became a World Lindy Hop Champion in Stockholm, Sweden.

Currently, Ramona is a member of the Vanavar Caravan, a contemporary dance company specializing in modern, clogging and ethnic dance. She teaches at Hop Swing and a Jump in New York, and is studying tap in her free time.

We are so excited to welcome Ramona on her second year teaching in Seattle at CJ! She is such a unique and talented dancer who brings a great energy and new ideas to Camp Jitterbug! She was a huge hit at her CJ teaching debut in 2007 as well as her amazing performances in the Jump Session Show.

Peter Strom has been a featured instructor at workshops and camps all over the world including the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Since 1999 he has both competed and won at various national competitions. Competitions and titles aside, Peter is first and foremost a social dancer. With this in mind, his classes focus on solid lead/follow technique as the road to finding one's own unique style. His simple philosophy, based on momentum, connection, and rhythm helps students to learn more than a bunch of cool moves. In his classes, Peter shares his love of dance with his students, helping them enjoy the dance on a deeper level and becoming more connected to the music and their partner.

Peter had his Seattle teaching debut in 2006 at our Jitterbug Weekend and he was a huge hit!! He really brings high energy on the teaching floor and the social floor. He has a wide range of abilities and influences outside of Lindy Hop that really opens up ideas for his students.

Naomi Uyama didn't realize swing dancing still existed until one night in late 1997, she attended a dance in her hometown of Washington DC, witnessed her first jam, and was instantly hooked. Over the past eight years she has studied vernacular jazz dance as a historic treasure while pursuing it as a living art form. She has taught workshops around the world, and performed for dance and music legends alike. As a competitor, Naomi recently took an unprecedented sweep of first place titles at the 2005 American Lindy Hop Championships, US Open Swing Dance Championships, and all three separate tempo divisions at the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown. Her expertise in subtle musicality and focus on following skills are points she loves sharing with the dedicated dancers she finds at signature events like Camp Jitterbug.

Naomi has been a favorite at CJ the last several years and it such a pleasure to be able to have her in the CJ line-up again. She has such a great teaching style and knows how to shine like no other on the dance floor both socially and competitively. She lights up the stage during the Jump Session Show and we are so excited to have her back.

Todd is from San Francisco and is a well-known social and competitive dancer in the lindy scene. He has won many national competitions and taught both nationally and internationally. He enjoys spreading his passion for lindy hop and is excited to be invited back to teach at this year's Camp Jitterbug. Some of his more recent accolades include being the 2005 American Lindy Hop Champion, 2005 US Open Champion, and Champion in both the mid and fast tempo divisions at the 2005 Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown.

Todd is one of the nations favorite leads and competitors. Not only do the follows absolutely love his natural ability to lead the most unique lindy combinations with ease, but his styling and skills on the dance floor are impressive to say the least. He was a favorite the last 4 years at CJ and we are excited to have him back in the line-up!

Annie is an former competition gymnast. She is a co-founder and co-owner of Studio 88 Swing in Montreal (Canada) where she has taught swing since 2001. She also manages and dances in the Montreal Swinging Air Force dance performance troupe, along with her partner Max Pitruzzella. She is passionate and enthusiastic as a swing dancer, teacher and competitor. Her style joins dynamism and power with a subtleness that is very feminine. She is thrilled to come back to Camp Jitterbug for her second time.

Coming from Quebec, Annie truly stole the show with her partner Max at Camp Jitterbug 2007. Not only is she an incredible dancer, she is a great teacher and their performance on the dance floor is breathtaking. We are really looking forward to having Annie back for her second year at CJ!

If Max was not a dancer, he would probably be a boxer! Max demonstrates a tremendous versatility being able to adapt to very slow or very fast tempo in couple, and showing some incredible skills in solo dancing as well. The art of swing dancing is how he makes his living, teaching at Studio 88 Swing in Montreal and teaching internationally with his new partner Annie Trudeau. He is passionate about sharing his understanding of all the details that create a good connection between partners and give the most energy to the dance. Max wins titles at every event he attends but is particularly proud of having won the Endurance Contest at the last ULHS.

Max truly brought down the house at CJ with his high energy performances, competitions and strong teaching skills. He and Annie were definitely the hit of the camp in their CJ teaching debut. He is a fabulous lead with unending energy and a real passion for dance. We are excited to have Max back for his second year at CJ!

Peter Loggins is the foremost 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. He has travelled worldwide as an instructor, lecturer and competitor. His film credits include Beverly Hills 90210, Marilyn Mansion "Mobscene" video, Royal Crown Revue's "Zip Gun Pop" video, Mulholland Drive, and the 13th Floor to name a few.

Together with his partner, Mia Goldsmith, 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.

Mia Goldsmith has been one of the cornerstones of the Seattle swing dance scene for the past 5 years. Since moving from Kansas in 2003, she has continued to broaden her dance knowledge by learning and focusing on a wide range of dances from the Jazz Age.
Mia has taught all over the world, including Sweden's Herrang Dance Camp, as well as events that specialize on Southern California's historical dances such as Bal-swing and Balboa. Being one of the favorites for the old timers to dance with , Mia focuses on authentic technique's which allow her to adapt and bring her well known improvisation and style to the dance floor. When she is not traveling and teaching, she performs and works regularly at the Century Ballroom.

Ria DeBiase has been teaching Lindy Hop for over seven years, both in the USA and in Europe. She has also studied Historical Jazz, Ballet, Gymnastics, and Hip Hop. Her dancing style is energetic and musical, and she is comfortable being playful and funky.

Ria has been competing and performing since 1998. In Spring/Summer of 2003, Ria toured Canada and the USA with the Harlem Hot Shots. Recently she has won competitions at the US Open, Camp Hollywood, and the World Lindy Hop Championships.

Ria's teaching style is clear and concise and she can break down complicated moves and concepts so they are easily understandable. She specializes in teaching the basics, communication through lead/follow technique, and connection.

Ria is an exciting follow that brightens up the dance floor when she is on it. She not only looks gorgeous when she is dancing, she has a spirit that truly exemplifies lindy hop. As one of the top follows in the country, we are so happy to have her back in Seattle to teach at CJ!

Mike Faltesek brings to the dance floor an incredibly diverse social and performance dance talent that includes not only Lindy Hop but also Cakewalk, Black Bottom, Traditional Jazz, Tap, Charleston, Breakaway, Balboa, Big Apple, Blues and many other Authentic Jazz dances.

Mike has been dancing for almost a decade, in that time he has traveled to instruct, compete, and perform internationally. From Harlem to Los Angeles and all throughout Europe. Mike is well known for his charismatic personality, approachability and passion for the essence of Authentic Jazz dance and music. He possesses an enthusiastic ability to convey ideas and movements explicitly, making him a popular instructor wherever he goes. He teaches workshops internationally, each time leaving a lasting impression on his students.

Mike brings a great energy to any event he is part of. Not only does he have a wealth of knowledge of various jazz dances, he is an awesome social dancer and really connects with his students. We are so excited to have Mike back at CJ this year!

Casey's love of swing dancing began in 1998. Whether social dancing, teaching, or performing, Casey is inspired by the playful spirit of traditional jazz dances and in "raising her voice" as a female dancer. In her teaching, she focuses on developing solid technique and partnering skills as the foundation for developing one's style and sense of musicality. Casey also enjoys competing, with placements or wins at regional and national competitions. She frequently performs with and dabbles in a variety of dance forms with Sister Kate, an all-girl performance group.

Casey is an incredible dancer and teacher who has travelled all over the country teaching and performing. She knows how to effectively break down the material while making sure the class is having a great time. We are so excited to have Casey in our instructors line-up!

Sean taught East Coast Swing for a long time because Lindy Hop was a lot harder. Since that doesn't count, he uses 1998 as a benchmark for the start of his passion for Lindy Hop. Having lived all over the country - from Hawaii to Boston - Sean has not only had numerous dancing influences, but has also learned how to fake a bunch of different accents - 75% of which are pretty funny. His true inspirations for the dance have come from a myriad of Charleston, Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz movie clips in the 1920s and 30s.

Sean was an American Lindy Hop Champion in 2002 and has taught all over the US and internationally. His excitement and enthusiasm for early jazz music is contagious and comes across in his teaching. In fact, RIGHT NOW, Sean is really excited to be teaching at Camp Jitterbug, in spite of the fact that the camp promoter is his wife.

Sean is an incredible lead known for his footwork, musicality and flow. Sean is one of the strongest and most entertaining instructors in the lindy hop scene and the students easily learn challenging material while having fun. We are excited to have Sean back as the emcee this year as well as an instructor!

Mikey Pedroza has been dancing and performing for the past 10 years. The majority of those years have been dedicated to the understanding and preservation of classic American dances known to the masses as Swing Dancing. These Swing Dances include: Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, and Traditional Blues. Along with the classic solo jazz dance and shake blues dances.His love of the dance comes from every part of it; the music, the style, the movement, the people, the history, and the way they all come together in the dance. Hoping to inspire others with his creativity, energy and playfulness he can't wait to share his passion with all of you at Camp Jitterbug

Mikey has an energy like no other. When he is on the dance floor, you can't help but notice! He has been winning competitions nationally and is definitely creating quite the buzz. It seems like every time he dances, he gives 100% of himself...it is definitely contagious and is always a favorite in the CJ line-up.

Competing is fun for Carla and a great way to push her limits, but her real passion is teaching dance and social dancing. She travels all over the country and the world teaching this art form to others and is excited to call San Francisco home and be a part of the thriving San Francisco Bay area dance community. She has a down to earth teaching approach, but still takes learning seriously and focuses heavily on quality of movement, partner connection, musicality, and most importantly, enjoying the dance! Carla searches for that fine balance of staying connected to the roots of the dance, where it came from and why, while still pushing the envelope of where the dance can go. Lindy Hop is a constantly evolving dance that should be rooted deeply in its vibrant & extensive history, but still bursting with energy towards a brilliant future. Carla currently teaches, choreographs, judges, competes, & social dances all over the world & feels very fortunate to be able to do what she loves most.

Laura Keat first entered the competitive lindy hop scene with 23Skidoo, Denver's competitive performance team, in 2003. In 2004 Laura began competing on her own as well. Some of her most memorable wins was the Classic division at 2004 American Lindy Hop Championships, the Strictly Lindy at 2004 US Open, and being a finalist at the Centennial Basie Ball Hellzapoppin Contest, as well as many other reputable successes. Teaching regularly in Denver, and semi-regularly nationally, she enjoys teaching a combination of skills ranging from partner connection, to movement, styling, and musicality with an emphasis on styling and musicality. She is always excited for another chance to share her joy and passion for the dance!

One of our favorite follows in the country, Laura brings so much talent and inspiration to our follows at Camp Jitterbug. She has been teaching up a storm all around the world and we are so excited to have her back for her fourth year!

Jeremy Otth has won and placed in numerous prestigious Balboa, Lindy Hop, and Collegiate Shag Competitions. They stretch anywhere from All Bal Weekend, Bal Rendezvous, the US Open-fast division, NJC, Camp Hollywood, Camp Jitterbug, Northwest BalFest, San Francisco BalFest, and Viejas just to name a few. One of LA's finest Jitterbugs focuses on sustaining the vintage look of Swing, stresses creativity, and pushes establishing a good foundation for connection, musicality, and teamwork. He has also appeared in movies, music videos and on TV, including ABC's hit "Dancing with the Stars". His passion is to inpire others to feel the music, dance with passion, and to push the envelope.

Bethany Powell is a Maine native who spent her formative lindy-hop years in Portland, Oregon. She considers herself a bi-coastal dancer, and would like to nurture an end to the strife and violence between East Coast and West Coast. "As long as you're both swinging,...(she makes a circle with her thumb and forefinger to gesture that it's A-OK)." Bethany has had a good time traveling and teaching and competing for the past little while, especially wherever the music was hot. She admires dancing that embraces physical forces (gravity, momentum, inertia) instead of fights them, and she emphasizes this approach, simultaneously laid-back and powerful, in her classes.

This will be Bethany's Camp Jitterbug teaching debut and we couldn't be more excited! Her quirky and adorable style turns everyone's heads and makes her a favorite on the dance floor both socially and competitively. She has a unique style that is refreshing and we look forward to having her teach at CJ this year!

Stefan Durham has been teaching Lindy Hop for a few years now (most recently in Portland, DC and San Francisco areas), and he has been flattered to win stuff at some competitions along the way. But his unflagging loves for partnered jazz dance and for the music that engendered it are at the heart of his devotion to Lindy Hop. Stefan likes to teach ideas, rhythms and moves that feel good and are useful to a variety of dancers. Stefan likes dancing really fast and really slow. He likes Charlie Chaplin and ice-cream cookie sandwiches. And he likes swinging his steps as he's walking down the street, all cool-like.

We are so excited to have Stefan in the line-up for the first time at Camp Jitterbug this year. He seems to win or place in every CJ contest we have had in the past few years! His very unique style and personality on the dance floor makes him a favorite with the audience.

Sheri slyly admits to being a product of the "Swingers" generation. It is this movie that first interested Sheri and her friend to finally try swing dancing in 1998. She has been enthusiastically jitterbugging ever since. A year later, Sheri met a kindred (and ambitious) spirit in Ben. Together, in their blissful ignorance and underdog manner they captured people's attention winning top placements in national and international competitions in just their first few contests including 3rd overall at the 2000 American Lindy Hop Championships and 4th overall at the 2000 World Lindy Hop Championships in Germany. Since then, they have gone on to add many more memorable titles and accomplishments to their names.

Sheri is known for her creativity, saucy spirit, and never-say-die smile on the dance floor. She loves sharing her passion with other dancers and enjoys making her classes both educational and entertaining. Sheri is excited to finally make it to Camp Jitterbug and be a part of this awesome event!

Ben openly admits that he is a part of the 1998 Gap commercial swing generation. After seeing the infamous commercial, Ben's friends took him to see swing dancing live and up close at the Derby in Los Angeles, CA. He has been hooked ever since, going on to dance, compete and teach around the world. Along with his wife and partner-in-crime, he has won numerous titles and accolades. Though Ben sees swing as an outlet for both his technical and creative sides, what he loves most about dancing is its exuberant essence. He takes joy in its jubilant spirit and strives to make this the core in everything swing whether that be teaching, learning, creating a routine, or just plain going out and having a good time. Ben grew up in Washington, so he always enjoys trips back home. This time he is especially excited since it will be his first Camp Jitterbug! (yeehaw!)

Ben has a wonderful energy on the dance floor and in the class room. He always makes his fellow dancers feel at ease and is extremely approachable. His positive attitude and clever ways to teach material makes him a fun instructor to add to our line-up this year!

For over a decade Chris Chapman has studied Lindy Hop with a variety of other Authentic Jazz dances, and feels fortunate to have trained with many legends of the dance. Having touredcextensively across North America as an instructor, Chris brings to dancers his study of biomechanics and various philosophies of movement acquisition along with his deep appreciation of the dance's history. He's an American Lindy Hop Champion, and a Pacific Northwest Lindy Hop Champion. Chris has choreographed and performed for numerous plays, musicals, and shows.

Founder of HepCat Productions, he offers many levels of Swing Dance Classes in Seattle, lindy hop classes and Seattle's longest running all-ages weekly Swing dance. Chris formed, trained, and choreographed the American Lindy Hop Championship performance team Zah-Zu-Zay. Above all, Chris believes in keeping active on the social dance floor, where he finds the most joy!

Visit Chris's web page at seattleswing.com

These are the instructors who are confirmed so far...stay tuned for a few more fabulous names to be added to the line-up.