Meschiya began her singing career at the age of nine, earning a
regular gig and winning $500 upon winning an adults only singing
contest in a South Dakota Steakhouse. In 2000 as a young woman, she
met and began traveling with the Know Nothing Family Zirkus Zideshow
and End of the World Circus - a troupe blending traditional circus
arts with modern sideshow varieties where Meschiya honed her
performance skills with such thrilling acts as glass and insect eating
and fire dancing (dangerously twirling around on stage with
flame-doused nunchucks). It was while touring with this troupe that
she fell in love with and felt immediately embraced by the culturally
rich and one of a kind city of New Orleans, her home base for the last
decade and counting.

In the Spring of 2007, Meschiya began singing with the traditional
jazz outfit the Loose Marbles on the French Quarters Royal Street.
Joined by jazz dancers Chance Bushman and Amy Johnson,
a new revival of traditional jazz and dance consequently blossomed:
Bringing the joy and vitality of New Orleanss spirit, wowing
audiences both young and old alike, they toured the United States and

Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five is the nation's premier swing dance band. Showcasing the small-group sound of the late 1930's and early 1940's, the Campus Five is the most danceable swing band anywhere. The 7-piece Campus Five captures the true sound of the Swing-era, with all the energy and excitement that inspired millions to dance. Influences include the Benny Goodman Sextet, Artie Shaw's Grammercy Five, and Count Basie's Kansas City Six.

Both founders are dedicated swing dancers, and the relationship between Swing music and Swing dance informs all aspects of the Campus Five. Song selection, tempo, song length and feel are all chosen with danceability in mind. The Campus Five's three albums, "Jammin' the Blues", "Crazy Rhythm", and "Moppin' and Boppin'," are favorites of Swing DJs and Swing Dance Instructors all over the globe. The Campus Five have been featured at many of the premier Swing dance events around the world, and are known for their unparalleled competition music, inspiring dancers to new heights.

From California, he is a classic Hollywood character in appearance and style. MacGill plays boogie-woogie, swing, and stride piano. He blows a lyrical cornet, and his most unique instrumental voice is a 6-string tenor ukulele. He has been singing and arranging vocal harmonies for almost 30 years, in a career that stretches from Los Angeles (Mood Indigo, feature films "Frances" and "Swing Shift") to Spokane, WA (The Spirits of Rhythm and the neo-swing classic CD "Jump") to Broadway (The musical "Swing") and finally to Seattle. "I've played a lot of music with a lot of people," he says "and one thing I've learned is to tailor my arrangements to the individual musicians. Its gives each musical situation a unique sound." He steers the band from his piano bench, alternately cruising along and sweating feverishly, switching intuitively between the ukulele and the piano and the cornet, singing and scatting, sometimes all within the same song.

New York-based trumpeter/vocalist/songwriter Bria Skonberg has been performing for over 20 years. Originally from Chilliwack, BC Canada, she has toured as a bandleader and guest artist all over North America, Europe, China and Japan, and has been the featured jazz soloist in the bands of Solomon Douglas, Glenn Crytzer, Jonathan Stout, Baby Soda, and Casey McGill. Best known for her knowledge of classic jazz and pursuit of worldwide fun, she is creating a voice all her own rooted in swampy New Orleans and blues with swing, pop and world music influences. Her new CD release "So Is The Day" on Random Act Records features nine newly minted originals, three thoughtful interpretations and includes enhanced video footage of her playing with legendary cornetist Warren Vache (Benny Goodman, Rosemary Clooney). www.briaskonberg.com

Other dance oriented events I've been a part of either as a leader or supporting musician:
Hawkeye Swing Festival
Vancouver Lindy Exchange
Seattle Lindy Exchange
Portland Lindy Exchange
Camp Jitterbug, Seattle
Lindy Focus, Asheville
Boston Swing Central
Maverick Swing, Boston
Seattle Balboa Festival
The Snowball, Stockholm

The Careless Lovers are an assembly of swing dancer musicians, inspired by the streets and clubs of New Orleans, New York City, and anywhere that hot jazz combos have been laying down swinging rhythms, past and present. The desire of the band is to play a mix of traditional jazz, blues, and swing era tunes and stylings with an attitude that's acoustic, fresh, and dirty. With an infectiously danceable rhythm, the Careless Lovers are bringing the spirit and joy of jazz culture to the streets of Seattle.

The Careless Lovers are a party-to-go made up of Seattle's most energetic young musicians, playing brass, reeds, guitar, and upright bass. The Lovers like to sing old-timey melodies and group call and responses that get everyone involved. The band can be found on the streets of Capitol Hill and downtown Seattle, and increasingly in the cozy dance halls, coffee shops, and bars around Seattle.

Check their awesome new music video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd3Yu-ImZk0

Travis began DJing in Seattle in 2002 and has since become a Seattle favorite. While he focuses his attention on the music styles of the 1920's, '30s, and '40s, he is able to present a wide range of styles and tempos from a slow blues to a fast floor-burner. Nationally Travis has been a featured DJ at the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, the All Balboa Weekend, the Mid-Western Balboa Swing Festival, and, of course, Camp Jitterbug!!

We are excited to have Travis back as our competition and head dj for Camp Jitterbug. The music is what inspires our competitors and brings the energy needed to make the competitions at Camp Jitterbug incredible. We are honored to have him back this year!

Jenn Salvadori and Justin Zillman have been dancing since 1996. They are not only masters of musicality, connection and timing, but they do it all keeping the original flavor of lindy hop alive. Together and separately they have placed top three in more than 12 national competitions. They are well rounded DJ's, being asked to DJ across the country, including the US Open Swing Dance Championships. They are national level judges. Having taught all over the United States. their travels have taken them from New York City to Hawaii including the 2001 and 2002 Great Southwest Lindyfest, the 2001 and 2002 Midwest Lindyfest. With the help of a few friends, they annually organize and hold the LA/OC Lindy Exchange (a.k.a. Lindy Binge). Jenn and Justin are particularly well known for their uncanny knack for breaking down lindy hop, and teaching it to the masses in order to further the knowledge of where we came from in this dance. They are firm believers in the theory that, "You have to know where you came from, to know where you are going."Know your roots!

Jo Ann is, first and for most, a lover and collector of music! This year, she is taping into her party side, as well as swing, to bring you an assortment of genres to keep you moving at late night.
Having a passion for music that "swings", she general plays uptempo songs and is known for pushing the range of tempos to allow dancers to challenge themselves.

A few of her national Swing DJ credits include the Hawaii Lindy Balboa Exchange, Camp Jitterbug, Northwest Balboa Fest, All Balboa Weekend, Seattle Bal Fest and Lindy Focus. She also DJs regularly at several local Swing, Blues, Fushion and party venues.

Emily started out as a DJ in Seattle’s epic house-party scene in 2005. She was one of Burn Blue’s original DJs when the venue started and has continued to be a DJ coach for new aspiring DJs, as well as a regular DJ at many of the regular blues dance venues in Seattle. She loves traveling to dance events to hang with old friend and meet new friends, and has had the pleasure of being on staff for multiple events either as a DJ or co-organizer. In her free time, she is a wife and a mother of 2 little princesses (almost 3 and 8 months).

Daniel Newsome is a dancer and dj from Seattle Washington that has been researching, collecting and playing vintage jazz music for over a decade. His number one priority is to keep the dance floor packed and inspired by playing a mix of rare finds, new versions of old favorites, and the best classics in a high fidelity mix with a smooth flow.

Bringing dance audiences a ric mixture of jazz old and new, classic and lesser-known, the thing which defines Kelly's taste in music is an intense affinity for the deep soul of the jazz and blues tradition. She is an enthusiastic collector of rare albums (including a recently-developed love of collecting dirt-old 78’s) and loves bringing fresh music to her audiences. For years Kelly has been DJ'ing for the most demanding dance audiences throughout North America including those at Showdown, The Rhythmic Arts Festival and on radio. She also DJ’s in her hometown of Seattle where she is an ardent promoter of the spirit and history of jazz and jazz dance. Oh yeah, and she can play a mean kazoo and spoons solo.

Freedie is always hot and anxious to play savage rhythms until all the cats join in. Spreadin' rhythm around wherever he plays, Freedie will make you shake the blues away. He's brought lindy hoppers delight at every tub from Seattle to Herrang, at events large and small, organized and won Seattle DJ battles, and has played all the local Seattle dance floors. He's so very digga digga doo by nature, and has been known to let it get sweet and hot until your sister Kate shouts "Ochi!" four or five times. If he could be with you just one hour at late night, he's sure to be tappin' the commodore till you go viper mad!

Brenda has been Dj'ing since 2003 and is a house DJ at the Century Ballroom in Seattle.
She has spun at both national and international events over the years. Brenda loves all kinds of swing music and Seattle is the perfect place to spin variety. She recently is collecting more New Orleans based bands and can't wait to share her new music at Camp Jitterbug!

For about two decades Chris Chapman has passionately studied the many techniques and styles of Lindy Hop (swing dancing) along with many dance forms from the larger family of Authentic Jazz Dances, and he feels fortunate to have trained with many legends of the dance. Having toured extensively 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, a Pacific Northwest Lindy Hop Champion, and an Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown Champion. Chris has choreographed and performed for numerous plays, musicals, and shows. Founder of the University of Washington Swing Kids and then HepCat Productions (SeattleSwing), he offers many levels of 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.