• About
• The Lindy Leaders
• Questions
• Schedule
• Seminars, Workshops and Discussions
• Register!

The Lindy Leaders

We've assembled a special group of teachers and mentors for this event.

• 

  Dan Amores (Toronto, ON) — Considered by many to be Canada's top male swing dancer, Dan is known internationally as an articulate teacher, a respected judge, and a popular DJ. Dan's dance philosophy stresses musicality and momentum, with special attention to the communication between lead and follow. Invited to judge and teach at major events across North America including the Boston Tea Party and Lindy Bout, he's a champion's champion, having earned top placement at competitions including the American Lindy Hop Championships and the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown. Still, as a teacher Dan knows that, really, it’s all about tapping into the heart and soul inside each one of us.

• 

  Natacha Beausoleil (Montreal, QC) — Natacha has choreographed and coached numerous successful routines for the Swinging Air Force. She co-produced the SAF's most popular show, 100 Years of Swing, featuring an hour and a half of dancing! One of the Swinging Air Force's most popular teachers in Montreal and abroad, she was behind most of the syllabuses of Studio 88-Swing in Montreal. One of the co-founders of the company, she helped the Swinging Air Force/Studio 88-Swing succeed through her work as Director of Operations, overseeing all of the activities of both the troupe and the dance school.

• 

  Jason Herron (Quebec, QC/Detroit, MI) — Balboa Champion at the 2005 Canadian Championships and organizer of the All Balboa Camp in Detroit for years, Jason is now organizing the first ever Canadian Balboa Championships. Co-owner of Full-Spectrum DJ and Sound in Detroit, he's spun for events including the Oberlin Jazz Festival and the American Lindy Hop Championships, and provided competition music for the World Lindy Hop Championships among others. Jason has been invited to teach and judge internationally as far as California and France, and at events including the Balboa Rendez-Vous, the Canadian Swing Championships and the Quebec Swing Rendez-Vous.

• 

  Byron Alley (Ottawa, ON/Montreal, MI) — Co-founder of Studio 88-Swing in Montreal, Byron previously founded Lindy Hoppers Anonymous in Victoria in 2001, and is now founder and director of Ottawa's new swing dance school, Swing Dynamite. As house DJ at the Petit Medley from 2003-2006 he helped to create an ambiance that attracted more people than the venue could realistically handle, keeping them dancing 'till 3am every Tuesday night, and he's DJed in over a dozen events in Canada and the US. With Natacha he was behind most of the Studio 88-Swing's syllabuses and choreographed numbers and coached dancers for competitions and performances including the Casino de Montreal.

• 

  Nathan Shetterley (Quebec, QC/Detroit, MI) — Organizer of the now-famous Quebec Swing Rendez-Vous, Nathan is also known as one of Canada's best Shag leads and one of the most personable instructors you'll meet. A popular DJ, he specializes in vintage swing music and prides himself on continuity and flow.

• 

  Véro Paquet (Quebec, QC) — Organizer of the unforgettable Quebec Swing Rendez-Vous and a teacher for years with Quebec's Port-O-Swing, Vero is easily one of Canada's best Shag follows. Her teaching style is clear yet fun and casual, and she has a conspicuous love of vintage dancing and music.

• 

  Alana Hock - (Toronto/Ottawa, ON) — Described by the National post as an "effervescent, larger-than-life young woman with a wicked sense of humour and the patience of a saint," Alana's warmth, support, and hundred-kilowatt smile set her apart. Alana has studied Jazz, Tap & Swing in New York, Sweden, Mexico and Tokyo with some of the world's finest. She has taught dance for over 15 years, with career highlights that include choreographing the hit Disney television show Jojo's Circus and assisting the granddaddy of swing, Frankie Manning, upon numerous occasions. She's performed on Bravo, YTV, the Beaches Jazz Fest, Toronto's Harbourfront and Treehouse TV's This Is Daniel Cook.

• 

  Jeff Benoit (Waterloo, ON) — Founder of Waterloo's Addicted to Dancing, Jeff brings unique insight into the development of a swing scene and dance school. Jeff is a well-known blues dance instructor and he helped to make Waterloo's blues dancing scene one of the strongest in Canada.

• 

  Bryn Morin (Ottawa) — Not only known for her blues dancing as the "girl with the hips," Bryn informs her swing dance teaching with her years of university studying Drama in Education. Her teaching focus is on interaction and getting students to experience things rather than merely watch and hear.

• 

  Jody Glanzer (Toronto/Ottawa, ON) — Jody has been DJing for major swing dance events since 2001. Her past DJ adventures have brought her to over 20 swing and blues events, in cities such as Houston, Cleveland and DC as well as many events closer to home, including three Toronto exchanges and most recently Montreal's blues event "From Montreal With Love." Jody is also one of Canada's most respected blues DJs, with a repertoire that spans from gospel to modern West Coast Swing grooves.

• 

  Claudia Petrilli (Ottawa, ON) - Claudia's DJing at regular Ottawa nights such as OSDS and the Boathouse have made discerning swing dancers take note. Specializing in vintage swing music as well as blues and gospel, her tasteful selections have drawn her invitations to spin in Toronto this past New Year's Eve and in Montreal for the From Montreal With Love blues event. Read more.

Topics

Now find out what our Lindy Leaders will be covering: Topics in Swing Leadership.