TEACHERS
All our teachers are enthusiastic jitterbugs with years of experience. They dance different swing dance styles and are all known for their great teaching.
Moe & Andreas
Moe Sakan has had professional training in many different types of dance from an early age. In 1999 Moe fell in love with the world of swing dance, and since then these have been her favorite dances.
In 2000, Moe moved to London and made the swing dance scene there shine. She became the best swing dancer in the UK while representing her Japanese heritage. An active social and competition dancer, she is proud to have won numerous international competition titles, including the world's biggest Jack 'n Jill competition at Frankie 95 (2009). In 2017, she was honored to be inducted into the Camp Hollywood Hall Of Fame. Moe travels the world to share her passion for dancing and teaching Lindy Hop, Balboa and Shag.
Moe also enjoys dancing for various productions, including theater, television and film. She is known for her authentic style and is passionate about the music and fashion of the swing era. Her dedication to the culture is also reflected in her approach to dance: she constantly strives to create an authentic style and her passion reflects the spirit of the dance of yesteryear.
Andreas Olsson lives in Stockholm, Sweden. He grew up on the wrestling mat. He usually won because he always gives 100% in everything he does. He also played the violin as a child. You might think that classical music and wrestling don't have much to do with swing dancing, but it has definitely contributed to him becoming the unpredictable, creative, musical and interesting dancer he is today.
Andrea's international teaching career began in the mid-2000s. Since then he has taught Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz, Balboa, St. Louis Shag, Collegiate Shag and other swing dances all over the world. As a dancer, Andreas is known for his unique style, creativity and musicality. He considers himself a swing dancer first and foremost and emphasizes the importance of today's dancers learning a little bit of all swing dances.
As a dance teacher, Andreas has a warm and pleasant approach to his students. He is known for his ability to convey the dances in an understandable way through imaginative exercises and teaching content.
Arnas & EGLĖ
Eglė Nemickaitė is a swing dancer from Vilnius, Lithuania, where she dances, performs, teaches and inspires the community every day at the What a Jazz dance studio. Dancing has been with Eglė all her life, but her true passion is Lindy Hop and Collegiate Shag.
Dancing has always felt like a great liberation for Eglė. Liberation from routines, thoughts, work and boundaries. Dancing makes her feel connected to herself, the music and her partner. It gives her the power of freedom and also peace for the mind, body and heart. Her rich teaching experience is increasingly appreciated at international workshops. She shares her enormous passion for swing dancing with great joy and commitment.
Arnas Razgūnas is a dedicated swing dancer and teacher. A true social dancer and explorer who likes to surprise himself and discover things he didn't think he could do. A true jazz enthusiast who is inspired primarily by the energetic, swinging music, Arnas is actively searching for a deeper understanding of what swing means in music and dance.
His rich experience in teaching guarantees quality and fun with clear explanations of his material. Arnas is co-founder of What a Jazz Dance Studio in Vilnius and co-organizer of Balboa & Shag Festival in Lithuania - Swing Paradise.
Fancy & Jeremy
Fancy Dougherty (yes, that's her birth name) is originally from Los Angeles, California. In 2008, she fell in love with Lindy and Shag, but Balboa has never been far behind. Since then, she has been hooked on swing dancing and is constantly trying to improve her technique and connection to her dance partners. For Fancy, improvisational freedom is just as important as the true jitterbug spirit.
Fancy has taught all over the world and participated in countless competitions. In 2014, she was inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame and is a five-time winner of the National Jitterbug Championships in the shag division. She loves dancing with new people and beginners, so be sure to call her up to dance!
Jeremy Otth has acquired a great knowledge of the historical nature of vintage swing dances as well as personal stories and interactions with some of the original jitterbug and swing dancers. His interests center on Lindy Hop, Balboa, Jazz and Collegiate Shag. With his seemingly inexhaustible energy, Jeremy's natural talent and dedication led him to win numerous championship titles at prestigious dance competitions, including the International Lindy Hop Championships, the National Jitterbug Championships, the American Classic Balboa Championships, the California Balboa Classic and the US Open Swing Dance Championships. Jeremy is now able to share this extensive knowledge and passion for these classic couple dances by teaching and inspiring dancers from Southern California to around the world.
Jill & Alex
Jill De Muelenaere started dancing as a child. She is trained in classical ballet, modern jazz and jazz dance, contemporary dance and yoga. She has been teaching these different disciplines for many years and now divides her time between her passion for dance, her work as a producer for contemporary dance and theater, her work as a massage therapist and yoga teacher.
Inspired in particular by the authentic, folk dancing seen in old movies and the African roots of dance, Jill searches tirelessly for a sense of freedom in dance. She finds her happiness on the dance floor with a fast, athletic Lindy Hop, a rhythmic Mambo or a slow, dragging Blues. It is particularly important to her to remain as true as possible to the tradition of the era and the original dancers. In her classes, she aims to create a joyful, yet challenging and motivating atmosphere that allows each dancer to develop their own individuality in dance.
Alexandre McCormack is a multiple vice champion in breaking in the Benelux region and has been teaching various street styles since 2006. In 2013, McCormack discovered old clips such as Hellzapoppin' and The Spirit Moves and embarked on a journey to emulate the "oldstyle" in African-American jazz and Lindy Hop. Much of his inspiration comes from studying the greats or from direct conversations with elders. His motto is: "Master the foundation to understand the dance and personalize to contribute to it". He jams for hours into the early hours of the morning to uptempo bebop swing, shaky mambo and slow blues. Back in Brussels, he trains regularly with his group, the Old Soulz.
JEnn Lee
Jenn Lee is a respected swing dance instructor who has made a name for herself at dance events and workshops with her personable manner and dynamic style.
Jenn's passion for swing dance is evident in her performances and classes. She recognizes swing dance's deep roots in black culture and strives to create a collaborative and supportive learning environment that encourages students of all levels to develop their unique style. With a strong musical background, Jenn focuses on incorporating rhythmic concepts and musicality into her classes to help dancers connect with the music and express themselves through dance.
As a professional dancer without a fixed partner, Jenn has developed a versatile dance style that can be adapted to different partners and teaching collaborations. Her commitment to giving equal attention to leads and followers contributes to an inclusive atmosphere that sets her apart as a teacher.
Heiko & Larissa
Larissa and Heiko Heckendorn have been dancing and teaching together for more than a decade. They love to spread the joy of swing dancing in their local dance school Basel Jitterbugs and throughout Europe.
Both dance different swing dance styles and mix them according to the tempo and energy of the music. In class they share their great passion for swing dancing to help you grow as a swing dancer and develop your own voice on the dance floor. You probably know them from Basel or one of many festivals like Rock that Swing, the Barcelona Shag Festival or Swing Paradise.
Besides dancing, they have a passion for cold water. This is the main reason why you will also have the opportunity to go swimming with them in the Rhine during the festival.