TEACHERS
All our teachers are enthusiastic jitterbugs with years of experience. They dance various swing dances and are all known for their great teaching.
Grace & Blake
Grace Babbes grew up in a family of actors and musicians and was already performing on stage at the age of four. With a lifelong love of jazz music and vintage fashion, she was immediately hooked when she took her first Lindy Hop class in 2012. Since then, she has been dancing Lindy Hop, Balboa and Collegiate Shag up to five nights a week on social dance floors throughout Southern California. She also teaches and dances regularly at competitions in the US and Europe and has placed and won at events such as ILHC, Camp Hollywood and Hot Rhythm Holiday. She is also a sought-after DJ, spinning classic tunes that inspire dancers of all levels to have fun, connect with the music, its history and each other.
Grace brings her passion for dance to her classes, bringing joy to her students while focusing on connection technique. She is particularly inspired by the original swing dancers, especially from Southern California, and loves to search through old clips for new ideas. For her, swing dancing is a conversation between two people - and she carries this love of conversation into every class, always emphasizing strong connection and beautiful basics.
Blake Thiessen discovered swing dancing through a spontaneous New Year's resolution: he wanted to learn the dance he had seen in the movie Swing Kids (1993). What he didn't know at the time was that Southern California was one of the biggest swing scenes in the world, with a rich history and dozens of the best dancers and teachers. Blake was immediately hooked and developed a relentless passion for Lindy, Balboa and Collegiate Shag. Since then, he has won numerous international competitions and taught all over the world - including Europe, Korea, Japan, Australia and the USA.
In his free time, Blake enjoys studying old dance films. He has great respect for the original dancers and loves to teach the unique styles and techniques they used. As a teacher, he also places great emphasis on partner connection, musicality, and developing beautiful fundamentals. Although he loves training, competitions, and performances, his most memorable dance experience is a simple, deeply connected social dance with a like-minded partner.
Sonia & Héctor
Sonia Ortega and Héctor Artal are a professional Lindy Hop couple from Barcelona. They have been teaching regularly at various dance schools since 2003 and have contributed significantly to the nationwide success of the Lindy Hop boom in Spain. Today they travel all over the world to pass on the joy of Lindy Hop and to realize exciting new projects. With their work, they want to share their enthusiasm and passion for this dance - and inspire others to love and learn Lindy Hop in the same way.
Her lessons focus on the basics that make Lindy Hop so special for her: Rhythm and bounce, communication within the couple and the quality of the movement. "Cool" figures or combinations are not an end in themselves for her, but serve as playful tools that support the learning process and make it fun.
Sonia and Hector always bring their own creativity to their lessons. They show their students original steps and movements that they have developed themselves - as inspiration and encouragement for their own dance development. Their clear, descriptive teaching style is particularly appreciated by the participants.
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.
Jeremy Otth
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.
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.
Larissa & Heiko
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.
