Instructors
Sylvia Sykes (Santa Barbara, CA)
Sylvia, an internationally recognized authority on most types of Swing Dance, has been teaching and judging for 20 years throughout the US, Europe, and Australia. Sylvia studied with the great dancer Dean Collins, and was a member of his last dance troupe. She studied Balboa with Maxie Dorf and spent years learning from the greatest Southern California Balboa dancers.
Nick Williams (Los Angeles, CA)
Nick Williams has embodied the passion and spirit of swing dancing ever since his first lesson in 1998. His in depth understanding of Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag stem from studying with the original
dancers. Nick's desire for authenticity, combined with his passion for dance evolution, leads to a style known for precision, lightness, and dynamic energy. Above all, he exhibits musicality, creativity, and continuity. His successes include World Lindy Hop Champion, U.S. Open Swing Dance Champion, American Lindy Hop Champion, and American Classic Balboa Champion.
He is also an accomplished choreographer and has been featured on the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance. As an instructor, he is known for his ability to break down movements and technique to create a fun and light-hearted learning environment. His true love for music and dancing will forever inspire him to learn, teach, and grow. In 2004, Nick was honored to be recognized by the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.
Mickey Fortanasce (Brooklyn, NY) & Kelly Arsenault (San Francisco, CA)
A native of Pasadena California, Mickey was introduced to Balboa early on in his dance-life. His captivation for this particular dance resulted in his subsequent efforts to learn as much as possible about Balboa. For the last eight years, Mickey has lived in New York where he has been working to bring a greater love and appreciation for Balboa to the city.
Originally from Tennessee, Kelly Arsenault has been a dancer for the majority of her life. She has participated in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. In 2003, Kelly moved to NYC and teamed up with Mickey soon afterwards.
Together they are now nationally recognized teachers and competitors, placing in both Lindy Hop and Balboa. Most recent winnings include a repeat victory at the International Balboa Championships, held at the Balboa Rendezvous. Their commitment to fostering Balboa in New York also led them to establish the city's first and only regularly occurring social dance event devoted to fast footed dancers of all types, known as White Heat.
Bobby White & Kate Hedin (Baltimore/DC)
Bobby and Kate hail from the Southern dogwood groves of suburban Georgia, where they used to do nothing but rock on the front porch drinking mint juleps and wearing linen suits. That's why the began their bizarre hobbies of juggling, Elizabethan fencing, and finally, classic swing dance.
Choosing to capture the style and, more importantly, the spirit of the original jitterbugs, they have also managed to capture many top placements in regional and national competitions, including 1st place at the Eastern Balboa Championships (2005) and Boston Tea Party Balboa Division (2006), and 2nd place in the American Classic Balboa Championships at the All Balboa Weekend (2006). Both are veteran members and choreographers of Atlanta's Big George Savoy Bouncers swing troupe.
Recognized for their engaging teaching skills, Kate instructs with a thourough, analytical musicality and mechanics-based method, while Bobby prefers rubber-band analogies and whaaap--patang noises. They currently reside in the Baltimore/D.C. area, where they sit around on rocking chairs wondering why their mint juleps taste like crab.
Jason Herron & Andrée-Anne (Andie) Tremblay (Quebec, Canada)
Jason Herron and Andrée-Anne Tremblay instantly connected on the dance floor. It led them to second place at the Eastern Balboa Championships in their first competition together and continued with them winning a string of competitions together, including the 2009 International Balboa Championships (Balboa Rendezvous) and the 2009 Twin Cities Balboa Festival. They’ve taught in Canada, the US and France. Andie started dancing and performing when she was only 3 years old and has studied both Ballet and Jazz. She has a degree in microbiology and works towards eliminating the world’s most infectious diseases (like Bad-balboa-itis). Jason started swing dancing in Detroit in 1999, following the swing revival. He has a degree in kinesiology (the study of movement), accompanied with a teaching certificate. Jason also likes ketchup, early 90’s rap and Coke bottles with only Coke in them because anything else would be bad. Together they organize the Canadian Balboa Championships in Quebec City, October 1-3, 2010. Check it out at www.CanadianBalboaChampionships.com
Matt Mitchell (Cleveland, OH) & Krista Haskins (Minneapolis, MN)