At 27 years old, Cyle Dixon is a proud Cleveland native and award-winning dancer who discovered his passion for artistic expression early in life. He often reflects on how he first learned to hear music from the soul while soul line dancing at barbecues and singing in church as a child. Cyle embarked on his dance journey at just thirteen, joining the Cleveland Junior Jitterbugs (CJJ).
Laurel fell in love with swing music nearly three decades before she threw herself into the dance. Soon after her first lindy hop crash course Laurel was attending every event she could reach across the Midwest, itching for another dance to a live band. Laurel’s background as a classroom teacher and world traveler serves to fuel her passion for learning and teaching swing dance. Laurel strives to help preserve lindy hop’s roots as a social street dance while re-translating partner roles for continued relevance in modern culture.
Sonnie Spoon, of London, England, is a fan of dancing and music, preferably combining the two. Having found Lindy Hop and swing music completely by chance 10 years ago, it was love at first triple step and that has never changed. Sonnie has been sharing their insights on the dance with students for several years now, and has been privileged to do so internationally.
Samuel Coleman is a multi-disciplinary teaching/performing artist who has taught and facilitated for many prestigious institutions including: Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazzmobile, The Ailey School, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Hunter College, Harlem One Stop, Minton’s Playhouse, Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, Ginny’s Supper Club, Swing 46, Harlem Stage, The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art &
Brandon is a dance performer, teacher, and choreographer. Although he predominantly teaches Lindy Hop, he is actively taking classes and going to socials for Hip Hop, House dance, and Chicago footwork. He began dancing at 3 years old at the Dance Theatre of Harlem doing Ballet, and progressed those skills through his time in his middle school, Ballet Tech, where he also learned modern dance and repertoire.
Dancing in all forms has been a lifelong passion for Irina (she/her). In 2009, at the age of 15, she stumbled upon Swing dancing and it took only one night of social dancing for her to fall head over heels in love with it. Though Lindy Hop was her gateway into the world of Swing, Irina’s passion quickly expanded to include Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and solo jazz. She owes her rapid progression in part to spending her formative years of dancing in Southern California, home to some of the best Swing dancers, teachers, and music in the world.
Always striving to capture the classic spirit of the original Jitterbugs with a modern voice, Bobby teaches Balboa, Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz, and Collegiate Shag nationally and internationally.
Anthony’s first ingress into the performing arts was at age 8 when his parents convinced him to learn and perform Chinese lion dances. He then stumbled upon breakdancing during a national speech and debate tournament in middle school, and at the age of 16, he had his first foray into swing dancing alongside other young interns from a research laboratory. Since then, he has trained in other dance styles ranging from hip-hop to West Coast Swing, but most of all he enjoys using this background to expand upon his technique and creativity in Lindy Hop.
Jon Tigert is a world recognized Swing Dancer and musician. Specializing in Vintage dances such as Lindy Hop, Balboa, Blues, and Charleston, he has won titles from the International Lindy Hop Championships, The Canadian Swing Dance Championships, Lindy Focus, and many more.
