Jon Tigert

Baltimore, MD

Jon Tigert found swing dancing at the tender age of 15 and never looked back. Now, somewhat older than 15, Jon shares his knowledge of the dance all over the United States and the World. You may know him from his roles at events such as Lindy Focus, Lindy Fest, The Canadian Swing Dance Championships, The Chinese Lindy Hop Championships, Herrang Dance Camp, The International Lindy Hop Championships and many more. 
Known for his concise language, historical knowledge and and infinite supply of dad jokes, Jon's classes are immensely informative and entertaining. Beyond teaching, Jon is often seen behind the microphone as a well known MC and host, behind the computer as a DJ, or behind the drum kit playing and singing with various bands. 

Kelly Arsenault

Knoxville, TN

Kelly, from Knoxville, TN, has been dancing as long as she can remember. As a child she took ballet and jazz, but she was especially drawn to modern dance. At age 11, Kelly joined the Tennessee Children's Dance Ensemble. She was with the modern dance company for 6 years, performing around the globe including Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia
Kelly attended the University of Tennessee from 1997-2001, during which time she was a member of the UT Dance Company. She was also a dancer and choreographer for Circle Modern Dance Company. In 2003, Kelly moved to New York City where she continued her modern dance career performing with Von Ussar Danceworks and MAD About Dance. When she met Mickey in 2004, she discovered her love for balboa and lindy hop; and so began their amazing friendship and partnership.

Andy Reid

New Orleans, LA

Andy Reid is one of the most well-known and influential swing dancers out there. Since he started dancing in the late nineties, Andy has left an indelible mark on the dance scene. Andy's style is a balance of the refined and the eccentric. His proficiency with rhythm and partnering makes his dancing rich and inspiring to watch and experience. While Andy's dancing has many influences, Andy credits his greatest influence as the Harlem-born Black American social and performance dance called Lindy Hop - the original swing dance.
Since 2002, he has performed and taught in countries around the world including Korea, Australia, Japan, and all over Europe. Always striving for harmony with the music, Andy's experience playing music in his current hometown of New Orleans affords him the opportunity to give his students a deeper musical connection to their dance. Andy's teaching aims to bring the best out of his students both physically and mentally.
Andy has been a part of numerous very prominent dance teams. He is a founding member of Silver Shadows-undoubtedly one of the most influential Lindy Hop dance teams. He is also a member of the highly innovative troupe Minnie's Moochers. Finally, Andy is also a founding member of Mad Dog!, a Lindy Hop Crew who is infamous within the Lindy community for some reason.
Andy currently resides in New Orleans, LA, where you can regularly see him playing bass with local traditional New Orleans bands.

Mia Halloran

New Orleans, LA

Mia, with her incredible string of competition wins and international teaching and performing gigs, excels in dances from the Jazz Age and is known as one of the best Balboa Swing dancers in the world. 

Based in New Orleans, she is constantly inspired by the live music surrounding her. While she no doubt loves traveling the world, she's most at home in a small neighborhood bar with a packed floor, getting down to that rhythm only New Orleans has to offer.  
Her unique approach to teaching is full of energy and creativity, bringing a passionate and motivated air to the classroom. She is known for her highly impressive footwork, elegance, improvisation, and individual approach to the dance. Above all else, she is driven by her desire to create with both partner and band on the social floor.

Will Brown

Charleston, SC

Will found dancing in college and now basically only does the bare minimum amount to survive so he can continue dancing. He has always had an interest in the swing dancing history of the Carolinas and spends his free time searching for more information on the region. Ask him about it!

Sam & Lisa West

Hamlet, NC

Sam started shag dancing at age 9 after his mother, Barbara, became interested in dancing.  Sam is a 7 time champion of the Carolina Shag Division at the USA Grand National Dance Championships and a 3 time US Open Shag Champion.   He has also been a member, captain and choreographer for the National Shag Dance Championship Dance Team.  Sam has made several appearances on national and local TV and was a featured dancer in the movie Shag and in Alabama's Shaggin' on the Boulevard music video.  In 1999 he and his sister, Sarah, were the first inductees into the Shagger's Hall of Fame Keepers of the Dance.
Lisa didn't start her dance career until age 27.  Lisa's love of dance began on the Country Western dance floor where she learned two-step, waltz, east coast swing, west coast swing, polka,  and cha-cha.  She has won the US Open Cabaret Championship and the American Swing Dance Championships Showcase Division. 
 In 1998 Lisa met Sam at the USA Grand Nationals in Atlanta when they shared the practice floor before competition.  Sam says she chased him but Lisa says he wasn't too hard to catch.  In November of 2010 Sam and Lisa won their first big title together when they were named the winners of the Sophisticated Swing Division at the US Open Swing Dance Championships. 
They  performed a memorable and creative number to Gene Kelly's Singing in the Rain. They won another US Open Sophisticated title in 2012 when they danced to The Pink Panther and again in 2016 to Good Rockin' Tonight. Together they have been teaching a promoting shag throughout the country and have even held workshops in France, Spain, England, the Netherlands and aboard cruise ships.  

Join us in Knoxville March 27 - March 29, 2026

Dive into a weekend of vintage jazz dancing where the Southeast meets the Midwest to learn, throw down, inspire, grow, work together, and dance your hearts out. We're back for another year of fantastic classes, teachers, music and dancing in the heart of the TN Valley! 
site images by Nick Williams, Sammi Kunz, Jeff Liu-Leyco, Gabi Rosenthal Photography, American Vernacular and JBrantley Photography