David "Butts" Carne

Charleston, SC

David was one of the many youths coached by the famous Mama Lu Parks in the 50s with the goal of keeping the legacy of Lindy Hop alive for future generations.  He was later a leader of her dance troupe, the Parkettes.  The Parketts performed worldwide, served as cultural ambassadors to Africa, and performed for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
David won the 1962 Harvest Moon Ball with Betty Silva.  He danced and performed for many decades, often seen telling the band they weren't playing fast enough.  

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.

Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies

Minneapolis, MN

Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies (she/her) is an accomplished lindy hop, balboa, and authentic jazz dancer and educator. She is the co-champion of the infamous 2013 Lindy Focus Al and Leon Partnered Solo Jazz contest as well as competitions at Camp Jitterbug, Lindy Bout, Stompology, Lindy on the Rocks, the Canadian Swing Championships and more. She previously served as the education coordinator for the 9:20 Special, San Francisco's longest running weekly lindy hop dance and has taught and MC'd at workshops and festivals across the country and around the world.
In the classroom, Hannah loves helping her students become the dancers they want to be through connecting to history, digging deep into musicality, and empowering individual expression. In addition to her lindy hop practice, Hannah is also an active contemporary dancer and choreographer. Find her online at hannah-mm.com.

Kerry Kapaku

Chicago, IL

Kerry is a dancer, teacher, competitor, and performer based in Chicago, IL. While she's been dancing her whole life (including a concert dance performing career and a BFA in Dance Performance and Education from Ohio State University), Kerry was introduced to the wonderful world of lindy hop and jazz while attending OSU, and has been hooked ever since. 
In the classroom, Kerry strives to cultivate an upbeat and encouraging environment for all of her students, while emphasizing creativity, authenticity, and self expression. Kerry holds competitive titles from events such as ILHC, Nevermore Jazz Ball, Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, and more.

At home, Kerry serves as an instructor and performance team coordinator for Traffic Jam Swing, and is the owner and director of DanceWorks Indy, Indianapolis's only dance and fitness studio for adults of all ages and abilities.

Scott Angelius

Knoxville, TN

Scott started dancing in 1998 in what became a mecca of swing dance, Austin, TX. He helped build the community by teaching, running a successful dance company, and organizing events. Now in Knoxville, TN, he regularly teaches and mentors dancers. He is passionate about teaching and working with dedicated, focused dancers of all levels. In class, he teaches what he loves: exploring and building on the fundamentals, partnership, listening, and self-expression. Scott has won numerous Lindy Hop competitions and was a member of the renowned team Lindy Hopper's Dozen.
He also helps organize dance events. He is an organizer of the International Lindy Hop Championships and the Competition Manager at many of the largest dance competitions in the country. He has also developed a competition scoring management system, RP-Scoring, which is utilized by most large Lindy Hop events in the country. Previously, he founded and ran the Lone Star Championships from 2008 to 2013 and was an event director of Lindyfest from 2014 to 2020.

Mandy Hogan

Indianapolis, IN

Mandy Hogan began her swing dancing journey at the Anderson University's swing club in 2007. Over the years, she has traveled all over the Midwest and beyond attending workshops, social dancing, performing, competing, and teaching. On the social dance floor, she is known for her connection, playful energy, and creativity. As an instructor, she currently specializes in Lindy hop, Charleston, vernacular solo jazz and St. Louis Shag.

Dee Matthews

Knoxville, TN

Dee Mathews is a balboa and lindy hop instructor based in Greensboro, NC. They learned balboa in 2010 both as a lead and a follow working with Randy Maestretti and Kara Britt, who taught them a love of pure balboa and the original dancers. 
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Since then they have danced, taught, and competed all over the world. They have won balboa contests at California Balboa Classic, All Balboa Weekend, and the International Lindy Hop Championships, as well as been a mentor at The Balboa Experiment.

D is invested in balboa as a dance of connection, playfulness, and dynamism. They are excited to explore the fundamental mechanics of the dance and help students find new ways to be musical, listen to their partner, and find new ways to enjoy balboa.

Rachel Pitner

Atlanta, GA

Rachel Pitner has been dancing all of her life.  From dancing down the aisles at the grocery store to performing on stage and everywhere in between.  Rachel's life is full of movement and exploring connections.  She has performed around the country as a cast member of SW!NG OUT and consulting and performing in various film and music video projects.  Rachel has a degree in dance with a focus in Graham-style modern from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia.  
Rachel loves dancing, and she loves nurturing her dance community.  You can often find her organizing or supporting fellow organizers throughout the Southeast and at various events, but especially at Hot Jam and Atlanta Varsity Showdown (the hometown events that she runs).  Rachel loves the personal growth and the exchange of ideas that occurs with partner
dancing and the freedom and energy of Lindy Hop and the flow of solo dancing.  You'll often see her dancing to the music in her head.

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!

Join us in Knoxville May 3 - 5, 2024

Dive into a weekend of vintage jazz dancing where the Southeast meets the Midwest in a beginner and advanced friendly atmosphere. We're back for another year of fantastic classes, teachers, music and dancing in the heart of the TN Valley! 
​site images by Jeff Liu-Leyco, Gabi Rosenthal Photography, American Vernacular and JBrantley Photography