David "Butts" CarneCharleston, SCDavid 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.
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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 TigertBaltimore, MDJon 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.
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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.
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Annabel QuisaoWashington, DCAnnabel is known far and wide for her huge grins and prodigious laughter on the dance floor. A student of music all her life, Annabel caught the Lindy Hop bug in 2003 at Colgate University. Addicted to the communication and spontaneity of social dancing, she continued to delve into swing dances while at Penn State where she was introduced to Balboa, Blues dancing, and Collegiate Shag.
?Currently, she resides in Washington, DC and is the Education Director at New Columbia Swing. |
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For the past decade, she has traveled near and far to dance, teach, and compete, taking home top prizes in such events as the International Lindy Hop Championships, All Balboa Weekend, BluesShout, and the California Balboa Classic. Annabel is passionate about fostering a fun and inspiring class environment where students can explore their potential, push their boundaries, and have a good time!
Mickey FortanasceKnoxville, TNAfter a few years of watching Lindy Hop, Shag and Balboa at local swing clubs in Los Angeles, Mickey began his dance education in 1999. After moving to New York, Mickey began teaching local classes for the New York University Swing Dance Society. Traveling between New York City and Los Angeles during this period gave his dance education a unique perspective as he was able to meet and watch the old timers from both coasts on the dance floor. With this education, Mickey gained the confidence and vision that brought him to his first competitions, choreographies and performances in 2001.
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Mickey currently resides in Knoxville TN where he continues to travel, teach, compete and perform all over the world.
Mickey and Kelly have taught extensively all over the world and have been featured in newspapers and magazines like Time Out New York, The New York Sun, Good Day New York and on television programs like Good Day New York and NBC's 1st Look. |
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Kelly ArsenaultKnoxville, TNKelly, 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
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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.
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Tim ChristopherSavannah, GATimothy Christopher was first a musician! His journey with jazz starts with self taught piano from and old recordings. He stumbled into dance years later while looking for a jazz jam when got back to his home town from college!
He found himself in a room full of people moving there bodies around to swing music, but there was one couple that was dancing! The next day he found himself in the couples house learning this lovely dance called the lindy hop! |
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Clearly he got obsessed with this dance and the culture surrounding the dance and now he is competing, dancing, and teaching internationally! He was in the most recent installment of the Swing out Show in New York 2023, has performed at the Lincoln center in New York and maintains good working relationships with most other instructors in the Lindy hop scene. (easy to work with)
Hannah LaneBaltimore, MDHannah Lane is a dancer and research archivist from Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to dancing Lindy Hop, Hannah is passionate about researching shake dancers and the history of Jazz dance, music, and dance halls in her home state, Maryland. Hannah wishes to support local history and community archiving initiatives in the swing dance scene, so that we can deepen our understanding of African American history and pass down our stories.
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Will BrownCharleston, SCWill 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!
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Join us in Knoxville March 28 - 30, 2025
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