Visiting Instructors
We feel there is no reason why an exchange weekend can't offer great educational opportunities. So, at Bal Jam, we have many of the country's greatest balboa instructors coming who will be available for dancing and for private instruction during the weekend.
If you're interested in setting up a private lesson with one of the visiting instructors, please e-mail them directly to set up a time. Please include in the subject line of email you send them: "BalJam private lesson."
Each of the instructors will be provided with a teaching room at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia. They will email you with their room location when they confirm your private lesson time.
Location of the Ethical Society (Main dance location for the weekend...):
Address: 1906 S Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia PA, 19103
Parking: Walk from recommended hotel or use validated parking one block away at Parkway Corp Garage, 1845 Walnut St (entrances on Walnut and on Samson),
$12/day with validation stamp. Street parking will require lots of patience and is not recommended.
Contact these Instructors for privates at BalJam:
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Nick Williams
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.
swingnick.com
email: swingnick2@aol.com -
Sylvia Sykes
Sylvia is California's premiere swing dance instructor and Choreographer.
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. Sylvia was inducted into the National Swing Dance Hall of Fame, as well as the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. She is a US Open champion, was the NASDE top point winner, two-time California Balboa Champion, took third place in the National Carolina Shag Dance Championships, and has won many Strictly Swing and Jack & Jill dance contests through the U.S. in Lindy, Balboa and West Coast Swing. She was twice voted Swing Dance Teacher of the Year, and is a four-time Feather Award winner as Best Female Lindy Dancer in the U.S.
She has performed with Count Basie, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Artie Shaw, and Les Brown, and appeared on many television shows such as American Bandstand and Gotta Dance for the American Movie Channel.
She also represented the US in the World Boogie Woogie Championships in Grenoble, France with her original partner Jonathan Bixby.
A "teacher's teacher", Sylvia instructs teachers worldwide in Balboa and Lindy ...come study with the best!
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David Rehm
David Rehm is a professional dance workshop instructor specializing exclusively in the partnered swing dances, Lindy Hop and Balboa. He is regularly featured teaching and judging at some of the most prestigious events dedicated to those dances throughout North America, Europe and Asia. In addition to numerous awards, in 2006 David captured both the American and European Balboa titles by winning the American Classic Balboa Championship with Denise Phelan and the Euro Bal Cup with Marie Nahnfeldt. He also co-owns one of the largest private collections of classic street swing dancing on film in the country. David is best known for his vast amount of knowledge and unique brand of teaching for which he has been called one of the great technicians of the dance.
davidrehm.com
email: david@davidrehm.com -
Valerie Salstrom
One of America's busiest Lindy and Balboa teachers, Valerie has a reputation for her finesse on the dance floor. She emphasizes musicality and connection regardless of the style of swing. Since 2002 Valerie has taken home the 2003 National Jitterbug Championships (NJC) Grand Slam Championship, became both the 2004 NJC Balboa Champions and the 2004 American Lindy Hop Championships (ALHC) American Showcase Champions and most recently, (in 2005) she returned to ALHC to place 2nd in the same competition.
Valerie is the organizer of the 'All Balboa Weekend' held annually in her home town of Cleveland. This weekend event first started in 2001 and was the first major dance camp dedicated solely to Balboa. It features the American Classic Balboa Championships (ACBC), one of the nation's most respected and sought after Balboa competitions. www.AllBalboa.com.
Valerie also played a major role in organizing (and participating in) the Guinness World Record breaking 'Heart Health Hop' event sponsored by St. Joseph Aspirin, which broke the record for the 'Longest Dance Party'. From July 29-31 (2003), 41 participants danced at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, for 52 hours and 3 minutes...smashing the old record! Guiness World Records (search "longest dance party").
Valerie is enthusiastic about passing on her love and passion for dance and she brings a fresh, interesting, and lighthearted attitude to both the dance floor and the classroom.
Valerie teaches all over the United States, Canada and Europe and runs a dance studio in her hometown of Cleveland, OH.
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Bobby White
(pronounced "Wee-TAY") has been a devout student of all things swing. Whitey's speed lindy, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, all styles Lindy Hop, air steps, tricks and vernacular jazz, and choreography are all passions he has been studying since 1998. He also has a great love of teaching and hopes to pass along the enormous swing-inspired smiles that make people walk a good distance away from you on the street.
While some people are proud to hold trophies or world records for dance marathons, he is proud to have held a jar of duck preserved in it's own fat (which he won in a Balboa competition in France).
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Kate Hedin
(pronounced "Heh-DEEN") has instructed and performed extensively for Cleveland's Get Hep Swing as well as in workshops throughout America and in Europe. Aside from a love of both social and performance Lindy Hop, it is her passion to develop the opportunities for follows in Balboa and learn every follow's footwork variation possible.
Kate holds 1st place titles in the Eastern Balboa Championship's Invitational Jack & Jill (2004, 2006) & Intergalactic Strictly (2005), and the American Open Lindy Jack & Jill (2004). She is also proud to have held, along with her friends at Get Hep Swing in Cleveland, the Guiness World Records for longest dance party ever (52 hours, 3 minutes).
She also likes to climb trees.
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Marty Klempner
One of the world's busiest Lindy and Balboa instructors, Marty has a reputation for clear and concise explanations in the classroom. He stresses connection through a baseline of relaxation regardless of the style of dance. Marty began teaching and competing full time in the fall of 2002, and has since taken home the following National Championship titles:
- National Jitterbug Championships
- 2003 & 2006 NJC Grand Slam Champion (Pro Lindy, Balboa & Shag)
- 2004 & 2006 NJC Balboa Champion
- 2006 Pro Lindy Champion
- American Lindy Hop Championships
- 2007 ALHC Champions Striclty Champion
- 2004 ALHC American Showcase Champion
For the past five years Marty has been one of the driving forces behind the infamous 'All Balboa Weekend' held annually in Cleveland, Ohio.
Marty is enthusiastic about passing on his love and passion for dance and bringing a fresh, interesting, and lighthearted attitude to both the dance floor and the classroom. Marty has taught all over the United States, Canada and Europe.
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Kelly Arsenault
Kelly Arsenault is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, and she 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 (Go Vols!) from 1997-2001, during which time she was a member of the UT Dance Company. One highlight from those days was being chosen to perform with the company at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in 1998. Her time in college opened her eyes to a variety of modern dance styles and techniques including Graham, Horton, and Limon. Even after graduating, Kelly came back to perform with UTDC and she was commissioned to choreography a piece for the company in 2003.
Following college Kelly joined Circle Modern Dance Company for which she was a dancer and choreographer. She also joined the Knoxville Swing Dance Association and took workshops whenever she had the chance. Finally in 2003, Kelly decided to bite the bullet and pursue her dance dreams in New York.
During her four-year residency in NY, Kelly joined two modern dance companies: Von Ussar Danceworks and MAD About Dance. She was also fortunate enough to meet her amazing dance partner, Mickey Fortanasce. Since 2005, Kelly and Mickey have taught, competed, and traveled the world. Together they hold various titles including two-time International Balboa Champions. They have taught in the US, Canada, Germany, France, London, and Scotland. Kelly continues to pursue her love of dance and teaching in her new home city of Washington, D.C.
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Mickey Fortanasce
As a professional Tough Guy, Super Hero and Spelling Bee Champion, finding time for dance was not easy for Mickey Fortanasce, nor was it an accepted activity among his fellow Crime fighters. But having defeated most evil doers in the New York City metropolitan area and having and become bored with their monotonous monologueing coupled with their stubborn refusal to except his superior skill and ability, he made his way down a different path.
In search of more powerful adversary Mickey Fortanasce began dancing THE lindy hop and THE balboa in the Summer of '99. For years he competed and worked tirelessly towards a goal he could neither see nor reach. Battling opponents whose dorkdom surpassed even his own. Completely unprepaired and surrounded by people who probably wanted to kick his ass, Mickey was certain he'd found his way back to high school. But still he moved forward knowing that to look backward would only lead side ways.
It wasn't until 2004 Mickey while walking the dark and dusted streets of New York that Mickey bore witness to an freak accident when a Mac truck collided with a two men carrying a large pain of glass. At that moment a Vat of glowing green ooze toppled from the truck and onto a unsuspecting super-model. Remembering the well known Vat of ooze to Super Hero ratio, Mickey decided to ask the girl to join him on his quest only to find out later that in fact, she had been given the super human power of Dance Ass Kicking.
Together they have competed and won numerous competitions in Lindy Hop and Balboa, including most recently receiving the prestigious title of 'BEST DANCERS EVER' at the 'Mickey wins Everything Invitational 2008'. Mickey and Kelly have taught accross the US and in Europe and have also been featured in dance articles in Time Out New York Magazine, The New York Times and www.priceless.com. Performed freestyle swing demo on Good Day New York and been interviewed and filmed for a story on balboa aired on HDTV.
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Chris Owens & Holly Beeson
Offering a new understanding on dance mechanics, nationally recognized instructors Chris & Holly not only teach the 'how' but also the 'why' behind concepts and technique. Chris & Holly are also the organizers of the Eastern Balboa Championships, the bad-boy black-sheep of Balboa competitions. Why the name? Check it out in 2008 at www.iBalboa.com
Some of their titles / placements include:
2006 American Classic Balboa Championships - Finalists (6th Place)- 2005 Boston Tea Party Balboa Division - 1st Place
- 2005 All-Balboa Camp Detroit Open - 1st Place
- 2004 Boston Tea Party Strictly Balboa Division - 1st Place
- 2004 All-Balboa Camp Detroit Open - 2nd Place
- 2004 USA Grand Nationals Team Division - 2nd Place
- 2004 American Lindy Hop Championship Team Division - 2nd Place
- 2004 National Jitterbug Championships Balboa Division - Finalists
- 2004 US Open Team Division - 4th Place
- 2004 All-Balboa Weekend Open - Finalists
- 2003 US Open Team Division - 1st Place
- 2003 American Lindy Hop Championship Team Division - 1st Place
- 2003 USA Grand Nationals Team Division - 3rd Place
- numerous Jack & Jill placements and more...
More too come!!!