9th Annual American Lindy Hop Championships
October 13, 14, 15, 2006
                     

       
                                                                                  Teachers

 and

SYLVIA SYKES
Sylvia is California's premiere Swing Dance Instructor and Choreographer. She is 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 is a U S 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 4 time Feather Award winner as Best Female Lindy Dancer in the U.S. A "teacher's teacher", Sylvia instructs teachers worldwide in Balboa and Lindy ...come study with the best!
 

BILL BORGIDA & JULEE MERTZ

Bill Borgida and Julee Mertz from Chicago has been partners for the past three years. They have taught workshops together all over the world, most recently in Melbourne.

As a complementary and powerful voice, Julee shares Bill's philosophy of dance - which is that strong basics and sound technique are the basis for better dancing. Julee's keen insight into body movement and partner connection adds to Bill's strong focus on technique.

PETER STROM & CAITLIN GEORGE

They first teamed up at the Beantown Lindy Hop Camp in 2002. Since then they have taught at workshops and camps all over the country and the world. Peter & Caitlin bring a unique brand of instruction, at once articulate and fun-loving, pushing students to always improve their skills, while never abandoning the joyful spirit of the dance. They are the second place winners of the 2003 ALHC American Showcase Division.

TONY & AURELIE TYE

Tony and Aurelie run Hop to the Beat Dance Studio full time, teaching, performing and promoting events. They met as beginner dancers in Boston in 1990 and first experienced Lindy Hop while attending a week long dance camp featuring Steven Mitchell. Once hooked, they soon began to travel both nationally and abroad to take classes with the top international Lindy Hoppers. In 1993 they began to bring some of these world class instructors to New England. In 1997 they started the Beantown Dance Camp.

CHAD FASCA

Chad and Midori teach and perform social dances of the Jazz and Swing Eras. Togetehr they direct the swing program at Sandra Cameron Dance Studio in NYC. They are the winnersw of the 2004 American Lindy Hop Champioships Fast Dance Division.

Marty Klempner & Valerie Salstrom

Marty Klempner and Valerie Salstrom are winners of the 2004 American Lindy Hop Championships American Showcase Division. In addition to teaching and judging in Lindy they are Balboa champions and run the annual All Balboa Weekend in Cleveland.

SIMON SELMON

Simon has choreographed and performed for stage, film, video and television and written two books on Swing dancing. He is a UK and American dance champion and has been featured in a number of  newspaper and magazine articles. He founded the London Swing Dance Society, the UK's biggest and longest running swing dance club, as well as the famous Stompin' Swing Nights at London's legendary 100 Club.

Joining us this year to DJ are
Jerry Almonte (DC)       Bill Borgida (Ithaca)    Devona Cartier (NY)         Mandi Gould (Toronto)  Dee Jean Francois (Montreal)    Michael Ingbar (NYC)    Paolo Lanna (NY)    Mike Marcotte (DC) Glenn Scales (DC)         Simon Selmon (UK)      Peter Strom (Minneapolis)        Rayned Wiles (DC)

NATHALIE GOMES & YUVAL HOD



Nathalie and Yuval are famous for their smooth dance style and their gravity-defying aerials, Nathalie and Yuval have performed on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, MTV, and at the Lincoln Center. They have appeared in several movies, including Mona Lisa Smile and Polar Express.

CHESTER WHITMORE 

Chester is known as a tapper, Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz Dancer, composer, comedian, actor, choreographer, stuntman and bandleader. He is a multi-talented teacher that continues to surprise everyone. We believe he's from another planet. He started out as a tap dancer in 1974 and, for many years, was a protégé of the famous tap legend John Bubbles. He has also worked together with many tap masters such as the Nicholas Brothers, Willie Covan and stars like Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Lionel Hampton. Mr. Whitmore has his own well-reputed dance company, Black Ballet Jazz specializing in Afro-American vernacular dancing.

DAVID GRAYBILL

David was a member of Carol Fraser's Varsity Swing and the 2004 US Open Swing Dance Championships 1st place winning Swing Challenge Team. He was in the national tour of Forever Swing. He has also performed with the Singapore Jitterbugs Performance Team and the Grit Grinders under the direction of Janice Wilson.

David is a favorite partner of any Jack and Jill contestant because of his inventiveness, connection and sense of style. He has placed in many competitions a crossed the country.

Latest word: Unfortunately Dave won't be able to join us for his  and our 9th ALHC. He's appearing in "Drillbit Taylor" starring Owen Wilson which shoots at the Paramount Studios from September to December. Congratulations Dave!

JUSTIN ZILLMAN & JENN SALVADORI

Jenn Salvadori and Justin Zillman have been dancing since 1996. They are not only masters of musicality, connection and timing, but they do it all keeping the original flavor of lindy hop alive. Together and separately they have placed top three in more than 12 national competitions. They are well rounded DJ's, being asked to DJ across the country, including the US Open Swing Dance Championships. They are national level judges. Having taught all over the United States. their travels have taken them from New York City to Hawaii including  the 2001 and 2002 Great Southwest Lindyfest, the 2001 and 2002 Midwest Lindyfest. With the help of a few friends, they annually organize and hold the LA/OC Lindy Exchange (a.k.a. Lindy Binge). Jenn and Justin are particularly well known for their uncanny knack for breaking down lindy hop, and teaching it to the masses in order to further the knowledge of where we came from in this dance. They are firm believers in the theory that, "You have to know where you came from, to know where you are going."Know your roots!

JANE FORD

Jane Ford is the owner of K2 Dance Studio and has been teaching dance for over 20 years. Trained in Ballroom dance during her college years, she has instructed at several studios in the Washington and Baltimore areas.

Jane competed in swing and has danced in a number of performance groups. She has appeared at the White House, the Smithsonian Institute, and the Kennedy Center. She has also formed several performance groups of her own.

Jane teaches at local Universities, such as the University of Maryland and Catholic University, and travels across the country teaching and judging at national dance events.

DOUG SILTON

Since learning to dance in 1992 Doug Silton has been teaching, competing, and performing internationally. Doug is a two-time American Lindy Hop Champion (2001 Strictly Division and 2002 Classic Division) and is a top competitor on the Lindy Hop circuit, NASDE West Coast Swing tour, and in CSA Carolina Shag competitions.

ZACK RICHARD & MARYSE LEBEAU

Zack Ruchard and Maryse LeBeau join us this year for their teaching debut at ALHC. They have been successful competitors in Lindy, Balboa and Collegiate Shag earning them wins at the Canadian Swing Championships and the Boston Tea Party.