SPF 2016 Instructors

About Lainey

Based out of NYC, Lainey Silver is a globetrotting jazz era dancer, performer, choreographer, and vintage fashionista. Lainey is an enthralling performer, who embraces the music and the audience whenever she hits the dance floor. She has performed, taught and competed across North America. She is a member of New York based Syncopated City Dance Company, the Lindy Hop All Stars, and the Sugarfoot Follies.
A fierce competitor, Lainey has won a number of contests, placing 1st in the 2015 Lonestar Open Balboa Jack and Jill, 1st in the 2015 Music City Shuffle, 1st at the 2014 Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown Slow Dance division, 2nd in the 2013 International Lindy Hop Championships Advanced Jack and Jill, 1st Place 2014 Nevermore Jazz Ball Challenge, 1st Place 2013 Lindy Focus Team Division, 1st Place Y12A Strictly Lindy…to name a few. In addition, she was honored to be crowned the 2013 Miss Camp Hollywood.
Lainey stresses connection to your partner, a solid base in fundamentals, and dancing as an expression of the music. She strives to nurture and inspire her students to embrace the history of jazz dance while supporting the development of lindy hop in the present.

Gosia
(Gotcha la Boom)
Aniolkowska

About Gosia “Gotcha la Boom” Aniolkowska

When not fine tuning plans to take over the world, Gossia can be found at the heart of the London swing community. A core member of London’s Shag Pile and growing leader in the London community, Gossia found Swing Dancing whilst looking for a way to express her love of music and vintage style.

Starting with Tap and Authentic Jazz, she quickly came to discover Lindy hop, Balboa and Collegiate Shag. From these early days she has continuously trained, seeking inspiration by traveling around the world. She has even once run off to join the circus, having performed an extended run at the prestigious 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

When teaching Gossia focuses on connection, a strong foundation from which the character of each partner can find expression in individual style. She teaches weekly classes, at special events and festivals with some of the world’s top shag dancers, and performs across the continent. And is also a part of the Euro Shag team, and can be seen shagging up a storm on dance floors across London, Europe, and the world!

Ben White

About Ben

Hailing from Seattle, Ben has been addicted to all things swing since 2004. He has studied Lindy Hop, Balboa, Tap, and Solo Jazz dance under masters from the original swing era and worked with world class contemporary swing dancers.

He has had success both locally and internationally as a competitor and coach, and has been involved in more than 100 productions as a performer, producer, choreographer, and technician.

Ben is well known for his clear instruction and ability to break down and communicate technique while keeping classes entertaining and fun. His instructional resume includes co-founding the venue Eastside Stomp where he works as manager and instructor, teaching at the University of Washington and other schools, and traveling for workshops all over the world.

About Jonathan and Tressa

Known for his dynamic style, technical knowledge, and occasionally over-the-top humor, Jonathan actively dances, teaches and performs around the world. He is founder of the performance group Savage Rhythm. As an instructor and DJ, Jonathan has traveled throughout North America and Europe spreading the gospel of classic jazz dance, music and history. Through his experience as a student of the sciences of anatomy and kinesiology, Jonathan brings the unique perspective and knowledge of body mechanics and movement to teaching and the dance.

Tressa is normally heard through her laughter and sarcasm, but sought out for her enthusiastic passion for Lindy Hop, swing, and classic jazz dance. Bringing a background in theater and high impact sports, Tressa pairs Jonathan’s knowledge of music history, kinesiology and body mechanics with her own studies in the psychology of dance and teaching of sport. Her athleticism and supportive characteristics have led to her quick growth and escalation as a leader in the Phoenix dance community. She can most often be seen dancing at the two extremes of our jazz world – fast lindy hop and slow drag.

Karen Vizzard

About Karen

Energetic and technically focused, Karen is an accomplished dancer, instructor, and co-organizer of Hep Kats and the Kats Korner in Mesa, Arizona.

Karen has lived, taught and coached Lindy and other Jazz varieties of dancing since first becoming enamored with it in 2003. A versatile dancer with experience in Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and Solo and Partnered Charleston, Karen has taught and competed through the Southwest. Her other credits include performing with the Hollywood Hotshots, as well as being cast as a dancer in Katy Perry’s music video “Thinking of You” and being cast as a principle dancer for the episode “Static” on the TV show “Cold Case.”