Swing Into Spring

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Instructors

Alice Mei

I started dancing at the very young age of 4 years old and have done numerous types of dances until I fell in love with Lindy Hop and solo jazz. I have now been swing dancing for 14 years and keep being fascinated by the art of improvisation. Connecting with my partner through rhythm helps me dance my following and is the most inspiring thing to me at the moment. I have been spreading the joy of lindy hop and authentic jazz in more than 30 countries through teaching, performing, competing and social dancing. I love the diversity of  movement and the freedom of expression this dance brings to the world. I hope to keep learning things and keep on inspiring people for as long as possible.

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Felipe Braga

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Many ask how Felipe learned Lindy Hop so quickly: transitioning from a toilet-cleaning newbie dancer marveling at the Folkets Hus floor to a Herrang instructor in three short years. The explanation is simple: his pre-Lindy life prepared him for what was to come. Training in theatrical acting gave Felipe body awareness and control as well as an ability to improvise–both in his energetic and now infamous class warm-ups, and in the competitions where he always shines. Felipe’s experience playing drums, as well as his youth in Brazil –where the music and dance culture are rich– gave him an innate sense of rhythm. And finally Felipe’s days as a dancing party-animator for a live music club in Brazil gave him plenty of training for getting people excited about dancing in his Lindy Hop classes today. But more important than any of this is that Felipe has embodied the Lindy Hop spirit since before he knew it existed. It is hard to find someone who doesn’t like Felipe. His warm personality charms every dancer he meets, and his ability to connect with people in conversation carries over onto the dance floor.

Nicole Zuckerman

Nicole’s first foray into Lindy Hop occurred in 2003, and she immediately threw caution and all other hobbies out the window to chase swing outs relentlessly.  Since then, she’s developed her unique style, and an unmistakeable sense of fun and whimsy in her dancing. She's also won numerous competitions across the US for lindy hop, solo jazz, and balboa. 
 
As an instructor, Nicole keenly articulates connection, rhythm, and creativity in an accessible way, with enthusiasm and the occasional sound effect. She’s currently the education coordinator at The 9:20 Special and a teacher of lindy hop and vernacular jazz in San Francisco. Nicole can also be found re-visiting her own extensive training in tap and ballet in the bay area, and availing herself of classes in Voguing, Hip Hop, and Street Jazz.
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Carl Nelson

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Carl has been dancing since 2001, he was swinging out so hard he got kicked out of an acapella group.  His style focuses on strong partnering and rhythm rooted in exemplary basics. He has won numerous competitions at many of the largest events in the U.S. for lindy hop, solo jazz, and balboa.
As an instructor, Carl encourages students to find their own path through the dance, emphasizing collaborative workshops and focused exercises in his classes. Carl currently teaches in San Francisco.


Clàudia Fonte ​

Swing dancer (Lindy Hop & Authentic Jazz), Clàudia Fonte explores and embraces all kinds of playful ways in her dancing. Her main source is Swing music.  
Taking the classic rhythms and moves as the foundation, she challenges herself to keep them alive through her own perspective and interpretation. 
Even though swing dance has a great historical tradition, she believes in its evolution and expansion; respecting but also transforming the roots she tries different ways and communication styles, like in the partner dance.
Authentic Jazz enables her to achieve and explore challenges proposed by Swing music. Essential to her approach is promoting solo dancing in the context of social dancing, as well. The dance floor is where everything starts and where the magic happens.
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Laura Glaess

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​Laura started dancing in 2001 in San Antonio. It wasn’t a very large scene, and her teachers hadn’t been dancing very long, but she quickly came to love lindy hop, the music, the history and everything involved.

​Now Laura travels the world teaching, competing, performing and learning. She is a passionate believer in dancing with swing, with rhythm, and with presence. She is madly in love with jazz music and movement and strives to convey that love to everyone she encounters. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Laura is also an active participant in her home community; co owning a teaching company, The Lindy Project, with Mike Roberts, participating in the Austin Swing Syndicate board, the Austin Lindy Exchange board, organizing community events, and any number of things to keep Austin one of the best scenes around.

Brooks Prumo

​​Brooks Prumo is an avid Lindy Hopper living in Austin, TX. He is driven by a continuous need to create something new and true to himself. He is also a founding member of award-winning dance groups: Lindy Hopper’s Dozen and Lindy Hopper’s Half Dozen.

Now a-days, Brooks is often seen dancing to jazz music, teaching how to dance to jazz music, listening to jazz music, trying to find new jazz music, or playing jazz music. He really likes jazz music. Brooks enjoys focusing on the rhythm of the dance, in addition to an understanding of his partner and the music.
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