This year we are going a different direction with the instructors. We are committed to bringing you high class instruction and this year we are pulling together the best teachers from around the region! We are also changing the format of classes to offer you, the student, more control over the topics you pursue. The instructors will be teaching a wide range of topics for your dancing pleasure. Information below!

Meet this years' Team!

Dave Barry

Dave hasn't said no to a dance since discovering Lindy Hop for himself in 2012 (seriously). As a dancer, Dave focuses on simple, powerful rhythm. His classes place high value on dynamic following, and inclusive reactions from leaders with body mechanics always at the root of his lead/ follow focus. At home, Dave is a scene leader in Richmond, VA. He lives in a very blue house he calls My Blue Heaven, and has serious opinions about his fantasy Big Band lineup.
Will Brown

Will found his love of dancing in college and Will has not stopped since. He loves dancing every kind of swing and spends lots of his free time delving into the history of swing dancing around his home of the Carolinas.
Kyle Kelley

Teacher, organizer, choreographer, dj, mc, and dancer--Kyle started dancing back in 2007 and has been doing her best to do it all ever since. Kyle has worked to develop an inclusive pedagogy for her classes, to create an uplifting team environment for her performance troupes, and to grow her hometown scene of Richmond, VA.

Kyle is a teacher at RVA Swing, she is an organizer for local dance organization, The Jazz Den, and regional workshop event, Jammin' on the James, and she is a team captain and choreographer for the Tantilla Tom's and Showtime Rotisserie. When she’s not running events in Richmond, you'll see Kyle travelling the east coast to dance, perform and help on regional and national event staffs.
Alyssa Kelly

While Alyssa began dancing Lindy Hop in 2013, she fell in love with swing dancing long before that (specifically, while watching Swing Kids in her high school World History class). Since then, it has gloriously taken over her life, and she's pretty happy about that.

An educator by profession, Alyssa knows that it takes more than technical skill to be an effective teacher. She is adept at meeting people where they are and encouraging growth from any skill level. As a teacher, Alyssa is candid, adaptable, and the right amount of goofy.

Outside of the classroom, you can find Alyssa solo dancing in most situations-- whether it's improvising on the social floor, practicing drills in the studio, or choreographing and performing with her teammates. If you really want to get her going, ask Alyssa about her favorite version of Splanky.
Aliceann Talley

​Aliceann began dancing in 2001 and has studied a wide ranges of dance styles over the years.  In high school she co-founded her school's first ballroom dance club, and was heavily active in the ballroom and shag clubs in college.  In 2012, she began focusing vintage social swing dancing.
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Aliceann has studied swing dance and music at events across the country and from instructors from around the world. She teaches and competes both with her husband and by herself across the region.
Aliceann moved to Knoxville in 2012, where she continues to promote the knowledge, history, and fun of swing dancing.
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​You may see her around Knoxville, social dancing, organizing events, hosting practice sessions, DJing dance nights, coaching dance teams, performing, and striving to get people out on the dance floor relaxed and having fun after their first class.
​Kemper Talley

Kemper has been dancing since 2010, when he discovered a swing and shag club at college in South Carolina. He began to focus on Lindy Hop after the death of a close mentor who had always loved the dance. Kemper is as passionate about the music and history of the swing era as he is about the dance, and he continues to travel the country to grow and share his knowledge.

​Kemper focuses his teaching on expression and technique, but he loves dancing with beginners because he believes that above all, the purpose of dancing is to have fun.  Kemper also loves the competitive aspect of dance having made finals and placing in several regional competitions (and once internationally).
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After traveling the world to learn from all of the best, Kemper seeks to bring the top international instructors’ lessons to the local and regional scenes.
Sam & Katelyn

Sam has been dancing since 2013 when he was introduced to Lindy Hop in Atlanta. He dove headfirst into learning as much as he could about Balboa, Lindy Hop, Charleston, and St. Louis Shag. He has a passion for helping other dancers to grow and experience the joy of connecting with others through dance.
 
Katelyn starting dancing in Huntsville, AL, in 2015 and began teaching in Auburn, AL, less than a year later after moving there for school. Katelyn loves experimenting with new ideas in many realms of swing dancing, including Balboa, Lindy Hop, and St. Louis Shag. She enjoys being playful within a dance to make art with partners of all levels.
Hannah Aik

Originally from Milwaukee, Hannah always enjoyed matching her movements to music and studied ballet and tap dancing for several years. However, it wasn't until she moved to Greenville, SC where she was introduced to lindyhop in 2015. Later that same year while traveling through Southern California, she was introduced to collegiate shag where the energy, speed, and playfulness of the dance captivated her. When she returned to SC, she eagerly learned the dance alongside Will Brown. Hannah has helped teach several workshops on lindyhop, balboa, and collegiate shag. She is known for her stamina and love of fast music.