Instructors

If there was one word to describe your American-style dance instructors, it'd be "fun-loving." Perpetually bitten by the jitter-bug, they've been spotted dancing under street lamps at 4am, swinging out in Bohemian warehouses, gettin' down abandoned train stations, and kicking up their heels on mountain sides.

Together, they bring a range of experience and style that spans continents.

Prepare to have your mind blown.

US Instructors

Justin Riley

Justin started dancing Lindy Hop nearly a decade ago in Lawrence, Kansas, USA. Since then, he has danced and taught over a dozen dances in over 30 countries, bringing these influences to every class, DJ set, and dance he does. Five years ago Justin fell in love with the Blues, and has not looked back. Each of Justin's classes utilize creativity-inspiring coursework as a means to further refine the necessary fundamentals of Blues partner connection and posture. He teaches the language through which we communicate (connection, posture, and musicality), and then grants the freedom and tools necessary to create!

Justin is the organizer and founder of The Blues Recess Events, has been a finalist in numerous competitions, including Blues Shout and Emerald City Blues. He commits himself to the progression of partnered dancing as a living, growing, and ever-changing cultural movement.

Ruby Red

Ruby Red has been social dancing since 2001 when she left circus training for Lindy Hop.

In 2003 she discovered Blues Dance and has traveled, taught and DJed Blues since 2004. As a competition winner at Blues Shout, Emerald City Blues Festival, Portland Urban Blues Recess, Steel City Blues, and Blues Muse, Ruby brings flair, finesse, and fabulous form to the performance arena. As an instructor and judge, she values connection, musicality, partnership and risk-taking.

With extensive training in body mechanics and as a massage therapist, Ruby easily diagnoses technique flaws and creates innovative practice regimens both in and out of class to help all her students excel. In her local scene, Ruby runs a the popular monthly blues party, Bluetopia, as well as the annual Chicago Underground Blues Experience, in addition to weekly practice sessions and weekly classes.

This is Ruby's 4th dance trip to the UK.

Andrew Smith

Andrew's passion for teaching dance stems from a passion to help his students find their own creative voice. Though his first venture into social dancing was as an eighth grader trying to impress a girl, he now sees dance as a medium for cultural learning and artistic expression. He specializes in teaching students how to dance the Blues, and he has taught across the U.S. at events such as Steel City Blues, Mile High Blues, and Urban Blues Recess. Andrew's approach to dance instruction balances technical rigor with spirit and creativity. In class, he draws on his background in social, vernacular, and classical dances, yoga, and pilates to inspire and challenge students toward clear, confident, fully integrated movement.

Andrew enjoys DJing a wide variety of musical genres but favors those with strong ties to the rich culture and history of the blues. He delights in creating moments for dancers to respond viscerally to blues music, allowing themselves to be transported to another era.

When not dancing, Andrew pursues a Master's degree in Sustainable Design and Construction at Stanford University.

Kayce Spear

Kayce first got hooked on dancing when she tried out Lindy Hop as a Reed College student for a required P.E. course. Many dances, classes and exchanges later (in primarily Blues, Lindy Hop, and Fusion), Kayce still can't get enough. She enjoys introducing new students to the creativity, intense connections, and fun of dancing in scenes across the globe – from her alma mater to Heidelberg, Germany (where she spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar and danceaholic).

Jae Myong Wilson

If Jae had his way, the international language would be dance. Although he waffles between identifying Asian, American and German, he defines himself by his dancing. Lindyhop, Blues, West Coast Swing, Hip Hop, or Tango; these are all languages to master and like any great linguist, he shifts between all of them depending on the need.

Although Jae grew up loving Save the Last Dance, Dirty Dancing, and Center Stage, it wasn't until 2006 when he discovered partnered dancing. Since then he's worn out countless pairs shoes dancing in Italy, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, and literally all across the United States.

When it comes to instruction, Jae loves to play Bad Cop/Worse Cop; however, but nothing gives him a greater thrill than watching his students fall in love with dance.

Gaia Hannan

Gaia Facchini has been dancing Lindy Hop for more than 15 years. She started dancing in Portland Oregon where her passion for the music, style and social scene bloomed. Gaia has since danced and taught all over the world and Co-runs Mouthful O' Jam a successful vintage inspired monthly club in London. She has built her dance repertoire to over the years and focuses heavily on Blues, Balboa, Charleston and other vintage dances.

"Blues dancing gives us important spectrum on all other partner dances. Attention to detail and physical communication allows for a wider understanding of that indescribable connection and dynamic flow, not just in dancing but in life." -Gaia

Joel Simpson

Lessa Lamb

Lessa has been studying and performing various forms of dance for most of her life. She started partner dancing socially with lindy through a happy accident of fate, when at the '98/'99 New Years Eve dance in Tacoma, WA, she was petitioned by a then-acquaintance to become his teaching partner. Eventually she discovered Blues in a dark back-room at a Lindy exchange in Vancouver, and she's never been the same since.

The unavoidable pull of Blues' sultry rhythms has captivated her, drawing her in, willing her to discover ever more dizzying heights of elation through movement. In her continuous discovery of blues, she has found that her best, most creative, and most satisfying series of movements come when she stops thinking about what she's doing, and just allows the dance, the music, the connection, to flow through her. In this conduit-like state, she finds serenity. It is this experience of transcendent, divine dance that she strives to impart to as many people as she possibly can.

Whatever direction life takes her, she knows her passion for dance will always keep her on her toes.

European Instructors

Annette Kühnle

Annette Kühnle (Heidelberg, Germany) fell head over heels in love with blues years ago in Basel. In 2009 she founded the crazy vibrant blues scene in Heidelberg together with Laura and Kris. She regularly travels the world to get in as much blues as she can and has won or placed in Strictly, Jack&Jill and Solo Blues divisions at the two biggest blues events in Europe: Blues Baby Blues and Berlin Blues Explosion). Her joy for dancing is only excelled by her immense love for teaching and she can't wait to teach you some of her favorite concepts!

Chris Harm

A technique junkie at heart, Chris builds his dancing, classes and routines around body awareness and connection coupled with quality and range of movement. His inner traditionalist strives to keep a hold on the roots of the movements, adding depth to the dances and building characters around connection to both the music and your partner. His classes use colourful imagery and playful games to help students internalise ideas and concepts in the most natural and organic ways possible. Keep your eyes open for some amazing tricks, shakin' hips and fancy footwork when he hits the floor.

Adamo Ciarallo

Discovered the blues when he went to his first swing festival. He left the party at 7am when he realized he was falling asleep on his partner's shoulder. Ironically, when he got to bed he couldn't sleep, still excited from that amazing experience and looking forward to the next bluesy night. Adamo is the co-founder and teacher of Blues In My Shoes, a regular blues dace night in London and is recognized as one of the most original, intense and musical dancer of the UK dance scene. He also loves playing music for dancers and enjoys watching the different reactions that a song can create on the dance floor.

Adamo placed 1st at the Jack n' Jill division and 3rd in the Strictly Blues contest at Berlin Blues Explosion 2011.

Pippa Tooher

Pippa first started Swing Dancing in her home town of Brisbane Australia in 2002 and caught the Blues Dancing bug not long after. Her passion for blues was cemented during her time living in Philadelphia, USA where she was fortunate to dance in one of the most vibrant Blues scenes in America.

Pippa has now been teaching Swing and Blues Dance for nearly 6 years and has taught in Philadelphia - USA, Dublin and Galway - Ireland and in various places throughout the UK including the regular weekly classes she teaches with Adamo Ciarallo in London.

As well as her passion for teaching dance, Pippa is also the Swing Patrol Festivals Event Manager and is the creative organiser behind both Blues Baby Blues, one of Europes first major Blues Dance festivals and the London Swing Festival.

Pippa's passion for Blues is obvious to anyone who has seen her dance.