Instructors

© J-E Paultre

Max Pitruzzella

Max is originally from Montpellier France but he moved to Montreal in September 2006. The art of swing dancing is how he makes his living, teaching at Studio 88-SWING in Montreal, performing for the SAF Entertainment Group and also teaching and competing around the world . He is passionate about sharing his understanding of all the details that create a good connection between partners and give the most energy to the Lindy Hop. He is dedicated to spread the passion of swing all over the world, pursuing Frankie Manning's vision.

Max has a very long list of achievements in competition. Lately, he won 1st place in the Showcase division of the International Lindy Hop Championships and he also won the Hellzapoppin contest at Frankie95 last May, with his partner Annie Trudeau.

Max was a part of the recreation of the famous Hellzapoppin' dance scene during the Frankie95 event and he also worked as a choreographer in the new Cirque du Soleil show 'Viva Elvis' in Las Vegas.

© J-E Paultre

Annie Trudeau

Annie is an former competition gymnast. She is a co-founder and co-owner of Studio 88 Swing in Montreal (Canada) where she has taught swing since 2001. As the artistic director, she also manages and dances in the Montreal Swinging Air Force dance performance troupe, which has been 2008 Team Divisions Champions of the Canadian and American Championships. She is passionate and enthusiastic as a swing dancer, teacher and competitor. Her style joins dynamism and power with a subtleness that is very feminine.

Annie won many titles in the international Lindy Hop competition circuit. Lately, she won 1st place in the Showcase division of the International Lindy Hop Championships and she also won the Hellzapoppin contest at Frankie95 last May, with his partner Max Pitruzzella. She is also a part of the Ninjammerz team, an International Lindy Hop performance troupe.

Annie was a part of the recreation of the famous Hellzapoppin' dance scene during the Frankie95 event and she also worked as a coach and choreographer in the new Cirque du Soleil show 'Viva Elvis', in Las Vegas.

Todd Yannacone

Todd Yannacone is one of the most recognizable names on the swing dancing circuit today. He has won countless championship titles from the most prestigious competitions around - The American Lindy Hop Championships, The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, The U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships, The National Jitterbug Championships, The Rhythmic Arts Festival - to name a few. He teaches vernacular jazz, balboa, lindy hop, and other vintage swing dances both locally and internationally, and loves spreading his passion for social dancing. He specializes in connection and musicality, which is apparent every time he steps on the dance floor. He has performed for dance and music legends alike, and frequently can be found performing and competing with the dance troupe to which he belongs, the Silver Shadows.

Nina Gilkenson

Lindy Hopper. Belly dancer. Hair-removal Laser Technician. The mysterious figure that is known only as "Nina" (and sometimes "Naomi") has many titles from prestigious dance competitions. But that's only a small part of her accomplishments. For instance, she can swivel in midair. She can simultaneously create vintage-style dresses and then destroy them while dancing. She can make 12-minute biscuits in 10 minutes. She writes upbeat musical theatre involving funeral homes. And last, but not least, she is a part of the award-winning Lindy Hop team the Silver Shadows, which sounds like it's a group of super heroes. And that's what she is. A Super Hero--one whose main super power is doing swivels in midair. And one day, they might save the world. Until then, she lives in Washington D.C. and falls down a lot.

© Aris Pikeas

Mike Roberts

Mike has been teaching since 2001 and has been dancing Lindy Hop and associated dances including Balboa, Charleston, Shag, and East Coast Swing since 2000. Over the years, Mike has traveled the United States and Europe attending workshops and competitions, honing his craft. In February 2007, Mike became a freelance Web Developer in order to free himself to travel for Lindy Hop; attending events, teaching, and competing worldwide.

He has established himself as a leader in the Austin Lindy Hop community, teaching and serving on the Austin Swing Syndicate board of directors. He currently co-owns a dance company, The Lindy Project with Laura and Scott Angelius. He strives to create a fun and exciting environment in his classroom and at the Syndicate's weekly dances. No matter how much technique you have, if you're not having fun with it, there's no point.

View Mike's accomplishments

© Aris Pikeas

Laura Glaess

Laura grew up in a little hick town with more cows than people. It didn't have much dancing, and the only radio stations were country, rap, and country. However, she was always enchanted by the classical CDs her parents had and danced around the living room constantly.

She bumped into Lindy Hop, Swing, and Jazz ( <3 ) in San Antonio while at Trinity University. She learned her first swingout from Mike Lenneville and Lani Steffens and, since then, has been dedicating every spare moment (and dollar) to learning more about this amazing dance. She has taught in Canada, France, Estonia, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the US.

Currently, Laura shares a teaching company, The Lindy Project with Mike and Scott Angelius, where they teach Lindy, Swing and Blues to the Austin locals. She goes out to dance most nights of the week, and pimps Austin out to whoever will listen (you should definitely come and visit, by the way).

View Laura's accomplishments

Caitlin Wellman

As a dancer, she teaches her students more than just a bunch of cool moves (but they get that too)! Her focus on solid lead/follow technique . based on momentum, connection, and rhythm . helps her students enjoy the dance on a deeper level and become more connected to the music and their partner. Her teaching is clear and articulate, and full of fun and creative ways of improving your dancing.

She was a founding member of the multi-award winning performance troupe Minnie.s Moochers, from Ithaca, NY, who recently performed at the Frankie95 Celebration in NYC. She has been in demand as a teacher across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia for many years. With her Toronto partner Chachi, she is the Director & Choreographer for Capital Dance Productions, a performance troupe that specializes in 20th century North American partner and solo dances. She has also been the Artistic Director & Choreographer of The Flappettes, a sassy all female 1920.s Jazz & Charleston troupe.

Caitlin has also made several Television and Print appearances such as: Instant Star, Much Music Video Awards .06 with Fall Out Boy, Toronto 1 .Toronto Dances. program, and the cover of Dance Spirit Magazine.

© 2009 Ben Hejkal

Mike Faltesek

Mike Faltesek brings to the dance floor an incredibly diverse social and performance dance talent that includes not only Lindy Hop but also Cakewalk, Black Bottom, Traditional Jazz, Tap, Charleston, Breakaway, Balboa, Big Apple, Blues and many other Authentic Jazz dances.

Mike has been dancing for almost a decade, in that time he has traveled to instruct, compete, and perform internationally. From Harlem to Los Angeles and all throughout Europe. Mike is well known for his charismatic personality, approachability and passion for the essence of Authentic Jazz dance and music. He possesses an enthusiastic ability to convey ideas and movements explicitly, making him a popular instructor wherever he goes. He teaches workshops internationally, each time leaving a lasting impression on his students.

Adam Boehmer

An avid jazz dancer for over a decade, Adam invokes the spirit within. He is often sought after as an entertaining instructor and performer, or sometimes just to show up; his positive energy is relentless.

As a teacher, he presents an honest and fresh perspective on dance and boils down advanced concepts into graspable, concrete information. He believes that a good instructor is one-part dancer, one-part comedian and one-part poet.As a competitor and performer, he brings a jovial and effervescent feel to the floor. Confident in Jazz Dance as a path to one.s overall individualism, Adam stresses the break-down of preconceived notions concerning style, structure and gender roles in dance.

Morris Johnson

Morris Johnson began his dance training at The New Dance Group Studios in New York as a two-time recipient of the Judith De Jean Memorial Scholarship Award. He was also on a scholarship with the American Dance Machine out of The Harkness School of Ballet. From there, he began performing and touring nationally and internationally with various companies and artists. His resume includes work with Barbara Streisand, Prince, Desi Arnez, Sr., Charles Moore's Drums and Dance of Africa, and Eartha Kitt and Arrow. He began teaching and choreographing for stage and video and has staged shows for the Children's Theatre Company of Minnesota, Robert Robinson and the Twin Cities Gospel Choir, and The Steele's Christmas show at the Ordway. He has also premiered two of his acclaimed dance fables at The Southern Theater in Minneapolis. Morris is presently teaching dance for actors in the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater's BFA Actor Training Program and for his own Langanese dance class. Morris is a recipient of numerous grants and awards, most notably the Jerome Foundation's Travel and Study Grant, with which he traveled to Brazil to study and lead master classes for Balé Folclórico da Bahia and to study the culture of the Kabuklo Indians in the rainforest. His Langanese dance form is a fusion of African, Caribbean, Modern Ballet, and Jazz.