Browse teachers
Check out the line-up for Herrang Dance Camp 2026 here! More teachers to be announced soon.
AJ will be teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Laura Glaess in week 4.
Meet AJ Howard, a lively dancer and voice of the Lindy Hop scene in New York City! With a seasoned touch as an emcee, AJ has energized the atmosphere at acclaimed events like ILHC, Lindy on the Rocks, and the International Swing Dance Championships. Away from the microphone, AJ's own dance journey has been a vibrant one, not only gracing the SW!NG OUT! stage but also making waves as a passionate teacher and formidable competitor in the international Lindy Hop scene. He also recently earned a well-deserved spot in the California Lindy Hop Hall of Fame.
Beyond the spotlight, AJ effortlessly weaves hosting charm with his genuine love for the dance. Whether guiding the crowd at events or sharing insights in the classroom, AJ brings a unique blend of enthusiasm and expertise to every interaction, on and off of the dance floor.
Alberto will be teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Ana Maeso during week 3.
Born in Italy, Alberto discovered Swing dance in 2015, and he hasn't stopped since. Shortly after beginning his dance journey, Alberto started traveling to various festivals across Europe, where he learned from different artists and participated in competitions. Following a couple of residencies in Budapest and Vilnius, he has now made Warsaw, Poland, his home and dance base, teaching at the dance school ShimSham.pl. While he still enjoys competing and 'throw down' on the dance floor, his favorite moments are undoubtedly spent social dancing. Alberto finds inspiration in every lindyhopper he meets, as each encounter on the dance floor brings something new. Dancing fuels his energy and curiosity, driving him to continually explore the history and culture of the dance. His pockets are filled with rhythmic variations and...joke ;)
Alice started dancing at the very young age of 4 years old and has explored numerous types of dances until she fell in love with Lindy Hop and solo jazz. She has now been swing dancing for 20 years and continues to be fascinated by the art of improvisation. Alice enjoys expressing who she is and what she hears in the music within the framework she shares with her partner. She has been spreading her passion for Lindy Hop and authentic jazz in more than 30 countries through teaching, performing, competing, and social dancing. Alice loves the diversity of movement and the freedom of expression this dance brings to the world. She hopes to keep learning and inspiring people for as long as possible.
Alice is teaching the Lindy Hop track and the 3 in 1 track in week 1 together César Cano.
Ana will be teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Alberto Meucci in week 3.
Ana is a dancer and instructor from Andalucía (Spain). She began dancing ten years ago, and is the founder of Rayuela Swing in Berlin, where she has led her community for over five years. Currently, she focuses on cultivating her local scene.
Australian born, raised in China, and educated in the United States. Andrew started dancing in 2006 as part of a small Lindy Hop scene in Beijing but soon moved to Los Angeles and grew up as a dancer there, after a brief hop over to Australia in 2015 he moved to Europe in 2017 and has since found himself based in Vilnius. Known for a fluid style with a touch of rhythm he loves social dancing more than anything else and as a teacher he loves creating and sharing fun steps with everyone.
Andrew is teaching in the Lindy Hop track in week 3 together with Ursula Hicks.
Anni is teaching the Balboa Beginner Weekend, as well as the Balboa track in week 2 together with Gasper Hrovat.
Anni Skoglund is from Sweden, and she considers herself one of the lucky few to have parents who brought her into dancing when she was a child. The family were part of a local folk dance organisation who would travel to Scandinavian and European folk dance festivals to dance all night, where they let their children play, eat and sleep with live music as their lullaby. Anni was one of those kids who let dance become part of her nature. Growing up with folk dancers gave her the opportunity to be close to a broad variety of music and practice: steps, rhythms, building momentum, counterbalance, torque, pivot-spins, switching dance roles (leading/following) and dancing as one with a partner. All the time through joyful social activity.
Anni’s main focus is social dancing. With a perspective of equality of roles she is a strong follower with a truth to be told. Since she came to Herräng Dance Camp, swing dancing became a constant companion and main focus.
Arcadia and Konstantin are a dynamic dance duo based in Stockholm, Sweden, who have made a name for themselves as ambassadors of the Mambo & Salsa community in Scandinavia. Their passion for dance and culture has been a part of their lives since childhood, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the Mambo & Salsa traditions alive in the North. Arcadia and Konstantin's dedication to their craft is fueled by their love of dance and their desire to share it with others. They believe that dance has the power to bring people together and create connections across cultures and languages. Through their work, they hope to inspire others to embrace their love for dance and share it with the world.
Arcadia will be teaching the Latin classes in the Ramble track together with Konstantin Pinaev in week 2.
.jpg)
Aurélien is teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 1 together with María Ferrer.
Aurélien was born into a family of musicians. He grew up surrounded by European classical music, and learned very early the beauty of breathing as one within a small chamber music ensemble — listening, supporting, reacting, and building something collective through sound.
He discovered jazz dances much later, already well into his twenties. What first captivated him was the deeply interactive nature of the dance, but even more the possibility of expressing through movement the emotions music awakens in him. Since then, he hasn’t stopped pursuing that joy. Curiosity has always been one of the main forces driving him — a desire to keep learning, questioning, and exploring both the music and the communities around it.
His journey into jazz has also been a process of learning and questioning. Over time, he became more aware of the Black American roots of these dances and of the responsibility that comes with teaching and organizing around them as a European. He is still learning, and values creating spaces where these reflections can exist openly and collectively.
He is also part of El Taller Swing in Barcelona, a growing community space inspired by the spirit and cultural legacy of jazz. Through dance, music, and shared experiences, they try to create a space where artistic expression, community, politics, and critical reflection can coexist with care and honesty.
His classes are about feeling the music deeply: scatting, rhythmic playfulness, sweating with love, meeting other dancers, and learning to trust one’s own groove. He encourages students to strengthen their rhythmic independence, transform their body into a musical instrument, and think together about why they dance — and what becomes possible when people dance together.
Bianca Locatelli and Nils Andrén are Lindy Hop and Boogie Woogie dancers, choreographers, instructors and performers with a passion for driving the art form forward and have devoted the last decade to teaching, performing, and choreographing. Their true passion lies in Lindy Hop and Boogie Woogie, two vibrant dance styles that have deep roots in African American culture.
They discovered their love for dance at a young age, exploring various styles such as ballet, latin dances, hip-hop, and ballroom. However, it was swing dancing that captured their hearts. Their paths crossed when Bianca moved to Sweden, and they began performing and competing together.
Soon after, they embarked on a performing, competing and teaching career, sharing their passion and vision with audiences and students worldwide.
Bianca will be teaching the Lindy Hop track, as well as the Performance and Aerials track in week 4, together with Nils Andren. In week 2 they will teach the R'n'B classes for the Ramble track.
Breai Michele is a Baltimore native, activist, dancer, and cultural counselor. A Harvard graduate and 20-year veteran teacher in Baltimore City, Breai is Executive Director of Moving History, a non-profit that teaches the story of African-American people dynamically through instrumental and vocal music, dance, and visual, culinary and martial arts.Upon return to Baltimore in 2002 following graduate school, Breai founded Guardian Dance Company with the mission of practicing, preserving and passing on African American culture. Lindy Hop was one of the Dances added to the company repertoire as a part of this effort. Along with the other members of the company, who were also unfamiliar with the dance at the time, Breai began her deep study of Lindy Hop, determined to see it grow and flourish in the community of its birth.
Some of Breonna’s fondest childhood memories are dancing in the kitchen with her siblings to top 40 radio while dinner was being prepared. Cooking, cleaning, roadtrips - music and dance was a part of everyday life. But it wasn’t until Breonna moved to New Orleans, where she experienced her first taste of live traditional jazz music, that she realized her affinity for the living art form of jazz dance. She has danced and studied Lindy Hop, along with Vernacular Jazz at many different festivals and workshops around the world. As an emerging New Orleans based dance instructor, she values the connections between music, history, and authentic self expression through movement.
Breonna will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 3 together with Stephen Atemie. She will also be teaching Solo Jazz the Solo Jazz and the 3 in 1 track in week 4.
My name is Briana Ashley Stuart, a dancer and choreographer originally from Detroit, Michigan, currently based in Brussels, Belgium. After earning bachelor’s degrees in Dance and Sociology from the University of Michigan, I worked professionally in the United States before relocating to Belgium eight years ago, where I have continued to develop my artistic practice and choreographic voice.
When I moved to Belgium, I began sharing Stepping, an African American percussive dance form that uses the body as an instrument through rhythm, movement, and voice. I was introduced to Stepping through my sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and later toured internationally with StepAfrika!, experiencing firsthand its power to connect with audiences. Stepping remains a key influence within my broader exploration of percussive movement and contemporary dance.
Since relocating to Brussels, I have created and presented work across Belgium and internationally, including Becoming Together (KVS, 2020), Be The Rhythm for young audiences (Kaaitheater, 2021), and Moving Meditations, which premiered at KVS in 2023 and toured internationally. My work has been supported by Citylab Pianofabriek, KVS, Mestizo Arts Platform/WIPCOOP, and the Flemish government.
In addition to my own creations, I collaborate as a performer, assistant choreographer, artistic coach, and rhythm specialist with institutions such as NTGent, KVS, Toneelhuis, STUK, Zinnema, and Kaaitheater, and have worked with artists including Lila Magnin, Georges Ocloo, and Alessandra Seutin. My practice blends percussive movement, sound, and contemporary dance to explore connection, expression, and collective experience.
Born and raised in Spain, but currently based in France, César had his first contact with swing dancing in his early twenties. In 2016, he fell in love with Lindy Hop, when he discovered that it is a language on its own through which you can communicate with others. From then on he became a passionate of the swing culture and dances (specially Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz and Tap dancing). He travels continuously nationally and internationally to improve his dancing and teaching skills. His dance is based on freedom, improvisation and rhythm. César has a relaxed and soft dance
but also expansive and frenetic.
César will be teaching the Lindy Hop track and the 3 in 1 track in week 1 together with Alice Mei. He will also teach Solo Jazz in the 3 in 1 track.
Dancing since 1974 and a protege of Fayard Nicholas (of the Nicholas Brothers) Chester has been dancing his way around the world. These days he is a dancer, teacher, performer, choreographer, director, stunt man and entertainer. His choreography can be seen in music videos for Boys II Men, Sugar Ray, Teena Marie as well as working with artists such as Savion Glover, MC Hammer, Prince and many more. Also a highly renowned drummer and band leader he has worked with some of the best in the entertainment industry. He has performed with his dance company Black Ballet Jazz, with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra and the great Miles Davies. Chester exudes boundless positive energy and passion for dance and is a born entertainer. His contributions have been far too many to name them all. He can only be seen to be believed.
Chester will be teaching the Tap track and the Lindy Hop track together with Josette Wiggan in week 3, as well as the Solo Jazz in week 4.
Chisomo Selemani is a dance and teaching enthusiast. She loves movement, learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Her artistic endeavors in the Swing dances are inspired from her Zambian tradition and Afrobeats. Her teaching methodologies invite you to explore your own style and artistry. When she’s not dancing, she is co-hosting the podcast Integrated Rhythm and is highly involved in global issues and practices in communication sciences and disorders.
Chisomo will be teaching the Balboa track in week 2.
Christi Jay will be teaching the Extra Evening Classes in week 2 together with Hannah Lane.
Christi Jay Wells (she/they) has been a jazz dancer for 23 years and a historian of jazz music and dance for nearly as long. An award-winning jazz history scholar with over a decade of experience as a full-time university professor, her embodied practice as a dancer informs and is informed by her academic training as a musicologist. In combining these skill sets, she works to build a shared understanding, language, and sense of kinship between musicians and dancers and between music and dance researchers. She received her PhD in Musicology from the University of North Carolina in 2014 with a doctoral dissertation on drummer and bandleader Chick Webb’s dynamic relationship with dancing audiences at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, and her 2021 book Between Beats: The Jazz Tradition and Black Vernacular Dance (published by Oxford University Press) expanded this work to consider jazz music’s ever shifting relationship with social and popular dance from the 19th century through the present. A prolific lecturer, they have given talks at numerous dance events including Lindy Focus and Korea Blues Camp and for higher education and arts institutions such as Columbia University, Tainan National University of the Arts, the Tanglewood Music Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. She is excited to return to Herräng Dance Camp this year and to work with Hannah Lane to help show the global jazz dance community that research skills should not be locked up in an ivory tower but accessible for everyone invested in contributing meaningfully to our shared body of knowledge and in serving the communities who created the dances we love and practice.
Clàudia Fonte explores and embraces all kinds of playful ways in her dancing. Her main source and inspiration is Swing music itself. Taking the classic rhythms and moves as the foundation, she challenges herself to keep them alive through her own perspective and interpretation. Even though considering and admiring the great historical tradition of Swing dances, she believes in its evolution and expansion; respecting but also transforming the roots she explores different ways of communication and expression, as in vernacular jazz also in the partner dance.
Authentic Jazz is where she feels most in her element. Solo jazz enables her to achieve a creative atmosphere of exploration and play where she takes on the challenges proposed by Swing music and finds her own voice and style. Essential to her approach is promoting solo dancing in the context of social dancing. Sharing tools and techniques her objective is to help the dancers to explore and develop a style the most authentic for them. She believes that the dance floor is where everything starts, and the magic happens; where all dancers find their own way of dancing.
Clàudia is teaching the Lindy Hop and the 3 in 1 track with Maria Mallan in week 4.
Damon Frost is a renowned professional dancer and mentor whose career began in 1981. Over the decades, he has made significant contributions to the world of dance, particularly in street dance and hip-hop.
Professional Dance Career
- Jam On The Groove (1996-1997): Damon was a vital member of this influential dance company, which helped popularize hip-hop dance theater.
- BouncE Street Dance Company: As a member, he brought his unique style and expertise to the forefront of the street dance scene.
- Three Style Fusion: Contributing to the innovative blend of various dance styles.
- Raised On Rhythm/Dramaten (2023): Recently performed with this company, showcasing his enduring talent and adaptability in dance.
Teaching and Mentorship
Damon's influence extends beyond performance to education and mentorship. He has taught at several prestigious institutions, including:
- Danscenter Stockholm
- Swedish College of Circus and Dance (DOCH)
- Cullberg Ballet Company
- Ballet Academy
- Swedish Royal College of Music
- Åsa Folkhögskola
His teaching has impacted countless dancers worldwide, helping to shape the future of dance.
Judging and Competitions
Damon's expertise is highly sought after in dance competitions globally. He has judged numerous prestigious events, such as:
- Summer Dance Forever
- Battle Of The Year
- Judge Debout
- Bboy Summit
- Street Star
- Sirkel Underground FunkinStyles
- Ocean Battle Session Taiwan
- Jack Of All Trades Montreal
- Versa Styles L.A.
- HipHop Revolution Sweden
- Wind Zone France
Achievements and Awards
Damon's skill and dedication have earned him numerous accolades, including:
- Winner of Judge Debout Popping (2004)
- P3 Gold Music Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award from Streetstar
- Ganneviks Stipendium (2023)
- Nominated for a Swedish Grammy with music group Hearin' Aid (2005)
Contributions to the Dance Community
In addition to his performance and teaching career, Damon serves on the reference group for Kulturrådet and acts as a mentor for the Attitudes project at Dansekapellet (2024), further showcasing his commitment to advancing the art of dance.
Damon Frost's legacy is marked by his exceptional talent, dedication to teaching, and significant impact on the dance community worldwide.
Daniel will be teaching Lindy Hop and Classic Routines with Vassia Panagiotou in week 2, the Tap track in week 3, as well as the Tap Beginner Weekend on July 17-19.
With inspiration from the original Hoofers, Daniel is one of the dancers that is still working in the style and rhythm heritage that once was created by the legends during the era of swing. To dance and to spread the traditional dance style built on rhythm gives him inspiration and the power in life.
Daniel dances different styles from the swing era such as Tap, Lindy Hop, Charleston and Authentic Jazz. He is also educated in modern jazz and ballet and he has for many years freelanced as both dancer and choreographer in the musical theatre scene.
“Never stop learning” is Daniels guiding principle and motto. He loves taking classes from the best teachers and continues his work to get better and better!
Dee is teaching the Lindy Hop track (together with Stephen Atemie), the Solo Jazz track and Solo Jazz in the 3 in 1 track in week 4. She will also be the teacher for the Solo Jazz Beginner Weekend July 24-26.
Dee started Swing Dancing at the age of four with her Dad in the basement, wearing her Mom’s heels and her favorite plaid skirt. With a hiatus into hip-hop during her school years, she was called back to Lindy Hop, becoming an influential member of the Minneapolis scene, where you can find her teaching at Uptown Swing. Dee loves feeling free on the dance floor. She advocates for self-expression and individual creativity as the spirit of solo jazz and Lindy Hop. She loves Lindy Hop's particular way of encouraging collaboration between music and partner, priding herself on making each dance unique to the musical experience and partner. Dee has taught, performed, and choreographed nationally and internationally. She specializes in vintage jazz, Charleston, and Lindy Hop.
Elice from Stockholm, Sweden has a background as an elite gymnast and modern dancer, and discovered lindy hop at the age of 24. She fell in love with social dancing, the role of self-expression and the acrobatic influences, as well as the rich history of the swing dances. What she appreciates most while dancing is the reciprocity and exchange with her partner — as well as between the dancers and the music — in each millisecond of a dance. Elice recently joined The Hot Shots Swing Dance Company.
Elice is teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Nils Nygårdh in week 3 and together with Sakarias Larsson in week 4. Elice and Sakarias will also teach Lindy Hop in the 3 in 1 track in week 4.
Erol hails from Turkey and is driven by bop music and dance. Learning the Lindy in class and jazz dancing outside of the classroom. He shifted his mentality and practice over the years, realizing the history and culture of jazz. He is currently focusing on discovering the links rooted in jazz and challenging himself by focusing on choreographies. He is investing much of his time on researching, listening, and practicing bop style of dancing and its history.
Erol is teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Serpil Yildirim and Bebop classes in the Ramble track in week 2, as well as the Solo Jazz track in week 3.
Erzénia is teaching the Saturday Special "Mozambican Dances" on 11 July.
Erzénia Daniel Tamele is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and cultural trainer from Mozambique, with extensive experience in traditional Mozambican dances. Her artistic work is deeply rooted in local cultural expressions, including Traditional, Contemporary, Afroswing, Modern, and Fusion dance styles. Throughout her career she has participated in various cultural projects, performances, and community initiatives, contributing to the promotion and preservation of Mozambican cultural heritage. She also has broad experience in leadership, creative processes, implementation, training, and the execution of cultural projects.
In parallel, she develops teaching activities, sharing knowledge with children, youth, and adults, promoting not only dance technique, musicality, energy and cultural context, but also the historical, social, identity and spiritual significance present in dance traditions.
Her approach combines artistic practice with cultural education, creating engaging experiences that encourage respect for diversity and intercultural dialogue. She is recognized for her inspiring presence, artistic sensitivity, and ability to connect with people from different backgrounds.
Erzénia Daniel Tamele has expanded her work into international contexts, demonstrating a strong ability to adapt to different audiences and educational environments. Her participation in programs in Europe reflects her commitment to promoting Mozambican culture beyond borders.
She stands out for her commitment to creativity, execution, professional ethics, and a focus on sustainable results.
Fatima Teffahi, a jazz tap dancer, entertainer, teacher, DJ and collector. Rhythm is her business! Fatima started to tap dance in Brussels, her hometown, in the late 80’s. Her style is strongly jazz related and deeply rooted in the African American 30’s and 40’s tap and authentic jazz tradition. She has lived in Stockholm for more than 20 years now, a still active member of "The Hot Shots - A celebration of Harlem rhythms" and one of the driving forces behind "Chicago Swing Dance Studio".
Fatima will be teaching Tap and Solo Jazz in the 3 in 1 track in week 1 and in week 4. She will also teach classes in the Solo Jazz Half Time track in week 1 and the Xperience track in week 4.
Felix will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 2 together with Ursula Hicks. He will also teach classes in the Classic Routines track.
Felix Berghäll is a Swedish white man who specialises in Lindy Hop and African American Vernacular Jazz. He’s a choreographer, performer and educator as well as a music researcher and DJ. He has studied Sport Coaching and Sport Science at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Science in Stockholm. He has been part of the national team as an athlete in Boogie Woogie and Lindy Hop and is now Co-Head Coach with his partner Mikaela Hellsten for the national team of Lindy Hop in Sweden. He has and is been working for the last 5-7 years co-organising one of the biggest events in the world with focus on Lindy Hop and African American Vernacular Jazz. Felix has been dancing since he was 8 years old, starting with training and competing in the Swedish dance style Bugg as well as Lindy Hop, Boogie Woogie and Double Bugg. All dances derived from Lindy Hop and African American Vernacular Jazz. He was in love from the beginning and was really taken by the music. Currently, he is also part of leading a new NGO, Collective Voices for Change, along with other dancers and scholars in order to create a platform to address social issues in the Jazz dance community. The current focus of the initiative is to discuss the issues of cultural appropriation and racial injustice
Fredrik will be teaching with Mimmi Gunnarsson Bringlöv in week 1 and with Frida Häggström Gerdt in week 2. In week 1 he will teach in the Lindy Hop tracks, in week 2 he will teach the Lindy Hop track, the Slow Drag classes of the Ramble track and the Classic Routines track.
Fredrik Dahlberg was born and raised in Stockholm. Never had he a thought of becoming a dancer. Instead he spent his days listening to Hip-Hop and playing basketball. He moved to the south side and started to show interest in jazz music. One of his friends took him to a Lindy Hop class and at first he didn't show much of talent, struggling with what was left and right and up and down. Soon after he joined the famous swing dance company The Hot Shots. How was this even possible? With a mind set on nothing else (that is not entirely true) and some luck some might say.
With a big portion of individual style and new ideas he brings something refreshing to the scene. He tried tap (and is still trying), but on the other hand he has advanced in dances like the Lindy Hop, the Charleston and several other vernacular jazz dances which has entitled him several big awards in only a short period of time. He has been teaching in several international events such as Frankie 100, Herräng Dance Camp, Camp Jitterbug and traveled to perform around the globe in such places as Singapore, Greece, Korea, Lithuania, China, Australia, Brazil, Canada, The U.S. and Mozambique among other.
He is also an important part of the puzzle Chicago Swing Dance Studio where he has been teaching, djing, cleaning, providing guests with a smile and dancing at every opportunity he gets. Fredrik is a time optimist and an optimist in general. In his free time, which is almost non-existent, he writes poetry, quotes the Godfather trilogy and watches the NBA. Besides his mother tongue Swedish he also speaks fluent English and practices Portugues. You can contact him through the record store 'runtrunt' where he claims to be working. If he works or not is a good question but at least we know that's where he practices his footworks and crazy ideas. Also he plays trumpet and tries to play piano.
Frida's love for jazz music started in her early teens, but it wasn't until she discovered Lindy hop at the age of 17 that her passion for dance truly ignited. From the moment she took her first beginner courses, social dancing quickly took over, and soon the dance and everything around it became an extensive part of her life.
She is a well-known face at Chicago Swing Dance Studio in Stockholm, where she spends most of her time teaching, training, dancing or DJ:ing. She is committed to sharing her love for the dance and the music that drives it, and when it comes to teaching as well as dance in general, she greatly values rhythm, simplicity and personal expression.
In 2015 she joined forces with The Hot Shots and has been a solid member of the dance company since 2018. Together with the group, she’s travelled to teach and perform both locally and internationally. Besides her passion for jazz and dance, Frida is also a visual artist and freelance graphic designer, and whether it concerns dance, art or design she always has a creative project going on.
Frida will be teaching the Lindy Hop track and the Slow Drag classes for the Ramble track together with Fredrik Dahlberg in week 2.
Frida Segerdahl started dancing at the age of 5. During her teens she was enrolled at a dance program studying jazz, modern and ballet and much more. When she was 15 she attended Herrang Dance Camp for the first time and fell in love with Lindy Hop. In no time, she was asked to join the world's foremost jazz dance company, the Rhythm Hot Shots and stayed active in the company until she had her second child in 2014. She has performed and taught at all ends of the world. Besides her skills in Charleston, Lindy Hop and Jazz Dance, she is also now part of the board of the famous Lindy Hop dance camp that she first attended back when she was 15, the Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden.
Frida will be teaching the Lindy Hop tracks alongside Skye Humphries in Week 1.
Gašper is teaching the Balboa Beginner Weekend, as well as the Balboa track in week 2 together with Anni Skoglund.
Gašper grew up with his mom and grandparents in Slovenia in the times when dancing was still a big part of cultural activities and socialising. When they were baby-sitting him, his grandparents usually brought Gašper to social dances, and held him while waltzing through the dance floor. That dancing feeling and the flow that he became aware of, became essential to Gašper’s perception of what dancing is all about. It triggered his general interest in dance, along with all physical activities such as team sports and martial arts. Gašper's dancing path went from classic social dancing, to world competitions in Hip-Hop and Breakdancing, and from the first Swing-out in Ljubljana, to a professional career throughout Europe. Needless to say, the search for that “magical” flow from his youth continues to this day, and if you ever danced with Gašper, you know what we’re talking about.
Giselle will be teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Nathan Bugh in week 1 and 2.
Giselle is an international swing dance instructor that has dedicated her life to swing era dances. She began as a social dancer in Southern California and became an avid student during the swing craze of the late 1990’s, watching experienced dancers and legends who danced during the swing era. Giselle has experience in Lindy Hop, Solo Swing, Balboa, Shag, Blues; she has learned a wide variety of American Vernacular Jazz dances.
Giselle has taught swing with Peter Loggins, Chester Whitmore, Chazz Young, Skye Humphries, to name a few. She has had innumerable partnerships throughout the decades but has predominately worked with Chance Bushman and Nathan Bugh. Giselle has traveled all over the world to teach swing dance, some of her destinations include Korea, Australia, Mexico, Italy, and Sweden.
Giselle has taught vintage dance at the University of CA Irvine, for a former student (Bob Boross) of Pepsi Bethel - legend of the Savoy Swing era. Find her all level dance lessons online, follow her on social media, or simply do a google search to see her achievements.
Giselle moved to New Orleans in 2010 to devote herself as an artist. She worked primarily as a swing dancer with the band The Smoking Time Jazz Club and later as a singer/dancer with the The New Orleans Swinging Gypsies. The latter were also nominated for “Best Traditional Jazz Album” and made the first round of cuts for the Music Grammy’s.
Hannah Lane is a Jazzdancer, researcher, and historian from Baltimore, Maryland. Hannah shines on the dance floor, combining deep knowledge of jazz history with an inspiring, graceful, and heartfelt style of dancing. Along with her appreciation for jazz music and dance, Hannah is passionate about historical research. Her work centers histories of jazz and nightlife in Black American communities in her home state of Maryland and throughout the U.S. Hannah is also passionate about uplifting the stories of Shake Dancers (which is her research speciality) through her project "Queens of the Nightclub". Learn more about her work on Instagram at @hannahpilarrr and @Queensofthenightclub.
Hannah will be teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Timothy Christopher during week 1, as well as the Extra Evening Classes in week 2 together with Christi Jay Wells.
Mattias and Hanna are known for their fast, high-energy Lindy Hop and explosive airsteps, as well as their fun and warm personalities. They find inspiration in studying and recreating dance clips featuring great artists such as the Nicholas Brothers, Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, George 'Shorty' Snowden, Cyd Charisse, and the dancers of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.
Mattias and Hanna are internationally recognized as performers, social dancers, teachers, and choreographers. In the late 1990s, they joined the exceptional swing dance troupe The Rhythm Hot Shots, which later became The Hot Shots.
Today, their focus is, together with like-minded dancers, to build a new platform for social dancing. They aim to give new life to the authentic dance styles of the Swing Era and introduce them to both children and adults. They also strive to create space in the modern world, in new rooms and on new stages, bringing the past into the future.
Hanna and Mattias are teaching the "Lindy Hop Age 18-23" group in week 1.
Helena Kanini Kiiru is a young dancer and teacher from Zagreb, Croatia, currently based in Amsterdam. Her enthusiasm for music and dancing has been evident since her childhood when she started playing piano at the age of 7. Having Kenyan roots in her family, Helena has always been exposed to African music, which stimulated her sensibility for the rhythm. Very early in her life she began developing interest towards dances like Hip Hop and Dancehall. After 8 years of exploring various Street dance styles, she fell in love with Jazz and it's power to trancend body, spirit and music. Helena is currently on a mission to spread her aspiration and passion for African American Jazz dancing in hopes of contributing to its contemporary existence and development. Her huge wish is to connect Jazz and Street dance communities and bring this dance to street jams and clubs!
Jimmy Yudat is a dancer, choreographer and activist both in the French and International underground scene for 20 years.He is renowned for his performances in hip-hop battles and is invited all around the world to share his knowledge. Founding member of the "YUDAT" group, he is also now the CEO of the Hip Hop dance media "HIPPOH" a media made by hip-hop activists for the hip-hop culture.
Considered as one of the best Hip Hop dancers of his generation, he is also one of the most charismatic MC’s and a source of knowledge regarding the hip hop culture.
Jimmy is a powerhouse on his own! His positive energy and his special Groove are something you don’t want to miss in Herräng!
Jimmy will be teaching the Xperience track in week 4.
More information about Prof. Josette Wiggan will be published here soon!
Josette will be teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Chester Whitmore and the Tap track and in week 3. Furthermore she will be teaching in the Solo Jazz track and the 3 in 1 track in week 1, as well as Solo Jazz and Tap in the 3 in 1 track in week 4.
Kanessa, also known as @atilenak_off, is a professional dancer and choreographer specializing in African street styles.Internationally recognized, she has won battles and competitions, travels the world to teach, and is a powerful voice in the Afro dance community.Her journey has taken her to major stages and collaborations with artists like Tayc and Ckay, and brands such as Adidas, JD Sports, Foot Locker, Timberland, Desperados, and Bulldog Gin. She has also performed on major TV shows including NRJ Music Awards, Star Académie, Danse avec les Stars, and more. She is the creator of the Umoja Festival, promoting modern and urban African culture and dance in Brussels.
Katja Završnik started dancing at the age of 5 and through the years studied various forms of dance such as Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Ballroom, Gymnastics and Acrobatic Rock and Roll for 9 years.
Since 2005 she has focused on early American dances from the Jazz age and Swing era, such as the Lindy Hop, Swing, Balboa, Charleston, St. Louis Shag and Authentic jazz. Her knowledge of (almost) all swing dances allows Katja to adapt her dance to any type of dancer. Which places her on the market among one of the best followers understanding connection and reactivity.
She is an elegant dancer. At first, you’ll be seduced by her style based on subtlety and finesse. But if you look a little closer you’ll be surprised by her musicality and footwork. Her focus on musicality and connection makes her one of the most sought after followers in the scene.
Her shyness – as probably her Slovenian origin as well – gives at first a “cold” feeling. But don’t make any mistake: she loves to laugh, to party and simply have fun. During a dance, she is one of the few followers to never refuse a dance and also often the last to leave the dance floor.
Currently living in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Katja travels doing special weekend workshops and festivals. In the past 11 years she has taught and performed all over Europe, Asia and USA.
Katja will be teaching the Balboa track together with Peter Loggins in week 2.
Arcadia and Konstantin are a dynamic dance duo based in Stockholm, Sweden, who have made a name for themselves as ambassadors of the Mambo & Salsa community in Scandinavia. Their passion for dance and culture has been a part of their lives since childhood, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the Mambo & Salsa traditions alive in the North. Arcadia and Konstantin's dedication to their craft is fueled by their love of dance and their desire to share it with others. They believe that dance has the power to bring people together and create connections across cultures and languages. Through their work, they hope to inspire others to embrace their love for dance and share it with the world.
Konstantin will be teaching the Latin classes in the Ramble track together with Arcadia Astorga in week 2.
Korantema is a dance artist and performer born and raised in London. She performed in, co-led, and choreographed a chorus line troupe until 2020. Since then, she has been training with Cookie and her Black Mambas (@blackmambasjazz), a collective led by Lindy Hop legacy holder Angela Andrew.
When she's not dancing, Korantema works as a Curator of Anthropology and is a zine maker, often exploring the cultural experiences of Black women (@korantema.curates).
Korantema will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 4 together with Stephen Atemie, as well as doing Solo Jazz classes in the 3 in 1 track.
Laura Glaess has been an influential voice in Lindy Hop competition, performance, and education for the past 20 years. She has won countless awards and acknowledgments at international competitions, and has taught at festivals in 22 countries spanning 5 continents. She has performed at the Joyce, Jacob’s Pillow, and the Guggenheim, as well as at Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz festivals worldwide. She is a guest instructor at Steps on Broadway. Her Youtube channel dedicated to Lindy Hop history, vocabulary, partnering, and body movement is one of the most popular and influential in the scene.
Laura will be teaching the Lindy Hop track and the 3 in 1 track in week 4.
Lizette will be teaching the Lindy Hop and the 3 in 1 track alongside Patrik Pettersson in week 1. They will also teach together in the Lindy Hop Beginner Weekend on July 10-12. In week 2 Lizette will teach the Lindy Hop and the Classic Routines track with Patrik Pettersson.
Lizette grew up in Borås and began dancing in 1999 at Borås Dansförening, where Sakarias Larsson had the questionable honor of being her first dance teacher. What started with unsteady steps and shaky rhythm quickly developed into both Swedish and World Championship gold. After high school, she continued to the professional dance program at Balettakademien to turn her passion into a career. Since 2016, she has been a member of the dance group The Hotshots and has traveled around the world performing and teaching. Since her first trip to Herräng in 2002, where she met Frankie Manning and Dawn Hampton, she has valued the roots of dance highly – while always placing great importance on personal style.
Hello, I'm Maka. I dance stuff and I play way too many instruments. I also teach loads of classes and workshops about musicality. Plus, I DJ in numerous festivals. And my blood type is 0-. Could be useful. And I enjoy writing stuff totally unrelated to the classic descriptions requests (Sorry Marie!). But most importantly, I have immense respect for the rare individuals who actually read musicians' bios on websites! Seriously, who does that?! So, if you approach me with the secret code 'dogmatic squid', I'll make sure to crack a joke as a salute to your noble action. That said, see you on the dance floor!
Maka is teaching the Extra Evening Classes: Bring your Instrument in week 3.
Malkom is a House dancer that has earned a dazzling reputation amongst the House Dance community through his personal style.
Dancer, choreographer and performer, he started with B-Boying in 2001 before pursuing with Hip Hop in 2007. But it’s House Dance that helped him explore his creativity and originality by using and combining influences. That allowed him to impose an identity to his own dance, which earned him to enter the “Serial Stepperz” crew in 2008.
Within this group, Malkom specializes in House Dance. He has brought together a number of victories in the biggest competitions (Juste Debout, Summer Dance Forever, Bust A Move, Funkin Stylez,…).
Malkom is now one of the key figures in the dance competition game and continues to grow constantly, always imposing his own style which now has a name: the « Ground Control ». This style is defined by a creative and extensive research of movement using the floor… because for him, the only limit in dance is imagination.
His sensitivity to music, which is a huge part of his dance’s originality, brought him to become a DJ in 2018. Through music, Malkom is able to express a new side of his creativity.
2/3 of the DJ collective Museik 1st, Malkom & Remy will be in charge of connecting the Jazz sounds to the more modern Hip Hop, House and Afro sounds.
Malkom loves transmission. So come and meet him and his contagious energy in Herräng!
Malkom will be teaching the Xperience track in week 4.
María is teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Aurélien Darbellay in week 1.
Originally trained professionally in contemporary dance and later specializing in Performing Arts and Social Action, Maria started dancing Lindy Hop in 2012 in Barcelona. She was immediately captivated by its rhythmic richness, the collective energy at the heart of jazz, and by the experience of social dance itself. She became especially fascinated by the way individual voices can coexist, interact, and shape a collective experience. Encountering jazz dances deeply reshaped her understanding of dance and connected her with values that resonate deeply with the way she understands movement, community, and artistic practice. She feels deeply grateful to all the people who have guided her through this journey and helped her understand herself as a guest within the Black American culture from which these dances emerged
She works at the intersection of dance, creation, and community-based artistic practices. Her work moves between teaching, performing, choreographing, and developing collective projects, with a strong interest in democratizing culture and understanding the arts as tools for participation, connection, and social engagement. Over the years, she has collaborated on community dance processes with women, seniors, children, and teenagers.
She is also part of El Taller Swing in Barcelona, a growing community space inspired by the spirit and cultural legacy of jazz. Through dance, music, and shared experiences, they try to create a space where artistic expression, community, politics, and critical reflection can coexist with care and honesty.
It was more than 16 years ago that she discovered dancing and since then she hasn’t stopped; every day at least for 6 hours she dances - giving and preparing classes, practicing, discovering and helping others to explore, as well. She has madly fallen in love with Lindy Hop and her devotion has become stronger through the years. What attracted her the most and still fascinates her in Swing dancing is the freedom this dance allows to the dancer, as much in the individual as in the partner dance, to find their own voice and ways of expression that make each dancer unique. Even though she feels that knowing the history of Lindy Hop, the most important dancers and the classic moves enable greatly the development and improvement of a dancer and to find their own, individual way of dancing, she does not believe in set aesthetic patterns and norms to live up to and to fulfil. Her strength is musicality and flow. Moreover, a cornerstone of her methodology and dancing is being present in the moment and she tries to emphasize this in every aspect of her dancing and teaching, as well.
Maria believes that each dance is vivid and full of life. Being present at the moment gives the opportunity and creates the ability to be open and flexible; to adapt to the music and to the partner at the same time and follow where that moment takes us.
Maria is teaching the Lindy Hop and the 3 in 1 track together with Clàudia Fonte in week 4.
Marie will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 3 and week 4.
Dr. Marie N'diaye (PhD) is a Lindy Hop and African American Jazz dance choreographer, performer and educator as well as a dance researcher.
Marie has been dancing almost as long as she has been walking, training mostly in modern Jazz. She fell in love with Lindy Hop and other Jazz dances in 2006.
A true scientist (She obtained her PhD in Neuroimmunology from Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Sweden in 2018), Marie loves history and facts. She has been applying her scientific method and dance education to conduct an embodied practice-based research of Jazz dance through the study of original video clips and collaborations with many established dancers. She has also researched the cultural and social context of the Jazz dance era through literature study and interviews of artists. Her main focus is on the African American Jazz Women and Chorines (chorus girls) of the time. In 2023, Marie completed the Choreomundus Program, an International Master in Dance Knowledge, Practice, and Heritage. This program focuses on dance and other movement systems as cultural heritage and includes Ethnochoreology, Anthropology of Dance, Dance Studies, and Heritage Studies.
Currently, Marie is a board member of the "Black Lindy Hoppers Fund," an organization dedicated to support African and African diasporic dancers and artists in Lindy Hop and Jazz. She is also leading "Collective Voices for Change" a non-profit organization created together with other dancers and scholars in order to propose a platform to address social issues in the Jazz dance community. The current focus of CVFC is to address the issues of cultural appropriation and racial inequities in the dance scene.
An exuberant force of nature on the dance floor, he was quickly recognized as one of the most talented up and coming European followers. He splashed onto the world Lindy Hop community in 2015, bringing to the dance floor a unique and immediately recognizable style all his own. Especially known for his swivels, Máté is truly inspired by old timers such as Jewel McGowan. He believes in the musical conversation between the dancers and the jazz music itself, creating something very beautiful and true. Always passionate about sharing what he knows, inspiring dancers to embrace themselves, and not to be afraid of expressing their individuality while dancing.
Máté will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 2.
Mattias and Hanna are known for their fast, high-energy Lindy Hop and explosive airsteps, as well as their fun and warm personalities. They find inspiration in studying and recreating dance clips featuring great artists such as the Nicholas Brothers, Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, George 'Shorty' Snowden, Cyd Charisse, and the dancers of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.
Mattias and Hanna are internationally recognized as performers, social dancers, teachers, and choreographers. In the late 1990s, they joined the exceptional swing dance troupe The Rhythm Hot Shots, which later became The Hot Shots.
Today, their focus is, together with like-minded dancers, to build a new platform for social dancing. They aim to give new life to the authentic dance styles of the Swing Era and introduce them to both children and adults. They also strive to create space in the modern world, in new rooms and on new stages, bringing the past into the future.
Hanna and Mattias are teaching the "Lindy Hop Age 18-23" group in week 1.
Matt will be teaching the Balboa track together with Chisomo Selemani in week 2.
Matt Richey began dancing Lindy Hop at just 11 years old, launching a career that would quickly expand to performance stages on cruise ships and at Disneyland. Early exposure to professional performance shaped his dynamic presence and deep appreciation for the artistry of swing dance.
In 2004, Matt attended Camp Hollywood for the first time—an experience that ignited his passion not only for Lindy Hop, but for the full spectrum of swing dancing. He has returned every year since, continually refining his craft and strengthening his connection to the swing community.
One of Matt’s proudest achievements is founding and directing a Juniors program in Nevada County, California. Over seven years, he built a thriving youth program, introducing swing dance to countless students through local schools and community outreach. Under his leadership, junior competitors traveled throughout California and competed at the International Lindy Hop Championships (ILHC) three consecutive years. In 2018, his students earned 1st Place in the Junior Showcase at ILHC—an accomplishment that reflects both their dedication and Matt’s commitment to mentorship.
As a competitor, Matt has earned hundreds of titles across multiple swing styles, including Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, and Balboa. Widely recognized as one of the premier crossover dancers on the circuit, he is equally respected for his competitive achievements and his vibrant presence on the social dance floor. In 2018, he was inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the community.
While Matt’s competitive résumé is extensive, his greatest passion lies in teaching. He is dedicated to sharing his love of dance and music with students of all ages and currently teaches throughout Orange County. Known for his infectious energy, musicality, and showmanship, Matt brings both professionalism and joy to every class, performance, and social dance floor he steps onto.
With over 25 years of experience, Mbango Baer is a passionate and versatile tap dancer whose style is fluid, groovy, and deeply rooted in swing. She trained with a diverse range of teachers, including the dynamic Philou Nagau, hip-hop tap innovator David Tchuyang, and the legendary Roxane Butterfly. Her dance is a continuous exploration of musicality, always guided by the pure joy of movement.
As a performer and choreographer, Mbango has contributed to numerous projects, concerts, and productions, seamlessly blending dance and music. She has danced with renowned companies such as Contempotap, Battery Dance Company, Hip Tap Project, Tapinprogress, KGA, and Le Shuffle Project, the latter of which she co-founded with Ruby Boukabou. Her performances extend beyond dance, having collaborated with an array of talented musicians, including Alex Stuart, Daniel Hunter, Jérôme Etcheberry, Hugo Lippi, An-Liz, Helmie Bellini, Portia Solanyi, and Hélios Fernandez.
An avid improviser, Mbango thrives in spontaneous performance. In 2012, she co-founded the Paris Tap Crew with Ruby Boukabou and launched the Paris Tap Jams, a series of live music and tap improvisation events that celebrate rhythm and artistic exchange.
A dedicated educator, Mbango has been teaching tap for over 20 years, sharing her expertise with dancers of all levels in Paris and at workshops across France and beyond. Whether on stage or in the studio, she brings an infectious energy that inspires and elevates the art of tap.
Mbango will be teaching the Tap track in week 3.
Mimmi will be teaching in the Lindy Hop track together with Fredrik Dahlberg in week 1.
”Her feet run the floor like fingers over the keys of a piano—with clear intentions and deep sound. Rhythms are tight, movements fresh and joy unmistakable.” - Swingzine.com
Mimmi is a dancer filled with energy and joy. A true student of the dance, in love with the raw and wild style of dancers in Harlem in the 30s and 40s. Her inspiration though, is gotten from everywhere which she with care and ease incorporates into her own style.
As a breath of fresh air from a time that past, she makes the dance her own every time she swings by the dance floor.
Starting off as a social dancer, she soon found the passion for performing - since 2012 as a member of the famous dance company Harlem Hot Shots. Besides teaching regularly at Chicago Swing Dance Studio in Stockholm, Mimmi has travelled to teach and perform in all continents of the globe. Countries such as Australia, US, Brazil, Singapore, Korea, South Africa and Mozambique just to mention a few - And of course frequently all around Europe.
MonaMohau is an Afrocentric artist, cultural ambassador and a prominent figure in the Afro dance scene, Sweden. She likes to describe her purpose, her role as a bridge between the Afro-traditional & Afro-modern. It is a cultural expression of Afrocentricity and Pan-Africanism which permeates her artistry and overall work.
With several years of professional dance experience, MonaMohau has engaged in numerous collaborations with artists across different genres, national as well as international. While her dance repertoire spans from Swing dance and tap dance to dancehall, her passion and focus lies in African dance styles.
MonaMohau has garnered attention for interviews and documentary spotlighting Sweden's Afrobeats scene, but also her cultural work. She has served as a dancer for various artists and events hosted by renowned companies such as Youtube and Redbull and represented the African cultures well in commercials, modelling gigs etc. Notably, she recently contributed to a casting effort in Ghana, assisting in selecting 400 Afro dancers to perform at the grand opening of the All African Games, representing their country with pride.
Although her entry to the African community around the world was through dance, MonaMohau continues to work across diverse industries as an cultural ambassador, dedicated to promoting African cultures. Her hard work is recorded in her collaborations with other businesses and organisations that supports African cultures, and in her own organisation UBUNTU BASE, dedicated to culture: social events, dance, music, food, etc.
“Representation matters. That is my purpose here, as an African in Europe. I do community work.”
Moncell is teaching the special track Dancing Between the Frames - How Movement Tells Stories on Screen in week 4!
Moncell Durden is a dance educator, choreographer, ethnographer, embodied historian, author and associate professor of practice at the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman International School of Dance. He specializes in pedagogical practices that prove cultural and historical context in what he calls the morphology of Afro-kinetic memory.
A highly sought after instructor, Durden teaches practical and theoretical classes in the U.S. and abroad and is an expert in locking, house, hip- hop, authentic jazz, and party dances from 1900 to the present. He is a member of Mop Top Crew, the pioneering NYC Hip Hop dance group, and alumnus of Rennie Harris Puremovement, the Philadelphia-based hip-hop theater company. Before joining the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance faculty, Durden taught for seven years at Drexel University. He held appointments at the Yale School of Drama, Wesleyan University, and Bennington College. He has published articles in Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches, Rooted Jazz Dance: Africanist Aesthetics and Equity in the Twenty-First Century, and the The SAGE Encyclopedia of African Cultural Heritage in North America. He is currently writing an article for the Oxford Handbook of Hip-Hop Dance. His groundbreaking documentary, Everything Remains Raw: A Historical Perspective on Hip Hop Dance, was invited by the U.S. Embassy in Vladivostok, Russia as a work in progress to screen at their 2013 film festival.
In 2010, Durden founded INTANGIBLE ROOTS, an organization dedicated to the education and preservation of Afro-Diasporic social dance formations.
Nathan will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 1 and 2.
Nathan Bugh is one of the world's leading exponents of Lindy Hop and vernacular jazz dance. On-stage appearances include: Carnegie Hall (Swing Swing Swing w/ New York Pops), The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain (Meet Ella, SW!NG OUT), The Apollo Theater (Swingin’ Frankie’s Way), and Jacob’s Pillow (Earthbeat!, More Forever, SW!NG OUT). He is a co-creator and choreographer of the Joyce Theater's SW!NG OUT, the greatest proscenium, swing-dance show since SWING! the musical. An active swing-dance competitor from the late 1990’s, Nathan holds numerous first-place titles in Solo Jazz, Lindy Hop, Team, Invitational, Slow Dance, Showcase, and Mix/Match divisions at events like the International Lindy Hop Championships. Recent results include 1st 2026 BTP Invitational Strictly, 2nd 2025 Lindyfest Invitational Draw, 1st 2024 BTP Invitational Crossover, 1st 2023 ILHC Video Showcase. Nathan is also a veteran dance instructor, with 20+ years of experience teaching students of all ages. He teaches the Columbia University Swing Club (2006-present) and is adjunct dance faculty at Marymount Manhattan College (2022-present). He has headlined many national and international swing-dance festivals, including Camp Jitterbug, Lindy Focus, Southwest Lindy Fest, Camp Hollywood, Paris Jazz Roots Festival, Nanjing Lindy Festival, and AJW Korea. Nathan was blessed to have learned directly from several swing-era luminaries, and he is excited to pass on their incites to a new generation at this year's Herräng Dance Camp.
Bianca Locatelli and Nils Andrén are Lindy Hop and Boogie Woogie dancers, choreographers, instructors and performers with a passion for driving the art form forward and have devoted the last decade to teaching, performing, and choreographing. Their true passion lies in Lindy Hop and Boogie Woogie, two vibrant dance styles that have deep roots in African American culture.
They discovered their love for dance at a young age, exploring various styles such as ballet, latin dances, hip-hop, and ballroom. However, it was swing dancing that captured their hearts. Their paths crossed when Bianca moved to Sweden, and they began performing and competing together.
Soon after, they embarked on a performing, competing and teaching career, sharing their passion and vision with audiences and students worldwide.
Nils will be teaching the Lindy Hop track, as well as the Performance and Aerials track in week 4, together with Bianca Locatelli. In week 2 they will teach the R'n'B classes for the Ramble track.
Nils Nygårdh, hailing from Mora, Sweden, discovered his passion for dancing in his late teens. Moving to Stockholm he delved deeper into the world of swing dancing. With his love for tap dancing and the energetic and acrobatic style of Lindy Hop, Nils became a member of The Hot Shots Swing Dance Company in 2015. Alongside his dancing career, Nils showcases his musical talents as the drummer for the jazz band Siberian Hot Heads. Additionally, he channels his creative vision as a film producer, specializing in music videos and commercials.
Nils is teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Elice Fällström in week 3.
Humorous and dynamic, keen, full of heart and a touch of the anarchic, Pamela was spellbound by Lindy Hop energy and community at the age of sixteen when she started her first classes at Lindyhop.lt Club in Vilnius. Despite her young age Pamela has already brought herself to light constantly learning anything related to dancing, be it music, psychology or anatomy.
In 2009, Pamela began working at Hoppers’ Dance Studio in her hometown of Vilnius, Lithuania. Today she dances and teaches with the top leaders in the international Lindy Hop scene. Having no constant partner has given Pamela space to bring a lot of variety to her dance - no wonder dancers call her one of the most exciting followers in recent years.
As a dancer Pamela cherishes individuality and freedom. For her Lindy Hop is not as much about impeccable technique as it is about musicality and awareness. As a teacher she shares her values and encourages people to find their own way of dancing: “Learn to be ok with the way you are and how your body moves. It’s all about you.”
Nietzsche once said “You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star”.
(text by Migle Ravnialicevaite)
Pamela is teaching the Lindy Hop track during week 2 together with Tadas Vasiliaukas.
Patrik will be teaching the Lindy Hop and the 3 in 1 track alongside Lizette Rönnqvist in week 1. They will also teach together in the Lindy Hop Beginner Weekend on July 10-12. In week 2 Patrik will teach the Lindy Hop and the Classic Routines track with Lizette.
Patrik is a dance teacher and member of the famous swing dance company The Hot Shots. Patrik happiest on stage, which is obvious when you see his famous smile and surprising agility. It is impossible not to notice his love for all music that swings, as soon as he sets foot on the dancefloor. He gets inspiration from the big dancers of the 30’s like Al Minns and Leon James, although he makes his moves his own.
Peter Kertz began dancing the Lindy Hop in Los Angeles, where he was born and raised. Following his passion for dance, he started to travel the world to discover international swing dance scene. In 2012, Peter moved to France and began teaching around Europe. To him dance is as a language without words, bringing people together, connecting them both literally and figuratively across all walks of life.
Peter is teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Máté Csike in week 2.
Peter Loggins brings a first hand historical approach to his classes sharing what was handed down by legends of the past including National Charleston champions, Harvest Moon Ball Lindy Hop winners and 1930's Swing Champions. Peter not only travels worldwide as an instructor, lecturer, performer and competition judge but he has also been featured in television and film such as Beverly Hills 90210, Marilyn Mansion Mobscene video, Royal Crown Revue's Zip Gun Pop video and Films such as Mulholland Drive, and the 13th Floor. Aside from having a down to earth street approach to teaching, his expansive knowledge of the cultures along with the music that drove social dancing allows students to learn the history of these dances and how they've evolved through the years.
Peter will be teaching the Balboa track together with Katja Zavrsnik in week 2.
Remy Kouakou Kouame has always lived his life surrounded by music and/or dance.
Growing up within the Hip Hop culture as a DJ, he also developed his dance specialty within the Swing dance community.
Traveling the world to either perform, teach and/or compete in the context of Vernacular Jazz and Lindy Hop, he loves to share his dance and to help people find their unique voices.
In recent years, Remy felt the urge to (re)align with himself and connect all of the aspects that makes him the artist he is. This is how the project “The Xperience” started. Remy believes that a bridge has to be reinforced - if not (re)created - between the vintage and the modern Street dances.
He is therefore beyond excited to bring his vision in the concept of “The Xperience” to Herräng and share it with the Swing community!!!
His classes are a reflection of what this magical journey has brought to him : rhythm, music, connection… and tons of groove!!!
2/3 of the DJ collective Museik 1st, Remy & Malkom will be in charge of connecting the Jazz sounds to the more modern Hip Hop, House and Afro sounds within "The Xperience Track".
Come meet him in Herräng!
Remy will be teaching the Xperience track in week 4.
Sakarias "The Champ" Larsson was born and raised in Frufällan, on the west side of Sweden. He watched jitterbug contests as a kid and there were some things with the music and the aesthetics of the dance that spoke to him and he decided to learn. One thing led to another and already at sixteen he started practice with The Hot Shots. That was 20 years ago and he's been with the group ever since.
The amount of hours he's spent in the rehearsal studio is probably beyond sane. The recent past years he's focused on sharing what he knows with the younger generation of Harlem Hot Shots. He finds motivation from his friends in the group, they keep him young.
Sakarias is on a never ending world tour in the name of Lindy Hop with probably 1000s of shows, teaching gigs and competitions. Apollo Theatre, Frankie 95 and 100, Basie Centennial, Last Bounce, Jazz Jam, ULHC, several tours in USA, Asia, Australia and Europe (only to name a few). He made it to the finals in Sweden's Got Talent and out of 100s of dancers he was casted among the top 20 to enter the reality tv dance show Floor Filler. He's also one of the founders of Chicago swing dance studio, one of the more famous lindy hop and jazz venues in Stockholm today.
He actually met and knew some of the original swing dancers of Harlem and he was good friends with Frankie Manning. The dancers from the Whitey's Lindy Hoppers are his true idols. But he also finds a lot of inspiration in modern day dancers such as Peter Loggins, Minn Vo, Jeremy Otth and of course Vincenzo Fesi. A few years back he decided to try something else and wanted to be a rock 'n' roller. He started learning the drums and soon joined and started touring with the well recognised band The Vanjas. He's also the drummer of the travelling jazz band Hornsgatan Ramblers. As if that wasn't enough, surfing, tattooing, playing the saxophone, film making and graphical design are only a few of his other "professions". He's a man of contradictions: a performer with stage freit, a teacher with social anxiety, a people loving lone wolf.
Sakarias will be teaching the Lindy Hop track and the 3 in 1 track in week 4 together with Elice Fällström.
Serpil is a passionate dancer, teacher and a performer from İzmir, Turkey. Serpil mostly inspired by Afro-Cuban Jazz and she enjoyes to express herself through jazz dance. She is also the founder of Lindy Hop İzmir and one of the organizers of İzmir Swing Festival and a member of the Lindy Hop Team Turkey.
Serpil is teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Erol Akinci in week 2.
Shani hails from sunny southern California. She is best known for her fast, syncopated Balboa footwork, tight swing style and soft connection—which has been said to feel like a ‘warm hug’. As an instructor, she strives to make dancing effortless, combining foundational basics with the soft skills of connection and personal body awareness to develop one's smooth flow and style.
For 25 years, Shani has dedicated herself to learning, preserving and sharing her love for Balboa and other social dances. She began swing dancing in 1998 before moving to Orange County, where she discovered a vibrant vintage swing community well connected to its local original dancers. She was immediately attracted to Balboa's smooth, rhythmic footwork and began frequenting first-generation dancers' dance floors.
Shani is honored to have honed her social dance skills and footwork under the guidance of legendary dancers Willie Desatoff, Hal and Marge Takier, Bart Bartolo, Jack Carey and many others. Although she has competed, placed and won several major competitions, she mainly enjoys social dancing and inspiring others to love Balboa and swing.
Shani will be teaching the Balboa track together with Sylvia Sykes in week 2.
Originally pressured into taking Lindy Hop classes by his mother at the tender age of 12, Skye soon found that social dancing really is the best thing in life. Over the past 18 years he has performed, taught, and competed both nationally and internationally, gaining recognition as a talented and dedicated dancer.
Skye will be teaching Solo Jazz in the 3 in 1 track, as well as the Lindy Hop tracks alongside Frida Segerdahl in week 1.
Stephen is a fresh young talent emerging from the new generation of Lindy Hoppers. In 2017, Stephen travelled to South Africa to spend a month working with the charity Sing Inchanga. There he shared skills with local children & young people across their own dance styles and Lindy Hop. Stephen's performance and competition credits include 10 Downing Street, ILHC World Finals and as a featured dancer in the Oscar-nominated films The Six Triple Eight and Wicked (Part I). His latest projects include organising talks, webinars and advocacy for cultural appreciation within the Lindy Hop and AAVJ communities across the world as a board member for Collective Voices For Change.
Stephen will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 2 together with Breonna Jordan and week 3 with Korantema Anyimadu. Furthermore he is teaching the Solo Jazz track in week 2.
Sylvia is one of the most well-known and respected dancers, instructors and judges in the U.S. today. An internationally recognized authority on most types of Swing dance, she has been teaching and judging for over 30 years throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia.
Sylvia studied with the great Swing dancer Dean Collins, studied Balboa with Maxie Dorf and spent years learning from the greatest Southern California Balboa dancers. Sylvia is an inductee into the National Swing Dance Hall of Fame and the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. She is a U.S. Open champion, was the NASDE top point winner, two time California Balboa Champion, took third place in the National Carolina Shag Dance Championships, and has won many Strictly Swing and Jack & Jill dance contests throughout the U.S. in Lindy, Balboa and West Coast Swing. She was twice voted Swing Dance Teacher of the Year, and is a 4 time Feather Award winner as Best Female Lindy Dancer in the U.S.
Sylvia Sykes will be teaching the Balboa track in week 2.
Tadas Vasiliauskas is Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz dancer based in Vilnius, Lithuania. Tadas has been dancing, competing, actively performing and choreographing for over 10 years. He is most proud of leading a performance troupe, bringing Lindy Hop on the theater stage and founding Harlem Speaks Easy jazz club in Vilnius. These days he is mostly traveling and teaching in festivals around the world. Tadas can be frequently found playing jazz trombone too. On the dance floor, you can recognize him for his playful dance style and great energy.
Tadas is teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 2 together with Pamela Gaizutyte.
Thomas is a tap dancer, singer, musician & teacher. Widely travelled, he has performed for audiences around the world in North America, much of Europe, Canada, Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand and Russia.
Since 4 years of age Thomas has been on stage. His early years were greatly influenced by teachers Grant Swift (Australian Tap Wizard and Pioneer) and Christopher Horsey (Tap Dogs founding member). Before long, he had fallen in love with tap dance.
From 2010 to 2013 Thomas was a principal dancer with Tapestry Dance Company. Based in Austin, Texas it was then the only full time professional dance company in North America specialising in tap dance. He owes much to Artistic director Acia Gray and the dancers with whom he shared those 3 years.
Until 2019 he was living mostly out of a suitcase, based briefly in Barcelona, Rome, and Reykjavik Iceland whilst travelling to work in festivals and various projects.
From 2020 to 2023 Thomas led various Jazz groups in Australia in addition to studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Monash University.
In 2023 he started to live mostly out of his suitcase again, performing a tour of Asia and studying the dance and music of Guinea.
Thomas Wadelton is teaching the Tap track in week 3.
Timothy Christopher is a self-taught Lindy Hop dancer, musician, and chemical engineer from Pensacola, FL. Despite not having any formal training in dance, Timothy taught himself Lindy Hop by watching online tutorials and attending swing dance events in Pensacola and other areas across the US. He quickly became a well-respected member of the local swing dance community. Additionally, Timothy is an accomplished musician who plays the piano and trumpet, performing with jazz bands and playing classic tunes from the bebop era.
Timothy earned his degree in chemical engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology and now works for a chemical plant in Savannah, GA, as a Production Engineer. He is always balancing his demanding career with his passion for the arts and is known for his creativity and dedication. Timothy’s story is an inspiration, demonstrating the power of hard work, dedication, and a love for the arts. Whether he’s on the dance floor, playing music, or working in the lab, Timothy always strives to give his best and to let his passion for the arts shine through in all that he does.
Timothy will be teaching the Lindy Hop track together with Hannah Lane during week 1.
Trisha hails from Hertfordshire, UK, and has been teaching since 1997 and on the international scene since 2003. For 10 years she contributed to establishing the first European swing dance brand and the biggest of its time. She is now thrilled to manage her own companycreatively directed by her personal vision.Trisha has built up a reputation for being one of the most influential teachers within the European Swing Scene. It’s been said that her teaching style is innovative, dynamic and inspiring. Always engaging and fun, Trisha loves to make people laugh and feel relaxed in her classes. At the end of her classes students are filled with energy and excitement.
Trisha will be teaching Solo Jazz in the Solo Jazz Half Time and the 3 in 1 track in week 1.
Tyedric will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 3 and 4, as well as the Solo jazz track in week 3.
I've been dancing for as long as I can remember. In fact, my earliest classroom was my home, or wherever my family gathered. My earliest teacher was my mom. Over the years, I've established a background enriched and informed by many movement traditions, some of which include capoeira, waving, and stepping. I discovered vernacular jazz and Lindy Hop in 2017, and I haven't looked back since.
As a teacher, I love to share historical and cultural context, weaving this into how I explain my approach to movement. My highest goal is helping you to develop your own approach.
I'm currently studying house, and continually growing in many street styles. In dance, I value lineage, authenticity, community, partnership and fun. I strive to incorporate these elements in my classes as well. I’m eager to collaborate with everyone!
Ursula Hicks will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 2 with Felix Berghäll and in week 3 with Andrew Hsi.
Ursula Hicks began her dance training over 20 years ago in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and later Modern and Contemporary dance. Ursula graduated with B.A. in Dance Studies from Texas Woman's University in the summer 2013, where she studied with Marry Williford-Shade, Sarah Gamblin, Jordan Fuchs, and Gladys Keeton. Ursula brings such musicality and enthusiasm to the dance floor, it's no wonder that she has placed in multiple lindy hop competitions including the International Lindy Hop Championships in Washington, D.C., LindyFest in Houston, TX. , and a number of other competitions. Ursula has also been on the board of directors for The Fort Worth Swing Dance Syndicate, and served as president of The Dallas Swing Dance Society. Ursula takes pleasure in collaborating with fellow artists and social dancing in the DFW area and enjoys teaching dance to students of all ages. She is an absolute joy to watch and learn from.
Vassia Panagiotou is a Jazz Dance performer, educator and choreographer focusing on African American Vernacular Jazz and Lindy Hop.
Her love for the Jazz Dances has led her to an ongoing pursuit of delving into the cultural roots of this art form. With an unwavering dedication to research and understanding, she focuses on the legacy of the dancers in Harlem and the tradition of the female performance troupes in night clubs and theaters such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theatre (Chorus Lines).
To get a deeper understanding of the culture, she is also practicing tap dance focusing on the musical, improvisational aspect of the art form as it was danced by the hoofers in Harlem.
She is based in Athens, but quite often she travels in Europe to teach and perform. She is a co-founder of Rhythm Hoppers, a leader of the Rhythm Hoppers Chorus Line, the Hot Mallets & the Rhythm Hoppers performers and one of the organizers of the Athens Rhythm Hop Jazz Dance festival.
Vassia will be teaching in the Chorus Line track and the Classic Routines track in week 2, as well as the Lindy Hop track together with Daniel Larsson.
Vassiliki Papadopoulou has been dancing since she was 8 years old, starting with classical ballet, followed by contemporary, ballroom and Latin dances. At the age of 19, she found her passion in Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz, which charmed her with the energy and creativity that characterises them. Since then, she has been dancing non stop, having attended numerous workshops in Greece and abroad. She loves teaching, performing and competing. In Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz dances, she finds freedom, energy and joy, as they are for her a way of creative expression and a constant source of inspiration. She is currently located in her hometown, Athens, where she is teaching Lindy Hop & Authentic Jazz as a member of Rhythm Hoppers’ team.
Vassiliki will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 3 together with Viktor Lillard.
Hailing originally from Ithaca, NY, Viktor Lillard is a passionate and multi-talented creative force, with a specialty in Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz dance. Included in his frequent activities are teaching, DJing Swing and Soul music, playing the bass and guitar, researching music and history, performing, producing video, and, of course, social dancing. He has become a valued dance instructor in the international Lindy Hop scene. As an instructor, Viktor seeks to present dance in a comprehensive experience of jazz music, with emphasis on historical and cultural context. He values lineage, authenticity, community, partnership, musicality, and fun. In everything he does, Viktor strives to be a responsible guest and steward of the precious tradition of jazz dance culture, seeking to not only preserve but also innovate. Viktor endeavors to share his understanding of the movement fundamentals at the core of the jazz dance tradition, inspire curiosity and instill cultural awareness, and facilitate students finding their own dance identity and authentic self-expression.
Viktor will be teaching the Lindy Hop track in week 3 alongside with Vassiliki Papadopoulou.
Walter started dancing Lindy Hop in Uppsala in 2019 and soon after started dancing vernacular jazz and tap dance as well. He now lives in Stockholm and regularly teaches in the local scenes of Stockholm and Uppsala.In social dancing, he enjoys dancing to slower and cozier tempo where he feels he can emphasize more on exchanges with his partner and expressing moves and rhythms that complements the music.Conversely, when it comes to performances, he loves to dance to high tempo and incorporate airsteps.
Walter will teach the Lindy Hop Beginner Track during weekend 2 with Victoria Kahlström and weekend 3 with Clara Edström.
Guests & Honorary Guests
These remarkable artists have experienced the swing era in first person.
Barbara Billups
Barbara Billups is a celebrated Lindy Hop dancer, hailing from the iconic Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York. A former Harvest Moon Ball Champion, Barbara’s legacy is steeped in the rich history of jazz and swing dance. Her illustrious career includes performances with Sonny Allen and the Rockets, a premier dance group with whom she graced stages across the United States and Canada.
In the early 1950s, Barbara met her longtime friend and fellow dancer, Sugar Sullivan, at the Savoy Ballroom. Together, they shared an unmatched energy and charisma, bringing Lindy Hop to audiences worldwide. Both Barbara and Sugar are honored inductees of the International Lindy Hop Hall of Fame, celebrated for their dedication to preserving and promoting Lindy Hop’s unique heritage and spirit.
Chester Whitmore
Chester Whitmore has been dancing around the world since 1974, trained by none other than Fayard Nicholas of the legendary Nicholas Brothers. Chester is a dancer, teacher, choreographer, director, stuntman, entertainer, and even a renowned drummer and bandleader.
His choreography graces music videos for artists like Boys II Men, Sugar Ray, and Teena Marie, and he’s worked with icons such as Savion Glover, MC Hammer, and Prince. With his dance company, Black Ballet Jazz, he has lit up stages with the Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie orchestras.
Chester’s boundless energy and infectious passion make him an unforgettable entertainer—one who must be seen to be believed! Is there anything he can’t do? We don’t think so.
Cynthia Millman
Cynthia R. Millman, co-author of the book "Frankie Manning - Ambassador of Lindy Hop", taught dance and performed for over twenty-five years, including five years with the Big Apple Lindy Hoppers. She holds one master's degree in dance and dance education, and another in library science. Cynthia has studied and partnered with Frankie Manning and lectured with him on the history of the Lindy Hop. As a librarian at The Town School in Manhattan, she has contributed articles to Dance Magazine and The International Encyclopedia of Dance, and has served as a dance consultant on several documentaries.
Sugar Sullivan
Sugar Sullivan began dancing at age nine and rose to fame as a member of the Original Jazz Dancers, a legendary group of Lindy Hoppers and Hoofers from Harlem's golden age. Her career highlights include performances with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, Cab Calloway's Hi-De-Ho Orchestra, and Panama Francis and his Savoy Sultans.
Starting with Tap at home, Sugar was trained by Buster Brown by age four. She met Barbara Billups at the Savoy Ballroom in the early fifties. They have performed across North America and Canada with Sonny Allen and the Rockets. Both are honored members of the International Lindy Hop Hall of Fame, celebrated for their dedication to preserving and promoting Lindy Hop’s unique heritage and spirit.
.png)
Sylvia Sykes
Sylvia is one of the most well-known and respected dancers, instructors and judges in the U.S. today. An internationally recognized authority on most types of Swing dance, she has been teaching and judging for over 30 years throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia. Sylvia studied with the great Swing dancer Dean Collins, studied Balboa with Maxie Dorf and spent years learning from the greatest Southern California Balboa dancers.
Prof. Christi Jay Wells
Christi Jay Wells (she/they) is a jazz dancer, historian, and award-winning scholar whose work bridges the worlds of jazz music and dance. She earned her PhD in Musicology from the University of North Carolina and is the author of the acclaimed book Between Beats: The Jazz Tradition and Black Vernacular Dance. A sought-after lecturer and educator, Christi shares her research with dancers, musicians, and academic audiences around the world, making jazz history accessible and relevant to contemporary communities.
Markus Rosendal
Markus Rosendal has been deeply involved in the swing dance community since the late 1990s, originally as a competition dancer who later developed a strong focus on Lindy Hop, Boogie Woogie, and related dance traditions. Alongside his dance career, he has cultivated a long-standing passion for swing music, spending years discovering, collecting, and sharing lesser-known recordings that deserve greater recognition. Today, he is especially known for his musical work as a DJ, where he focuses on creating immersive, present-moment experiences through carefully curated swing music selections.
Prof. Moncell Durden
Moncell Durden is a dance educator, choreographer, ethnographer, embodied historian, author, and Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. Specializing in Afro-kinetic memory, he teaches and researches the cultural and historical foundations of social dances, from authentic jazz to hip hop, house, and locking. An internationally sought-after instructor, he is a member of the pioneering NYC hip-hop group Mop Top Crew and has taught at leading institutions including Yale, Wesleyan, Bennington, and Drexel University.
Natty Bo
Natty Bo is an internationally renowned DJ, MC, singer and dancer from South East London. With over 30 years of experience, he is known for his deep knowledge of vintage music, from swing and jump blues to ska, reggae and Latin rhythms. He performs with bands such as Ska Cubano, Top Cats and Natty Congeroo & The Flames of Rhythm and is a resident DJ at Soho’s legendary Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues. As both a seasoned selector and passionate dancer, Natty Bo is famous for keeping dance floors alive wherever he goes.
Nicolle Rochelle
Born and raised in New Jersey, Nicolle Rochelle began her professional career as an actress, singer, and dancer in New York City at the age of eight before earning a degree from Brown University. After fulfilling her dream of portraying Josephine Baker in an international tour based in Paris, she immersed herself in jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues, becoming a celebrated vocalist on the international swing and jazz scene. Today, she leads her own musical projects while performing with renowned bands around the world.