Brien started dancing in Harlem back in 1939. He was one of Whitey's original Lindy Hoppers and is a wealth of knowledge in the dance community. In 1990, he moved to Seattle to get away from the limelight and paparazzi. He turned down book deals and lead a reclusive life as a telemarketer. In 1998, Brien re-emerged on the dance floor a new man. Having a passion for the dance again, he teaches his first love, Lindy Hop.

Chris Chapman

Chris Chapman brings extensive training in a variety of social dances, movement analysis, the history of swing dancing, and his training from some of the legends of the dance!  His passion, expertise, and strong teaching ability ensure fun and exciting classes for all levels of dancers!  Chris is an American Lindy Hop Champion, a Pacific Northwest Lindy Hop Champion, and has won or placed in many contests and divisions.  He is recognized as a top instructor and performer having toured all over North America. Chris is the founder of the Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz Dance team, Zah-Zu-Zay.  Within one year of the team’s formation Chris choreographed and trained them to win the coveted team division at the American Lindy Hop Championships! 
 

Dangelei has been dancing Lindy Hop in Seattle since 2000.  Her love of the dance has recently taken her to Europe to study with the great dancers of this time. Dangelei enjoys teaching beginners because she believes there is nothing more awesome than helping students discover the joy of swing dancing.  Dangelei’s instructional focus is on continuous partner movement and matching up using flawless transitions.  Her current dance interests include a newfound love for Balboa.  In her spare time Dangelei likes to eat nachos and watch scary movies.

Jonathan Garrigues

Jonathan started dancing Lindy Hop in early 1996, and has been teaching for the Savoy Swing Club for quite a few years. He also dances Argentine Tango, and his obsession with good leading and following spills out of this dance into his Lindy Hop teaching. He enjoys the social aspect of the dance, and tries to pass along the value of good floorcraft, friendly dance etiquette, and subtle musicality. He has a degree in music and enjoys sharing his knowledge of swing music structure. He was also a member of the Century Ballroom's dance troupe, Swing This!
 

Mark Kihara has been enthusiastically dancing swing since 1998.  An avid social dancer, Mark has traveled and danced Lindy Hop in more than ten countries. Great energy is brought to every class he teaches, and he becomes most excited while getting people to share his love of the dance.  He currently runs Swing Jam Productions and loves chicken.

Sorry boys, Lorraine lost her heart to swing dancing back in 1998. She has since become a dedicated Lindy, Balboa, and Charleston addict, traveling throughout the United States to dance, teach, compete, and pick up a few titles along the way. Lorraine's dance specialties include embracing the euphoric, free spirit of lindy and the grace of balboa. She hopes to share some of this love with y'all.

Melissa Petersen has been dancing Lindy Hop for six years, mostly in the Seattle area but also spending some time in Denver. Melissa loves performing Lindy Hop, and she was a member of the championship winning team - Zah-Zu-Zay. Melissa has a reputation for integrating her quick wit, skill, and sound effects to give her students a multi-modal learning experience. She enjoys puppies, chocolate, and long walks on the beach.

Rachael Ries has been dancing Lindy Hop since 1999. She loves learning about all dances and incorporating new moves into her Lindy hop. Rachael is a regional and national champion, has performed at the Harlem Jazz Festival in 2003 and taught at the American Lindy Hop Championships. She loves the energy of swing and the joy people express as they dance. Her teaching focuses on connection between lead and follow and using body movement efficiently.
 

A founding member of Savoy Swing Club and Lindy Hop addict for more than 15 years, this gal has one of the greatest swing outs in Seattle.  An instructor for SSC since 1993, she has taught with not only Savoy but HepCat Productions, Left Foot Boogie, Living Traditions/Northwest Dance Network, Swing Kids and more.  In 2003 and 2004, she went MIA from the Seattle Lindy scene organizing Frankie Manning’s 89th and 90th Birthday Cruises – a tribute to Ambassador of Lindy Hop and the man who gave her Lindy Hop.  Christine is a talented performer, choreographer and coach and has placed and won in local, national and international Lindy Hop competition. Don't miss the fun - that's always the theme when Xtine is teaching!

Casey's love of swing and jazz dance began in 1998, and she has been teaching for Savoy Swing Club since 2005.  She regularly teaches at local, regional and national lindy hop events.  Whether social dancing, teaching, or performing, Casey is inspired by the playful spirit of swing dance and jazz music, and in "raising her voice" as a female dancer.  When teaching, she focuses on developing solid technique while inspiring new dancers to love the dance as much as she does!

Viola Spencer is one of the dancers responsible for reviving Lindy in the Seattle area back in the early 90's. Among a handful of Americans who first travelled to the now reknowned Herrang Dance camp, she brought back knowledge gained there to help establish the Savoy Swing Club and to start her own classes here in Seattle. A long-time teacher and performer in the community, she has taught at workshops and festivals as far afield as the Great South Lindyfest and The Body Shop in Dallas, and has taught with national performers including Peter Strom, Steven Mitchell and the great Frankie Manning. With her impeccably grounded style, inventive footwork, and clear teaching methods, she continues to inspire new generations of dancers. Currently, she also imparts her knowledge of authentic jazz, charleston and Lindy to students at the high school where she is a full-time English teacher, and where swing is offered as an elective!

Joshua began dancing in 1998 in Washington, DC, inspired by the classic jazz music of the 20s, 30s and 40s.  He loves to share his passion for lindy hop, charleston and vernacular jazz wherever he goes.  In his teaching, he focuses on technique, rhythm and quality of movement, seeking to challenge dancers while remaining accessible and fun.  When he's not dancing, Joshua is an activist for social & economic justice. (But don't worry - he won't use a bullhorn in class.)

Travis Whetman

Travis has been teaching and performing Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Charleston in the Pacific Northwest for several years and is a member of Seattle’s award-winning performance team, the Jackson Street Lindy Hoppers.  Travis also plays an active role in keeping swing alive in Seattle by DJing regularly and by co-founding one of Seattle’s regular swing dances, One O’clock Jump.  He not only has a love for vintage jazz dancing but also for the music that helped create it and spends much of his free time studying the history of both.  His most recent accomplishments include 1^st place in the 2004 Camp Jitterbug Lindy Hop Contest and 1^st place in the Fast Division of the 2003 Pacific Northwest Lindy Hop Championships.