Brenda Russell (Portland, OR)

Brenda is fulfilling her childhood dream as a professional dancer and instructor. Brenda's early dance training included about 30 dance styles. She has also studied musical history, dance history, dance instruction, health and wellness methods, and other related subjects adding to her knowledge of the body, dance, music, and teaching. Brenda continues to study and train with coaches, historians, and practitioners, always striving to increase her understanding and ability. Brenda has put the majority of her focus over the past many years into the Lindy Hop, Balboa, Blues, West Coast Swing, and Salsa communities. She believes we are all born with dance in our bodies, and that each of us can use this activity as a means for personal expression, connecting with others, and exercise. Brenda loves the image of being able to dance anytime, anywhere, to any music, alone, or with anyone. She spends her time living this dream for herself while assisting her students in accomplishing their personal dance goals.

[visit her website]

Ruby Red (Chicago, IL)

Ruby Red discovered social dance in 2000, and by 2001 was swing dancing regularly in San Francisco. By 2005, she was teaching and DJing at the first iterations of San Francisco's Friday Night Blues. Since then she has traveled the US and to the UK to teach, DJ and share her love of Blues and Swing with other dancers. Now based in Chicago, she helps run Bluetopia, Chicago's monthly blues dance, and continues to travel to other cities to connect, collaborate and bring inspiration back to her community. Not only a continual student of dance, she's also a certified massage therapist and has studied other movement forms including Kung Fu, T'ai Chi and Iyengar Yoga.

Ted Maddry (Seattle, WA)

As a teacher, Ted Maddry has helped thousands of students change their dancing and sometimes even their lives. In his classes, he will challenge you to develop dance technique, experiment & take risks in your dancing, all the while maintaining a comfortable & entertaining classroom environment. You will get new perspectives, unique material, & sometimes you will even learn how the same methods you use to improve your dancing can also be used to improve your non-dance life.

John Lozano (Seattle, WA)

John Lozano was first introduced to the Detroit dance scene in 1998, however his journey began much earlier than that. Some of his fondest memories are of he and his family singing along with Detroit's "oldies" radio station which included a special blend of Detroit's own blend of motown, soul and early rock and roll. Within his first year of dancing John was learning east coast swing and lindy hop (with a dash of latin and ballroom)and by 2000 was teaching classes and small workshops. Around 2001 he was exposed to blues dancing and has ever since be dancing, djing and teaching swing and blues side by side.

Over the years he has continued to grow in his dancing and musical knowledge, and taught workshops throughout the midwest, parts of Canada, and after a brief "pause for the cause" (a volunteering stint/spiritual journey which may take a couple cups of tea to even begin to explain) has resurfaced on the west coast to spread joy and love through music and dance. John prides himself on his artistry on the dance floor, and in being able to reach out and share his embodied knowledge of the technical, expressive and creative sides of dance with his students. He is always on the lookout for live music to dance to, and loves to pay homage of those bands that have most moved him by djing their music with dancers who may have never otherwise heard them. Quite often you'll hear him refer back to his favorite former Detroit public radio DJ Gene Elzy, saying that he too delivers "the bluesy side of jazz, and the jazzy side of blues."

Karen R. Smith (Seattle, WA)

Karen has been dancing since 2001, with her main emphasis in Swing and Blues. With her background in juggling instruction and massage therapy, she brings a high degree of body awareness, playfulness, and over ten years experience in teaching movement to her dance instruction. Karen has taught as a full-time instructor for the notable Go Dance Studios in Austin, TX, and now regularly hosts, moderates, and teaches at Seattle’s own Burn Blue and Blues Progressions. She loves the partnership dynamic inherint in the dance, and that, because our job as a leader or a follower is so entwined with other people, it’s an activity and a culture that promotes cooperative interaction.

You can see her dance at http://youtube.com/watch?v=6PGlbbyGPe0. Ask her about private lessons, for feedback, or to dance!

Ruth Hoffman (San Francisco, CA)

Ruth Hoffman has been skipping and twirling through life since she began studying ballet at the age of three. In 1997 she discovered ballroom dancing. It wasn't long before she discovered Lindy Hop through a visiting teacher named Frankie. While at the University of Oregon, she continued her passion for dance studying modern, contact improv, ballroom, Argentine tango, dance history, swing, belly dance, choreography, kinesiology, jazz dance -- anything else she could get her feet on. Ruth currently runs Shades of Blues (www.sfshadesofblues.com) and teaches blues dance, Argentine Tango and dance fusion in the Bay area and beyond.

Andrew Smith (Palo Alto, CA)

Andrew Smith began studying dance six years years ago and has taught for the past five years. Teaching at Blues dance venues and festivals across the country, he seeks to share his passion for dance and help others organically find their own joy in it. Andrew exudes a positive and empathic attitude that encourages students to challenge themselves and celebrate their successes. He is available for private lessons around the Bay Area.

Andrew draws on extensive dance training that has placed him in dance contests around the country, including taking 1st place in the Strictly Blues contest at Emerald City Blues Festival in 2008 and 2009 (partner: Karissa Lightsmith). View his website to learn more about Andrew's background and experience.
A Portland native, Andrew is excited to be in the Bay Area to attend graduate school at Stanford University, where he studies a Master's degree in Sustainable Design Construction.

www.andrewsmithdance.com

Mike Grosser (Madison, WI)

Mike reluctantly started social dancing in college when a couple of his friends persuaded him to do some ballroom east coast swing in their dorm social lounge. A few years later in 2008, Mike discovered Lindy Hop and Blues and quickly got hooked. Since then, he has traveled extensively to dance events all around the country and worked with dozens of instructors.
Mike loves teaching! Explaining concepts and seeing his students grow their abilities before his eyes gives him a huge surge of energy! Mike strives to put himself in his students' shoes to communicate technique as intuitively and thoroughly as possible.