Teachers

The International Lindy Hop Championships, The Savoy Cup, and The Korean Lindy Hop Championships – do these events resonate with you?
They hold a significant place in the life of Ari and Simon, and here’s the exciting scoop: they’re set to teach at the 2024 edition of the Blue Monday Festival!
Renowned for their infectious energy and their unique perspective that dancing is akin to a beautiful conversation, Ari and Simon are the teachers you’ve got to know. And guess what? You can actually envision yourself learning from them in person! It’s not just a dream – they will be here!

Jenna found swing dancing in 2004 in her small local scene of Wenatchee WA. Since then she has spent countless hours expanding her dancing repertoire and sharing her love and knowledge of these dances with others. Her energy and passion create the perfect environment for learning. She has attended, coordinated, and taught various workshops and exchanges all across the globe. Some of her favorite highlights are performing at Benaroya Hall in The Jump Session Show and teaching for Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing. Above all else she believes that learning to dance should be fun, and rooted in the music and history. With over 15 years of teaching/coaching/training experience, she loves finding new ways to connect with other dancers on the floor and in the classroom and to create challenging yet applicable lessons in the classroom.
Dan is immersed in the music and the movement. As a teacher, his enthusiastic approach brings a focus on innovation, connection, and attention to your partner. As a veteran DJ, he’s played for events across 4 continents, DJing everything from international events to local dances. He’s also organized both locally and for international events, including a Head DJ role in BluesSHOUT! and The Balboa/Blues Experiment. In the end, Dan is most excited to work hard at improving the dance and to see people break through their boundaries.

Gil and Andy are very cheerful dancers who love social dancing! They host and teach at the Porto local scene, and you can find them in the middle of the dancefloor, sweating all their love and joy for these afro-american dances!
Teaching together since 2019, they teach both Lindy Hop and Blues and manage the local projects Bota Swing and Bota Gatherings.
Their class methodology works through layer-building exercises, combining expression, spontaneity, musicality, movement quality, and communication dynamics, considering social dancing scenarios.
The aim is to further grow your personal “dancing mojo” by exploring how to play with each other, working towards a more organic conversation and a more shared “leading”.

Carla is a genuine blend of pure joy and essential vitamins! She embarked on her journey as a Swing dance instructor in 2012 and added Blues classes to her repertoire in 2014. What she cherishes most is witnessing the hapiness and exuberance that dance and music instill in her students.
Rodrigo ventured into the realm of Blues and Swing dance at the age of 39 and has never looked back since. His mission is to show all students that it’s never too late to start dancing. He aspires for everyone to experience the profound happiness that dance can infuse into their personal and professional lives.
Together, they teach Blues, Balboa, and SlowBal dance, always focusing on positive energy and a shared connection. They prioritize the well-being and sense of community, cultivating an inclusive and enjoyable environment for learning to dance. As they emphasize in their classes: ‘Dancing is not only great for your physical health, but it also elevates your spirit.