Instructors

Brooklyn Swings Team

Jenny Sowden
(Co-Founder, Director, Instructor)

Jenny Sowden is an award winning, full-time, international dance instructor based in New York City where she is the managing director of Brooklyn Swings and nycBABBLE.com. Jenny has been training in dance for over twenty five years and teaching for over twenty, with a BA in Dance and Theater from San Diego State University. She has studied 34 different styles of movement including Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, West African, Capoeira, Aikido, Tango, Salsa, Lindy hop, Charleston, Balboa, and Blues. Her background influences her teaching and general style through musicality, variety, expression and an understanding of body mechanics. Jenny believes the dance floor is a ‘World of Yes,’ where by constantly accepting and being inspired by what happens, creates an amazing place to be. We then take classes in a ‘World of Intention’ to expand our ‘World of Yes.’
For more info: JennySowden.com.

Michael Mathis
(Co-Founder & Guest Instructor)

Michael, originally from North Carolina found himself in NYC looking for adventure and found it! Being a co-founder and instructor of Brooklyn Swings he's been around since the beginning. Michael has studied many styles of social dance and finds himself able to dance to many styles of music with ease and still analyzes what defines each one. Michael has studied various styles of swing including Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Charleston with such greats as Frankie Manning, Sylvia Sykes, Nick Williams and more. He has also ventured to Argentina, intensely studying Argentinian Tango. The combo of Swing and Tango makes Michael the mysterious, clear, and goofy dancer he is today. Currently Michael finds home in Seattle but still has love for Brooklyn.

Michelle Tadmor
(Curriculum Guide & Instructor)

Michelle has been dancing from a young age, in jazz and tap classes and in front of the tv while 'singing in the rain' was playing off vhs. She loves Lindy Hop, the dance, the music, the culture, the friends, she even met her husband right here in Brooklyn Swings! Michelle's favorite part about swing dance is connecting with a song, a particular rhythm or an idea and then sharing that excitement with your partner for a moment without words. Michelle is one of the founding members of Holy Lindy Land, Israel's first swing dance school. She has taught, competed, and DJ'd around the world.

John Joven (Instructor)

John discovered dance during the neo-swing revival of the late 90s in Chicago and has been hooked ever since. Over the years, he has expanded his interests to teaching, DJing, and competing. He got is start teaching lindy and blues with Big City Swing in Chicago in 2009, but had been a performer in the company troupe since 2004. He is a regular DJ for New York's most popular weekly swing event, Yehoodi's Frim Fram Jam, and he also DJs at the local blues dancing events, Gotham City Blues and F'NBlues. His blues dancing and teaching are grounded in the blues aesthetic with an appreciation for the physical expression of the emotions of the music. As a lindy hopper he combines a focus on solid technique with a emphasis in joy of movement. He teaches his students to find their own style and ways of moving within the context of the fundamentals and encourages them to add their voice in the conversation of the dance.

Akemi Kinukawa
(Instructor)

Akemi has been dancing Lindy Hop for the past 12 years. She has studied the dance with internationally renowned Lindy Hop instructors including Frankie Manning. She has extensive experience in teaching diverse groups of students. Currently she is teaching various partner dancing to 4th to 8th grade students in public schools as a teaching artist for Dancing Classrooms a.k.a “Mad Hot Ballroom." Additionally, she has had residencies as a swing dancing instructor at several high schools, senior citizen programs, ESL groups, and major dance studios including Dardo Galletto Studios and Sandra Cameron Dance Center. She believes that everyone can enjoy dancing, and she is passionate about bringing dancers out of every student. She is an active member of a dance company, Grind Grippers, fusing modern dance with Lindy Hop and other social dances. She can be also found on the streets of NY showcasing arts of creating movements with a partner and improvising to live music. For more information, please visit www.triplesteps.org

Morgan Kestner
(Booking Manager)

The past 9 years, Morgan has dedicated much of her time to contributing to the Lindy Hop community. Having volunteered countless dance events and co-organizing a few herself, she is well aware of all aspects that goes into creating an environment for Lindy Hop! Her recent work is co-producing for Risque Rhythm Burlesque shows in Los Angeles.

Yurina Shin (Instructor)

New York City based Yurina Shin began her dancing career 5 years ago, when she tentatively tested the waters at a local Swing Dance event. Since then, she hasn’t looked back and her skills have grown along with her love of dance. In 2011 she started Rhythm and Seoul, a swing dance group where both beginners and seasoned veterans could experience the joys of dancing with other likeminded individuals. Yurina has been active in the New York City dance scene, and has also toured the country training with nationally and internationally acclaimed dancers. When she’s not competing or attending one of the many events going on throughout the year, Yurina teaches students of all ages the intricacies of Lindy Hop and Balboa.

Mimi Liu (Instructor)

Mimi Liu loves to dance when no one’s looking and when everyone’s looking. A lifelong dancer, she started swing dancing on a whim in 2005 as a summer hobby in Pasadena, California. Later that year, she moved to New York City, where her love for jazz music and its related dances blossomed exponentially. Today, she is recognized as an up-and-coming force in the Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Authentic Jazz worlds, winning numerous dance awards locally and nationally. She is especially remembered for her sassy and graceful stylings on the floor. In her hometown of NYC, Mimi is known as an established teacher, performer, and choreographer of swing dance. Her advice to all swing lovers is to embrace the music, which is how she continually finds joy in swing.

For more info about Mimi, visit her website at www.mimiswing.com.

Laura Chieko (Instructor)

Photography by Nina Galicheva

Laura Chieko is an NYC-based swing dancer who has loved music for her entire life. She first learned how to move to a beat in marching band, and has subsequently trained in Lindy hop, balboa, and blues. She has performed with the New York City Balboa Team, the “Amazebals”—under the direction of Mickey Fortanasce at Lindy Focus XII—and she has placed in numerous blues dance competitions across the country. Laura has a passion for teaching and student engagement in the classroom. She is best known for her poise, playfulness on the dance floor, and ability to rock the color orange.

GUEST INSTRUCTORS

Neal Groothuis(Guest instructor)

Photography by Eileen O.Donnell

Neal learned to swing dance back in Champaign, Illinois 14 years ago under the assumption that that was the correct way to "party like it's 1999". Since then, he's been lindy-hopping, Charlestoning, bluesing, and balboa-ing in scenes throughout the U.S. and abroad. He and the lovely Jeri Lynn Astra teach at the monthly Wit's End jazz-age celebration, and he's done a variety of swing dance instruction ranging from week-long swing intensives for dozens of high school students to a small specialty class on Bal-Rueda.

When he's not dancing or making dance names into peculiar gerunds, you might find him weightlifting, drinking coffee, or even updating his website at http://www.nealgroothuis.name.

Albert Mundet (Instructor)

These days you can find this Lindy Hopper in Spain!

Adam Brozowski
(Guest instructor)

Adam Brozowski loves Jazz and has been dancing his whole life. He has toured
nationally with the musical “42nd street” as a tap dancer, traveled through Asia promoting Jazz dance and education and Lindy Hopped his way across the country several times. Adam began Lindy Hopping in 1996 and holds 15 national and regional titles for his dancing. Adam has had the honor of working closely with Lindy Hops originators Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, original members of “Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers” from the Savoy Ballroom most recently teaching with Norma (at 91 years of age) right here in New York City. Adam loves reaching out to diverse populations about the joys of Lindy Hopping and has instructed everyone from 3 year olds, all the way to a 102 year-old student! Adam is very excited to be teaching Lindy Hop here with his friend Jenny at Brooklyn Swings!
www.AdamBrozowski.weebly.com

Miriam Grill (Guest Instructor)

From San Francisco, from New York City and most recently from China this Lindy Hopper gets around town!

Shorty George (Guest Instructor)

Shorty George is one crazy dance cactus. When he started dancing, he forgot that he needed water to survive. He is a Lindy Hop, Blues, and Balboa dancer from New York City & has been rocking out like this for 8 years. He has traveled all over the U.S. & Europe to many of the major events like Barswingona, Herrang, ULHS, Snowball & GNSH. Having previously taught Lindy Hop & Blues workshops in Reykjavik, Istanbul, & Madrid, Shorty George brought great energy, humor, and entertainment to the classes while teaching some useful techniques to improve people's dancing.

For more info, check www.shortygeorge.com

Jeri Lynn Astra(Guest Instructor)

Jeri earned her BA in Dance Pedagogy from Point Park University. She taught at Elite Dance By Damian, choreographed for Taylor Allderdice High School, danced soloist and principal roles at Carnegie Performing Arts Center and Pittsburgh Savoyards, and worked on several shows at Comtra Theatre in the capacity of choreographer, dance captain, and lead dancer before moving to NYC. Since then, Jeri has performed with numerous performance classes as well as teaching at events around the city such as: Blue Note Jazz Festival, Long Island Jazzmobile, The Museum of the City of New York's Summer Speakeasy, etc. She has been the house dance instructor at Wit's End alongside Neal for the past four years. She is absolutely thrilled to be part of Brooklyn Swings and can't wait to see where her dance journey is going to lead her next.
https://www.facebook.com/JeriLynnAstra

Eran Tobi (Guest Instructor)

Eran is one of the most senior lindy hop dancers in the Israeli swing community.
Dancing Lindy Hop since 2007, he has dedicated most of his time for dancing and spreading the Lindy spirit in Israel. In addition for holding titles from events like the European Swing Dance Championships and Tel Aviv Swing Festival, Eran has been performing with some of the hottest swing and Dixieland bands in Israel: Swing De Gittans, The New Orleans Jazz band and more.
Since 2009, Eran has been teaching Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Vernacular Jazz, Acrobatics and Blues in Jerualem and Tel Aviv, at a dance school he founded in 2010 – the Holy Lindy Land. Eran works hard on bringing this dance wherever he can by organizing dances, street parties, workshops and shows.
Eran's motto is: "Anything is possible.'I can't dance' is just an excuse. You want to bet? Just try me…"

For more info, check www.holylindyland.com

Daniel Repsch (Guest Instructor)

Dan has spent the last few years traveling the country to dance, teach, DJ, and goof off. Since his start in the Penn State swing club, he’s earned a reputation as a national instructor of Charleston, Lindy Hop, and Blues. Dan’s classes focus primarily on innovation, creating the most comfortable connection between partners, and keeping dancing fun. He likes to challenge his students, and especially likes to help them develop their unique style.

Selena Kruse (Guest Instructor)

To Selena, Swing Dancing is about 20% movement, and 80% attitude. She started dancing in SoCal in 2006 and moved to NYC in 2013 for the abundance of live jazz venues. She has trained in many styles, from Balboa to Lindy Hop, Authentic Jazz, and Tap, but really craves a good swingout whenever possible. She holds titles from many competitions worldwide, from Prague Spring Swing Festival to Camp Hollywood. When she's not out competing or teaching in the US and Europe, her goal is to get as many New Yorkers laughing, connecting with each other, and being around live music as often as possible.

Michael Duke (Guest Instructor)

Michael Duke is a Lindy Hop and Charleston dancer based in New York. He loves jazz music and dancing, and loves sharing the dance and music with his students. He emphasizes finding joy in the dance at all skill levels by helping his students find more ease,comfort, and fun on the social dance floor.

Brooklyn Swings