Brooklyn Swings Team
Jenny Sowden
|
Michael Mathis
|
Michelle Tadmor
|
Morgan Kestner
|
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)![]() 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.
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
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
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.