Jenny Sowden (Founder, Director, Current Teacher) 

Jenny Sowden is an award winning, full-time, international dance instructor based in New York City where she is the founder and director of Brooklyn Swings. Jenny has been training in dance for over 25 years and teaching for over 20, with a BA in Dance and Theater from San Diego State University. She has trained in 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, curiosity and an understanding of body mechanics. Jenny believes the dance floor is a ‘World of Yes,’ where we are  accepting, choosing and being inspired by what happens. We then take classes in a ‘World of Intention’ to expand our ‘World of Yes.’ 

For more info: JennySowden.com. 

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Past Main Staff

Michael Mathis
Co-founder

Yurina
​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 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.

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.

John
Instructor

John discovered dance during the neo-swing in the late 90s in Chicago and has been hooked ever since. In 2009 he started teaching Lindy & Blues with Big City Swing in Chicago. John has DJed for Yehoodi's Frim Fram Jam, and Blues dancing events like 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.

Morgan
Instructor/Team

Morgan has been an instructor and also our first Booking Manager at Brooklyn Swings! 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. 

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Johanna
Team

Johanna started with a love of the music and then started Swing Dancing in classes at Brooklyn Swings! Then really got into the social dance, went to dance weekends and even competed! After a couple years Johanna came onto the Brooklyn Swings team as the Booking Manager and continued with us even when moving to Germany where she continues her love of the music and dance there.

Gabby
Team

Gabby was already in the Swing Dance scene before moving to NYC and continued her love of Lindy Hop in the Big Apple. Soon upon moving she came to Brooklyn Swings and joined the team, bringing her previous skills and fresh take. Gabby has been part of creating the newer role of the Social Media Manager for Brooklyn Swings. 

Lewi
Instructor

Lewi had a long love of Swing & Blues music and dancing before moving to NYC. Upon joining the NYC scene you found him all over town from Brooklyn Swings teaching and DJing, to competitions at dance weekends, and various performance troupes in NYC as a professional performing Lindy Hopper. These days you'll find Lewi in Philly continuing to share the dance, music and creating community.

Laura
Instructor

Laura Chieko loves many things: tea, monkeys, and dance. Since 2006, Laura has trained in Lindy hop, Balboa, and Blues, dabbling in other styles. Known for her grace, enchanting performance, and effortless following. A former musician, Laura likes to play with rhythms and has strong opinions on how clarinets should sound. Laura loves Blues for its emphasis on connection and acknowledgment of the range of human emotion—sorrow to joy. Laura believes the best dancing comes from strong community.  She supports this by creating and sharing resources.

More info:
LauraChieko.com

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Mo
Instructor

Mo loves nothing more than to share the joy of Lindy Hop with his partner and to commit himself to the present moment in every dance he has. He especially values rhythm, connection, and the joy of Jazz. He is a New York based dancer often travelling between NYC and Rochester, NY while running a small dance scene in Geneseo, NY. Mo has been a musician and performer since he could walk and has extensively played a wide assortment of instruments from around the world. He had first begun taking dance lessons at Syncopated City Dance School in Manhattan, and since then, travels far and wide to attend everything Jazz. 

Akemi
Instructor

Akemi has been dancing Lindy Hop for 12+ years. She has studied with  many including the Ambassador of Lindy Hop himself, Frankie Manning. Currently she is teaching various partner dances to 4th thru 8th grade students in public schools with Dancing Classrooms a.k.a “Mad Hot Ballroom." She believes that everyone can enjoy dancing, and is passionate about making dancers out of every student.  She is an active member of Grind Grippers, fusing modern dance with Lindy Hop and can be found about town social dancing in NYC. 

For more info:
www.triplesteps.org

Mimi
Instructor

Formerly of the NYC swing dance scene for over 15 years, Mimi and her family now reside in San Francisco. Mimi has also been an established teacher, performer, DJ, and choreographer in the Northeast and beyond. Her advice to all swing lovers is to get to know the music and musicians, which is how she continually finds joy in swing.
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For more info about Mimi, visit her website at www.mimiswing.com.

Kevin
Instructor

Kevin comes to Lindy Hop as a musician and a dancer. You'll see him join jam bands and jam circles. His love for the dance is routed very much in his love for the music. Kevin has been to a number of dance weekends, taking classes and competing. He loves to be places with dancers can dance to live music, making NYC a great spot to be.

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Miriam
Instructor

From San Francisco to NYC, to China and back to NYC Miriam has shared Swing & Blues dances and spaces wherever she lives. Miriam is a seasoned dancer going to numerous dance weekends, social dances and seen in competition and performance spaces. Her performing interest is also seen in her talent as a stage and film Director outside of the dance. She creates a kind, calm and curious space to learn in with a quick understanding of her joy for both Swing and Blues dances in NYC.

Jeff
Instructor

Jeff has been an ever present member of the NYC Swing Dance community as a teacher, DJ and competitor until more recently moving with his Lindy Hopping and Balboa dancing family to SF. His talents are felt in the scene through his dance, teaching, music and also his Photography. 

Michelle
Instructor

Michelle has been dancing from a young age in jazz, tap and in front of a TV  playing 'Singing in the Rain' on VHS. She loves Lindy Hop: the dance, music, culture, friends, she even met her husband right here at Brooklyn Swings! Michelle's favorite part of swing dance is connecting with a song, a particular rhythm or idea and sharing that excitement for a moment without words. Michelle is a founding member of Holy Lindy Land, Israel's first swing dance school. She has taught, competed, and DJ'd around the world and is currently back in Tel Aviv sharing the music and dance through her community and family.

Galit
Instructor/Team

Galit came to NYC from Denver, and had already found her love for Blues dancing and had a soon to be fast growing love for Swing Dancing. At this point Galit is a seasoned social dancer, performer, competitor and teacher in both Swing dancing and Blues dancing in NYC. Upon moving to NYC Galit approached Brooklyn Swings and soon joined the team in being the first Registration Manager and developing that role. Galit continues in NYC with her training, performing and her many creative outlets. Find Galit on the dance floor, the stage, in competitions and making some incredibly creative face/body paintings. 

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Past Guest/Support Instructors

Adam Brozowski 
Albert Mundet
Andrei Ramanovich
Bethany Potter
Dani Schulkin 
Daniel Repsch
Eran Tobi
Eric Meisel
Erika Finnimore
Gaby Cook
Hannah Katzen
Jeri Lynn Astra
Jocelyn Howard
Kristin Jarrell
Michael Duke
Neal Groothuis
Selena Kruse
Shana Weaver
Shawn Hershey
Shorty George
​Stina Dallons

Past DJs

Akemi Kinukawa
Andrius Sc
Claire Lorman
Daphna Harel
Greg Golod
Jeff Liu-Leyco
Jenny Sowden
John Kreiger-Joven
Kevin Tan
Lewi Gliamichael
Michelle Tadmor
Mimi Liu-Leyco
Morgan Lee
Odysseus Bailer
Ryan Mascaro
Ryan Swift
Voon Chew
Yurina Shin