Teachers

2008 Teachers

We are hard at work recruiting teachers for this year's camp, and we will be posting confirmations in the fall. To give you an idea about the variety and quality of our instructors (many of whom will be back in 2008), our 2007 roster is listed below.

 

2007 Camp Swing Teachers

Dance Instructors - 2007

More teachers will be announced between now and camp, so please check back!

Jason Christodoulou
Sara Lerner & Patrick Fredricksen
Johnny 'Blue Jeans'
Jenna Chalmers
Allen Henderson
Tricia Sterling
Micah & Jessica Jacobson
Colleen Sollars
Cory Tsang
Chris & Emma
Minn Vo
And original inspiration Cari Bartholomew

Jason Christodoulou

Jason is an exceptional dancer, a talented choreographer, cofounder of the Dog House in San Francisco and the dance group Loose Change, and a popular instructor.  Jason has taught previously with swing legends Sylvia Sykes, Virginie and of course our very own Jenna Chalmers. Jason is in high demand at workshops throughout the World. We are happy to have him back at Camp Swing!

Sara Lerner - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 & Patrick Fredrickson - 2004, 2006

Currently living in Los Angeles, Sara Lerner has been dancing since 1997 and teaching, performing, and competing in San Francisco and around the country since 1998. She was the resident Balboa teacher at San Francisco's beloved Saturday night venue, the Doghouse. She blends her prior experience in figure skating with extensive training in several forms of swing, including Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, and Big Apple. Her enthusiasm for the dance and the music shine through in her teaching. Her classes are fun, lively, and always entertaining. Her mix of humor, great musicality, and her knack for breaking it down ensures that everyone has a good time learning how to dance.

A few of  Sara's recent placements include: 1st place Balboa Jack & Jill  and 2nd in Strictly Lindy Hop at Norcal Championships in Dec 2006. 2nd in Balboa at The Rhythmic Arts Festival over New Year's 2007. 1st in Lindy Jack & Jill and 2nd in Strictly Lindy at Reno Dance Sensation 2007.

Patrick is a Los Angeles dancer who began dancing and teaching in Albuquerque, NM, where he was instrumental in developing the Lindy Hop and Balboa scene. Since moving to California he has had the opportunity to perform, teach, and dance with those who inspired him. A great national competitor, teacher, and social dancer, Patrick constantly seeks new sources of inspiration for his dancing. He brings attitude, intensity, and creativity to the dance, and believes in collaborating with other dancers to create new ideas.

Johnny "Blue Jeans"

Johnny, Investment Consultant by day, is one of the founding member of the San Francisco Jitterbugs. He has over 10 years of ballroom and swing dance training, and for the past six years has been teaching, competing, and performing. He has taught at almost every Swing Dance venue in San Francisco. He has been in televised events, full length motion pictures, and have held 1st Place titles to many swing competitions. He has taught regularly at some of the nation's largest public Swing Dance events. He is also known for his high energy and eye-popping stunts. Check out Johnny and The San Francisco Jitterbugs promo video at http://www.myspace.com/johnnybluejeans1

Jenna - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
See Jenna & Cari Lead the 20's Charleston Routine >>

Camp Swing Co-Director Jenna Chalmers has been teaching and performing dance since 1993. She has appeared in music videos, advertisements, and commercials. You may have seen her flying through the air on the Washington Mutual posters or in the Sony Tri-Star film “The Thirteenth Floor.” She has performed on-stage with The Brian Setzer Orchestra and The Manhattan Transfer, and worked with GAP, Hewlett-Packard, Macys, and Pixar Animation Studios, to name a few. Jenna has been a member and choreographer for the performance groups “Bay City Boogie,” “Retro Cabaret,” “Le CanCan Bijou,” and “The Decobelles.” She is an accomplished  irish ceili dancer and travels the world to learn new forms of dance. She has appeared on TV and National Public Radio as an expert in the field of swing dance. Jenna has trained, taught, competed, and judged internationally, including “Monsters of Swing,” the National Lindy Hop Championships, Swing For Choice, “Blast From the Past”, and the “World Swing Championships” in London.

Allen Henderson- 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006
See Allen & Meleksah's 2004 talent show performance >>
See Allen & Meleksah lead their class in a lindy routine >>

We are thrilled to have Allenwith us this year. Many of you may know that he has taught and performed extensively throughout the nation. With years of experience in many styles of dance he brings clarity, passion, and humor to his classes. Through his work with Homestyle: The Integration Project, Allen has brought legendary musicians and instructors to the San Francisco Swing Scene. A handful of his many accomplishments include performances with The Kennedy Center, Macy's Passport Fashion Show, The Lucas Arts Academy Awards Celebration, The San Francisco Jazz Organization, The Annual Hip Hop Dance Festival, as well as numerous movies, music videos, and commercials.

 

Stephen Barlow & Tricia Sterling - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
See Tricia lead the Madison>>
See Stephen's Juggling Performance at the talent show >>
See Stephen in the Girls Can Can Routine >>

Stephen Barlow has been dancing since 1990. His wide spectrum of experience ranges through lindy hop, ballroom, latin, swing, hip hop, house, acid jazz, breaking, acrobatics and martial arts. He has appeared in music videos, promotional videos, and a CD-ROM about swing dancing, as well as performing on stage with The Brian Setzer Orchestra and The Manhattan Transfer. Stephen teaches weekly swing classes, and is a founding member of the swing dance group “Bay City Boogie”. He has achieved national acclaim performing and competing with the award-winning, Lindy/Hip Hop fusion group, Loose Change at events including the North Atlantic Dance Championships, the San Francisco Hip Hop Dancefest and the US Open.

Micah and Jessica Jacobson- 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

Micah Jacobson has been an ambassador of the San Francisco swing scene from the beginning. Micah even met his wife Jessica on the dance floor!  He began teaching at the historic Hi-Ball in 1995, voted the best swing club in the country during its peak years. Micah can be seen in music video, advertisements, and movies like the Sony Tri-Star film “The Thirteenth Floor.” He has taught swing to the CEO of The Gap one day and hundreds of high school kids on another. Micah has a true gift for teaching the dance and making it FUN!  Micah is an original member of  the swing group “Bay City Boogie,” who have performed at numerous events and in front of thousands at the Sacramento Kings half time show. He has trained, taught, and competed all over the world including Monsters of Swing, “Blast from the Past,” the National Lindy Hop Championships and the SF Swing Jam where he placed first.

Colleen Sollars - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

Colleen Sollars is an incredible instructor and we are so fortunate to benefit from her many talents! A long time camp organizer and instructor, she has an extensive background in performance and she has been dancing for over 15 years. Though especially passionate about swing, she has studied many dance styles including jazz, salsa, hip-hop, tap, Afro-Haitian, Irish & English country dance and ballroom. Colleen has performed in a venues far and wide, working with Bay City Boogie and the Swing Cats Rhythm Review, as well as being featured in industry and music videos. You can see her perform this year (as every year) in the exciting Camp Swing talent show!

Colleen's classes always emphasize proper technique, and she really works to make sure that students feel confident in what they're learning. She has taught various dance styles and movement at American Conservatory Theater, Santa Rosa Junior College, Las Positas College and The Willows Theatre Company, as well as teaching and performing at private events and parties throughout the bay area.

Cory Tsang - 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 & Emily Finn, 2006
See Cory dance Salsa with Angel >>

Bringing tremendous variety to the teaching staff this year is Cory Tsang. While he is familiar with many ballroom dances such as (*deep breath*) International Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, International Rumba, ChaCha, Samba, Jive, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Night Club 2 Step, Mambo, Salsa, Merengue, (*whew*) we are perhaps MOST excited about his knowledge in Rueda!!

Sara Gren

Sarah Gren has been dancing since 1975, beginning in her mother's middle eastern troupe, Which stemmed from the Bert Baladine school. She has since been dancing, acting, singing, and promoting general mayhem wherever possible. In addition to growing up in a theatrically inclined family, Sarah has received extensive training in classical, modern and folk dance, choral and solo vocalization, advanced drama, piano, lighting and sound tech, and set design. Her dance spectrum includes ballet, tap, jazz, cabaret bellydance, traditional middle eastern, hula, irish step, irish ceilidh, scottish highland, folkloric basque, lindy hop, east coast, modern and traditional cancan, and much more. Sarah's other projects include acting, singing, choreography and set design for the Stark Ravens Historical Players, dancing with the Art Deco Society's Decobelles, and co-directing (with Jenna Chalmers) the multi-theme dance troupe, Retro Cabaret.

Chris & Emma, 2006

Chris and Emma met after following the hordes of teenagers going to swing dance classes in the late nineties and suddenly found themselves members of The Rugcutters. It was here that they learned the importance of zoot suits, Bleyers and swishy skirts.

Now with a better understanding of the importance of white loafers, stripy socks, and seamed stockings, Chris and Emma have been teaching extensively in the greater Sacramento area and are the driving force behind the budding Sacramento Balboa scene. Visit them at www.intheswingofthings.com

Minn Vo

Minn is one of LA’s favorite competitors and without a doubt one of the most versatile performers in swing dancing today. Inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in 2004, he excels in all areas of Vernacular Jazz Dance, including Collegiate Shag, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Air Steps, and has an extensive influence on the contemporary movement of urban street dance.

His competition background stems from a long history of 1st place titles in the local, national, and world competition circuit since 1997 including America Lindy Hop Championships, Nation Jitterbug Championships, US Open Lindy Hop Championships, Harlem Jazz Festival, California Balboa-Swing Championships, and many more.

He has made him mark in TV commercials, film, and music videos. His most recent accomplishments include the Los Angeles Finals for the FOX reality series “So You Think You Can Dance” (Season 1), The 55th Annual Emmy Awards, The Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY, and sponsorship from Adidas, Vitamin Water and RedBull. His desire to share his passion for dance with others has introduced him as a guest instructor around the world. Visit him at www.minnandcorina.com/index_mc.html

Cari Bartholomew - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
See Jenna & Cari Lead the 20's Charleston Routine >>

Cari Bartholomew has been a gymnast for over 20 years and a gymnastics coach for over 11 years. On the swing scene, she has been teaching and performing since 1995 and has gained numerous professional credits and awards, including appearances in videos for Brian Sezter and Cherry Poppin Daddies. As an early pioneer in bringing Lindy Hop into the nightclub scene, Cari, with long time partner Johnny Swing, taught hundreds of people to dance with their easygoing and entertaining style. Co-creator of the wildly successful "San Francisco Swing Jam", and the original inspiration for Camp Swing, Cari's dynamic and high energy dancing continues to inspire.