THE INSTRUCTORS

The Headliners:

Kevin Buster (Seattle, WA)-Known for his unique Charleston technique, and eclectic style, Kevin has been teaching and dancing for 9 years. Currently he is teaching in Western WA with his partner Lizzy Boyer. He is also staying very busy DJing and playing his saxophone at venues in Seattle. You will learn things you didn't know were possible in his classes. Kevin placed 1st in the 2006 Girl Jam Charleston Competition, 3rd in the 2004 Fast Feet Competition at Herräng Dance Camp, 4th in the 2005 Fast Feet Competition in Herräng, and 1st place in the 2005 Camp Jitterbug Charleston Competition.  kevinbuster.com

Lizzy Boyer (Seattle, WA)-Lizzy teaches in Western WA with her partner Kevin Buster. A passionate instructor and tremendous dancer, she is also an accomplished vocalist and musician. She has been blues dancing and lindyhopping for two years. She also has 13 years experience in musical theater and a conglomeration of authentic middle eastern dances. When teaching, dancing or DJing, she says it is her goal for everyone to have the time of their lives. Lizzy placed 4th in Sonny Newman's Big Apple competition in February 2007, 1st in the March 2007 Halo Swing Dance Competition, 1st in the may 2007 ESSC Dance Competition, and 5th in the 2007 Annual Killer Diller Ball Lindyhop Contest.  lindybomb.com

The Guest Instructors:

Kelly Edmonston (New York, NY)-Kelly has been intrigued by blues and jazz since her early teens, and started making a study of the music once she entered high school.  She was introduced to blues dancing in early 2006, and was immediately captured by this physical expression of the music she loved so much.  Originally from the Seattle area, Kelly recently moved to New York to pursue musical theatre...(which happens to have roots in jazz, blues, and vaudeville!)  She considers herself a bi-coastal dancer, and cannot choose between the two places.  so she decided to organize this event so that the dancers from the West Coast, whom she loves so much, can meet the dancers from the East Coast, whom she loves equally.  How do you do, everyone? (You're already on her website) Picture courtesy of Will Luong

Jesse Young (Philadelphia, PA)-Jesse's training in movement and body control began with six years of wrestling and martial arts. In 2001, he began to study Lindy Hop and Umfundalai African dance technique. Jesse was enamored with the new ways in which the dances taught him to move his body and with the seemingly magical connection both between the dancers and the music as well as between the dance partners themselves. When blues dancing found him 3 years ago, it deepened and amplified this love affair with connection, music, and movement. Jesse co-founded LaB, a weekly lesson and dance for Lindy and Blues in Philly, in order to share his love of the dance, and now it is his pleasure to share it with you. lindyandblues.com

Amy Best (Seattle, WA)-Amy has been a passionate dancer all of her life, from lindyhop, to West African dance, to blues, to modern, and everything in between. In January of this year she went to Guinea, West Africa to study music and dance. She plans to continue her world travels as a student and instructor of dance and is honored to have this opportunity to share some of what she brought back with you.
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Carsie Blanton (Philadelphia, PA)-Carsie picked up Lindy in 2004 in Eugene, OR, and discovered blues in '06, instantly becoming an addict and missionary. Since then she's studied both dances in Seattle, San Francisco and Sweden. Co-Founder of LaB, Philadelphia's weekly Lindy and blues dance practicum, Carsie is a sucker for playful, connected, musicality-rich dances, and leads who aren't afraid to ham it up a bit. lindyandblues.com picture is courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Jon Darvill (Philadelphia, PA)-Jon started dancing Lindy in 2003 in Ithaca, NY. He picked up blues dancing when he moved outside of Philadelphia in 2005. His focuses are clean and clear connection and making life better for his followers. Also a co-Founder of LaB, Philadelphia's weekly Lindy and blues dance practicum, Jon is known across the northeast (and elsewhere) for his great connection and eagerness to please.  lindyandblues.com picture is courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Mihai Banulescu (San Francisco, CA) - Mihai is primarily a blues dance organizer and ambassador, and his teaching reflects that. He loves to provide the spark that gets people addicted to blues dancing. To him, teaching is not filling an empty vessel but lighting a flame. Dancing of any kind was scary and foreign to him until his junior year in college, when a couple of friendly folks got him started with East Coast Swing. That passion has been driving him ever since to dance and learn where opportunities exist, teach and organize where they do not. He loves to dance, from the giddiness of lindy hop to the intensity of tango and to the soul of blues. He have been teaching blues in the Bay Area and beyond since November 2004. Besides teaching 1-3 hours a week at Friday Night blues and other venues he manages, he has taught in Chico, Portland, Seattle, Boulder, Tulsa, Memphis, Nashville, South Florida, Honolulu, Hilo. Every organizer has asked him to come back and teach within a year. He has DJ'ed events or house parties in all of the above plus San Diego, Sacramento, Tacoma, Denver, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Austin, Tampa. beyondblues.com

Lucky Skillen (New York, NY) - Through the magic power of his huge smile, Lucky brings dancing joy to wherever he goes. He has been dancing for eleven years and teaching for eight. In this time he has taught and performed across the US, Japan, Taiwan and Europe. He started the first ever weekly blues venue in Denver four years ago: Lucky's Lindy and Blues. He then moved to Taiwan and started a swing scene there. Next, he returned to New York to teach Lindy Hop full time. Since moving to New York he has taught and performed at many prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Irving Plaza, the University Club, and the Pierre hotel (featured in "Scent of a Woman"). Additionally, Lucky was a featured dancer in the musical "Forever Swing" National Tour and is a member of Frankie Manning's Wednesday Night Lindy Hoppers.
He has also worked with the Mad Hot Ballroom program in New York teaching dance to inner city kids. He recently wowed the west coast blues community on the "Get Lucky Exchange" tour, where he taught in Washington, Oregon and California and promptly followed that up with the Denver Blues Summit, Philly Blues Connection, a six week blues tour in the UK, Houston fusion exchange. He is currently back in the UK for another two month tour. luckyskillen.com

MORE TEACHERS TO BE ADDED SOON!