Teachers

Michael Faltesek brings to the dance floor an incredibly diverse social and performance dance talent that includes not only Lindy Hop but also Cakewalk, Black Bottom, Traditional Jazz, Tap, Charleston, Breakaway, Balboa, Big Apple, Blues and many other Authentic American Jazz dances.

Michael has been dancing for well over 15 years, in that time he has traveled to instruct, compete, and perform all over the globe. From Harlem to Los Angeles, Canada to Korea, and all throughout Europe. Mike is well known for his charismatic personality, approachability and passion for the essence of authentic jazz dance and music. He possesses an enthusiastic ability to convey ideas and movements explicitly, making him a popular instructor wherever he goes. Having taught at hundred He teaches workshops internationally, each time leaving a lasting impression on his students.

Casey's love of swing dancing began in 1998. Whether social dancing, teaching, or performing, Casey is inspired by the playful spirit of traditional jazz dances and in "raising her voice" as a female dancer. In her teaching, she focuses on developing solid technique and partnering skills as the foundation for developing one's style and sense of musicality. Casey also enjoys competing, with placements or wins at regional and national competitions. She frequently performs with and dabbles in a variety of dance forms with Sister Kate, an all-girl performance group.

Naomi Uyama discovered lindy hop in her hometown of Washington DC during the late nineties. For more than a decade she has taught workshops all around the world and performed for dance and music legends alike. She has won the champion title at such prestigious competitions as the American Lindy Hop Championships, the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, and the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships. Naomi studied voice while living in New York City, singing with some of the best swing bands in the dance scene. When she's not traveling in the name of triple steps Naomi currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Peter Strom is one of the most dedicated and well traveled instructors on the lindy hop scene today. His humor in classes is only matched by the clarity and care he takes with his students. Since his start in 1998 he has taught at international dance camps from Australia to South Korea to Herrang, Sweden. In addition to teaching he brings with him his skills as a sought after DJ and experienced Master of Ceremonies. He is currently a member of the renowned team the Silver Shadows and the founder of Uptown Swing in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Joe DeMers is a champion Blues and Lindy Hop instructor based in Denver, CO. He has toured the world from South Korea to France, Canada and all over the US. He loves to dance and is proud to be a dancer, performer, competitor, and instructor. He is the excited owner of Overstreet Dance Gallery in Littleton, CO; a club for the arts, music and dance. He is a proponent of Frame Matching and the creator of .PTED, a framework for analyzing and teaching partner-dance connection. Joe also runs a 6-day, Blues dance instructor training in Denver, CO. Additionally, Joe enjoys sushi, anime, long walks on the beach, and dancing with Campbell Miller. For more information on Joe, or Frame Matching and .PTED, check out his website at joeandnelle.com

Campbell hails from Austin, Texas, and when she isn't traveling the world to share her passion for dance she teaches social dance on the faculty of the University of Texas. Her classes strike a unique balance between technique and play, giving students just enough detail to challenge themselves but also plenty of confidence to be creative on the dance floor. Taking extra special care of the follows in class and empowering them to find their own voice in dance, Campbell's talent, warmth, and pure joy for teaching and dancing create a memorable learning experience that has students coming back for more!

Mike's true loves in life are teaching, dancing, following, and music. There's no order, because for her, these things are intrinsically linked. In addition to national events like Lindy Focus and Enter the Blues, Mike has taught at countless regional events in Lindy, Blues, and Tango, as well as traveling all over the country to teach and perform. She performed in an all-girls Charleston troupe at Camp Jitterbug's Jump Session Show in 2007, and in the all-girl blues troupe, the Hoodoo Ladies, at events from DC to BluesShout in St. Louis. Additionally, she spent one month as the Instructor-in-Residence for Philadelphia Lindy and Blues, teaching 2 workshops, a masters' class, a performance troupe review, a four-week series, and over 60 private lessons. She considers it to be one of the most challenging, educational, and rewarding experiences in her career.

Mike combines an intuitive understanding of connection with an analytical speaking style to give her students technique, but also strives to challenge and inspire her students to push themselves further into the music. She aims to help leaders create artistic compositions that are clearly led; she wants follows to have the ability to be the completely literal follow, and the inspiration and freedom to be an imaginative and dynamic contributor. In the classroom or on the social floor, she seeks a connection that involves active communication from both partners, to make a dance together.

Dan is an up-and-coming dance star with several first-place wins under his belt, as well as a degree in classical music performance, while Mike brings an extensive social dance expertise, and a few championships of her own, creating a knowledgeable, musical pairing. A typical class with Mike and Dan might focus on building vocabulary and variations, and applying them to various kinds of music.