Our Wonderful Instructors & DJs
We've searched the world to bring you some of the best West Coast Swing and Hustle instructors! Please contact them directly to arrange private lessons with them. Please visit the "Schedules" page to see the workshop schedule. (I will be adding more email addresses, phone numbers, bios and pictures soon.)
Instructors:
Mario Robau Jr. (Texas):
Two time US Open Champion and 2007 GNDC Entertainer of the Year, Mario started swing dancing at 16, but has experience in breakdancing, jazz, tap, ballroom, latin, hustle and country/western. Mario currently travels the world teaching west coast swing and we are proud to have him back this year.
Angel is the only dancer to win Cabaret, Strictly Swing, Classic and Showcase divisions at the Grand National Swing Dance Championships. He has received international acclaim for his performances, choreography, and dance instruction all over the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Angel continues as our head judge for the fifth consecutive year.
Jennifer DeLuca (Florida)
JENNIFER DELUCA (FL) began dancing at the age of five in
ballet and jazz under the Royal Academy syllabus. She continued until
the age of 13 when she was invited to join a college level ballroom dance
team, competing and performing throughout Florida. She began learning
and competing in West Coast Swing at the age of 15 - winning first place
at her first national competition in the Intermediate level. Shortly thereafter,
she was selected to perform as a featured dancer in the short film, "The
Marionette."
After completing her studies in hospitality, Jennifer started her own
company, Floor On Fire, Inc. in Orlando at the age of 21. Floor On Fire
holds multiple annual contracts with area resorts for weekly ballroom
dance classes for their guests, taught by one of three teachers on staff.
Jennifer with her partner, Michael most recently placed 2nd on the NASDE
tour(National Association of Swing Dance Events).
http://dancewithjenniferandmichael.com/
Parker Dearborn (n/a)
Arjay Centeno (California)
Melissa Rutz (California)
Jason Miklic & Sophy Kdep (Kentucky)
Stephanie Batista (Pennsylvania)
Mike Topel
Nelson Clark
(Maitland, Ontario)
Nelson Clarke lives in Maitland Ontario. Although
he is only 29 years of age he has been line dancing for over 18 years.
Once Nelson started dancing it really became his passion, performing in
shows for four years as a highland dancer, as well as dancing on two line
dance teams. Shortly afterwards Nelson attended his first line dance workshop
and has since become a regular on the line dance circuit. Whether competing
choreography, competing line dance, or just having fun on the dance floor,
Nelsons enthusiasm is very hard to forget. Nelson is a regular instructor
with his local group “The Crazy Soles”, and has also had the privilege
to travel to the United States as a guest instructor. In addition to line
dancing Nelson really enjoys West Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Hustle, Two-step,
and Night Club. Nelson now really enjoys not only Line Dance events but
Swing events as well. Competing in the Swing circuit has really pushed
Nelson to a new level of dancing and looks forward to see what the dance
world has in store for him next. He hopes to see you on the dance floor.
Alysia Bonvino (New York)
Alysia teaches hustle, west coast swing, ballroom & latin dances in Syracuse, NY. She travels the swing & hustle circuits competing in the advanced division and can always be found on the dance floor having a ball! Her beautiful style and infectious smile always light up the ballroom. Welcome Alysia to our teaching & judging staff this year!!
Julie Epplett (Toronto, Ontario):
Julie Epplett proudly joins the Swing Niagara Dance Championships teaching staff for the fifth consecutive year. Julie shares her passion for West Coast Swing by offering weekly classes and practices in Toronto and has been a guest instructor at workshops throughout Ontario and Quebec. This year she was surprised and honoured by the West Coast Swing dance community with the creation of a fund in her name to support and nurture newer dancers. (Two “Eppies” will be awarded at Swing Niagara for winners of the Pro-Am division.) Julie’s approach to the dance is motivated by her belief that a solid understanding of the Basics will enable you to dance with anyone, anywhere, regardless of their skill level or training.
Mike & Inge Evans (London, Ontario)
We started
teaching Swing and Shag on a limited basis early in 1997, but only
after we kept getting repeated requests after mid-1996, from friends
and strangers alike, to show them what we were doing whenever we'd
go out dancing locally. Even then, our lack of confidence (Canadian
modesty?) made us resist for months -- until dance friends in the US
encouraged us to "go home and teach" after we won our first Shag
contest in South Carolina in July, 1997. For us, sharing
this hobby is a 'love', not a "livelihood'!! Indeed, we see
ourselves as 'dancers first, instructors second', and will gladly
return to dancing for our own pleasure whenever local demand fades.
We started teaching only because others asked us to, NOT because we
needed to satisfy our egos or to pay off a mortgage. And who knows,
maybe we'll get someone else as 'hooked' on this activity as we are.
Still very much 'students' ourselves as we continue taking
workshops from experts elsewhere, we know that humor and patience
are critical to the learning process. And while we realize that
having fun is the real objective, doing things the right way not
only makes you more confident inwardly, but also makes you look
better to anyone watching.
Antoinette Giancursio
(New York)
Antoinette
is a former national ProAm Ballroom/Latin champion who currently
teaches and competes in West coast Swing. She has an extensive dance
background which includes Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Ballroom/Latin. She
has many performances in her background.
Antoinette has
appeared at Eastman Theater with the Rochester Philharmonic Pops
Orchestra in their Tribute to Swing. Her teaching style is clear and
meticulous, and focuses on each student's individual needs. As a
teacher, Antoinette is loved by her students and respected by her
peers. In 2004, City Newspaper readers voted her "Best of
Rochester".
Marc & Stephanie Levetin (Boston)
Marc Levetin has taught various kinds of social dance since 1997 and has been with Dancing Feats since 2000. He learned ballroom dancing in high school, picked up Lindy Hop in college, and is now a successful competitor in the national West Coast Swing circuit. Marc believes that dancing is a lot more fun if you can do a little bit of everything. His teaching style focuses on partner connection and musicality, and makes liberal use of his patent-pending sense of humor. When he's not teaching dance, Marc is product support for Buildium, #1 in online property management software. He also spends an unhealthy amount of his time trying to teach his guinea pigs how to triple-step.
Stephanie Levetin is Dancing Feats´ newest staff member. Stephanie has a successful competitive background in County/Western dancing, having competed and placed in various Pro/Am and Line Dancing competitions up and down the East Coast. Stephanie is currently a national competitor in the West Coast Swing dance circuit. Stephanie's teaching style emphasizes proper technique, styling, and having fun both in the classroom and on the dance floor. She believes that "learning is better when you have fun!" When not dancing her nights away, Stephanie is an Assistant Controller for Expressor Software in Burlington, MA. She is also an active Big Sister for Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Andre Danis & Maria Ford (Ottawa, Canada)
André Danis & Maria Ford (a.k.a. Smoothstyle)
dance, teach and compete in West Coast Swing and New York Hustle. They
have taken numerous first-place and top-three placements dancing together
and with other partners. Maria has danced since she could walk, while
André’s dance experience began after many years of martial arts
training and club DJ’ing. They live, teach and coach in Ottawa, Canada
and continue training and competing throughout North America.
Bob & Louise (Ottawa, Ontario)
DJ's For Swing Niagara:
DJ - Tim Johnson (Michigan) - Tim Johnson is also a dance instructor in Michigan
DJ - Joe Mahoney (Massachusetts) - Joe is also a dance instructor in Boston
DJ Andre & Donnie (n/a)