Jo Hoffberg is a force of nature. She is an international choreographer, a highly decorated competitor, a thoughtful mentor, a wearer of high-waist pants, and is best known for her teaching. She has taught Lindy Hop, Charleston, Vernacular Jazz, Aerials, Competition Prep, and Weekend Intensives both nationally and abroad since 2007. Her love and appreciation for various Black American art forms allows her to bring innovative versatility to the dance floor while simultaneously respecting the roots.

Her demand as an instructor, performer, and competitor has taken her to hundreds of festivals spanning 35 countries and five continents. After having spent many years prioritizing Lead & Follow, Jo now enjoys exploring improvisation, musicality, body awareness, and self-expression, which is apparent every time she steps on the dance floor (or posts videos of herself dancing in her living room). Incredibly passionate about teaching the solo side of partner dancing, Jo is super-freaking excited about helping students find their voice in this dance! Her motto: possibilities over perfection.

She has been honored for her contributions by being inducted into the 2012 Rising Star California Swing Dance Hall of Fame, 2014 Camp Hollywood Hall of Fame, and 2022 Shining Star California Swing Dance Hall. She holds countless titles from such prominent competitions as: The American Lindy Hop Championships, European Swing Dance Championships, International Lindy Hop Championships, National Jitterbug Championships, U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, and Lone Star Championships - to name a few. Lady Hoffberg has been interviewed for Swing Dancer Magazine, "The Track" podcast, cover of Swing Magasinet om Swingdans, and guest-starred in Yehoodi broadcast of ILHC.

As a community leader, she is shining the spotlight on the next generation by consistently competing in Pro/Ams at ILHC, mentoring the next generation of instructors, and supporting deeper structural changes in the community - check out her online dance school to see this in action!! She is continuing to invest in her personal dance education by regularly challenging herself in other genres of dance, and believes to be a good teacher you must also be a good student.

Timothy Christopher was first a musician! His journey with jazz starts with self taught piano from youtube and old recordings. He stumbled into dance years later while looking for a jazz jam when he got back to his hometown from college!

He found himself in a room full of people moving their bodies around to swing music, but there was one couple that was dancing! The next day he found himself in the couples house learning this lovely dance called the lindy hop!

Clearly he got obsessed with this dance and the culture surrounding the dance and now he is competing, dancing, and teaching internationally! He was in the most recent installment of the Swing out Show in New York 2023, has performed at the Lincoln center in New York and maintains good working relationships with most other instructors in the Lindy hop scene.

photo credit: Samantha Kunz photography

In 2013, Cara (she/her) stumbled upon the captivating world of swing dancing, igniting a passion that has since shaped her journey. Since becoming a balboa dancer in 2014, she has been actively engaged in the vibrant dance scene of Montreal, Canada.

Her involvement over the years has been multifaceted, spanning from teaching and mentoring to event organizing and founding/coaching troupes, notably Bal Gals from 2017 to 2020. Cara is one of the organizers of Apéros Balboa Montréal and a founding member of Campus Balboa, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering balboa growth and excellence. Additionally, she teaches weekly at Cat's Corner Swing Dance School.

Her extensive training at Cat’s Corner, recent certification in psychosocial intervention, and current work as a community center facilitator deeply influence her classroom approach. With a steadfast focus on comfort, safety, and creativity, Cara's teaching philosophy places empowerment at its core. She notably embraces the pedagogical use of "sound effects" in her lessons, considering it a tool for enhancing learning experiences. Her ultimate goal is to nurture dancers on their individual paths, enabling them to cultivate their love for dancing.

In the realm of Slow Balboa, Cara's achievements stand as a testament to her skill and dedication. Alongside Kim Bernatchez, she clinched the runner-up spot for Bal Love in Prague (2023) and secured finalist positions in New York Bal Week (2023). She has also excelled at events like the Chicago Great Lakes Balboa Escape, winning 1st place in 2018 and being a finalist in 2019. Her teaching endeavors have taken her to exciting events such as Toronto Bal Weekend, GLBE, Bal Moment Quebec & Montreal, along with classes in Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, and various local classes, enriching the dance community with her expertise.

A self-professed night owl, Cara thrives on the energy of caffeine and the power of hugs, infusing her interactions with infectious enthusiasm and warmth. After all, it takes a little extra fuel to keep that fancy footwork going until the break of dawn!

photo credit: Devon Rowland

Dan is immersed in the music and the movement. As a teacher, his enthusiastic approach brings a focus on innovation, connection, and attention to your partner. As a veteran instructor and DJ, he's worked for events across 4 continents, for everything from international events to local dances. He’s also organized both locally and for international events, including a Head DJ role in BluesSHOUT! and The Balboa/Blues Experiment. In the end, Dan is most excited to work hard at improving the dance and to see people break through their boundaries.

Stefan Huynh (he/him) is a Lindy Hop and jazz dance instructor and performer specializing in partner and solo dances of the jazz age. In 2016, he co-founded Swing Dance SCT, which has grown to become one of the largest swing dance schools in Seattle and the US. He serves as the curriculum designer and teaches nearly everyday of the week, mentoring students who have gone on to succeed in contests at the national and international level. Stefan is also a coach for Evergreen Rhythm, a performance troupe that explores and pushes the boundaries of jazz dance as an artform.

Stefan has two decades of partner dance experience and has been swing dancing since 2010. He has studied many dance forms along the way, including Blues, Tango, Mambo, and House but Lindy Hop and Balboa remain his favorites. He has been a member of renowned performance troupes including The Big Apple Lindy Hoppers, Yeah Man, and The Amazebals, and his passion has earned him accolades in major contests at festivals such as Camp Jitterbug, Lindyfest, Inspiration Weekend, and many others. His background includes a master’s degree in psychology from NYU, which informs his innovative teaching methods.

An avid social dancer, Stefan deeply values the art of conversational dancing, prioritizing genuine connection with the music and his partner above all else. As a scene organizer, Stefan is passionate about hyper-local, grassroots organizing, forming connections with adjacent dance communities in the Seattle area, and cultivating a jazz dance community that is true to the original culture and centered on self-expression, authenticity, and dance as art.