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Derrick has loved dancing since he was young but didn’t start swing dancing until 2011 after moving to San Diego and looking for a way to meet more people. He quickly found himself out 4-5 nights a week either at classes, social dances or working with performance teams. Derrick believes the most important thing about dancing is to have fun. Derrick's dancing voice is expressive and unique and he hopes to help his students find their own creativity as they progress.
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ERIN GRIFFITH-ROOS
Erin started swing dancing in Orange County in 2013. She was instantly hooked and found herself attending several dances a week. Despite her hopes of keeping swing dancing as just a fun hobby, Erin eventually ended up competing by the end of her first year. Since then she has gone on to place in major competitions around the country such as Camp Hollywood, Lindy Focus and the International Lindy Hop Championships. Erin loves teaching students of all levels and watching them and the San Diego scene grow. She believes that a solid foundation and good technique are what make dancers stand out on the floor.
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CELINA AVILA
Celina began swing dancing in late 2006 when her dad took her to PBDA for the first time. She continued working on her dancing regularly and later went on to compete and win Amateur Strictly Lindy at Camp Hollywood with Jason Le. Her other accomplishments include being on the NJC and ILHC winning team, The Fly Rights, where she once did over 42 aerials in a single practice session and perfected the double kip (apparently while shooting laser beams from her eyes). Now you can find her teaching and dancing in San Diego and competing with the Finest City Shakers.
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JASON LE
Jason began taking Lindy Hop classes in early 2007 after being inspired by the amazing swing dancers at Tia Juana's in Irvine. Since then, he's performed gigs with the OC Swing Team, won Strictly Lindy at Camp Hollywood and showcase competitions with Celina Avila, and won NJC and ILHC titles with The Fly Rights. After moving to San Diego in 2015, he joined The Finest City Shakers and started teaching at the Firehouse. As a teacher, he likes to focus on proper technique as well as mixing 20s Charleston into Lindy Hop. He also enjoys a good Mai Tai and long walks on the beach.
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CORINNE LARSON
Corinne got her first taste of swing dancing back in 2006. After three children and about 14 years -- she still hasn’t been able to kick the habit. Initially a hobby she picked up with her sister, the last 4+ years Corinne has been performing and competing any chance she can get, most recently with the Finest City Shakers. Corinne’s been an instructor and coach for various sports and activities for most of her life (Gymnastics, trampoline, swimming, dance) and absolutely loves teaching and trying to improve herself every time she gets to dance. Her background includes competitive gymnastics and Olympic trampoline which may explain her eagerness to throw an aerial or two when she gets the chance.
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GORDON DANG
Gordon started swing dancing in 2010 to learn a new skill, and placed in competitions at Camp Hollywood and at the California Balboa Classic. He plays an influential role in developing the dance scene through local events as an organizer, instructor, promoter, and DJ. He enjoys the passion and excitement students have learning a new dance skill. His teaching emphasizes safety, etiquette and relationships with students. His current efforts are to incorporate and preserve the balboa dance in the swing dance community.
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MORGAN DAY
Morgan Day has been swing dancing since 1997 and teaching and DJing swing since 2003, when he became president of the UC Riverside Swing Club, and hasn’t stopped teaching and spinning music since. As a dancer, he is most known for winning the “Golden Budgie Rock The House Award” at the National Jitterbug Championships (aka Camp Hollywood) in 2011 for his “Super Mario Brothers” showcase routine, which went viral in the United States and Japan. He is also a member of the Camp Hollywood Hall of Fame. He is also a regular contributor to the “Hey Mister Jesse” Podcast and leads a swing jazz band called “The Mad Hat Hucksters”.
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JENN HAMILTON
Jenn fell in love with lindy hop nearly 20 years ago and has been dancing, teaching and performing in San Diego ever since. Jenn’s favorite thing about teaching is sharing the joy of social dancing with my students. For her, each dance is a new and creative experience – whether dancing with someone she’s known a long time, or with a person she just met. In her classes, she likes to focus on technique and connection while making sure everyone is smiling. Jenn doesn’t bite, but she does kick!
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PAVEL TSINBERG
Pavel Tsinberg has been dancing since he was eight years old. He discovered lindy hop in 1999, whereby he gleefully shed the shackles of a ballroom background. After years of social dancing, Pavel found a surprising escape from his natural introversion by performing on a dance team. From there, it was only a hop, skip and a swing out to teaching.
Blues was Pavel’s next big discovery; he fell in love with the genre’s intimacy and expressive nature, and has not stopped dancing blues since. Pavel’s passion for strong connection, partnering, and true nerdiness when it comes to the fundamentals is the basis for all his lindy and blues classes. |
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MATTEO MANNINO
Matteo has been swing dancing for over 10 years, and is regarded as living proof that even a potato can dance. He places regularly in amateur competitions, such as ILHC, Lindy Focus, Camp Hollywood, California Balboa Classic, and Inspiration Weekend. Matteo previously lived in Michigan where he taught classes, organized a swing club, workshops, and co-lead a swing team. He has been part of many swing teams and is currently an enthusiastic member of the Finest City Shakers. He sincerely believes that the world would be a better place if everyone lindy hopped, or at least learned a partner dance, as it not only teaches how to use your body effectively, but also communication skills.
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ELIZABETH HENKELS
Elizabeth started swing dancing in February of 2007 at the Firehouse. She instantly fell in love with the dance and the community. Over the past 11 years, Elizabeth has taught lindy hop and balboa in San Diego. She has also competed nationally in both dances - individually and with teams. Elizabeth enjoys DJing at the Firehouse on a regular basis and social dancing in the local scene. She hopes to instill strong foundational technique and fun in her teaching of the dances she enjoys most.
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JANET ANNA
Janet began dancing swing and blues in 2011. Always a lover of dance, she was introduced to blues dancing in San Luis Obispo and fell in love. She never looked back. Janet has travelled the country and the world to attend dance workshops in Blues, Lindy Hop, and Balboa. The sensation found in a well-connected blues or swing partnership is MAGIC, and it’s the pursuit of a more perfect partnered connection that Janet enjoys most about teaching.
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