Teachers 2012: Sharon Davis (Australia) & Juan Villafañe (Argentina) Juan Villafañe and Sharon Davis have been dancing together since 2006. Juan is from Buenos Aires, Argentina and has a background in gymnastics, acrobatics and martial arts that strongly influences his dancing and teaching. He has a unique perspective on body movement and awareness, and a distinct – and often spectacular – personal style. Sharon is from Perth, Australia, and is internationally known for her her distinctive and feminine style in not only Lindy Hop, but also 1920s Charleston, authentic jazz and burlesque. Juan and Sharon are known for their dedication to the history of vernacular jazz dances and the music they evolved to. Their classes focus on developing dynamic connection, natural movement, flow and body awareness as a pathway to individual style, improvisation and musicality. Together they hold first place titles at the International Lindy Hop Championships, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, National Jitterbug Championships, Canadian Swing Championships and other competitions internationally. Hasse Mattsson & Marie Nahnfeldt Mattsson (Sweden) Hasse and Marie are internationally recognized for there high energy and spirit as Lindy Hop dancers and instructors. Their classes emphasize the use of musicality, technique and partner connection. Energy and focus on fun are constant elements to every class. This couple have a lot of teaching experience, all from beginners to competition couples, and they appear on the teaching line up for many established camps around the globe, including Herräng (Sweden), Camp Hollywood (USA) and Rock That Swing Festival (Germany) just to mention a few. Hasse and Marie live just outside Stockholm, Sweden. They have been dancing together for many years and are four times Swedish Champions in Boogie Woogie (1998- 2001) and also one time Swedish Champions in Bugg (2001). Today they are no longer competing together, but every once in a while you´ll see them entering Jackn´Jills, Intergenerationals and balboa competitions - being very successful. They are doing their best to learn more about dancing and to spread their knowledge and passion for Swing dancing to others. Angela Andrew (UK) & Nejc Zupan (Slowenia) Angela Andrew is a teacher, performer and choreographer. She was born and raised in Hackney, in London's East End, and has a background in music and dance. She is a self-taught dancer, hailing from the first generation of lockers, poppers and break-dancers. Her love of jazz music led her to search for the roots of street-dance. She discovered Lindy Hop in 1991 at the famous London Club 'Jitterbugs'. Angela is one of the most exciting personalities in the international Lindy Hop scene and is renowned for her explosive energy and improvisational skills on the dance floor. She has worked with many of the great masters of Swing dance, including Frankie Manning, who ranked her as one of the top 5 female dancers in the world: an amazing accolade from an equally amazing person. Another string to her bow is The Cotton Clubbers Dance Company, of which she is the artistic director and co-founder. To promote lindy-hop and other vernacular dance forms, she focused her activities in the East End, organising classes, workshops and events in schools and community centres. In addition, she is a huge influence on the London and UK Lindy-Hop scene. She is responsible for the training and support of the new generation of UK Lindy Hop teachers and performers. As an ambassador, Angela spreads her good vibe, groove and spirit wherever she goes. In 1995, she was the honorary guest at the first Swing Dance Festival in France organised by The French Swing Dance Society. Since then, she has been closely linked with the French jazz music and swing scene. Recently, Angela has enjoyed maturing her talents as a singer and dancer; revelling in her return to her musical and dance roots "on da streetz". Influenced by the style of the "Old School" she incarnates today and is keen to retain the true spirit of lindy-hop: taking pleasure with a dash of humour. Nejc Zupan is one of the first new age swing dancers in Slovenia. He is the founder and leader of the performing group Besne gliste and the main person behind the growing popularity of Lindy Hop in Slovenia. Nejc's experiences in the field of contemporary motion theater, music and classic theater enable him a fresh and amusing approach to teaching and developing the Slovenian swing scene. He pays special attention to Lindy Hop, Charleston, to the jazz movement and musicality, which are a sine qua non in swing. Ryan Francois (UK) Popularly known for his choreography on STRICTLY COME DANCING especially the Charleston routine that earned Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan - AKA “Team COLA” - four 10’s and the win in the Strictly finals, Ryan Francois a 2 time winner of the U.S. Open and American Swing Dance Championships is the foremost authority in the US & UK on all dances connected and related to the Jazz & Swing era - including, The Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, Charleston, Tap, Be Bop and Blues. He has most recently finished working on THE STRICTLY TOUR for PHIL McINTYRE and choreographing the Jive & Lindy Hop for the UK series of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE his unique and very modern approach to traditional styles of dance are very much in demand. Ryan is the founder and Artistic director of the dance Company Swing X - Treme a fusion based group specialising in Ryan’s favourite dance style, The Lindy Hop. Ryan’s best works to date are for the BROADWAY SHOW “SWING”nominated for 7 Tony Awards - including best choreography, The Disney Motion Picture “Swing Kids” Starring Christian Bale & Robert Sean Leonard and “Do You Come Here Often” winner of the Olivier Award for best entertainment. Other credits include Strictly Dance Fever Seasons 1 & 2 _ BBC Television Featured Performer & Choreographer Dancing With The Stars _ ABC Network - Guest Artist Britain’s Got Talent _ITV - Choreographer ‘Candyman’ _ Swing X-Treme and The Irresistible’s The Tony Awards _ The cast of “Swing” at Radio City Music Hall - Choreographer and Performer. In a career that has spanned over 20 years his favourite moments are many “Idlewild” with OutKast for it’s innovation of fusing Hip Hop with Swing. One more teacher will be announced