Our amazing teachers

I was already infected with the swing virus when Finn and Ellen shared their love of balboa in our Roffaswing scene. It wasn't love at first sight but now definitely here to stay! This lovely fast shuffle dance feels like a private party at a social. There are so many ways to vary the steps and express yourself. Come dance and feel the balboa vibe!

I still remember that spring night in Rotterdam years ago. The first time I set step on the dancefloor; it was a moment in which I completely lost sense of space and time. From that moment onwards I knew I needed to learn how to dance, to be part of that amazing atmosphere, to get lost in space and time every time my feet touch that wooden floor.

And there the journey began. First with slowbal and lindy, followed up by balboa and blues. To me dance is an artform, a way to express. It’s about sharing space and time, connecting and reconnecting with amazing human beings, experiencing the music in whatever way suits that moment. And all of the styles above have a special place, a unique story which I’m very happy and grateful to share.

Are you ready to explorer a whole new world together?

Lindy hop is a dance of improvisation, creativity & self expression, and helping people to find their own unique way to dance brings me great pleasure.

Sharing my knowledge of dance is a great joy - I love to see how students flourish & develop during classes.

I discovered Lindy hop in my hometown of Plymouth, in the Westcountry of England in 2007, and was addicted immediately to the pure joy and energy that the dance brings.

From the moment I watched the big dance scene in Swing Kids, I knew I wanted to learn THAT. Fast forward 10 years and I discovered a fledgling university club, the Dalhousie Swing Dance Society - and the rest, as they say, is history.

I’ve been dancing off and on for about 20 years now - I’ve taken a few “sabbaticals” because sometimes life just gets in the way but but stepping away has led to new insights, to new ways of moving to new ideas on how to teach the movement of this crazy dance called Lindy Hop.

Dawn Hampton, one of Lindy Hop’s greatest, said once in an interview, “There is no freedom without discipline.”

What she means is that, in order to truly express yourself as a dancer, as a musician, as anything, you need to build a strong foundation and that the freedom of self-expression, improvisation and creativity are born out of the building and strengthening of this foundation.

This is idea of constantly building and strengthening the foundation is central to my teaching philosophy… and it’s led me to experience some of my best dances while only doing “basic” moves. It ain’t WHAT you do it’s the WAY that you do it.

Variety may be the spice of life but if you don’t prepare your dish correctly, those spices will never achieve their aromatic and flavour potential - fine tuning the foundation helps the spices find their maximum impact.

My swing dance adventure started at Slowfeet Studio in Rotterdam. I really grew to love Slow Bal and its elegant and flowy feel. It just felt like those old movie scenes I used to watch, and with that, a childhood dream came true.

Soon, I followed with Lindy Hop and later on Balboa. With a great love for swing music, slow or fast, I started to feel more and more at home in this swing dance world and would love to spread the joy of these dopamine inducing dances!

I've been dancing for as long as I can remember. Whether hip hop, salsa or ballroom, I wanted to try it all. Since I came across swing a few years back, it just felt right. I dove right in and picked up Lindy Hop, Charleston, Blues, Balboa, Slowbal and Collegiate Shag. The connection you can create with someone while sharing a dance is so precious. You create a little world for yourselves by listening and reacting to the music and one another. The best of dances are filled with this non-verbal communication, tons of smiles and laughter.

Nice to meet you fellow dancers!

My swing dance adventure began in 2015 thanks to a dear friend’s recommendation to start with Lindy Hop (an introduction I am eternally grateful for!).

After my first workshop I couldn’t stop bouncing; so I knew that I wanted to learn more. The vibrant jazzy music, the fun and creativity in the dance, and the loving dance community have kept me sticking for years.

Beside Lindy Hop I’ve picked up other dance styles such as Balboa and Blues. Connecting and sharing the excitement with everyone for the music and the dance is a real joy, so I hope to see you on the dancefloor too!

Gracefully gliding across the dance floor, Mark first immersed himself in the world of classic Ballroom and Latin dances at the age of fifteen. After a decade, he paused his dance career, only to rediscover his passion for dance when introduced to Lindy Hop in 2012. Instantly captivated by its infectious rhythm, Lindy Hop reignited his love for partner dances.

Since then, Mark has found himself drawn to dance at every opportunity, even swaying to the beat of a traffic light. In 2016, he embraced balboa, seduced by its combination of delicate movements, subtle connection, and lively beats—a source of pure pleasure. Adding Slow Bal to his repertoire in 2021, with its gentle rhythms, allowing Mark to channel his inner Fred Astaire.

With a background in engineering, he approaches learning with a focus on technical precision, ensuring a solid foundation for artistic expression. As a dance instructor, Mark prioritizes the joy of social dancing. Central to his teaching philosophy is the promotion of equality in dance roles, ensuring that each partner is valued and respected for their unique contribution to the dance partnership.

Dance plays an important role in my life. To me it’s all about having fun, expressing through music, connecting and creating with my dancepartner. My first encounter with swing dance was in 2014 at Harbour Hop. I fell in love with the the energetic playfullness on jazz music. Since then I’ve spent a lot of hours on the dancefloor and I have met a lot of great people. To me the best dances are the ones when you really get into the groove with your dancepartner and big smiles are stuck on your faces. Now I have the chance to spread the joy of Balboa by teaching this smooth and powerfull dance with its subtle weight shifts and body language. So let’s connect and have fun on the dance floor!

My love story with Lindy Hop began one lovely summer afternoon somewhere in Southern France, while on vacation. I saw a group of passers-by put down a boom box in the middle of a park and break into a wonderfully jolly dance. Which I can only guess now was Shim Sham. The excitement of the dancers was so incredibly contagious that the swing bug got me right there. I am forever thankful for this fateful encounter - it made me discover and fall in love with Lindy Hop and start exploring Solo Jazz, Balboa, Slow Bal and Blues. The smooth, flowing and energetic music compels me to dance while sharing the music and connection with the partner brings out a lot of fun, playfulness and creativity. It is my happiness fountain and I am excited to share my passion for dancing with others.

Renske's love for dancing started when she was 3 years old. She might have tried almost everything there is, but her love for dancing stuck with Blues.

Having danced solo styles for most of her life, she is a firm believer in discovering who you are as a dancer. In her classes she loves to explore different topics together with her students. Diving into body awareness, playing around and improvising in both roles or how to become comfortable with expressing yourself. Her classes will be full of energy, but always with an eye for individual needs and personal development.

In my daily life, I work as a physical therapist, where I’m constantly intrigued by the diverse ways the human body can move. When I immersed myself in the world of swing dance, I was amazed by the motor processes it unlocked within me. It gave me a deeper consciousness of how my body moves.

I quickly became captivated by how dancers interpret the (Jazz) music and how they accentuate beats, instrumental riffs, and melodies with their movements or feet. Watching others dance brings me immense joy as I appreciate the unique ways they bring the music to life.

I started out myself with Lindy Hop, but it wasn't long before I discovered Collegiate Shag. I’m never content to sit out when a fast-paced song comes on, so Shag quickly became a natural fit. It has quickly become a style that grips me more and more.

What continues to draw me to swing dancing is the unique sense of community and the beautiful connections made on the dance floor. Swing dancing has enriched my social life, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to experience the same joy.

"Dancing is life.” - Stephen King

Have you read the Stephen King novel "11.22.63" (2011)? You wouldn't believe King manages to describe swing dance so lively, intense and fun that it actually got me to join my first Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz classes in 2019 to discover the same passion and joy I found in the book.

In Helsinki I learned both leading and following in Lindy and was introduced to social dances already after the very first class. I met collegiate shaggers and decided I also have to learn this fast footwork that so impressed me!

In 2021 I continued swing dances in the amazing dance scene of Rome collecting experience with several maestri, schools, and Italian dance festivals. The heat of the nights guided me to add balboa on my repertoire to enjoy the faster beats. Now I continue my path in the Netherlands.

For me swing is all about the community that shares the music and rhythm but cherishes you finding your own groove. Anywhere I go swing makes me feel like home.

My very first dance was at our trusted little red boat back in 2016 where I got a quick Lindy Hop crash course and since then I haven't stopped dancing. After my first international festival it really went from being just a hobby to becoming a passion and I've been traveling abroad to dance at every chance I get.

These days besides Lindy Hop I also dance Balboa and Blues which really expands my tempo range so I never have to leave the dance floor. I didn't just feel in love with the dance, but also with the music and the clothes. If you see me on the dance floor please ask me to dance, because I'm always in the mood for one.