Alison & Joel Plys
2004 American Lindy Hop Champion Fast Dance Champions
Organizers of the Balboa Rendezvous home of the International Balboa Championships and Balboa Followers Festival

Heidi Salerno & Steve Garrett
2006 California Swing Dance Hall of Fame Inductee's
2005 National Jitterbug (Pro Bal)
2005 1st International Bal-Swing Champions
Our inspiration for the Festival! You got to see them to believe it!

Kelly Arsenalt & Mickey Fortanasce
2007 North American Balboa Swing Champions
2006/2007 International Bal-Swing Champions
2007 Canadian Balboa Champions (Fast Bal)
2006 Strictly Lindy Champs (Boston Tea Party)

Laura Keat & Jeremy Oth
2007 US Open "Fast Dance" Champs
2007 North American Lindy Champs
2006 Northern California Bal Champs

Tertia Miyashira & Nate Sartain
2008 North American Balboa Champions, SF Bal Fest
1999 Jitterbug Jam Champion (Nate)
2002 National Jitterbug Championships, 2nd place.
2004 California Balboa Championships, 3rd place
2005 International Balboa Jack Champion
2005 Nor Cal Bal, 2nd place, SF Bal Fest
2005 Nor Cal Lindy, 2nd place, SF Bal Fest
2005 Favorite Balboa Swing Dancers, SF Bal Fest Audience Ballot
2005 American Classic Balboa Championships Jack, 2nd place
2002-2003 Nate was a member of the Rhythm Rollers, a high energy Balboa troupe based out of L.A.
Tertia is currently recognized by the state of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing as a seasoned educator of visual & performing arts.

Maryse Lebeau & Zack Richard
2007 Strictly Balboa Champions-Canadian Swing Championships
2004, '05, '06, '07 Showcase-Canadian Swing Championships

Lila Desatoff & Burnie

Lila Desatoff
Widow of the late great Willie Desatoff.
Fixture in the Southern California swing dance community as a "mid-timer" learning from Dean Collins and other greats!
Clip of Lila & Willie dancing with Willie commentary:
http://video.blessedfeet.com/clips/2004/willie-comments.html

Burnie
Organizor of the SF Bal Fest, Swingdependance Weekend, North American Open & Northern California Open Swing Championships.
Burnie is well versed in many styles of Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa Swing, Collegiate Shag, Carolina Shag, Saint Louis Shag, Salsa, and bunches of Ballroom dances. (Lindy Hop is shortened to Swing to fit)...
2009 Teacher Swingn with the Stars, Phoenix, AZ
2009 Teacher & Head Judge in Buenos Aires, Argentina (LHIAF)
2000-2009 Swing, Salsa & Ballroom Teacher classes in studio @ Live Art Gallery.
2000-2009 Choreographer for Troupe.
2009 Tabulator International Balboa Championships, Bal Rendevous.
2008 SFLX committee member.
2008 Teacher Istanbul to Ankara, Turkey @ Vintage Swing Workshops with Burnie.
2008 1st to compete in International Lindy Champonships (ILHC) w/same gender partner.
2008 California Same Sex Lindy Hop Champion.
2008 Lindy Hop Teacher University of California San Francisco.
2008 Troupe class teacher, Tuesday Night Jump Verdi Club.
2008 Teacher Swing'n with the Stars, Phoenix, AZ.
2007 1st North American to teach Bal plus Head Judge in
Buenos Aires, Argentina at Lindy Hop International Argentine Festival (LHIAF).
2007 American Same Sex Swing Champion.
2007 Swing Performer Sutter Health.
2007 Teacher & trainee Vima Dance Ballroom, San Francisco.
2006 Swing Performer Sutter Health.
2006 Nor Cal Same Sex Balboa Champion.
2005 California Same Sex Swing Champion.
2005 Judge Team Challenge Swing Central, Redwood City
2002-2005 Various California Same Sex Dance Champion titles...
2002 Balboa Swing & Collegiate Shag teacher Metronome Ballroom.
2001 Dance Teacher Training College.
His mom says he was conceived on Balboa Island (eeww)

Lindypendance Instructors:

Sylvia Sykes & Jonathan Bixby
The folks whose names are synonymous with Balboa!
Inductee into our Dancers Choice-International Swing Dance Hall of Fame
Inductee into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame
Two-time Southern California Balboa Champion
Jonathan was the first to perform Lindy Hop at the first Gay Games!

Dean Raftery
One of the True Masters of the Dance who danced at Balboa Pavilion in the 1930's. Having been coerced into teaching at many current day Balboa Events he keeps the energy of swing alive! He continues to dance in Southern California and never misses the Balboa Rendevous!

Freda Angela Wyckoff
Freda says she has danced at every nightclub and ballroom in Southern California since the 1930's including the Balboa Pavilion Freda is still active today in the swing dance community and goes to Balboa Rendevous and Camp Hollywood frequently! She says she has won over a thousand swing dance contests over the years and has been a featured dancer in many swing movies in the 1940's and 1950's. Freda's main partner was George Christopherson, but say's she never really had a regular partner.
A Few Films she is featured in are:
1944-Four Jills in a Jeep
1945-Twice Blessed
1946-Junior Prom, Teenagers At The
1954-Untammed Youth
1954-Living It Up
1956-Rock Around The Clock
1956-Don't Knock The Rock
1956-Bundle Of Joy
1957-Carnival Rock
1959-Juke Box Rhythm
1982-Bobby McGee's Dance Party (TV)

Ray Hirsch
Spunky barely describes this youth from the heyday of swing! We have added an extra time for him to share his films and stories! This Legendary Lindy Hopper and 1930's-40's silver screen featured dancer will dance, tap and talk his way into your heart! (Ray Hirsch pictured above dancing with Judy Garland & here as Mickey Rooney plays drums.)

A Few Films he is featured in are:
1939-Blondie Meets The Boss
1940-Mad Youth
1941-Buck Privates
just to name a few...

Night-time Instructors
(in addition to daytime Instructors to left):

Amber Villa & Jofflyn Valencia
2005/06 Nor Cal Charleston Champs

Brenda CK Collins
2007 Nor Am Same Sex Swing Champ
2007 1st place Bal Jill @ SF Bal Fest

Dave Greybill
American Lindy Hop, U.S. Open, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, Virginia State Open, Georgia State Open, and Swingin' New England Champion

Mien Vo watch utube
1st Cal Bal Champion (3 times winner with Corina Acosta)
Harlam Jazz World Lindy Champ (twice)
2008 Nor Am Lindy Champion
with teaching partner Katie Anderson
2008 World Swing Champion
2005 National Jitterbug Champion
2004 Ultimate Lindy Showdown Champ
2003 American Lindy Hop Champion
& an amazing Shagger too!

Sheri Kang & Ben Yau
(filling in when they can...)
2005 National Jitterbug Showcase Champions
2005 ALHC qualifier-NE Lindy Hop Champions

Todd Yanacone
American Lindy Hop Championships, the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, and the National Jitterbug Championships.

Josh and Emily McLaughlin
2009 First in Jack & Jill at Seattle Balboa Festival
2008 First in Same Sex Competition at SF Bal Fest
2007 First in Oregon Dance Fair’s Lindy Competition