Lindy Hopper. Belly dancer. Hair-removal Laser Technician. The mysterious figure that is known only as "Nina" (and sometimes "Naomi") has many titles from prestigious dance competitions. But that's only a small part of her accomplishments. For instance, she can swivel in midair. She can simultaneously create vintage-style dresses and then destroy them while dancing. She can make 12-minute biscuits in 10 minutes. She writes upbeat musical theatre involving funeral homes. And last, but not least, she is a part of the award-winning Lindy Hop team the Silver Shadows, which sounds like it's a group of super heroes. And that's what she is. A Super Hero--one whose main super power is doing swivels in midair. And one day, they might save the world. Until then, she lives in Washington D.C. and falls down a lot.

Originally from San Francisco, Emily Hoffberg is a veteran of the social and competitive Lindy Hop scene around the world. A well-known dancer and instructor from the L.A. area, she has taught internationally and has a number of top competition credits to her name. Emily has been dancing lindy hop since 2000 and is an ULHS and ALHC champion.

After a year dancing in Japan, she came back to the States and captured a 1st place at the 2003 US Open. Emily has a very distinct and unique style which sets her apart from other followers. Her fancy footwork, slides and musicality are surpassed only by her inventiveness of signature moves.

She currently teaches regular classes in Pittsburgh and has taught around all around the world, including in Argentina, Canada, Britain, France, Japan, Korea, Sweden, and Ukraine.

1st Place Awards:

• Canadian Swing Championships (Montreal), Fast Division (May 2008)
• Canadian Swing Championships (Montreal), Just Do It (May 2008)
• New Years Dancing Eve (Danvers, MA), Strictly Lindy (December 2007)
• Swinging New England (Cape Cod, MA), Invitational Jack & Jill (November 2007)
• American Lindy Hop Championship (Stamford, CT) Showcase Division (October 2007)
• Virginia State Open (Herndon, VA) Strictly Lindy (October 2007)
• Ultimate Lindy Hop Championships (Minneapolis, MN) Slow Division (September 2007)
• SwingDiego (San Diego, CA) Jack & Jill, Am. West Coast (January 2006)

Kate Hedin has instructed and performed extensively for Cleveland's Get Hep Swing as well as in workshops throughout America and in Europe. Aside from a love of both social and performance Lindy Hop, it is her passion to develop the opportunities for follows in Balboa and learn every follow's footwork variation possible.

Kate holds 1st place titles in the Eastern Balboa Championship's Invitational Jack & Jill (2004, 2006) & Intergalactic Strictly (2005), and the American Open Lindy Jack & Jill (2004). She is also proud to have held, along with her friends at Get Hep Swing in Cleveland, the Guiness World Record for longest dance party ever (52 hours, 3 minutes).

1st Place Awards:

• ILHC - Champions Balboa Division - Aug. 2008
• Eastern Bal Championships - Invitational J & J - Nov. 2007
• American Open - Jack & Jill (Lindy) - June 2004
• All Balboa Weekend - All Gal Bal Comp. - June 2004
• Pink City Balboa Festival - Jack & Jill - March 2004
• Great Lakes Dance Championship - Balboa Div. - March 2004

Evita is a full time dancer and instructor, known for her endless energy, high-flying aerials and dynamic movement. Evita began a career of teaching Swing dances in 2003, when she moved to Los Angeles and taught at “3rd Street Dance” and “The Dance Doctor”. Since moving to New York, Evita has taught at Camp Savoy (UK), Boogie Barren (Germany), the Tokyo Swing Dance Society (Japan), Swing Out New Hampshire, Swing Out North West, Bean Town, Swingin’ New England, Swing du Nord, Dance Flurry and returns to Lindy Focus for her second year! Evita also teaches regular classes at Dance Manhattan. She first began partner dancing in 1999 and later taught with “Four on The Floor” in Austin, TX.

Evita performs with several dance companies in styles of Modern, American Folk, Tap, Latin, and Swing. This past summer, Evita toured in Japan where she was featured in the Broadway musical “SWING!.” Evita has starred in other musicals, appeared as a dancer in movies, commercials, and made it to finals in Las Vegas on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Evita's choreography and partner work have earned her 1st and 2nd place in multiple contests. Evita credits most of her training to Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas. Evita is currently choreographing a Holiday Swing show with the George Gee Orchestra that will run this December in the Edison Ballroom in Times Square!

Kelly Arsenault has been dancing since early childhood, and at age 11, Kelly joined the Tennessee Children's Dance ensemble. She was with the modern dance company for 6 years, performing around the globe including Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Kelly was a member of the UT Dance Company from 1997-2001. One highlight from those days was being chosen to perform with the company at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in 1998. Even after graduating, Kelly came back to perform with UTDC and she was commissioned to choreography a piece for the company in 2003.

Following college Kelly joined Circle Modern Dance Company for which she was a dancer and choreographer. At this time she also began her intensive study of swing dance styles. Finally in 2003, Kelly decided to bite the bullet and pursue her dance dreams in New York.

During her four-year residency in NY, Kelly joined two modern dance companies: Von Ussar Danceworks and MAD About Dance. Since 2005, Kelly has taught, competed, and traveled the world. With Mickey Fortanasce, she holds various titles including two-time International Balboa Champions. She has taught in the US, Canada, Germany, France, London, and Scotland. Kelly continues to pursue her love of dance and teaching in her new home city of Washington, D.C.

Todd Yannacone is one of the most recognizable names on the swing dancing circuit today. He has won countless championship titles from the most prestigious competitions around - The American Lindy Hop Championships, The Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, The U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships, The National Jitterbug Championships, The Rhythmic Arts Festival - to name a few. He also teaches internationally and loves spreading his passion for social dancing. He specializes in connection and musicality, which is apparent every time he steps on the dance floor. He has performed for dance and music legends alike, and frequently can be found performing and competing with the dance troupe to which he belongs, the Silver Shadows.

Mike Roberts has been teaching since 2001 and has been dancing Lindy Hop and associated dances including Balboa, Charleston, Shag, and East Coast Swing since 2000. A great deal of Mike's success can be attributed to his vivid imagination. He admits to pretending he's a superhero like Colossus or Spiderman before he lifts weights (or his partner). It really helps your ability to keep up with a 250 bpm song if you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. He believes that the most important thing in dancing is listening to your partner and having fun.

Shortly after seeing the seminal and cheesy film Swing Kids, Dave began dancing obsessively, and started teaching in 1998. Since then he's been dancing and teaching Lindy Hop and Blues across the country, and now teaching across the globe with Ursula Ledergerber.

He is also widely unknown as the originator of the House Party Blues Crepe, and is still waiting to receive the appropriate props for this, a parade might be nice. His love for dancing comes out of the connection and improvisation found in non-formal, non-choreographed partnered dancing. His love for teaching comes from a desire to break down and analyze the components of a dance, and transfer those universal principles to his students. Because of this, his classes are heavily rooted in connection and foundations.