Instructors 2024
LaTasha Barnes
2023 Bessie Outstanding Creator/Choreographer for The Jazz Continuum, 2021 Bessie Outstanding Performer award winner, and New York Times lauded Best Dance & Breakout Star LaTasha Barnes is an internationally awarded and critically-acclaimed dance artist, choreographer, educator, and tradition-bearer of Black American Social Dance from Richmond, VA. She is globally celebrated for her musicality, athleticism, and joyful presence throughout the cultural traditions she bears: House Dance, Hip-Hop, Waacking, Authentic Jazz, and Lindy Hop, among them. Barnes’ expansive artistic, competitive, and performative skills have made her a frequent collaborator to Dorrance Dance, Singapore-based Timbre Arts Group, Ephrat Asherie Dance, and many more.
Barnes’ leadership and business skills have placed her in positions of service as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival®, Vice President of Marketing & Outreach for the International Lindy Hop Championship®, Board Member of the Black Lindy Hoppers Fund, the Frankie Manning Foundation, and a contributing member to the NEFER Global Movement Collective.
Expanding the scope of impact for the communities she serves, Barnes completed her self-designed Masters in Ethnochoreology, Black Studies and Performance Studies thru New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study (2019). To further support this effort Barnes joined the esteemed faculty of Arizona State University School of Music, Dance & Theater as Asst. Prof of Dance in Fall 2021.
From the analysis of here research and in deeper concert with the mission to strengthen Black artists reverence for and expression with Jazz, Barnes is honored to be the visionary creator and Artistic Director of the multi-award winning intergenerational and intercommunal cultural arts project and stage experience The Jazz Continuum, commissioned and presented by Guggenheim Works & Process and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in 2021.
Additionally she is deeply honored to be a part of the Brain Trust that developed the ground-breaking stage production Swing Out, bringing the passion and power of Lindy Hop and its community to the concert stage. The New York Times said of her collaboration with Caleb Teicher in Swing Out, “Barnes is especially extraordinary for the way the past and the present can pass through her…”
Across all her efforts, Barnes' eternal purpose is to inspire fellow artists and arts enthusiasts to champion artivism through cultivating an authentic sense of self and intention in their creative expressions and daily lives.
Nathan Bugh
Nathan Bugh is one of the world's leading exponents of Lindy Hop and jazz dance. His on-stage appearances include: Carnegie Hall (Swing Swing Swing w/ New York Pops), The Apollo Theater (Swingin’ Frankie’s Way), and Jacob’s Pillow (Earthbeat!, More Forever, SW!NG OUT). Active in the Lindy Hop scene since the 1990's, he has earned numerous first-place titles in Solo Jazz, Lindy Hop, Team, Invitational, Slow Dance, and Mix/Match divisions at events like ILHC (International Lindy Hop Championships), ULHS, and ALHC. He was also the choreographer of the 2015 ILHC winning team, "Yeah Man.” In 2016, he joined Caleb Teicher for "Meet Ella," an acclaimed duet incorporating Lindy Hop with other jazz/theater styles. Their subsequent work eventually lead to "SW!NG OUT," the greatest Lindy Hop proscenium show of a generation. Nathan is a veteran social-dance teacher who has learned directly from swing-era luminaries, Frankie Manning, Norma Miller, Dawn Hampton, and many others. He is excited to celebrate their incites and achievements, and to share his own experience and passion with the communities in/around New York City.
Carmen Carriker
Carmen Carriker is a graduate of the Fordham University Alvin Ailey BFA program. She is a professional dancer , actress and educator in NYC. She has 25 years experience teaching dance and became a fitness professional in 2014. She is former adjunct faculty at Pratt Institute and yoga consultant ant Medgar Evers College.She received her 200 hr certification in Kemetic Yoga in Montego Bay, Jamaica.She also has certifications in Pilates,Kukuwa Fitness, and is a Kemetic Reiki Level 2 Practictioner. She is the founder of Crown Soul Yoga LLC and Crown Soul Creations jewelry and apparel.She looks forward to teaching healing thru movement, sound therapy and art with communities worldwide. She joined Your Queens Inc as a new member in the 2022 Kwanzaa Celebration as Queen Nefertiti. She also plays the role of Queen of Sheba and Isis. She is a teaching artist for Camille Brown & Dancers Everybody Move Project, Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, Creative Connections, and NIA Community Outreach in Brooklyn . She is a former apprentice for Urban Bush Women, Obediah Wright Balance Dance Theater principal dancer , Tap/Swing in Sophisticated Ladies at The Cotton Club, Harlem Strutters, On Kentucky Musical, The Mandela Musical,and producer of CeCeBrownSugah Revue. She was in the New HBO Series Random Acts of Flyness and film "Passing", on Netflix. Current projects include The Black Future Festival at Brooklyn Children's Museum, events with STooPS Arts and NY Lindy Hop Exchange.
Samuel Coleman
Samuel Coleman is a multi-disciplinary dance educator/performing artist who has taught and facilitated for many prestigious institutions including: Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazzmobile, The Ailey School, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Yale University, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Hunter College, Harlem One Stop, Minton’s Playhouse, Boys and Girls Club of Harlem, Ginny’s Supper Club, Swing 46, Harlem Stage, The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Midsummer Night Swing, New York City Department of Education, 92nd Street Y and Harlem School of the Arts. Samuel received his first crew credit listing in a feature film as the choreographer for Sundance released “PASSING” directed by Rebecca Hall starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga. Samuel Coleman is the founder and director of Sammy Swings and The Harlem Strutters, and proud to be a Frankie Manning and Norma Miller Ambassador.
Gaby Cook
Gaby Cook is an esteemed, active professional in the global lindy hop community. For nearly 20 years, she has established her career performing and teaching for major swing dance festivals worldwide. On stage, she is a principal dancer for the acclaimed "SW!NG OUT", which premiered at the Joyce Theater (2021) and tours regularly. Other stage credits include: “Macy’s Day Parade Live Broadcast” for Nickelodeon’s Blues Clues (2022), “Decades of Dance” at the BET Soultrain Awards (2021), "Swings the Thing" with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (2023), “Don’t Mean a Thing” with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center (2021), "Swingtime: Revolution in Rhythm" with Jazz at Lincoln Center (2017) and many appearances in film and TV. She co-directs two Lindy Hop education programs in New York: Swing at the 92NY and Midtown Swings at EPA Studio. She is consistently "on-call" with university-level programs (past: Julliard, Marymount, NYU, Columbia). Online at @gaby_cook
Dee Daniels Locke
Dee started Swing Dancing at the age of three with her Dad in the basement, wearing her Mom’s heels and her favorite plaid skirt. A true Heritage Dancer and Tradition Bearer, learning from and dancing Lindy Hop with her family, in the context of black culture, music, and expression. With a hiatus into hip-hop during her school years, she was called back to Lindy Hop, and co-founded her college swing dance club. She has become an influential member of the Minneapolis scene. For over two decades she’s shared her love of Lindy Hop with dancers young and old, teaching, performing, and dancing at swing dance events. Dee loves feeling free on the dance floor and advocates for self-expression and individual creativity as the true spirit of Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz. She brings an inclusive, shared knowledge, and individual ownership perspective from black culture classes. She dances for the joy and self-worth in expression that music and dance play in black culture in either partnered or solo dancing, and searches for presence in each moment. She loves responding to the music and partner, priding herself on making each dance unique to the musical experience and partner, creating an authentic dance conversation. Her goal is to help dancers experience the inclusion, joy, and self-worth in expression that music and dance play in black culture by using teaching strategies that give access to the dance for different peoples and learners and creating a welcome and supportive environment. She has recently enjoyed dancing a residency in SW!NGOUT at the Joyce Theater in NYC and on tour, and has taught, performed, and choreographed nationally and internationally, but mostly she wants to have a good dance. You should ask her, she follows and leads and wants to dance with you.
Jerry Foote
Jerry Foote is a talented individual with a deep passion for dance. His journey began in his youth, supported by his parents who encouraged and provided him with opportunities to perform and teach. In 2002, Jerry turned his love for dance into a profession, marking the beginning of an illustrious career. Currently, Jerry is actively involved in various facets of the dance world. He not only dazzles audiences with his performances but also shares his expertise as a teacher and co-director of Dance Force Productions alongside Robin Carlson. Together, they have crafted captivating productions, earned numerous awards, and even had the honor of opening for celebrities like Maroon 5 and One Republic. Jerry's exploration of dance took an exciting turn in 2007 when he immersed himself in Lindy Hop in Houston, TX. This journey led to significant recognition, with Jerry being accepted as a Frankie Manning Ambassador in 2011. His accomplishments in Lindy Hop are evident through his participation and victories in numerous competitions such as the International Lindy Hop Championship, Uptown Swing Out, and Lindy Fest. One of Jerry's greatest strengths lies in his diverse dance background, encompassing styles like Hip Hop, B-Boying, Tap, Latin, Country, and Ballroom. This versatility not only enriches his performances but also empowers him to create unique variations and a distinctive style of movement. Beyond his achievements on stage, Jerry is deeply committed to education. Since 1995, he has been teaching dance at McNamara Elementary School, leveraging his bachelor’s degree in education to cultivate a respectful, engaging, and enjoyable learning environment for students of all backgrounds. Through his teaching, Jerry inspires a love for dance while instilling values of respect and creativity in his students.
Candice Franklin
Candice Michelle Franklin, born and bred in live jazz music and jazz dance, is a New York-based professional dancer, choreographer, and producer as well as Artistic Director for the live music and dance production group, JAZZ AIN’T DEAD®. She received her conservatory training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and has continued her dance studies with the Ballroom Dance Teachers College of New Mexico. She is currently a certification candidate in Katherine Dunham technique. Miss Franklin’s choreography has been presented by such presenters as Jazzmobile, Harlem Arts Festival and Joyce SoHo and has been performed in a host of New York venues including Jacob Javitz Convention Center, The Syracuse OnCenter, MTV/Viacom, Symphony Space, Brooklyn Academy of Music’s BAM Cafe, Webster Hall, The Theater of Riverside Church, John Jay College, and New York’s City College, as well as several casinos including Turning Stone, the Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Tropicana, Borgata, and Caesar’s. She has also choreographed for internationally celebrated Bollywood Hip hop recording artist, SHAKTI, and Grammy award- winning recording artist, MACY GRAY. Currently, Miss Franklin serves as choreographer for recording artist, ART AURÉ, tours as a Master Teacher/Adjudicator for Joffrey Ballet School and teaches throughout the US and abroad.
Rafal Pustelny
Rafal Pustelny is a vibrant young dancer and instructor who is passionate about traditional dances from all around the world! Rafal moved to NYC in 2010 and there studied American Jazz dance forms, including Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa. He quickly established himself as one of the top dancers in NYC, and has since earned acclaim in the international swing dance community.
Rafal’s expertise and passion for dance shine in the classroom; he uses his technical prowess, upbeat sense of humor, and innate ability to connect with people to distill high-level content into accessible pieces that elevate multiple aspects of his students’ dancing.
A Frankie Manning Foundation Ambassador, he teaches and performs locally with You Should Be Dancing...! Dance Center. You can also find him at international events where he works with dance communities across the globe.
Elena Iannucci
Elena Iannucci is a teacher, coach and choreographer. Elena specializes in Swing/Lindy Hop but has also performed and taught the basics of all forms of social ballroom dance for 30 years. For eight years she was well known as a performer with The Big Apple Lindy Hoppers (BALH), the performance arm of the New York Swing Dance Society. At the time it was under the direction of Tony-award winner, Mr. Frankie Manning. Frankie, her mentor, was a Lindy Hop legend and one of the original innovators of the dance! As a performer with BALH, Elena performed at local events and jazz festivals as well as special extravaganzas such as the Smithsonian's Tribute to the Swing Era, Lincoln Center's Midsummer's Nights Swing, Merv Griffin's Resorts Hotel, New York City's First Night, Frankie Manning's 80th Birthday Gala NYC, and the Museum of New York's tribute to Frankie Manning. She counts among her credits: choreographer of the winning Lindy Hop team at ASDC '95 and coach of the Lindy Hop Division winners at ASDC '98. Elena opened Dance Manhattan Studios in 1992. It served the NY dance community for over two decades. The studio became a foundational facility for Swing/Lindy Hop. Although Elena found performing and the spotlight sweet, her true love and passion is for the playfulness, freedom and spontaneity of the social dance floor. She takes pride and joy in scanning an event and seeing the many generations of dancers who have started in her classes. She continues to spread the love of dance and looks forward to helping create many more generations of dance enthusiasts! You can currently still find her running her popular Tuesday night Swing classes, as well as a monthly Beginner's Swing Crash course, at NYC's You Should Be Dancing..!! studios.
Adrienne Weidert
Cross-pollinating careers as a professional conservatory dancer, Adrienne is a ballerina gone Jitterbug with all the class of Hollywood's Golden Era. She is an International Champion & Professional Swing Dancer specializing in Lindy Hop, Charleston, Solo Vernacular Jazz and tap who has danced and performed on stages & screens from coast to coast. Adrienne has been a featured dancer in film and television as well as music videos in both NYC & Los Angeles, CA. She holds 1st Place National Jitterbug Championship Titles, US Open Swing Dance Championship Lindy Hop Showcase Title, as well as International Lindy Hop Championship Titles.
Hailing from Southern California, Adrienne is a NYC transplant, who made her theater debut with The Public Theater's production of “The Comedy of Errors” (directed by Daniel Sullivan) at the Delacorte Theater with Shakespeare in the Park. Adrienne has since enjoyed dancing regionally with Merry-Go-Round-Playhouse, and Arrow Rock's Lyceum Theater as a Ziegfeld Follies Girl in "Will Rogers Follies."
Her other NYC performing credits include dancing live at Carnegie Hall, performing & teaching onstage at Lincoln Center's "Midsummer Night Swing" (now Swing in the City), entertaining USO-style shows on the historic aircraft carrier The Intrepid, and floating around the rotating dance floor of New York's iconic Rainbow Room, B.B. Kings Blues Club, and Swing 46 Supper Club.
Adrienne co-founded her own creative project & dance company, The Bathtub Ginnys - NYC's prohibition era chorus girls specializing in Charleston, Vernacular Solo Jazz, Tap, Cabaret, and Musical Theater.
Additionally, she performs for the Governor’s Island Jazz Age Lawn Party as a company member with the Canarsie Wobblers - a Brooklyn-based group who recreates historic vernacular dances. Adrienne teaches and performs locally with You Should Be Dancing...! Dance Center.
Brandon Barker
Brandon is a dance performer, teacher, and choreographer. Although he predominantly teaches Lindy Hop, he is actively taking classes and going to socials for Hip Hop, House dance, and Chicago footwork. He began dancing at 3 years old at the Dance Theatre of Harlem doing Ballet, and progressed those skills through his time in his middle school, Ballet Tech, where he also learned modern dance and repertoire. In high school Brandon danced within the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre High School Division, and expanded his movement knowledge with styles such as West African, Horton, Graham, and Hip Hop. During this time he discovered Lindy Hop outside his dance program through a family friend, Clyde Wilder, and was later under the mentorship of Samuel Coleman. This became his favorite style of dance, as he found a certain freedom of expression that was mostly unattainable through his Ballet classes. Brandon continued his Dance studies to obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance at UMASS Amherst, where he worked to add more contextualization to his Lindy Hop movement, and participated in several annual Lindy Hop events. He also received a degree for public policy in the arts, as well as a certificate in Arts Management. He now does public policy work pertaining to the arts, as well as teaching and performing Lindy Hop in New York City where he resides.