Past Teachers | Flying Pig Jitterbug Jamboree

Below are the Teacher Bios from our Dec 13, 2008 FPJJ

Cristina and Erwin Amurao (Columbus) are respected swing dance ambassadors and instructors who have been dancing for over 17 combined years. As students of Ryan Francois, Jenny Thomas, Steven Mitchell, Virginie Jensen, Kenneth and Helena Norbelie, and Frankie Manning himself, they have adopted much of the traditional teachings of Lindy Hop. When you add the traditional with Cristina's ballet and hip hop background and Erwin's breakdance/house and hip hop background, a fun and entertaining swing style is created. Known for their musicality, patience, and clear concise instruction, Cristina and Erwin can get you to dance the steps you thought were impossible. You don't have to know how to dance. Just bring the willingness to learn and they will do the rest. A few events they have been invited to teach include Beantown (Connecticut), Smorgasbord of Swing (Ohio), and Swing Out Nowhere (Idaho).

Check out Erwin and Cristina at www.twotoneswing.com

See videos of them at http://www.twotoneswing.com/media.html

Mark Calkins & Shannon Varner, The Lindyroos (Columbus)
Shannon Varner discovered Lindy Hop while living in New York City in 1997. She has won numerous awards, placing in such competitions as the American Lindy Hop Championships, Virginia State Open, and the Jack & Jill Contest at Midsummer Night Swing in NYC. She has performed in New York and Chicago with some of her credits including: The PBS "Swingin with the Duke" with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and The Today Show. Mark Calkins started dancing amidst the "last hoorah" of the neo-swing era while attending Ohio University. As a member of the OU Jitterbug Club, he quickly got involved and served the organization through teaching and event coordination. Since his graduation, Mark has delved deeper into dancing by studying core-body movement connection in Lindy Hop and how movement in Lindy Hop relates to jazz music. He brings 10 years of performance experience to his dancing and is eager to promote social partner dancing for his generation. Shannon and Mark joined forces August of 2006 to combine their shared love of the authentic music and the dances of the swing era. Together they have been featured dancers for the Columbus Jazz Orchestra's JazZoo and recently won Indiana's Any Swing Goes competition. They have also led Team SwingColumbus to first place trophies in the Detroit Motown Shagdown and the Dayton Smackdown competitions. They are passionate about the music and dance of the swing era and are happy to share this knowledge through teaching and performing.

Eduardo and Jennifer Rozo (Columbus)

Eduardo and Jenn are lindy and blues dancers with 15 years combined swing dance experience. They joined forces as instructors four years ago while in Chicago, and have been teaching together ever since. Now teaching out of Columbus, Ohio, their dancing is deeply rooted in the "Chicago style" blues and lindy hop, focusing strongly on connection and technique. It's all about the Oomph! This unique emphasis - and their dynamic teaching style - have made their classes popular wherever they go. Come prepared to learn how to move with delicious gooshiness.

Adam Curry & Lisa Huneke (Cincinnati)
Lisa Huneke has been swing dancing for five years, starting with Ohio State University's Swing Dance Club. Since her first East Coast lesson, she has learned Lindy Hop, Charleston, Blues, Balboa, Shag, and occasionally likes to pretend to Westie. She has traveled to many national events and workshops including All Balboa Weekend and The Boston Tea Party to have fun, dance, and learn from the lessons as well as stealing moves while watching people dance. Living in Cincinnati, she is a member of the Cincinnati SnapShots swing dance troupe, with whom she practices, performs, and competes. The team recently took first place in the team competition at Swing, IN, where Lisa was also a finalist in the Jack and Jill contest. She is enjoying taking on more challenges in her dancing – including teaching, DJing, and leading.

Adam Curry has been swing dancing in the local scene of Cincinnati, OH since 2005. Since learning East Coast swing from the local instructors, he has learned Lindy Hop, Charleston, (some) Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. Adam has taught mostly regionally in Ohio and Kentucky, but he has taught as far away as Galway, Ireland in 2007. He has attended many national events such as The Boston Tea Party and Beantown where he has spent his vacation doing what he loves the most. Adam also attends many social dances throughout the U.S.A. and Canada. He is a member of the Cincinnati Snapshots dance troupe in which competes and performs in regional (and someday national) events. The team recently took first place at the team competition at Swing, IN. Adam continues to strive to build the swing community in Cincinnati, as well as eager to grow in his teaching abilities and dancing.