Teachers

Laurel Ryan may have been destined to find lindy hop. She’s been told that as a toddler she would drape herself across the back of the family couch and sing “Java Jive” at visitors. Laurel grew up bopping around to her father’s jazz trio, or waiting

Laurel Ryan may have been destined to find lindy hop. She’s been told that as a toddler she would drape herself across the back of the family couch and sing “Java Jive” at visitors. Laurel grew up bopping around to her father’s jazz trio, or waiting for him to get home from Saturday night gigs so he could dance her around the living room to big band on public radio. Her siblings and cousins would throw on ragtime albums and copy their grandmother’s Charleston moves. Family movie nights often included Marx Bros films, especially Day at the Races for its electric musical interlude. Clad in baggy Gap khakis, Laurel learned 6-count swing with her friends and dominated the 8th grade school dance. This jazz-obsessed child would grow up to throw herself into authentic jazz movement, finding a home in the marriage between the rhythms of lindy hop and the music. Laurel’s background as a classroom teacher, craft educator, and world traveler fuels her passion for learning and teaching swing dance. She strives to preserve lindy hop’s roots as a Black American folk dance while re-translating partner roles for continued relevance in modern culture. Her goal as an instructor is to give students the tools needed to learn through observation, experimentation and play, and improvisation. She’s also a champion silly dancer, so expect the unexpected on and off the dance floor. Photo: Jerry Almonte

Kelly Young’s love for dance started at age 7 with ballet classes and has taken her through many dance styles before finding lindy hop at Atomic Ballroom in 2012. She is an experienced competitor who has partnered with some of the best leaders in LA/

Kelly Young’s love for dance started at age 7 with ballet classes and has taken her through many dance styles before finding lindy hop at Atomic Ballroom in 2012. She is an experienced competitor who has partnered with some of the best leaders in LA/Orange County, including Andrew Jose and Matt Richey which has resulted in regional and international wins in both lindy hop and balboa events such as the National Jitterbug Championships, the International Lindy Hop Championships, and Hot Rhythm Holiday. Kelly also teaches weekly classes at Atomic Ballroom with topics ranging among lindy hop, balboa, and solo jazz. Her classes are all rooted in the values of musicality, body awareness, and self expression! You can also find Kelly on the social dance floor at many of the weekly venues in LA/Orange County as both a sought after dancer and DJ. She is known for her musicality, creativity, and a little extra spice!

Matt Richey has been dancing Lindy Hop since the tender age of 11. His dance career started with a performance team, including dancing on cruise ships and at Disneyland. In 2004 Matt attended Camp Hollywood for the first time (he hasn’t missed a year

Matt Richey has been dancing Lindy Hop since the tender age of 11. His dance career started with a performance team, including dancing on cruise ships and at Disneyland. In 2004 Matt attended Camp Hollywood for the first time (he hasn’t missed a year since) and he quickly fell in love with what swing dancing can offer; not just Lindy Hop but all swing. One of Matt’s accomplishments he is most proud of is the Juniors program he started in Nevada County, CA. Matt has gone around to teach at countless schools to spread the love of dance. Over the 7 years he ran the program he brought juniors to competitions and events in California and also brought teens to compete at the International Lindy Hop Championships 3 years in a row. His students brought home the 1st place award in the Junior Jitterbug Showcase at ILHC in 2018. Over the years, Matt has won hundreds of titles in multiple styles of swing, including West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop and Balboa. He is becoming the most recognized crossover dancer in the circuit as well as being a familiar face on the social dance floor everywhere! In 2018 Matt was inducted to the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. As much as Matt loves swing dancing, he loves teaching and sharing his love for dancing and music just as much! He currently teaches adults and kids in several local schools and studios in Orange County. He is known for fun loving energy, musicality, showmanship and performance.

Austin Neverman started his dance journey in Iowa in 2007, and from 2009-2015 he helped to expand the Eastern Iowa swing scene as President of his local swing club, Slick Shoes. He moved to Portland, Oregon in the fall of 2015, and transitioned into

Austin Neverman started his dance journey in Iowa in 2007, and from 2009-2015 he helped to expand the Eastern Iowa swing scene as President of his local swing club, Slick Shoes. He moved to Portland, Oregon in the fall of 2015, and transitioned into the role of Artistic Director for the Portland Rhythm Shakers. Austin became the Event Director for the Portland Lindy Exchange in 2022, and in 2023 began to leverage his project management skillsets for the dance community as the CEO for the Portland Lindy Society. Austin ultimately wears many hats within the dance community: event director, community organizer, international competitor, dance instructor, dance troupe director, DJ, and performing artist. He specializes in Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing, competing in both dance roles (lead & follow). With a professional repertoire that also includes ballroom dancing, Argentine Tango, Line Dancing, and West Coast Swing (to name a few), his dancing incorporates many influences.

Darcie Juarez has been dancing in Portland since 2016 and teaching regularly since 2022. She first learned to swing out in Phoenix in 2006 and has been inexorably drawn to the music, the dance, and the community ever since. She is passionate about in

Darcie Juarez has been dancing in Portland since 2016 and teaching regularly since 2022. She first learned to swing out in Phoenix in 2006 and has been inexorably drawn to the music, the dance, and the community ever since. She is passionate about individual expression and musicality and tries hard to advocate for these qualities in every dance and every lesson. She dances lindy hop, balboa, and solo jazz with great joy and is cautiously optimistic about shag (in small doses). You can find her at all kinds of dances in Portland as well as teaching at The Viscount Dance Studio.