Fabien Vrillon & Lisa Clarke
Fabien and Lisa met in Herrang, Sweden in 2010 and have been teaching and dancing together ever since. Coming from different backgrounds they both bring their own particular expertise, talents, and enthusiasm to the partnership.
Fabien comes from France and has been teaching swing dancing since 2004, specializing in lindy hop and blues. His love of choreography has led to him to choreograph a number of successful showcases performed at ILHC and other events, as well as the recent ‘French Connection’ Team that placed 2nd at ILHC and ESDC.
Lisa is a professional dancer from London, now living in France. Classically trained from the age of 6 she discovered her love for all styles of dance whilst studying for her degree in Theatre Dance at London Studio Centre. After leaving college she worked professionally in the commercial dance world. She then discovered and fell in love with lindy hop and blues and has immersed herself in all things swing ever since.
Together and separately they have competed and placed in many competitions. (recently 3rd place in the pro showcase 2017 and winning 1st place in the open showcase at ILHC, 3rd place in the Classic Open at ILHC, 3rd place in showcase at Camp Hollywood in LA in 2016. They were also European Swing dance Champions in the slow lindy division in 2013, 2nd place in 2015).
Their fun natured teaching style, yet ability to breakdown a movement, means their classes are a perfect mix for those wanting to progress their dancing.
Constantly pushing themselves in their own dancing means they understand the work that goes into becoming a better dancer and are passionate about sharing their experiences and helping others to achieve their goals.
Irina Amzashvili & Anthony Chen
Dancing has always been a passion
for Irina, her expression completely and boundlessly inspired by music.
She began learning Lindy Hop at the age of 15 and fell in love with it
after her first night of social dancing. Since then, her passion for
Swing dancing expanded to include solo Jazz, Balboa, and Collegiate
Shag.
Since her start in Lindy Hop in 2009, Irina has competed and taught across the U.S. as well as Europe, Asia, and Australia. As a teacher her goal is to patiently guide her students through building solid foundation and technique as well as inspiring unique and personal movement and rhythm. Irina’s greatest joy as a teacher is to see her students progress with their dancing, no matter the increment.
Since her start in Lindy Hop in 2009, Irina has competed and taught across the U.S. as well as Europe, Asia, and Australia. As a teacher her goal is to patiently guide her students through building solid foundation and technique as well as inspiring unique and personal movement and rhythm. Irina’s greatest joy as a teacher is to see her students progress with their dancing, no matter the increment.
Beginning with his more
traditional roots, Anthony started dancing at age 8 when his parents
convinced him to learn and perform Chinese lion dances. At age 15 he was
introduced to breakdancing at a speech and debate tournament, and
shortly thereafter he found his home in the local swing community in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he quickly fell in love with Lindy Hop.
Throughout his dancing career he has trained in several other styles
from hip-hop to Argentine Tango to West Coast, but most of all he enjoys
using this background to expand upon his technique and creativity in
Lindy Hop. On the social dance floor, he is known to be playful,
musical, and clear. He holds first place titles from events such as
Lindyfest and Lone Star Championships, Montreal Swing Riot, Ultimate
Lindy Hop Showdown, Lindy Focus, and International Lindy Hop
Championships. His teaching style focuses on energy, technique and
connection theory, and his love of both leading and following has been
instrumental to making the classes that he teaches both clear and
intuitive. He is an active scene builder in his community and founded
Salt Lake Swing, where he also teaches locally.
Alice Faraone & William Pisani
William Pisani and Alice Faraone are members of the Italian national sports dance team. They are Boogie-Woogie, West Coast Swing and Lindy Hop dancers and instructors at Big Beat Dance Studio at Milano. They have both been dancing since the age of nine, as a couple for 9 years. Winners of the regional championship, Italian Cup, Italian Championship, and overall Italian Boogie-Woogie Championship in the Junior category in the year 2011, Winners of the Italian Cup 2013/2014 2014/2015 and Italian Champions in the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 seasons in the international class. Championship winners: World Couple Dance by Jitterbug and West Coast Swing in Turin in the 2014/2015 season. They have represented Italy for years in international competitions such as European and World Championships, they were finalists at the 2011 Lyon World Cup in the Junior category, while in the Main Class category at the World Masters in Geneva 2012, Winthertur and Rimini 2015. In 2017 they achieved a 6th place in the World Master in Rimini in July and an incredible 2nd place in the World Master in Stuttgart in August.
Natasha Ouimet & Patrick Szmidt
Patrick and Natasha founded their dynamic partnership in 2007, while training with the distinguished team, the Swinging Air Force and working at Studio 88-SWING in Montreal. They have since acquired extensive performance, competition, teaching and coaching experience and now live in Paris, France.
While in Montreal, they coached many of the Swinging Air Force teams and had the chance to work for the Cirque du Soleil training dancers from their show “Banana Shpeel” in the art of Swing aerials.
They have appeared in several Canadian television shows; La Vie est un Cirque, La Culture pour ou Contre, Ben et Jarrod, Relève en Folie, L’heure de Gloire and have also been featured in the Sam Roberts video clip ”Them kids” and very recently in ”Dramophone” from Caravan Palace.
The challenge of competition is something they have always enjoyed and they are proud of their numerous podium titles from such events as ILHC, ALHC, Camp Hollyhood, CSC and ESDC.
They have traveled all around the Americas, Europe and Asia to teach this wonderful dance and have taught at world renowned events such as Camp Hollywood, ESDC, ILHC, Lindy Shock and Camp Jitterbug. In class, you’ll surely enjoy their enthusiam, humour and their clear and detailed teaching methods.
Talea Niesel & Holger Niesel
