Jo Hoffberg

Jo Hoffberg is a bigwig and longtime fixture of the Lindy Hop scene. She holds first place titles from the American Lindy Hop Championships, Canadian Swing Championships, International Lindy Hop Championships, European Swing Dance Championships, National Jitterbug Championships, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, and U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships. Since 2007, Jo has traveled the world spreading jazz culture through vintage partner dancing and has taught and performed in 25 countries across 5 continents. She teaches vernacular jazz, charleston, aerials, and lindy hop. She hosts intensives in Europe and the United States, has produced an extensive online learning library (digital downloads and streaming), is a co-producer of Swing Break Mexico, and runs an online Training Challenge for competitors around the world. Induced into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame in 2013, Jo is a passionate and avid dancer, instructor and competitor.

Felipe Braga

Many ask how Felipe learned Lindy Hop so quickly: transitioning from a toilet-cleaning newbie dancer marveling at the Folkets Hus floor to a Herrang instructor in three short years. The explanation is simple: his pre-Lindy life prepared him for what was to come. Training in theatrical acting gave Felipe body awareness and control as well as an ability to improvise–both in his energetic and now infamous class warm-ups, and in the competitions where he always shines. Felipe’s experience playing drums, as well as his youth in Brazil –where the music and dance culture are rich– gave him an innate sense of rhythm. And finally Felipe’s days as a dancing party-animator for a live music club in Brazil gave him plenty of training for getting people excited about dancing in his Lindy Hop classes today. But more important than any of this is that Felipe has embodied the Lindy Hop spirit since before he knew it existed. It is hard to find someone who doesn’t like Felipe. His warm personality charms every dancer he meets, and his ability to connect with people in conversation carries over onto the dance floor.

 

Nalla Kim & Jessica Yoon

Two of Korea’s best instructors, Nalla and Jessica are known for being very versatile dancers ranging from authentic jazz to lindy hop. They  specialize in fast lindyhop, charleston and musicality. They continually train, travel, teach, study swing dance history and also, perform with swing bands – Gipsy & Fish Orchestra, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Evans Big Band and Sage Min Swingtet. They pride themselves with basing their dancing on original styles. Not only are they great teachers, Nalla and Jessica love spreading their passion for social dancing. They have been competing since 2007, and have taken home several International and National Championship titles including ILHC, Boston Tea Party, Korea Swing Festival, Korea Balboa Classic, Busan Summer Swing Festival, and Korea Open. Also, Nalla is a main judge and made finals almost every divisions at International Lindy Hop Championships (ILHC) – Champion Strictly, All-Star JnJ, Solo, Balboa JnJ, Classic, Showcase and Team.

FOR BEGINNER PLUS TRACK

Haley Meng

Haley strives above all to be a passionate, positive, generous human being. Whether you catch her teaching class, taking class, at her 9-5 job, or at her start-up WE Club, you'll see her constantly smiling and laughing, bringing energy and inspiration to the people and projects around her.

She started learning Lindy Hop in Hong Kong and fell in love with the music - music which now regularly gives her goosebumps. Soon after, she fell in love with the dance and the process of co-creating art, working with musicians dead and alive, with partners (alive), and with herself.

She teaches Lindy Hop and solo jazz classes in Hong Kong, and she and Patrick were also invited to teach in Guangzhou. They placed 1st in the Strictly Lindy at Taipei Lindy Festival 2016 and were invited to compete in the Invitational Strictly in 2016 and 2017 at Swingtime Ball in Beijing; she placed 3rd in the Advanced J&J in 2016.

Patrick Ho

Lindy found Patrick in the tip of Scotland where he discovered his new love for the music, the movement, and the rhythm. He developed his passion across the UK, teaching and performing, before heading back home to Hong Kong to help grow and develop the scene.

Patrick has competed across Asia taking first place with Haley Meng in Strictly Lindy at the Taipei Lindy Festival and the Hong Kong Swing Festival. They were also invited to compete in the 2016 and 2017 Beijing Swingtime Ball Invitational Strictly. Patrick also took 2nd place in the advance J&J at the 2016 Beijing Swingtime Ball.

He has a deep understanding of body movement between partners and knows that to teach dance means teaching the feeling that comes with it. He believes that anyone can dance and keeps classes fun and comfortable.