Happy Feet

Kevin began swing dancing so he could meet girls. He’s a smart man—the ability to dance is a very attractive quality in the eyes of many women. Just ask his wife, Holle, what made her fall for him. Hands off ladies, he no longer swing dances to meet girls.

He started his swing career in 1998 by taking lessons in an old theater in downtown Springfield. From the beginning, he loved the music, but more importantly, he fell in love with the dance because of the social connections and the challenge of creating something with both a partner and the music.

He’s traveled to swing events like Camp Jitterbug, Swingout Northwest and Lindyfest to learn from the greats like Peter Loggins, Stephen Mitchell and Lennart Westerlund. He claims that Frankie Manning, Dean Collins, the Nicholas Brothers and Mahatma Gandhi are his biggest influences. Some of us are skeptical about the last, but no matter who has influenced him, his dancing is fluid, musical and happy.

His musicality is likely tied to his years of seeking out the best of the best swing music. It’s no wonder Kevin is highly regarded for his DJ skills. He’s DJed for many national events including: Seattle Lindy Exchange, Portland Lindy Exchange, Swingout Northwest and the Austin Lindy Exchange. For many years he served as a house DJ for the Viscount Ballroom and Nocturnal in Portland. When asked why he loves swing music, his answer is simple. “It’s happy.”

Kevin volunteers for ELLA because he wants to keep swing alive in Eugene and he likes to talk about Lindy Hop. If you ever make it to one of his lessons, you’ll find that there’s a free history lesson included!

Kevin’s advice for new or continuing dancers.

Listen to lots of swing music.

How Does Kevin Volunteer for ELLA?

• He serves on the ELLA Board of Directors.
• He teaches with Holle every fourth Wednesday of the month.
• He DJs every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.