Nathen Lester

The Rock Star

Nathen doing Since discovering ELLA at a demo in the Eugene Public Library, Nathen has become an accomplished dancer and a fantastic instructor. It may not be evident when you watch him today, but swing dancing did not come naturally to him. He didn’t let that stop him though, he took what he knew and slowly built upon it. He should get an award for most dedicated.

Nathen has loved jazz music since high school where he played the trumpet. Later he formed the Indie Rock band, Abandon Ship, with his brothers in which he plays percussion, composes and writes songs. They’ve released three CDs and played countless gigs over the years. His love of music and his desire to partner dance made him a good match for Lindy Hop. He says, “Being able to dance to jazz brings a new depth to my love of the music. Being able to dance with a partner has opened up a new and vibrant international social scene and a new way to connect and have fun with another person. Plus, there is so much depth and subtlety to this style of dance that it’s clear that I can keep improving for the rest of my life without hitting the end of it.”

Nathen attributes his advancement in the dance to attending events like Camp Jitterbug, Camp Hollywood, Emerald City Blues Festival, Seattle & San Francisco Balboa Festivals and the Seattle & Portland Lindy Exchanges. He also claims that he would not be where he is today without the feedback he’s received from private lessons with Stefan Durham, Bethany Powell and ELLA’s own Karly Barrett. Plus, he’s spent many hours studying and learning from great leads such as Todd Yannacone, Mike Faltesek and Juan Villafañe.

Nathen’s advice for new or continuing dancers.

When you decide you want to be good at this, start practicing a little every day. Practice your footwork until you don’t have to think about it anymore. Find a partner you’re compatible with and practice with them as much as you can. Go to all the dances you can and don’t sit out. Dance every dance. Keep in mind that this is for fun, and that your skill level is not a measure of your self-worth. Go out of town to big events. They are inspiring and fun. Get private lessons every few months. Keep looking for your next area of improvement and work directly on it.

How Does Nathen Volunteer for ELLA?

  • He serves on the ELLA Board of Directors.
  • He teaches with Elizabeth every second Wednesday of the month.