Instructors

the guys

Michael Clark

Michael started learning Lindy Hop in early 1996, and since then he claims, "I’ve learned and forgotten a lot more about Lindy than I currently remember." That’s okay, because the important thing is to have fun, not to learn flashy steps. He’s eager to share his enthusiasm with you, for swing dancing, and the steps and technique you need to make it fun for you too.

Nathen Lester

Nathen started swing dancing three years ago, at ELLA Wednesday nights. He fell in love with the dancing and the community and is now happily paying it forward.

Blake McGee

Blake began swing dancing in 1999 in Minneapolis, MN as an excuse to go hear great jazz bands around the country. It turned out that he liked dancing just as much as the music. He has danced all over the Twin Cities, Boston, Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and New York. He is currently in Eugene working on a graduate degree in music at the U of O.

Kevin Schaper

Kevin has been swing dancing since 1998 and boy are his feet tired. He has an extensive DJing portfolio with a large library of swing music which can be enjoyed at most swing events in Eugene and Portland. He is known as one of the Northwest’s best DJs.

the ladies

Karly Barrett

Karly began swing dancing in 2000 and has eight years of general dance experience. She originally learned in Phoenix, AZ and moved to Eugene in October 2002. She constantly travels and searches for new sources of inspiration and new teaching methods. Her classes include a strong emphasis on the lead follow connection and fundamental skills. She’s excited to share her enthusiasm for the dance with anyone who is willing to listen. When she’s not dancing you can find her mountain biking, hiking, and camping.

Holle Bauer

Holle has been swing dancing since 2002. She is an extremely responsive follow and likes to stress the importance of connection in her lessons. When she's not dancing, she's contemplating zebrafish neuroanatomy.

Emily Erfurth

Emily began dancing East Coast Swing in 2001, moved on to West Coast Swing, then she found Lindy and fell in love. She also enjoys tap, and emphasizes Charleston in her Lindy. She has an amazing talent for jazz movement and really knows how to dance to those fast songs. You can often catch her performing with the Jammin Jills Performance troupe. In her spare time, she teaches swing to the students at South Eugene High School.

Katrina McGee

Katrina began swing dancing in 1998 at the University of Minnesota, where she was a member, and later an instructor, for the swing dance group on campus. Beyond extensive training in Lindy Hop, Balboa, Boogie Woogie and Shag, she has also taken classes in African Dance and Yoga. Katrina moved to Eugene in 2002, and has enjoyed the variety of dance opportunities that the Willamette Valley has to offer.

Donia Rose

Bio coming soon.

wednesday night swing dance
@ the tango center
7pm swing lesson
8pm swing dance
$4 per person