Ali & Katja (GER)

It was love at first dance: Ali Taghavi & Katja Uckermann have been dancing together ever since they met on the dance floor in 2003. Based in Heidelberg and Darmstadt, Germany, they are working to spread the Lindy Hop bug through their local classes and workshops around Europe.

Ali & Katja’s unique background of PhD studies in chemistry and translation studies allows them to compose classes that are focused on clarity while letting you explore your own creativity and understanding of the dance and technique. Ali & Katja have the ability to transform fuzzy conceptual elements like “having fun”, “musicality” and “stretch” into clear, step by step “how to” instructions that you can use on the social dance floor the same day to impress your partner.

Ali & Katja’s classes stand out because of their counter-intuitive teaching methods. For example: you learned that stretch means moving away? Does that sometimes feel heavy or like pulling to you? Learn to mimic the “middle molecules” of a rubber band that stay still (here comes the chemistry) and how to be stretch instead of stretching your partner. Feel the magic of dancing with just the right “weight”.

In their classes, you’ll also get the tools how to practice and tell if you’re “doing it right” outside the class room. This way, you can continue to improve and practice on your own and take your dancing to the next level.

Patrick (Fr) & Natasha (Ca)

Patrick Szmidt and Natasha Oumiet founded their dynamic partnership in 2007, while training with the champion team the Swinging Air Force and working at Studio 88-SWING in Montreal. They have since acquired extensive performance, competition, teaching and coaching experience.

They have coached many of the Swinging Air Force teams and were recruited by the Cirque du Soleil to train dancers of their show “Banana Shpeel” in the art of Swing aerials.

They enjoy the challenge of competition. They came back from ILHC 2011 with a 1st place in the All-Star J&J for Natasha, a 2nd place in the Balboa J&J for Patrick and a 2nd place in the Showcase division together. They have won podium titles at ILHC, Camp Hollywood, ALHC, Boston Tea Party, Lindy Focus, Lindy on the Rocks, and many more.

They have traveled all around North America, Europe and Asia to teach this wonderful dance and have been hired to teach at several world class events such as Camp Hollywood, Camp Jitterbug, Boogie By The Bay and ESDC.

You’ll surely enjoy their enthusiasm, humor and their clear and detailed teaching methods in addition to Patrick’s cute French accent and Natasha’s friendly smile.

Nicolas (Fr) & Mikaela (Se)

Mikaela Hellsten was born in Stockholm, Sweden and grew up with a love for music and dancing. Already as a kid she had a special liking for Swing, with favorite artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Bill Haley. At the age of 13 she discovered Lindy Hop for the first time and since then she has never stopped! Today Mikaela travels all over the world to teach, compete and social dance. When dancing Mikaela often has a big smile on her face, so if she’s at the dance you won’t miss her.

For Nicolas Deniau, dancing has been a big part of life since childhood. Starting with Rock’n Roll at the age of eight he did his first competition after only one year of dancing. Touring France for competitions Nicolas quickly got experienced within the entertainment aspect of dancing, during his performances you can feel his energy from the very back row. Nicolas later fell in love with swing dancing and in particular with Boogie Woogie. In Boogie Woogie Nicolas has been part of the international elite for many years, taking the fourth place at the International Championships in 2010.

In the last years Nicolas has focused a lot on his Lindy Hop and today Nicolas travels all over the world to compete, perform and teach Lindy Hop as well as Boogie Woogie. When teaching, Nicolas radiates great energy and focuses completely on his students. With a smile on his face he shows you that even the trickiest things can be possible to learn.

Together Mikaela and Nicolas placed 1st at the Crazy Rhythm Challenge, 2011 in the strictly and in the showcase division and 2nd at the European Swing Dance Championships 2011.

Read more at Mikaela Hellsten and Nicolas Deniau