Nii (Phil) Attoh-Okine (he/him) is an avid Lindy Hop dancer, competitor, and DJ from Baltimore, Maryland. Over the past decade, Nii has traveled to dance scenes around the world, drawing inspiration from the diverse styles he’s encountered and sharing that perspective with his local community at Mobtown Ballroom. His classes emphasize the deep interdependence between partners and the music— focusing on how rhythm, connection, and shared creativity create a truly joyful dance.

Shannon Lea Watkins (she/her) is a force on the dance floor, delighted by a squishy pass, a fiery swing out, and a new idea. Honoring her ancestors of both blood and Lindy Hop, she strives to embody connection, improvisation, and social justice in her life and in her dance. After two- stepping with her dad in her childhood living room, learning to Lindy Hop in Bloomington, Indiana, and honing her craft in San Francisco, California, she now calls Iowa City home. For years, she taught with Kevin across the San Francisco Bay Area, and she is excited to share things they love with the Midwest!

Javi Javier (he/him) is a multidisciplinary artist from Manila, Philippines, with interests in visual arts, theater, and dance. Since high school, he has performed and choreographed for different outlets, such as children’s theater shows, church dance ministry, and company annual events. He has been a regular clubhead, dancing at the clubs in Manila, Guangzhou, and New York for the past 10+ years. This rekindled his love for dance and grew a particular interest in freestyle and club styles such as House, Punking, and Waacking. He believes in the healing and nurturing power of the arts. He is passionate about community building and arts education.

Instructor and DJ: Alina Lusebrink (they/hu) is a sometimes dancer, always jazz enthusiast. Alina first learned to dance in 2013 as an undergrad and, while drawn to leading, was directed to learn to follow first instead due to their perceived gender. But the rebel in Alina had other plans, and hu instead learned both roles simultaneously, with switch dancing quickly becoming their focus. Alina believes the music comes first and is what drives us to move. Hu has DJed at events across California and the Midwest, and now trains others to DJ for dancers. Alina highlights Black artists in their sets, and they are partial to music with playful piano and a strong beat. Photo credit: Mila Moore Photograph

Nicole Frydman (she/her) has been dancing a variety of styles of dance for 46 years, dancing swing for 29 years, and teaching swing for 26 years. She knows for a fact that everyone can learn to dance. All it takes is an open mind and a willingness to be bad at something before you’re good at something. One of the main concepts behind her teaching theory is, “The road to Good is Suck. There is no other road. We all start out as novices and only get good through practice. So, don’t be afraid to suck. Because the truth is, you do! But it’s temporary if you’re open to just a little bit of effort. And the great news is that dancing swing is super fun while you’re learning. Bonus!"