SLOVENIA

KATJA

Katja Završnik (SLO) started dancing at the age of 5 and through the years studied various forms of dance such as Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Ballroom, Gymnastics and Acrobatic Rock and Roll for 9 years.

Since 2005 she has focused on early American dances from the Jazz age and Swing era, such as the Lindy Hop, Swing, Balboa, Charleston, St. Louis Shag and Authentic jazz. Her knowledge of (almost) all swing dances allows Katja to adapt her dance to any type of dancer. Which places her on the market among one of the best followers understanding connection and reactivity.

She is an elegant dancer. At first, you’ll be seduced by her style based by subtlety and finesse. But if you look a little closer you’ll be surprised by her musicality and footwork. Her focus on musicality and connection makes her one of the most sought after followers in the scene.

Her shyness – as probably her Slovenian origin as well – gives at first a “cold” feeling. But don’t make any mistake : she loves to laugh, to party and simply have fun. During a dance, she is one of the few followers to never refuse a dance and also often the last to leave the dance floor.

Currently living in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Katja travels doing special weekend workshops and festivals. In the past 10 years she has taught and performed all over Europe, Asia and USA.

FINLAND & USA

SANNA & ADAM

Sanna (FIN) and Adam (USA) have been dancing and teaching swing together for more than ten years. During this time, they have become well known for the joy and skill that they bring to the social dance floor. Mostly partial to balboa and lindy hop mix & match competitions, they have taken numerous titles individually at events such as The Snowball, European Swing Dance Championships and Balboa Castle Camp, as well as placing in various events in Europe and the US. In the classroom, they emphasize a solid mix of technique and playfulness resulting in a dynamic and personalized approach to musicality and movement that is accessible to all dancers.

lithuania

LINA

Lina (LTU) is Balboa addict, graphic designer, one of the organisers of Swing Paradise and engine behind Vilnius Balboa Club. She’s been dancing all her life, starting with Ballroom dances, Latin dances, Tango and Lindy Hop until she found Balboa – a swing dance that’s so elegant and subtle and fun, that made Lina feel truth to her self. Since 2018 Lina has been sharing her footwork with the community via project called ONE8 BALBOA. That’s a series of short Balboa footwork videos giving some ideas how your footwork can match the music.

Lina is also a Yoga practitioner. She teaches yoga for dancers to help them take care of their bodies, to keep good posture and to enjoy the movement.

Italy

VINCENZO

Vincenzo Fesi (IT) is a worldwide recognised dancer, teacher and choreographer. As a real globetrotter, he teaches and perform at the most prestigious swing dance events around the world. Melbourne, Paris, Stockholm, Seoul and London are just some of the cities where he is invited as a guest every other weekend. He was born at Lake Como, but Roma adopted him three years ago. Inspired by the incomparable Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Frankie Manning, Vincenzo Fesi dances the Lindy Hop, the Balboa, the tap dance and many other jazz styles.
With his dark eyes and skin and his contagious smile, Vincenzo looks like a 1940’s movie star and brings enthusiasm on stage all over the world.
Being more famous abroad than in the Bel Paese, Vincenzo is the Italian star that shines in the lively international swing dance scene. Vincenzo organizes intensive workshops for beginners and professional dancers alike both in Como and in Roma. He has a specific teaching method that he developed throughout his years of experience in the fields. When he teaches and when he performs, Vincenzo gives off a contagious energy that drives his audience crazy. Since 2006 he organizes one of the most popular events in the world: Swing Crash Festival alongside Isabella Gregorio. The event takes place every June in Como. Inspired by old movies and newspapers of the golden age of jazz music, hey organize an event with several live orchestras and hundreds of dancers that turn the city of Como into a magic place.
Vincenzo was special guest of the TV show Dancing with the Stars; he was the MC for Hermes at the Vogue Fashion Night Out in London; he led the main role of the short movie Lago di Seta, directed by Renee George and he was the first one to bring the dance at the 38th edition of the Roma Jazz Festival directing a choreographing project with the Massimo Nunzi’s Orchestra Operaia.
Vincenzo is not only a dancer. He choreographs, sings, presents radio shows and he is also a capable story teller of the history of jazz dance. In 2014 he wrote the preface of the Italian edition of the book Frankie Manning: ambasciatore dello swing.

Spain

MONTSE & ALEJANDRO

Montse and Alejandro (CAT) have been traveling through the most important festivals in order to perfect their dance and create a unique style, based on energy, improvisation, constant play with music and the joy they emerge, both in the social dance as in the competitions in which they participate. In their classes they devote themselves to giving tools that have served them to be able to express themselves on the dance floor and create their own steps and variations.

Lithuania

MARTYNAS

Martynas Stonys (LTU) is an international Lindy Hop and Balboa instructor, founder and 1/4th of What a Jazz dance studio, 1/4th of Swing Paradise and organizer of multiple local swing dance events in Lithuania. He has been a leader of Lithuanian Swing dance scene for more than a decade, helping the community and many of Lithuanian Swing dance talents grow.Recently Martynas has been working with a few partners teaching both Balboa and Lindy Hop. He can lead, follow, perform, create, but most importantly find the next idea that would help students improve.Martynas’ goal is to help his students grow as dancers and as people. He’s raising, answering fundamental questions and is keen on interacting with students during classes.While often Martynas looks like a serious person, go to him and strike a conversation about dancing, teaching or community. You’ll definitely leave that conversation with more questions (and jokes) than before.