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OUR INSTRUCTORS

Evin Galang
evingalang@gmail.com
Evin began Lindy Hopping in 1997 in Chicago and quickly knew that she was hopelessly addicted.  Dancing every night of the week soon parlayed into teaching, performing and competing.  Having learned from the legends as well as the innovators of Lindy Hop, Evin takes the classic movement of Lindy Hop and blends it with a modern approach to create her own style.  Evin's students include Heidi Fite, Charlie Fuller, Jean Cagas, Leonard Goldenstein and other movers and shakers in the National Swing Scene. 

In 1998, Evin was thrust into teaching by a friend with a dance studio and a class to fill, and she quickly realized helping others find the thrill of dancing was *almost* as fun as dancing itself!  In 2001 Evin formed the Lindy Hop company Blue Moon Groove and banded together with some of Chicago's finest Lindy Hoppers to create one of the most popular and creative Lindy groups in the Midwest.  Evin has been priveledged to teach all over the US and in Switzerland, France, Germany, England and Sweden.

In 2008 Evin moved to Atlanta and is excited to work with the amazing instructors in Down South Swing and the fun dancers and dancers-to-be all around town!  For more info, check out her website, www.EvinGalang.com

Ben is also an avid swing historian and a well-known storyteller with a passion for sharing the rich history of swing. It has been said his classes are more fun than skipping work to go to Disney World!

Ben has competed and performed for over five years, often sharing a stage with Peter Zellner. Ben is also a founding member of Big George.

Gina Helfrich
gina.helfrich@gmail.com
Gina Helfrich began dancing the Lindy Hop in 1999 at Boston College, where she learned her first swingout. She immediately fell in love with the dance and with swing era music and has been hooked ever since. Gina is an accomplished teacher, competitor, and performer of Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, and vernacular jazz and loves them with equal passion. She also likes to DJ.

Gina is the co-creator of the Southern Belle Swing Bash, the South's only all-girls Lindy Hop & Charleston weekend. She has been an active organizer and teacher in the Atlanta swing community since moving here in 2003 and helped found the local troupe Tiny Bunch. Gina performs and competes around the country, consistently placing in national swing dance contests. She has taught workshops regularly across the Southeast region for many years and has recently been ranging further afield to teach in places such as the Swing Out New Hampshire summer dance camp.

As a teacher, Gina emphasizes connection and solid technique as the essential building blocks of good dancing. She strives to help her students become versatile social dancers and to find their own unique style while matching their partner and the music. She is also committed to helping followers find their voice and confidence in the dance. Gina is known for her smooth connection and her creativity on the social dance floor, as well as for her energetic solo jazz and Charleston.

Learn more about Gina by visiting www.dancewithgina.com

Bela Jacobson
belanaomi@gmail.com

Bela Jacobson grew up playing sports and competing in gymnastics.  The first time she ever got on a dance floor was in 2001 for a beginner 8 count lindy hop class.  Since then, she hasn't gotten off the social dance floor, and has a special love for swing dancing.  Bela has been part of the Atlanta swing dance community since she began dancing, and has been teaching beginners since 2005. Bela has danced all around the US and Europe, and had the opportunity to take classes from some of the best, including Frankie Manning.  She has served on the ASEDA Board of Directors, and performs with the Tiny Bunch swing troupe. Bela's favorite part about swing dancing is sharing her passion of swing dance with newcomers and helping them gain the confidence to go out onto the social dance floor. Sometimes showing up to class with homemade treats works well for sharing the love of lindy hop.

Erica DeBlasio
Butterflylindy@aol.com
Erica DeBlasio was classically trained in ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance from the age of three. She finally discovered her true passion for partner dance in a small Swing class in Santa Fe, NM in the spring of 1999. Within 6 months she was teaching and coordinating many of the local social events. By Jan of 2000 Erica became the owner of High Altitude Swing and continued her work as lead instructor, choreographer and performer. She worked with several public and private schools in NM and CO. Working with students from ages 10 to adult/senior, she had several performance troupes and coordinated many social and community events.

Erica soon began to expand her knowledge of swing dancing by traveling throughout the US and Europe to study with many of the world renowned swing instructors. She Focused on the Lindy Hop, but also has experience in Balboa, Charleston, Salsa, Meringue and some Ballroom Dance. She has recently relocated to Atlanta, GA and is currently performing with the Big George swing troupe. She is excited to be a new addition and hopes to bring her energy and creativity to the Atlanta Swing Dance Community.

FG Courtney
tupelofg@gmail.com
FG caught the swing dancing bug in Washington, DC's lively scene in 2005 and was soon dancing at every opportunity. She performed and competed with the Eight Week Wonders performance team and was featured with her team partner in an article in the Washington Post Magazine. Later she jumped on an opportunity to return to her native South, and quickly became actively involved in Atlanta's swing dance community, performing and competing with the Big George and Tiny Bunch dance troupes, serving on the Board of the Atlanta Swing Era Dance Association, and coordinating outreach to the broader Atlanta community through Swinging from the Heart events. Social dancing is FG's love, and she enjoys helping dancers discover the joy of that partnership.

Russ Ruddell
rruddell007@gmail.com

Russ has been dancing since 1999. He has a passion for dancing, and enjoys sharing it with others. You will most likely find him out dancing Balboa or Bal-Swing, but he likes to dancing Lindy Hop also. Russ is know for his smooth and easy to follow lead. In his classes, he focuses on technique and connection, which help to build a good foundation and understanding of the dance in students. His training includes dance workshops and events in Los Angeles, Washington D.C.,Atlanta, Cleveland, Raleigh, and Boston. He's had the priviledge to learn from some of the top teachers in Balboa/Bal-Swing and Lindy Hop.

Michelle Postles
michellepostles@gmail.com

Michelle has been cutting a rug in the Atlanta swing scene since 1998.  After taking her first Lindy Hop class from Frankie Manning in 1999, she became a devoted follower.  Captivated by the music, the energy and the history of the partner dance, Michelle was hungry to learn more.  So, she hit the road to take class from some of the world's finest swing dance instructors.        
       
Michelle is no stranger to the classroom.  She has been a student and performer of dance for over 25 years, training in Ballet, Modern/Contemporary and Jazz dance forms.  Add to that a little competitive gymnastics experience and some musical theater.....just to keep things interesting.  As an instructor, Michelle pulls from her diverse background and her quirky sense of humor to serve up a fun, enjoyable learning experience.  In all of her classes, she emphasize the importance of good basics, the essence of "feeling it" and creative, playful partnering skills. 

Lindsay Longstreth
lindsay.longstreth@gmail.com
Lindsay found the rhythm in her feet in 2002. She has moved from her hometown of Knoxville, TN since then, but has not stopped dancing.  Spreading her love of swing like warm apple butter she founded the Berea College Swing Club (KY) in 2004. Then, in 2006 she moved to Boone, NC and joined the ASU Swing Dance Club, instructing and leading the existing organization while earning her Masters. She currently resides in Atlanta where she joined the team at Down South Swing. Lindsay has also taught at southeast workshops including The Private Collection in Knoxville, The High Country Ball in Boone, and Need for Speed in Atlanta.
She has performed at Lindy Focus, Atlanta Jazz Dance Preservation Society Benefit, High Country Ball, and Enter the Blues. Along with performing she enjoys competition and has placed at a number of events including Lindy Focus, Sugar Foot Stomp, Enter the Blues, Harvest Moon Melee, and recently placing first in the team division with Hot Rhythm Rising at ULHS.
In her classes Lindsay focuses on connection, quality of movement, technique, and self-expression. Her teaching is reflective of her passion for the conversation found in social dance. Although Lindy Hop is the love of her feet, Charleston, Balboa, and Blues show up for the party too. Ask her to dance; you will make her smile.

Robert Barbier
robertbarbier@gmail.com

Undergraduate research brought Robert down to Orlando during the summer of 2006. When he returned home nearly four months later he had discovered his love for dance and swing music. As a dancer Robert enjoys lively, fun music with a strong rhythmic backing. He's grateful for the opportunity to teach and impart his enjoyment of dance. He hopes to encourage people to dance with their heart and not just their feet.