Faculty

Skye Humphries and Frida Segerdahl

Skye Humphries:  The Man behind the Mask
A biography by Robert White:

Skye is one of the best swing dancers in the world to ever be originally pressured into swing dancing by his mom.  He is also one of the best swing dancers in the world, period.  Having won many of the highest awards in swing dancing, including the World Lindy Hop Championships in 2002 and several titles at the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown in 2005, his unique style, musicality and energy is inspiration to dancers across the world.

But more so, he is an inspiration to college students for his ability to, with skill and academic mastery, create a Jazz Dance history emphasis so that he could major in it.*  He is currently doing the same thing in a masters program.  Meanwhile, he lives in Washington, D.C. where he is the least helpful member of the Jam Cellar swing dance crew.  (Those are his own words…)

*This may or may not be entirely true.

In a Word, Frida
A biography by Robert White

Frida Segerdahl would easily be on every American swing dancer’s lips if they could easily pronounce her last name.  Instead, we refer to her as “Frida” like a superhero, or like Prince.  Cause she is.  (Not a prince, a superhero.)  As far as all things Swing Dance go, she is a master, her solo Charleston is incomparable, her swivels majestic, and her energy inspirational.  She is also one of the few follows in the world that can match Skye’s incredible and unique style.  Apart, they are talented enough, but when they are together, you see what swing dance really means.

How do you account to the supremely large amount of badassness that comes from the charming girl from Sweden?  Well, she has been dancing since the age of 5, and merely a few years after she first attended the famous swing dance camp Herrang at the age of 15, she is now running it.

She has been a competitor in swing since 9, and in the past years has taken first place trophies from some of the highest Lindy Hop competitions in the world, such as the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown.  Wow, you are saying to yourself.  You want her secrets, don’t you?  Well, don’t worry, soon enough…

Bobby White and Kate Hedin

Bobby “Slicky Shoes” White:
Like most men, Bobby got into swing dancing to pick up women.  He soon had to stop, however, as he wasn’t picking them up right and it was hurting this back.  So he wandered the earth, searching for true happiness, until on the verge of starvation and dehydration in an ice-covered desert, he found it staring back at him.

Upon his return to the real world, he dove into learning the true secrets to all classic styles of swing: Lindy, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, Aerials, Charleston, and Solo Jazz, which he has been doing since 1998.

With his super partner Kate at his side (or landing on top of him), the dorky white Bobby has remarkably won many titles and prizes, including a jar of duck meat preserved in its own fat in France (Oh, those French).  Be sure to ask him about a move that came to him in a dream the he calls “The Bob Dole.”

Kate Hedin:
She is a professional violist, tree-climber, belly dancer, and swing dance champion.  If she could combine all her talents, she would probably fall from a tree trying to do swivels while playing the viola.  But, that is not important.  What is important is that it would sound really funny.

The main point is that Kate is multi-talented.  For instance, she not only has first place trophies from invitational Jack and Jills across the world as well as the Eastern Balboa and Intergalactic Balboa Championships, she also test high on the endurance scale.  (She was part of a small group of dancers in the Guinness-world-records-breaking Longest Dance Party Ever Recorded which included her dancing for 52 hours straight with very few breaks.)

Bobby and Kate have placed highly in high-ranking Balboa and Lindy Hop competitions, including The American Classic Balboa Championships, the American Open, and the UK Lindy Hop Championships.  They are also choreographers in Big George Savoy Bouncers as well as head instructors at Atlanta’s Hot Jam swing dance club.

Peter Zellner and Stacy McBreen:

“Shoeless” Peter Zellner:
As the President of the Tall Atlanta Leads Club, Peter is all things Swing: dancer, performer, choreographer and DJ.

Peter began dancing in 1998 and is a lover of Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Balboa and the sorts of duo Charleston performances which make people ask if he’s on speed.  His theory on swing dancing in general is, “Just keep it simple…  Keep it Basie.”

As well as placing in a number of national events over the years, Peter is a co-founder of the lindy dance troupe Big George Savoy Bouncers, where everyone dances hard core and falls down a lot.

Stacy “Turbo” McBreen:
Stacy began dancing at age 3 because she was tired of walking.  At the age of 14 she began dancing country & western because we all know that an urban city such as Chicago is well known for its country western music, history and lifestyle.  The truth is she really loved the sparkly clothes and those rhinestone cowboys.

In 1999, after all the farmland in Chicago was turned into high-rise buildings and 7-11 convenience stores, she moved to Atlanta.  Stacy, still with a passion for dance, taught dance privately and began teaching group classes at both Atlanta Dance and Atlanta Ballroom Dance Studio.  While she continued to teach many styles of dance, she focused on west coast swing competing individually, winning the Strictly Swing Division at the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships in 2001, and leading the Swing Shift dance team to many top 5 finishes in 2003 and 2004, including a win at Dallas Dance in 2004.

Even though she still associates with the “westies,” she has spent the past two years studying Lindy Hop and Balboa.  While continually working to perfect her swivel, she is known in the Lindy Hop community for the “butt-and-go.”  Don’t worry, you can ask her about it…

Patrick and Natalie Manigault:

Patrick “Madman” Manigault:
“Jaguar” is from the American Indian word meaning "killer that takes its prey in a single bound!”  (Watch out follows!)

The Jaguar is elusive and prefers to keep to itself in sheltered places and has been doing so since 1998.  The best place to spot this magnificent creature is in the jungles of South America or on the wild floors of Atlanta’s Lindy scene.  If you are lucky enough to see the Jaguar in its natural environment, the impression will last a lifetime.  Its tawny coat shines like freshly coated paint, or fresh out of the box Aris Allens.  The hue of the Jaguar becomes brilliant with the setting of the sun and elegance of a Charleston swing out.

The native inhabitants of South America were so struck with the jungle cat they referred to the Jaguar as a God.  They saw in its spotted coat the star covered sky at night.  More commonly, the following observations have been made:  paw prints have been seen on wilderness trails, sandy beaches, and a Lindy follow here or there.

A member of three Lindy Hop troupes, most recently Big George Savoy Bouncers.  An expert hunter on the land and in the trees (but has been know to fall off the log occasionally).  Competes and has placed at regional and national events.  Has appeared regionally and nationally in commercial and film productions.

The Jaguar’s natural movement and style though occasionally wild, as expected, is inspired by groove jazz and music of the swing-era, with a particular emphasis on the rhythms and movement through good connection.

Natalie “Lynx” Manigault:

Felus Lynx:  Say the name Natalie around Atlanta, and a chill runs down the spine.  Palms get sweaty and a mixture of fear and desire overwhelms.  You may be the object of prey to the illustrious “Lynx.”

The name Lynx comes from the Greek word "to shine".  The Lynx is a beautiful wild cat, of the boreal forest in the Northern Hemisphere.  It generally inhabits forested wilderness areas, and favors the wooded floors of the Atlanta Lindy Hop scene.  However, this carnivore has been known to roam to other types of habitats as long as they contain solid swing beats and adequate numbers of prey.

The Lynx usually hunts at night and stalks its prey before pouncing on it.  It has large striking eyes and acute hearing which it depends on when hunting for Lindy leads.  It watches and listens for prey, and success usually depends on whether the Lynx manages to capture its prey in a single bound.  Like all members of the hep cat family, it moves silently.  It is stealthy and quick, and can strike with graceful styling at any moment.

The stunning creature is usually shy and solitary, although it seems drawn to performance with Lindy Hop groups like The Big George Savoy Bouncers.  Its prowess and skill has been recognized at many regional and national competitions.  However this playful cat is most attracted to exploring the flow, musicality and connection of social dancing.

The Lynx tends to be elusive and most active at night, and is rarely seen in the wild.  Even for dancers who have spent a lifetime in areas where the Lynx is common, an encounter with this predator is rare and memorable.

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