Our Teachers
Natalia & Mickey
Natalia Rueda and Mickey Fortanasce have been sharing their love of Swing dances across the world for decades.
Natalia Rueda discovered Balboa in 2005 in Ottawa, and it was love at first dance. Guided by second-generation Balboa dancers from California, she soon co-founded a successful dance school with a performance troupe devoted to Swing dances. In 2010, she earned her first Canadian Balboa Championship title, establishing herself as a leading figure in the Canadian Balboa community. Beyond Canada, she has contributed to the growth of the Balboa scene in the Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. Today, she is known internationally as both a performer and educator, deeply committed to encouraging the next generations of Balboa dancers.
Mickey Fortanasce took his first Balboa class as a teenager in Los Angeles and carried that passion with him to New York while studying at NYU. Studying the old-timers on both coasts shaped his distinctive ability to blend styles with creativity and authenticity. He went on to become a three-time Rendezvous International Balboa Champion and has earned titles at the California Balboa Classic, the All Balboa Weekend Classic, and more. Today, he is recognised worldwide for his artistry, innovation, and lifelong dedication to Balboa.
Together, their teaching blends Natalia’s partner dancing and performing arts roots with Mickey’s coast-to-coast influences and years of performing. Known for their energy, precision, and playfulness, they bring an honest love for partner dancing and improvisation to every class- sharing the joy of Balboa and Swing around the globe.
Jenn & Jeremy
Jenn Lee is a respected swing dance instructor who has made a name for herself at dance events and workshops with her personable manner and dynamic style. Jenn's passion for swing dance is evident in her performances and classes. She recognizes swing dance's deep roots in black culture and strives to create a collaborative and supportive learning environment that encourages students of all levels to develop their unique style. With a strong musical background, Jenn focuses on incorporating rhythmic concepts and musicality into her classes to help dancers connect with the music and express themselves through dance. As a professional dancer without a fixed partner, Jenn has developed a versatile dance style that can be adapted to different partners and teaching collaborations. Her commitment to giving equal attention to leads and followers contributes to an inclusive atmosphere that sets her apart as a teacher.
Jeremy Otth has acquired a great knowledge of the historical nature of vintage swing dances as well as personal stories and interactions with some of the original jitterbug and swing dancers. His interests center on Lindy Hop, Balboa, Jazz and Collegiate Shag. With his seemingly inexhaustible energy, Jeremy's natural talent and dedication led him to win numerous championship titles at prestigious dance competitions, including the International Lindy Hop Championships, the National Jitterbug Championships, the American Classic Balboa Championships, the California Balboa Classic and the US Open Swing Dance Championships. Jeremy is now able to share this extensive knowledge and passion for these classic couple dances by teaching and inspiring dancers from Southern California to around the world.
Marion & Sergej
Marion Forano's swing dancing journey began 10 years ago with Solo Jazz, Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. Rather than specializing in a single dance, she embraces the full spectrum of swing dances and sees them as interconnected parts of the same language: Jitterbug. Guided by the music, tempo, and energy, she moves fluidly between styles, shaping a versatile and personal voice. An international competition winner across several swing dance styles, Marion is an expressive, creative, and curious dancer who celebrates each swing dance. Since 2021, Marion has taught across multiple styles, emphasizing partner connection and body awareness while placing follower empowerment and individuality at the heart of her teaching. She also brings extensive experience teaching movement beyond swing dance, together with a professional research background in human movement and pedagogy. Known for her warm and infectious enthusiasm, she creates an environment where dancers feel supported, confident, and inspired on the dance floor and beyond.
Sergej Götz is a Munich-based swing dance instructor and choreographer who brings boundless energy to the dance floor. He's actively teaching all swing dances, but his passion is Collegiate Shag! Though seasoned on the international competition stage, Sergej believes medals are just a nice bonus. His true passion is social dancing. In his classes, he focuses on active listening, smooth partner connection, and creating magical moments with the music. His main goal is simple: spreading the pure joy of dancing. Get ready for infectious energy and a lot of fun. Come and dance with Sergej!
Izzy & Louis
Izzy and Louis met at a London social, bonded over their love of Balboa and have been partnered up ever since! Having competed in the UK and abroad, they are determined to spread their enthusiasm and love of balboa to the masses and are committed to help grow and nurture the London scene.
Izzy Ling has been dancing since she was 3, having done jazz, tap and ballet before stumbling across Lindy hop at a jazz concert. Learning swing dancing in Australia, she moved to London with a passion for Balboa, Shag and Lindy and is determined for the various scenes to become more intertwined.
After a fortuitous injury, Louis Carruthers decided to try out swing dancing classes to help him recover. He instantly fell in love with swing and hasn't looked back. After spending 5 years learning and traveling to dance the Lindy Hop, the Balboa caught Louis' eye and what started out as a curiosity quickly turned into a passion. One night while social dancing in London, Louis met Isabella and with her help and inspiration he committed himself to learning this magical dance!
Our Musical Line-up
The Five Quids
The Five Quids are a new band from London aimed explicitly at fast swing dancing. They take their name from their beloved venue “The Coin Laundry”, home of the Another Night balboa group. Formed and led by bassist (and Collegiate Shag dancer!) Harry Evans, their concept is to keep faster tempos feeling fresh all night long by consciously switching between the various sub-genres of Jazz dance music present during the 1930s-50s. Expect your favourite hard-swinging classics, a few early bebop jewels and some of their trademark riff choruses!
Castle Rock Jazz Band
Another year of Save the Fast Dance, another band we’re bringing straight from Scotland to Cambridge for you — let’s welcome the Castle Rock Jazz Band!
The Castle Rock Jazz Band are in the business of serving up hot Swing music, played by dancers for dancers. They draw influence from the great jazz artists and orchestras of the Swing era, while their experience as dancers ensures that the floor will be kept full all night. When they're not on the stage, they're busy jamming, working out new arrangements and throwing down on dance floors in Edinburgh and beyond.
DJ Ania Apollo
Ania has been a jazz lover since she was little, spending many a happy hour rummaging through her parents’ CD collection, and falling in love with Ella, Nina, Miles and Chet at first listen. A later coup de coeur came in 2016 when she heard some of these childhood favourites being played at her first Lindy Hop class. Her latest enduring crush is the Balboa. She is resident DJ at London’s favourite fast feet social ‘Another Night’. Expect to hear swinging classics from the likes of Basie, Duke, Johnny Hodges, Earl Hines and John Kirby, alongside a spattering of later jazz, ranging from Bebop to RnB. As long as there’s groove and a driving rhythm section, it’s in!
DJ Artem
Once upon a time, Artem discovered old jazzy vinyl records in charity shops. He promptly made sure that all of his backpacks fit a dozen of 12-inch-long square objects, packed his shelves with jazz, and started playing sets for the local scene in Cambridge. For Save The Fast Dance, to get you kicking and scooting and shuffling, Artem's sets will take you on a journey from the '20s to the '20s with a diverse selection of tunes: sweet and hot, classic and contemporary, as fast as lightning.
DJ Skeff
John’s passion for the origins of swing music and it’s social history means that you’re sure to hear tunes from both the swing era and today that’ll get you dancing. Artists in regular circulation in his sets at the minute include Roy Eldridge, Nirav Sanghani and the Pacific Six, Benny Carter, and Coleman Hawkins.
Jack Childs
Since Jack began his first Lindy Hop lesson in early 2017, swing dancing has become a significant part of his life. Over time, this passion expanded into his professional work in sound, videography, and photography. Jack now also teaches collegiate shag and lindy hop classes locally in Essex, and while he thoroughly enjoys the various forms of swing dance, it’s the people involved that he values the most. Naturally, swing dancing has become his favourite subject to photograph, as he feels privileged to capture the pure joy that fills the room at every event. Jack also loves to social dance and meet new people, so don't hesitate to ask him for a dance between his photography duties at events.
If you do not want to be photographed, please let Jack know directly, or talk with one of the safety secretaries at the event.
