Level Up Clinic: Meet the Instructors!

1. What types of students do you prefer to teach (if any)?

I enjoy teaching dancers at every stage of their journey. Every student has different goals, strengths, and challenges, and I love meeting people where they are and helping them take that next step that moves their dancing forward. 

2. What topics do you teach best or enjoy teaching the most?

My favorite thing to teach is technique—not for perfection’s sake, but as a tool for creativity and self-expression. I love helping dancers build strong fundamentals and then use those tools to develop their own style and voice. For me, one of the most fun parts of dancing is getting to a place where your dancing feels like you.

3. How would you describe your teaching style?

My teaching style is very adaptive. I try to have as many ways into a concept as possible, whether that’s mechanics, imagery, analogies, drills, or even gamifying an idea. Different things click for different people, so I like finding the approach that works best for the individual student.  

If you’re looking to strengthen your technical prowess while also becoming a more authentic and expressive dancer, I’d love to work with you. My goal is to help you build the tools you need and then use them to dance in a way that feels more like you.

1. What types of students do you prefer to teach (if any)?

I love working with dancers who want to move like themselves — not just execute the steps correctly, but actually feel free and expressive when they dance. All levels welcome. If you've ever felt like you're "doing it right" but it doesn't feel like you, that's exactly the kind of student I'm excited to work with. 

2. What topics do you teach best or enjoy teaching the most?

Body mechanics and growth mindset. I love breaking down how the body actually moves — efficient, sustainable technique that doesn't rely on brute force or straining — and pairing that with a growth mindset approach, so students learn to see "not there yet" as part of the process instead of a sign they're doing something wrong. 

3. How would you describe your teaching style? 

I strive to teach the way you learn — not the way I learn, or the way I was taught. Before we get into technique, I want to know who you are, how you think, and what you feel. That shapes everything: whether I lean on analogies, imagery, kinetic cues, or straight-up technical breakdown, it's built around you, not a one-size-fits-all method. 

I've been dancing West Coast Swing since 1998, with a broader background across Lindy Hop, Balboa, ballroom, and social Latin. Alongside dance, I've spent nearly thirty years as a bodyworker and I'm a professional musician — and I'm currently training as a clinical mental health counselor in Philadelphia. That counseling background shapes how I teach: I pay attention to how someone processes information, where tension shows up, and what actually helps a person feel safe enough to try something new on the dance floor.

1. What types of students do you prefer to teach (if any)?

I like teaching all students, but especially those looking to clean up the look of their dance or advance their understanding of dynamic connection. 

2. What topics do you teach best or enjoy teaching the most?

Connection and quality of movement. 

3. How would you describe your teaching style? 

My teaching style includes lots of metaphors, using somatic parallels to get you to "feel" what we're aiming for, and positively reinforcing what you're doing well.

1. What types of students do you prefer to teach (if any)?

Love beginners! Follows and leads I love to teach though I slightly prefer to teach follows over leads. I feel comfortable teaching foundation/technique leading up to an approx. int level. For leads int+, I feel most comfortable teaching connection.

2. What topics do you teach best or enjoy teaching the most?

I love teaching a technically sound foundation! I have been a musician for 10+ years and that is how I learned to dance, so my teaching style is founded in music theory/musical understanding of phrases. I enjoy applying my theory to help my students find and grow their unique style.

3. How would you describe your teaching style? 

Technique focused, body-aware, with a focus on core universal concepts and how to apply them in multiple ways.

1. What types of students do you prefer to teach (if any)?

I love teaching all roles at all levels. For this format I'd love if you had an idea of what you wanted to work on, it be something specific (e.g. "how do I anchor?"), or something broad (e.g. "I want to do better competitively"), just so we can make the most of our time! 

2. What topics do you teach best or enjoy teaching the most?

I love teaching about technical movement and musical structure, and how we can fit that within a partnered context. 

3. How would you describe your teaching style? 

My teaching style is very focused on using both imagery and anatomy to help students create change within their dance. The primary focus is to create a mental connection for the movement we're looking for, which can mean a higher focus in drilling the same idea. At the end of the day, I'm looking to help you walk away with a better understanding of your own dancing and your own movement.

1. What types of students do you prefer to teach (if any)?

I’m happy to work with anyone. I currently work with a lot of beginner leaders and followers from both the lead and follow perspective. 

2. What topics do you teach best or enjoy teaching the most?

My goal for folks who currently learn from me is to experience more fun in a social dance.  I’m happy to pinpoint technique or help with a practice plan. 

3. How would you describe your teaching style? 

If possible I’m going to try to work through how something feels in your body and help you with a visual so that you can see the difference. The occasional analogy from everyday life slips in there. 

Overall, people probably enjoy me more if they like a fast talking sense of whimsy gabbing at them.