Rob Leach

Rob and Swing Dancing fell in love at first sight during the Swing Resurgence back in October ’98. Originally inspired by the infamous Gap Commercial, he’s been teaching East Coast, Lindy Hop, Balboa (his favorite), and a little Charleston since circa 2002. Member of the first swing dance troupe “New Mexico Swing Fix”, 3 time performer in the annual Swingin’ Suites show by Moving People Dance (among other shows), founder of Swing Buffalo, the Queen City Swing dance troupe, and numerous workshops (including Rhythm Shuffle), choreographer, and frequent DJ, Rob has definitely made swing dancing central in his life. While Rob hasn’t competed very much, he has attended countless workshops all over the country (and in the ocean) since 2001, spending way too much money pursuing his passion. Rob loves teaching and wishes everyone could know the joy that comes from swing dancing.

Grittney Tam

Grittney was literally dragged to her first swing dance meeting in college in the late 2000s. She soon fell in love with all forms of swing, and she dances mainly lindy hop and balboa. She has dabbled in charleston, blues, and collegiate shag as well. Grittney has traveled to workshops and exchanges all over the US and has even danced in other countries! When teaching her students, she focuses on having fun and being safe. She also loves trying to figure out different teaching methods to get through to all of her students and loves answering questions. Her favorite thing to do is having silly social dances. Please ask her to dance! 🙂

Thalia Vrantsidis

Thalia has been swing dancing for over 12 years. Though it took a bit before she really got hooked, she has now realized that it is definitely the most fun thing you could be doing on a Wednesday night (or any night of the week, for that matter)! In addition to lindy hop, she occasionally dabbles in charleston, balboa, blues, fusion, salsa, waltz, tango, contradance, and pretty much any other form of partnered or group dancing she can find. Before coming to Princeton, she was a teacher and organizer for the University of Toronto swing dance club. Thalia especially enjoys creating a friendly, welcoming dance community, and watching people who have never danced before realize how much fun can be had with just some music, a partner, and your own two feet! 

Venerable Retired Instructors

Chris Chen

Chris is an energetic, dynamic dancer who loves jamming to fast music. After first becoming interested in social dancing as a freshman through dorm peer pressure, Chris has been swinging the f out since joining Swingtime, Stanford’s energized swing dance troupe, in 2009. Since then, he has been a performer, a choreographer (self plug: Rhythm of Love and Dance With Me Tonight for Swingtime), and an instructor. As a hopeful future teacher, Chris strives to instill a passion for Lindy Hop, an excitement for the music, and a curiosity and awe about swing theory along side steps. Chris is addicted to Lindy Hop and Charleston, and occasionally tries his hand (foot?) at Balboa, Shag, and West Coast Swing, Waltz, Polka, and some Latin dances. Outside of swing dancing, Chris is currently a graduate student at Princeton in Chemical Engineering, and also enjoys, cooking, eating, musing about pedagogy, and jamming on the washboard in the Bitters & Rye Jazz Band.

Natasha Klimova

Natasha started dancing when she was 5 years old and has been practicing dance in various forms from classical ballet to folk dances ever since. Her interest in Swing Dancing comes from her love of jazz music, and the history and culture of Lindy Hop, its friendliness and openness. She took her first swing dancing lessons in St. Petersburg, Russia, and continued learning the dance at NYU, and in different dance studios of New York City. One of her favorite swing dancers, Samantha L Lawton once said: “I love dancing because it’s the body’s natural way of celebrating being alive.” Natasha couldn’t agree more!

Kevin Tan

Kevin was introduced to swing dance completely by chance, and had his beginnings with Swing Ann Arbor. He had always loved big band music and had no idea that the jazz and swing dances survived to the modern day. Since his first 6-count Lindy Hop lesson, he hasn’t looked back, as swing dancing and Lindy Hop have brought so much happiness into his life. He enjoys Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, and will attempt to do both Collegiate and St. Louis Shag, on occasion. He strives to share the joy of swing as much as he can, and is always seen and heard laughing on the dance floor. He has won several local and regional Jack & Jill Competitions, as well as placing first at the Boston Tea Party Swings. Kevin secretly hopes that world peace can be achieved through Lindy Hop. On those very rare occasions when he’s not dancing, Kevin enjoys card games, cocktails, and cooking.

 
Vicki Wang

Vicki originally dabbled in and out of swing dancing socials as a way to destress at The College of New Jersey, but soon after she met a few friends passionate about the art of swing, she found herself traveling at least three times a week to socials and classes for any opportunities to fuel her passion for swing and jazz. On the dance floor, she strives to accommodate the unique styles of every dancer comfortably and energetically, and encourages her partners to express their creativity. Vicki thrives off of Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa. Sometimes, she tries (and miserably fails) at West Coast Swing for fun. On the rare occasion when Vicki isn’t dancing, you can find her doing Pilates, working as a graduate assistant, catching up on television shows, or cuddling with her fat shih-tzu Pico.

Shoham Bhadra

Shoham got started swing dancing as a junior at UPenn, all because of a fateful sandwich. The rest is history. He’s been hooked ever since, with a focus on having (and giving) the most fun social dances known to humankind. He’s studied Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, and Blues at events and workshops around the world, and occasionally pretends to do West Coast Swing. As an instructor, he focuses on clear communication between partners, while employing rhythm variations and a grounded style. When he isn’t swing dancing (ha), you can find him rocking out with Sho and the Sho-Timers or Shuffle Mode, DJing, or slaving away in a lab doing research on batteries.

 
Hong Long

Hong first started swing dancing at LaB (Lindy and Blues) in Philadelphia after hearing her office mate rave about the dance. What Hong thought would be a small hobby quickly turned into classes and social dancing at least two nights a week, traveling to workshops 3+ hours away for the weekends, and even squeezing in attending social dances while on vacation. She’s even taken first place in a regional J&J at the Lindustrial Revolution! She loves jazz music, the energy of the dance floor, and sharing the love of dancing with others. Be sure to ask her to dance, she’ll be the one with the big smile at the end of every swingout! When Hong isn’t talking about dancing, she probably chats it up about science, running, and food.