RCMA Guest Instructors
Note: stay tuned for more guest instructors!
Jennifer has been active in the entertainment biz for over 30 years. She is highly sought after as a coach, performer & consultant. She is the “go to” for many local theatre companies for pre-show prep for their cast members. Her diverse background in dance and theatre has provided her with a massive variety of experiences in the entertainment world. She has numerous film & TV and voice over credits as both choreographer and performer. She has performed at The Chutzpah Festival, Harmony Arts Festival, Vancouver International Dance Festival and The Vancouver Tap Festival. You may have
seen her in productions at The Arts Club Theatre (Cabaret, Singin' In the Rain, West Side Story) and The Playhouse (Guys & Dolls, The Music Man), The Vogue Theatre (Godspell), Centennial Theatre (Godspell, Wizard of Oz). Her performing career has allowed her to travel across North America with percussion/dance ensemble “Rhythmatix” and as far as Taiwan for an adventure as a singer with a top 40/funk band. Jennifer is co-founder of THE WEST COAST TAP DANCE COLLECTIVE and Artistic Director of THE RHYTHM ROOM.
She is thrilled to be teaching at RCMA this year and we are thrilled to have her! Jennifer is teaching on Saturday at 10:30am and Sunday at 2pm. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.
Hi, my name is Eric! I love to teach and am ready to work with beginning dancers all the way to professionals! In my class, you will sweat and have a great time. I will push your limits, and help you to find your path as a dancer.
Eric has taught at Harbour Dance for over 15 years. He is one of their most popular teachers. His love of dance and passion is felt in all his classes. In 2017, Eric started a hip hop training crew at Harbour Dance called "Weekend Warriors"
Specialty: Hip Hop Foundations
Eric is teaching Grooving on Saturday at 2pm and Monday at 10:30am. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.
Rhythm City Instructors
Claudia has been dancing for the better half of her life. The Lindy hop is her home and the dance floor is where she comes to rest her feet. Over the past 15 years Claudia has had the immense pleasure and opportunity to learn from Frankie Manning, Dawn Hampton, Chester Whitmore, Anaïs Sékiné, Frida Segerdahl, Joseph Wiggan, and countless other incredible dancers. She has gone to Guinea twice to study with Les Ballet Africains, Sweden three times to learn from The Harlem Hot Shots, and countless other places around the world. She has choreographed and performed championship routines with the Hip Shakin' Mamas, Fat Bottom Girls, and International Shit Storm, and is currently focusing on following the paths in life that spark joy.
Claudia is teaching a Solo Movement class with Lisa on Saturday at noon. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.
Doug grew up listening to his father play ragtime piano but only started dancing in his 40’s when he took his first Lindy hop class with Eric Shaw. Since then he’s become an avid social dancer who’s as interested in Solo Jazz improvising as he is in partner dancing.
He also likes the heightened experience that competition brings and has made the finals in several local and regional events. One of his highlights was being a member of the winning performance team at Lindy Bout X — an event where he was also voted by his peers to win the spirit award.
Doug continues to practice his basics while exploring more creative frontiers but still hasn’t learned not to watch inspiring dance videos right before bed.
Doug is teaching a Solo Jazz class on Saturday at 3:30pm and a Lindy Hop class with Eileen on Sunday at 3:30pm. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.
Edina has been teaching Lindy hop since 2005. She is champion, with Eric Shaw, of the Hellzapoppin competition in Utah, February 2008 and the Flyweight (Fast Lindy) competition at Lindy Bout II in April 2008, but her priorities as a dancer and teacher are in having fun with people, growing the scene and spreading the love of Lindy hop.
In addition to travelling to dance, compete, and attend workshops from the masters of Lindy hop, Edina keeps her inspiration up and swivels fabulous by dancing in her kitchen every chance she gets.
Edina is teaching a Lindy Hop class with Eric on Saturday at 3:30pm. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.
Following a childhood filled with modern dance, jazz, and ballet, Eileen discovered the joy of Lindy hop in September 2001, and hasn't stopped swivelling since. She is an avid instructor, event organizer, performer, competitor, judge, and, above all, social dancer.
Eileen has a long and varied history of teaching, including gigs with the Vancouver Swing Society, UBC Swing Kids, SFU Swing Club, Jungle Swing, Red Hot Swing, and Swing Dynamite. As a competitor, Eileen has received top placements at Lindy Bout, Rhythm City Mess Around, and O-Town Showdown. She was a founding member of Hot Koko, and is proud to have been part of the first ever Canadian team to compete at the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown in 2006. One of Eileen's most inspirational experiences as a Lindy hopper was an intensive week of teacher training with Lennart Westerlund in Montreal in 2013.
Eileen is happiest when dancing to live music, and aspires to speak jazz music with her body. When teaching, she works to help her students find their own rhythm and creative voice.
Eileen is teaching a Lindy Hop class with Doug on Sunday at 3:30pm. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.
Referred to as "the Energizer Bunny" by his peers, Eric is as fearless and fierce on the social dance floor and in competition as he is mild-mannered in social settings.
He travels to dance, train, and compete, but his greatest honour came in Vancouver, when he was chosen to train and perform with the South African performance group Umoja in January 2007.
Although an avid performer and competitor, Eric's priorities remain in the realm of improvisation and the boundless potential in every partnered social dance, an approach that makes him one of the strongest, clearest, and most approachable teachers in the region.
If he's in a Lindy hop competition, there is a good chance he will do a pretzel at some point.
Eric is teaching a Lindy Hop class with Edina on Saturday at 3:30pm. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.
bio coming soon...
Lisa teaches Balboa and Lindy hop and is celebrated for her ability to follow anything and remain cool in any storm. With a background in jazz and flamenco, Lisa started partner dancing via West Coast and East Coast Swing, but soon discovered Lindy hop and Balboa, and there her heart remains.
She won the first Lindy hop contest she entered, in 2002, and was a founding member of Vancouver's award winning Hot Koko. Her ulterior motive as a dancer and teacher is to have more Lindy hoppers and Balboa enthusiasts to dance with.
Lisa is teaching a Solo Movement class with Claudia at noon on Saturday. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.
Lucy discovered Lindy hop in 1999, and has since travelled extensively to dance, train, and teach. She has taken up numerous other dances, all more or less in service to her first love: Lindy hop. The rhythmic and cultural roots of Vernacular Jazz dances of the Swing Era are a priority for Lucy in her teaching, dancing, and research.
Lucy has taught Charleston, Vintage Jazz, Lindy Hop, and Blues across Canada and the Pacific Northwest, and at Herräng Dance Camp in Sweden. Her teaching approach is to encourage dancers to get a feel for the music, to move in a way that is comfortable and authentic to each person, and to keep it simple.
Lucy is teaching a Solo Jazz class on Sunday at 3:30pm and Lindy Hop classes on Monday at noon and 2pm. See schedule and class descriptions for more info.