Ramona Staffeld (New York, NY)
Ramona is known internationally for her wildly graceful style and spontaneity on the dance floor. She was only 14 when legendary swing dancer Frankie Manning introduced her to New York at the Mid-Summer Night Swing series at Lincoln Center. Since then she has been teaching and performing all over the world. In 1998 and 1999, she placed first at the American Lindy Hop Championships in the junior division. As a founding member of Minnie's Moochers, she taught and performed in Singapore in 2000. That same year she also performed in Tokyo representing Swing Dance America. In 2002, Ramona became a World Lindy Hop Champion in Stockholm, Sweden. In addition to swing, Ramona is skilled in classic and modern dance techniques having recently completed the Professional Studio Program at the José Limon Institute. Ramona has taught at The Julliard School, Skidmore College, Bard College and the Joffrey Ballet school.
She is an experienced artist and education teacher doing residencies with children in schools across the country. Ramona continues to explore the intersection between lindy and modern dance, recently staring in sight specific spectacle Agora 2 at McCarren Park Pool in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Currently, Ramona is a member of the Vanavar Caravan, a contemporary dance company specializing in modern, clogging and ethnic dance. Additionally, she dances with the Silver Shadows, a lindy hop and jazz dance group. She lives in New York City, but you will most frequently find her teaching or performing at Lindy Hop festivals from Houston's The Great Southwest Lindy Fest to Sweden's Herrang Dance Camp!
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Evita Arce (New York, NY)
Known for her endless energy, high-flying aerials and dynamic movement, Evita Arce is an international performer and teacher of Charleston and Lindy Hop. Since her arrival in New York, she has performed at the city's top venues, including Lincoln Center, The Waldorf Astoria, and The Rainbow Room. Evita has also won the hearts of audiences while starring as Diana Morales of Chorus Line in Los Angeles, touring with Swing Un-ltd featured in the Edinbough, Scotland Jazz Festival, and teaching/performing at the Cabarets of UK's Camp Savoy directed by Ryan and Jenny Francois. Her choreography and partner work have earned her 1st and 2nd place in multiple contests. Now in her 24th year of dance, Evita teaches at Dance Manhattan and continues to dazzle audiences across the globe.
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Gina Helfrich (Atlanta, GA)
Gina hails from Atlanta, where she is an active teacher, organizer, and DJ. She is currently head choreographer of Atlanta's second-best Lindy Hop troupe, "Tiny Bunch", and holds weekly practices where she learns not to take herself too seriously. Gina has been one-half of the partnership behind Southern Belle Swing Bash since its inception in 2005. It is her passion to encourage followers to fully express themselves in the dance and to find their own voice. In a testament to her versatility, Gina has taken top prizes in a variety of swing dance competitions, including Lindy Hop, Charleston and solo jazz, Balboa, and numerous Jack & Jill contests. She is known for her lively presence and creativity on the social dance floor. When she's not out dancing, Gina tries to make the world a better place through feminism.
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