Here at the Savoy Swing Club, we're excited to show off our world-class instructors. Many of our instructors have taught, competed, or performed at high profile national events. Although our instructors are recognized at international events, they are still very involved in the local swing dancing community.

Daniel Newsome

Daniel is a nationally recognized dancer from Denver. He has taught, competed, DJed and choreographed for over a decade, winning him numerous national titles. His passion comes from a rich understanding of jazz history. In class Dan combines technique, creativity and musicality with a cultivated sense of community.

Gabriella Cook

Gabby brings a wide background of profesional training in dance, music and theater to her lindy hop. She teaches a core-centered approach to dance and balances the “zen” of following with historically-informed expression.

Joshua Welter

Joshua began dancing in 1998 in Washington, DC, inspired by the classic jazz music of the 20s, 30s and 40s. He loves to share his passion for lindy hop, charleston and vernacular jazz wherever he goes. In his teaching, he focuses on technique, rhythm and quality of movement, seeking to challenge dancers while remaining accessible and fun. When he's not dancing, Joshua is an activist for social & economic justice. (But don't worry, he won't use a bullhorn in class).

Chris Chapman

Chris brings extensive training in a variety of social dances, movement analysis, the history of swing dancing, and his training from some of the legends of the dance! His passion, expertise, and strong teaching ability ensure fun and exciting classes for all levels of dancers! Chris is an American Lindy Hop Champion, a Pacific Northwest Lindy Hop Champion, and has won or placed in many contests and divisions. He is recognized as a top instructor and performer having toured all over North America. Chris is the founder of the Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz Dance team, Zah-Zu-Zay. Within one year of the team’s formation Chris choreographed and trained them to win the coveted team division at the American Lindy Hop Championships!

Mark Kihara

Mark has been enthusiastically dancing swing since 1998. An avid social dancer, Mark has traveled and danced Lindy Hop in more than ten countries. Great energy is brought to every class he teaches, and he becomes most excited while getting people to share his love of the dance. He currently runs Swing Jam Productions and loves chicken.

Lorraine O'Neal

Sorry boys, Lorraine lost her heart to swing dancing back in 1998. She has since become a dedicated Lindy, Balboa, and Charleston addict, traveling throughout the United States to dance, teach, compete, and pick up a few titles along the way. Lorraine's dance specialties include embracing the euphoric, free spirit of lindy and the grace of balboa. She hopes to share some of this love with y'all.

Casey Schneider

Casey's love of swing and jazz dance began in 1998, and she has been teaching for Savoy Swing Club since 2005. She regularly teaches at local, regional and national lindy hop events. Whether social dancing, teaching, or performing, Casey is inspired by the playful spirit of swing dance and jazz music, and in "raising her voice" as a female dancer. When teaching, she focuses on developing solid technique while inspiring new dancers to love the dance as much as she does!

Viola Spencer

Viola is one of the dancers responsible for reviving Lindy in the Seattle area back in the early 90's. Among a handful of Americans who first travelled to the now reknowned Herrang Dance camp, she brought back knowledge gained there to help establish the Savoy Swing Club and to start her own classes here in Seattle. A long-time teacher and performer in the community, she has taught at workshops and festivals as far afield as the Great South Lindyfest and The Body Shop in Dallas, and has taught with national performers including Peter Strom, Steven Mitchell and the great Frankie Manning. With her impeccably grounded style, inventive footwork, and clear teaching methods, she continues to inspire new generations of dancers. Currently, she also imparts her knowledge of authentic jazz, charleston and Lindy to students at the high school where she is a full-time English teacher, and where swing is offered as an elective!

Travis Whetman

Travis has been teaching and performing Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Charleston in the Pacific Northwest for several years and is a member of Seattle’s award-winning performance team, the Jackson Street Lindy Hoppers. Travis also plays an active role in keeping swing alive in Seattle by DJing regularly and by co-founding one of Seattle’s regular swing dances, One O’clock Jump. He not only has a love for vintage jazz dancing but also for the music that helped create it and spends much of his free time studying the history of both. His most recent accomplishments include 1st place in the 2004 Camp Jitterbug Lindy Hop Contest and 1st place in the Fast Division of the 2003 Pacific Northwest Lindy Hop Championships.