Conversations in Closed

Jennifer and Denise sit down with Gio! Listen to them chat about musicality, humor in dance, pets and plants, and Gio's experience as a queer man in the Balboa scene.Gio started dancing at the age of 10, and he never stopped. He traveled from the very beginning for Boogie Woogie competitoins. Later on he discovered Balboa, which is now his great passion. He is currently based in Stockholm, Sweden where he teaches regular classes.He enjoys experimenting with new moves and stretching the borders of the dance; both in his leading and following. Gio is an avid competitor and a few of his notable placements include titles at All Balboa Weekend, Balboa on the Promenade, and The Snowball. In the classroom he is precise and pedagogical. He is more of a coach than a teacher. Ask him for some feedback!

Listen to Grace Babbes interview Theresa Manney about her journey as a triple threat dancer! Theresa Manney has been passionate about dance for as long as she can remember — but nothing captures her heart quite like jazz music and swing dancing. With an early background in ballet, she developed a strong appreciation for training, musicality, and thoughtful movement — foundations that have supported her competitive journey, including finalist and top placements at California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, Hot Rhythm Holiday, and The Snowball.While she enjoys the challenge of competition, what matters most to Theresa is social dancing and sharing the joy of jazz-style dances with others. She’s passionate about helping people build confidence, find their own voice in the music, and fall in love with the dance for themselves.

Welcome to our first video episode! Jose speaks with Scott Angelius, creator of the widely-used application RP Scoring. Listen to Scott as he talks about competition judging and how to read scoresheets!

In this episode, we interview a *very* special guest. Ray Huffman was born in the 1930s and grew up dancing Balboa in Southern California, where he got to listen and dance to bands such as Tommy Dorsey, Nat King Cole, and Count Basie!Featuring Guest Interviewer: Cory Von KorffLinks:Ray's favorite modern balboa video

In this Bite Size episode, we listen in on Denise's chat with Bobby White at Bal-Love 2025. Bobby talks practice tips, and Balboa history & resources.

Denise & Jose hang out with Taiga Miyajima at Snowball 2025! Taiga found Swing dancing in 2016 and since then has been relentlessly traveling and competing across the world. In 2023, he embarked on a dynamic six-month worldwide dance adventure, making 23 stops across 17 countries and immersing himself in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. Along the way, he earned placements in both national and international competitions across all three styles.Today, Taiga continues his journey, not just as a dancer but as an organizer in Japan. Inspired by the people he met around the world, he has started a new adventure to create welcoming spaces for dancers from all corners of the globe, fostering the same sense of connection and community that has been so central to his own experience.

Jose meets with international dance instructor, Jennifer Lee. Jenn is an internationally recognized swing dancer and Balboa instructor with a long list of competition titles, but some of her most important victories happened far from the dance floor.She earned her first blue ribbon at age eight by winning the 4-H Food Festival, an achievement made possible entirely by her mother’s cooking. In high school, she won first place in state debate, proving she can out-argue nearly anyone.She later became a board-certified physician, despite receiving a strongly worded letter from her medical school dean after she convinced half her class to dance on top of a bar.In the dance world, Jenn has picked up numerous awards across Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. She is especially proud of placing second in the Hot Wings Showdown at the California Balboa Classic, losing only to the legendary Andrea Gordon. Jenn is known for her musicality, her humor, and her dedication to helping dancers find their voice on the social floor.Music: Deja Vu by Greg Ruby.

Denise & Jose sit and chat with Andreas Olsson.Andreas grew up immersed in both wrestling and violin, early experiences that helped shape the creative, musical, and unpredictable style he brings to swing dancing. Trained in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Solo Jazz, he built an accomplished career in performance, competition, and international teaching, earning top placements at events such as Camp Hollywood, the International Lindy Hop Championships, All Balboa Weekend, and more.He is deeply involved in scene building, co-organizing events like Bal-Love, Slow Bal-Love, and Slow Flow, serving for years as competition and DJ coordinator at the Snowball, and acting as artistic director for Breezy Balboa Camp and Weekend in Bangkok. Known for his musicality, creativity, and technical precision, Andreas brings a warm, approachable teaching style that inspires dancers to grow and stay curious in the ever-evolving world of swing dance.

Jose interviews & hangs with Dominic Hanna. Dominic is a dancer and dance enthusiast based in the Triangle region of North Carolina. He has been dancing balboa for nearly 10 years, has numerous competition placements, and is deeply fascinated by the elements that compose the feel and aesthetics of balboa.Music: Deja Vu by Greg Ruby.