Lindy Hop . Aerials . Blues . Shag . Balboa . Jazz . Tap
Student Testamonials
There are a few notes I've received over the years, and I'd like to share
them.
This is the second time I've taken a drop in class with Dan and he and Gabby are excellent teachers. I highly recommend them if you see any classes that interest you. After the class there was open dance and I had a great time. However, you do need to be versed in Lindy Hop to really enjoy yourself at Sonny's. The skill level there is a bit higher than, say, Century Ballroom. On the other hand, very few people are cliquey and no matter your skill level you will get a chance to dance.
-Elizabeth
If they like swing and lindy. Dan's a great teacher, very attentive to details that make my technique better.
-chris
I am especially interested in the style of blues that you teach. Also, I am impressed with both you and Gaby for possessing both the style and the finesse to teach in a productive way.
Y. Vargas
Dan is hilarious. Also, you wouldn't be able to tell from looking at him but he has won many dance championships and yet he doesn't have a big head and treats everyone with respect, no matter their dancing skill level. As a result, I know when I go to one of his classes not only will I learn a TON but I'll have fun and he doesn't make me feel bad about "not getting" some of the steps immediately. Truly an inspiration and a friend.
- D. Fan
I had quite a positive experience recently w/ my first shared private w/ Dan & Gaby & my current dance practice partner. They observed us while we danced & then danced w/ us individually. Good feedback, clear communication, and interesting perspectives on lead's vs follow's issues and how to make these work harmoniously. I can definitely recommend these guys! Melanie
I also had a really good lesson with Dan. His observations and critiques were spot on and his explanations were clear and easy to understand. He was also very patient while we practiced certain techniques until he was sure I had truly got it. -Misty
It was a joy to dance with you and learning from you and Dan this summer
-Alex D., Seattle
I really admire your generosity in trying to bring up the Seattle scene. You and Gabby are doing a great thing here. :) -Paul E, Seattle
You were an example to Chad that dancing is possible even for the dancing
challenged...and without that, he would have never swept me off my feet
(literally at times, although I'm not sure those moments were intentional)
with his great leading and teaching skills that he got from you. I'm not
kidding either- I always hoped for a guy who could dance (or at least
would attempt to learn to dance).
-Chad and Melanie
..you may not remember me and my fiance... but i just wanted to let
you know that we really enjoyed doing your lessons. We dont come very
often at all, but have a great time when we do. I still get the emails,
and try to attend if the ole lady isnt busy. You and Tiff rock. AMAZING
DANCERS.. thanks for doing what you do.
-Tommy
Your passion for dance and your compassion for those who are learning
makes your swing instruction cutting edge.
-Ted Fulte
Did the blues tonight and it was awesome...the girl I dance with has some dance experience and her words were "how did you learn this??" as there is nobody that teaches up here (literally, for swing, it is she and I showing people...so I watch your videos and others all the time, figure it out, figure out the femme moves as well, and then show people.....very cool looking across a dance floor and thinking "wow, I taught him, him, her, him, her, her, him, her,him and him and her to dance)..anyway...back to my story.....so yeah, she was like "where did you learn this?" and I was like "was speaking to Daniel and he recommended it...."
needless to say we danced the whole dance and then a number of ppl came up and asked "how do you do that?"
a very cool moment
-Q. Washington
This weekend's classes were wonderful, and I wanted to thank you for
putting all of it together. What you all are doing is so remarkable. You're
keeping this art form alive in such a complete, generous way, and I feel
very fortunate to have learned from you over the last year and a half...and
this weekend's different teachers were really helpful. The dancing community
you cultivate is so invested...everyone trying to learn and do cool things
together on the dance floor. Thanks for making something so great for
all of us.
-Jess
Just a quick note to say thanks for organizing a fabulous weekend! Everything
from the venues, class variety, fun instructors, performances, JSO, Frankie
and the beautiful weather, made it a weekend to remember. I had a blast!
Thanks for sharing your endless energy and passion for swing dancing with
all of us. You're awesome! Now it's time to practice! :) See you on the
dance floor!
-Debi
We really like your explanations. We had lots of videos and DVDs that
showed the moves, but don't explain the details of how to do them. We
were thinking of taking gymnastic lessons - but now we are doing "your"
moves and teaching them to others up here in Alaska
-Nellee
I want to thank you for the incredible dance weekend I just had. It
truly was one of the most enjoyable, tiring, fun, painful, worthwhile,
frustrating, happy and memorable weekends I have experienced. I am so
grateful for the hard work and effort you obviously dedicated yourselves
to in organizing and orchestrating the many hundreds of details necessary
for the "convention" to be such a successful event.
I also want you to know that, although I have always appreciated and admired
your skill and talent, after having seen your live performances I am dumb-struck
by your leadership, technique, creativity, athleticism and grace.
You both are absolutely inspirational and, on top of that, are kind, gentle
and friendly. Please know that I recognize and acknowledge how fabulous
you both are and thank you for letting me benefit from all that makes
you who you are.
-Mary
We have swingout practice every Monday night here at Jonathan and Sylvia's
studio and we've already started to teach our friends the techniques we
learned this weekend. You guys have such an amazing scene and it's very
inspiring to be around it. We're working hard to build a scene here in
Santa Barbara, including having our own swing team, and many of the things
we do are modeled after the way you and Tiff run things. I guess what
I'm trying to say is that all the hard work that you and Tiff are constantly
putting in is having a positive effect in Santa Barbara as well as in
Denver. Anyway, thanks again and looking forward to seeing you soon,
-John E, Santa Barbara
Thanks so much for making this an unforgettable weekend and introducing
us to the still great, Frankie Manning! All you guys worked so hard and
it showed. The Jonathan Stout band was incredible, the Sherman St. Ballroom
was an amazing venue, the performances, the dancers, the contests and
contestants were awesome! The classes and instructors were fun and energetic
and a joy. There were so many highlights its hard to narrow it down but
I think the best part of this weekend was the joy in the peoples faces
as Frankie taught. Most everyone I danced with in that line was so excited
and enthusiastic. It was very uplifting. And story time with Frankie,
just amazing! It touches your soul to have an experience like that. I
havn't felt that way since I was 8. Everyone enjoyed it except, I guess,
the guy text messaging.how the do you not listen to Frankie during story
time! Ah well.
-dan
It was all way beyond anything I've ever expected! You guys really make
the impossible possible! Regards,
-Troy
Your commitment to keeping the Lindy Hop tradition alive is contagious.
Rick and I signed up for what we thought would be one month of dance lessons
in November. Dance classes with you and Tiff fill a creative, athletic
and intellectual void for us. We're a couple of band nerds dealing with
life after college marching band. We both sit in front of computer for
8 - 10 hours a day. Playing music is a great outlet, but my body wants
to move after sitting for so long! Thank you for sharing the history behind
the moves. Every step has more meaning when there's tradition behind it.
-Jessica Wilson
I am furthermore very grateful to both of you for building the swing
dance community we have in Denver, and for encouraging me to be part of
it Your love of dance is very infectious and your instruction continues
to be fun, challenging, rewarding, and rich.
I used to picture myself in my minds eye on the dancefloor, and wonder
if I was too old for Swing Dancing: Now I know that it is for all young
people, no matter their ages!
Thanks again, for everything you do.
-Rod Guice
You have shown a love for the dance, and excitement and passion that
I have found in only a select few others. It is obvious in the classes
you teach, and even more so in the conversations you have with people.
Your talks with me have always been informative and fun. Talking about
the Dean Collins vs Savoy style, history of dance, and about other good
dancers.
I had a teacher tell me once that he was happy if he changed the life
of one of his students... if he instilled the love of the subject... if
he brought them up from the mundane to the numinous of his beloved pursuit.
You, as a teacher, a leader, and as a friend, have done this many times
over I suspect. And at least once I know.
-Michael Varney
I had more fun tonight at D-Note, than I've ever had in my life! Thanks
for setting up this evening of dancing in such an incredible venue. I'm
looking forward to the next night at D-Note.
-C. Ingram
I just wanted to tell you how much we love swing and your approach to
teaching it! Matt and I have tried instuctional videos and just couldn't
get into it, but you and Tiff have a way of keeping us interested and
breaking it down in a logical manner. After the first class....we were
hooked!
-Jessica
Ouch, I hurt! My muscles are sore and my face hurts from being kicked.
lol, I think I have a permanent foot print. Seriously, though, I have
absolutely become addicted to swing. Thank you for all the lessons you
two have provided and I look forward to all the new things you can teach
my girlfriend and I. Once again, I would really like to thank you for
introducing us to this great experience.
-Matt
Life is short, and when someone makes a difference in my life, I try
to make a point of letting them know. I started the beginning jitterbug
class with some trepidation-- I had a really bad bike wreck 5 years ago
that put me in a wheelchair for 6 months, and on crutches for nearly 3
years. Prior to that I was a marathon runner and a century cyclist, so
it was a tough adjustment.
The doctors were not overly optimistic about my return to a really active
lifestyle, and, in fact, thought I might not ever walk unaided. I proved
them wrong, and was muddling along on my own two legs, but a lot of the
joy was gone since I could no longer do the things I had always done to
clear the cobwebs and keep myself fit.
Then I ruptured a tendon in the ankle that wasn't injured in the bike
wreck, and it was more surgery and a couple more months on crutches. A
friend told me about your swing dance classes, and I thought it was worth
a shot, but I really didn't know if I could do it.
You and Tiff are such amazing teachers, I was comfortable from the very
first class. You broke things down into such small simple steps that even
someone who truly doesn't have a leg to dance on can get it, and you make
sure that you put enough out there, even in the very first class, that
by the end I WAS DANCING!!! I'll admit, I'm sometimes a bit sore afterward,
but a half hour with an icebag tends to set things right, and the pure
joy I get from learning to move in a new, challenging and soul-satisfying
way is well worth it. And aside from that, you are the best deal in town.
You so obviously love what you do, and love sharing it with people who
want to learn. Why else would you offer classes for a buck??? Believe
me, I'm telling everyone I know, and I'll be showing up for class as long
as my legs will carry me. Thank you for this amazing gift.
-R.W.
We spent all day previewing the new batch of DVD's, and you have done
a great job with them, as with the earlier ones. It is no wonder that
you have won so many competitions, but it is a gift that you are able
to teach so well to others what you do so well.
-Anne-Marie Beaudoin
Hey you guys, I just wanted to tell you something cool, and to thank
you. Gracey went to an African American leadership conference recently
- they are sponsored by Boulder Valley Schools and occur a couple of time
a year and the black kids in the district attend them. During part of
this conference African dance was discussed and demonstrated.
She was happy when the question of Lindy Hop came up because she was the
only one who had any idea of it's origins. Thanks to you. And thanks to
you, she got to demonstrate it with the presenter, in front of her peers.
Very cool.
So, thanks for helping me to educate my child regarding her heritage and
culture. Never knew your reach went so far, did you? Everybody missed
you at class tonight. You both are such excellent instructors - your absence
makes me appreciate your skill all the more! The substitutes were fine,
but I don't think I would have continued learning to dance if it weren't
for your humor, clear demonstrations, well-paced lessons!
-Mary
It is really incredible how great you & Tiff are with teaching and sharing
info.
-Patty Huefner
Been wanting to thank you and Tiff for the beginners' intensive workshop
I took a few years back. I have to admit, when I first took the workshop,
I remembered feeling defeated by the whole experience. I wasn't sure I
learned anything.
I've been away from swing (and dancing in general) for about two years
due to work reasons. When I came back to swing a few weeks ago, all of
a sudden everything from the workshop kicked in and just made sense. It
was the weirdest sensation. Even though I only know five moves, I've gotten
compliments dance after dance about my musicality and timing, all thanks
to your workshop. As one Argentine tango instructor told me, "A good chef
can make an infinite number of master pieces with just five ingredients."
Just wanted to thank you guys for really drilling it into me. It definitely
stuck. And it's finally fun for me
-Devin
You should be proud of all the great things you did that really built our scene and community. So many of my peers wouldn't be dancing if not for all your efforts and hard work. We all owe you so much!
... You are a fantastic teacher. I have taken classes from many instructors worldwide and you were always one of my favorites. Your clear style and friendly demeanor always made students feel good about the dance and themselves. - William M.
 
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