Workshop Instructors
We have engaged these outstanding dance "pros" to help you improve your dance skills in West Coast Swing, Hustle, Country and more!
Robert Cordoba, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Born & raised in South Pasadena, CA, Robert has lived in London, Boston and now resides in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Robert has been dancing, teaching, performing, choreographing, and judging for over forty years. He started competing in International Latin at the age of sixteen when he was a member of two U.S. International Latin American formation teams (placing 5th and then taking the 3rd place bronze medal at the World Ballroom Formation Team Championships). He lived and trained in London for two years and was a top U.S Amateur competitor representing the US at events throughout Europe until he switched to West Coast Swing in 1990. Within two years he won his first U.S. Open Swing Dance Champion title. For the past thirty years, Robert has averaged approximately forty weekends per year traveling around the world to teach West Coast Swing. His impressive list of accomplishments includes: 2 World Championship titles, 7 U.S. Open titles, 4 consecutive USA Grand National titles, 4 consecutive N.A.S.D.E. titles, multiple Champion & Invitational level J&J and Strictly Swing titles, was voted best Classic Swing Dancer by Dance Action magazine, was awarded “U.S. Open Social Dancer”, and he was the first person to win 3 consecutive US Open titles. Robert is a member of an elite core of less than 10 dancers who have won BOTH the Showcase and the Classic Divisions at the U.S. Open. He is a California Swing Dance Hall of Famer, Dallas D.A.N.C.E. Hall of Famer and a World Swing Dance Hall of Famer. Robert Cordoba has judged every major event including the USA Grand Nationals and U.S. Open multiple times. He has been the head judge, MC and DJ at events throughout the U.S., Europe, South America and the South Pacific. He is among the first group of professionals to help get West Coast Swing scenes established in New York & East Coast (early 1990’s), Europe (mid 1990’s) and South Pacific (early 2000’s). Other accomplishments include: He was a Dance Fever Grand Finalist (3rd place overall) and has danced in commercials (Budweiser & Burger King) as well as on TV. He and former partner Deborah Szekely also choreographed the wedding dance for Grammy & Emmy award winner & Oscar nominee Danny Elfman & Bridget Fonda. Robert is currently living in Deerfield Beach, Florida and is available for privates, workshops, intensive, coaching, choreography and teacher training as well as G.P.D.I.A. Teacher Certification. He can be reached at (626) 536-2507, [email protected] or on Facebook under Robert Cordoba Jeff LeMier, Franklin, PA
Jeff began dancing at an early age. He was mostly inspired by his parents doing free style swing dancing on weekends at the local VFW where he found his love for dance. He began teaching in 1990 at local clubs which quickly spread throughout the north east region, nationally and Canada. Later in 1993, he began teaching and competing in the UCWDC and Swing events. Jeff has been trained and coached by some of the top professional and teachers in the business, such as Mario Robau, Angel Figueroa, Gary McIntyre, Robert Royston and Barry Durand to name a few. Jeff has coached and choreographed routines for numerous couples from around the country for competition and weddings etc. yielding great success. He also created and co-hosted the event “Dance for Dreams” which all proceeds benefitted the Make-A-Wish Foundation of over $ 40,000. Jeff’s accomplishments include numerous local and national awards and titles, the highest being a World championship for Waltz in 1998 and Swing in 2000. His best accomplishments and most dear to his heart are his two children, Paige of 11 and Carter of 8 years old. Ward Roberts, Waynesburg, WV
Ward started learning about body mechanics and movement when he was 6 years old through martial arts. Throughout his years in martial arts, he has built his foundations in teaching a fun and SAFE class. He found West Coast Swing during his freshmen year of college and became one of the founding members of Waynesburg University's Sting Swing (a WCS dance club). A large portion of his dance education has taken place through workshops at large west coast swing events, but he has grown in his dance just as much through his time on the social floor. During the week, Ward can be found managing a martial arts school in Morgantown, WV or being one of the mentors for Sting Swing. However, on the weekends he can often be seen dancing the night away on the social dance floor. Jiffy Helton Sarver, Atlanta, GA
Jiffy began dancing in 2006. Although two-step in a local bar was her first experience in partner dancing, she was quickly mesmerized by the spinning hustle dancers. She loves to highlight hustle’s adaptability to multiple music styles and tempos, taking particular enjoyment in switching between hustle and west coast swing during a dance. While she has competed successfully in hustle as both a lead and a follow, Jiffy prefers the social floor, and is excited to be sharing her passion with you this year at Swing Pittsburgh! |
Steve & Michaele Giles
Dallas, Texas Stephen and Michaele are no strangers to the Pittsburgh dance community. They are so excited to be returning! Michaele is always a favorite. A multi-Halloween costume-champ, she also looks to dance with every single leader in the ballroom. Stephen has been the voice of Swing Pittsburgh in the past, as well as Boogie In the Burgh. Both were inducted into the Living Legends of Dance in 2017. They are multiple winners of Dallas Dance, SW Regionals, TX State and many others. Stephen is also a member of The Dallas Dance Hall of Fame and was a US Open Champion hundreds of years ago. Lori Rousar, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, and Ryan Dobbins, Lewis Center, OH
Lori began dancing and competing at country events in 1998. After a few years, she changed her focus from country to West Coast Swing and Hustle. Lori is currently a successful All Star competitor and her passion for West Coast Swing has her traveling across the country competing, teaching and judging at several events. Through her playful styling, technique and musicality, Lori encourages others to apply their own unique qualities to this dance. She truly enjoys the social aspect of dancing and is extremely thankful for the wonderful family it has brought to her life. Lori is also Co-Director for the CASH BASH dance event in Twinsburg, Ohio held every year on Thanksgiving Weekend. Having fun as a country line dancer, Ryan quickly took note of the couples on the sides of the dance floor and found a new interest. While getting exposure to multiple forms of partner dances, West Coast Swing and Hustle sparked a joy and drive that would not disappear. A number of years later these dances have him traveling, teaching, and competing as an All Star dancer. Ryan’s solid background in education has helped him teach many dancers to connect, feel, understand, apply, and most importantly have an enjoyable time on the dance floor. Chris Drum, Pittsburgh, PA
Chris began dancing as a child at a local dance studio a block away from her home. In her teens, she taught ballet, tap and jazz at the same studio. While in college, Arthur Murray introduced her to teaching ballroom and Latin dancing. For Chris, it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to work full time teaching partner dancing. She is still teaching ballroom, Latin, swing and country dancing 35 years later. Chris moved to Los Angeles 5 years into her teaching career and taught at the Beverly Hills Arthur Murray studio. This truly was dancing with the stars. She had many celebrity students who were learning dance for movie roles. Chris also competed in Professional American Smooth, and in the Pro Am Scholarship American Smooth & Rhythm event. She had great success both with her professional partner and her students. Los Angeles was also a great opportunity for her to train in West Coast Swing and Country Two Step. Upon returning to Pittsburgh, Chris became an independent instructor & competed professionally in American Rhythm and with several amateur partners. She now teaches primarily in Greensburg and Mt. Pleasant, as well as many areas east of Pittsburgh. She holds monthly dances and workshops at various locations and also coaches competitive and social dance students. Tina Marie Price, Largo, FL
Tina was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio. In Feb 2014 she relocated to Florida and now calls Largo FL her home. Tina has been dancing the Hustle for over 35 years and has been teaching it for over 25 years. She is best known for her “elegant and graceful style” of Hustle. Tina learned her very first Hustle steps in 1979 and this dance will always be her first love. She was introduced to West Coast Swing dancing in 1996 and she quickly fell head-over-heels with WCS and now competes at the All-Star level. She loves that she can combine her favorite past-times: DANCING, TRAVELING and MAKING NEW FRIENDS. Tina competes, teaches workshops and judges at many Hustle and West Coast Swing dance competitions across the country. She has a passion for dancing and hopes to share some of her passion and love of dance with you. She is looking forward to seeing you in her group lessons and on the dance floor. Tina is available for private lessons in all levels of Hustle and West Coast Swing. Find her on Facebook or contact her via email. |
Geoff Newell, Athens GA and Abi Schneider, Huntsville, AL
Geoff has been instructing dancers all over the United States since 2013. He has competed and won at the Grand Nationals Dance Championships, the Heritage Dancesport Classic, The Atlanta Open, and the Southern Swing Challenge. His dance journey started in college where he served as President of the University of Georgia Ballroom Dance Club and Vice President for the Ballroom Performance Group. Geoff now teaches full time with emphasis in American Vernacular Swing Dance (Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Vernacular Jazz, etc.) and American Smooth/Rhythm styles. He is available for private lessons in all of these styles, and loves helping students unlock new levels in their dancing. He has two big rules: dancing should always be fun, and it should always be comfortable. He firmly believes that anyone with a heartbeat can find a home on the dance floor. "After all, even the best dancers still move one step at a time."
Abi's diverse dance background consists of Lindy, Balboa, West Coast Swing, American Ballroom, Social Latin, Hustle and more! These all combine together to create a delightfully knowledgeable teacher with a gift for passing along information. She began dancing Lindy Hop in the middle of the Neo-Swing era in 1998 at the Derby in Hollywood. Growing up in Los Angeles, she always had interest in partner dancing because, as someone who had to lead in life, she aspired to understand what it meant to follow. After moving cross country to North Carolina in 2006, she discovered the West Coast Swing scene was more popular than the Lindy/Balboa scene and she craved the social aspect of community. Abi later moved to Huntsville, AL where she currently resides. Abi was a musician before she became a dancer and lately, she has been going back to her roots of piano and singing. She played professionally until her mid-20s when her focus shifted to raising kids and dancing. Abi's favorite aspect of dancing is the never-ending challenge; as she says, "There is always something to learn and improve on."
Geoff has been instructing dancers all over the United States since 2013. He has competed and won at the Grand Nationals Dance Championships, the Heritage Dancesport Classic, The Atlanta Open, and the Southern Swing Challenge. His dance journey started in college where he served as President of the University of Georgia Ballroom Dance Club and Vice President for the Ballroom Performance Group. Geoff now teaches full time with emphasis in American Vernacular Swing Dance (Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Vernacular Jazz, etc.) and American Smooth/Rhythm styles. He is available for private lessons in all of these styles, and loves helping students unlock new levels in their dancing. He has two big rules: dancing should always be fun, and it should always be comfortable. He firmly believes that anyone with a heartbeat can find a home on the dance floor. "After all, even the best dancers still move one step at a time."
Abi's diverse dance background consists of Lindy, Balboa, West Coast Swing, American Ballroom, Social Latin, Hustle and more! These all combine together to create a delightfully knowledgeable teacher with a gift for passing along information. She began dancing Lindy Hop in the middle of the Neo-Swing era in 1998 at the Derby in Hollywood. Growing up in Los Angeles, she always had interest in partner dancing because, as someone who had to lead in life, she aspired to understand what it meant to follow. After moving cross country to North Carolina in 2006, she discovered the West Coast Swing scene was more popular than the Lindy/Balboa scene and she craved the social aspect of community. Abi later moved to Huntsville, AL where she currently resides. Abi was a musician before she became a dancer and lately, she has been going back to her roots of piano and singing. She played professionally until her mid-20s when her focus shifted to raising kids and dancing. Abi's favorite aspect of dancing is the never-ending challenge; as she says, "There is always something to learn and improve on."