Inspirers

Alba Mengual (she/her) & Gas Fernández (he/him) – Spain

Alba & Gas are Swing and Blues passionates. As creators of Big Mama Swing in Madrid and teachers who travel all over the world, they have developed a style and way of teaching that is alive, growing and maturing every day.

Gas and Alba search for the essence of the movement in the rhythm, and  highlight the importance of the music and the culture behind it. They will join us in Ghent at Big City Blues for the first time!

Bruno Baker (he/him) – France

Bruno is a DJ, dancer, actor & event organizer. Curious by nature, he has explored his relationship with dance since childhood across different musical genres: Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, Caribbean music, Jazz or House. Overwhelmed by his trip to the heart of the Deep South in 2019, Bruno returned with an intense desire to rediscover and share by any means necessary the history, the strength, the universality of this music that he thought he knew: the Blues.

In his workshops, Bruno favors the autonomy of the dancers so that they can express their unique personality. He shares resources, elements of context and biographies. For Bruno, a curious dancer will become a happy dancer.

Charlley Ward (he/him) – USA

Charlley Ward loves the Blues.  Throughout his life he has played the music, told the stories and danced the dances of the people who created it, his Black American People. His teaching focuses on the fundamentals of the dances and how they can be used to enhance musicality.   

Charlley has twice reached the semi-finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee with the Bull City Blues Band.  His unique style is derived from his association with Durham Blues great John Dee Holman and his own original eclectic material that ranges from urban Blues like Albert King to Country material like that of Holman’s. He has DJed and told stories about Blues and African American culture at Blues Dance all across the USA.  In 2022 he won the solo Blues Dance Competition at the Riverfront Blues Festival in Portland Oregon.

“BB King used to say that playing the Blues is telling the truth.”  He says. “It’s one of the ways Black Americans survived. We took despair and turned it into joy.  We told our stories, we sang and played our music, and we danced. We told the truth.  We survived.”

Chisomo Selemani (she/her) – USA

Chisomo Selemani is a dance and teaching enthusiast. She loves movement, learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Her artistic endeavors in the Swing dances are inspired from her Zambian tradition and Afrobeats.

Her teaching methodologies invite you to explore your own style and artistry. When she’s not dancing, she is co-hosting the podcast Integrated Rhythm and is highly involved in global issues and practices in communication sciences and disorders.  

Els Houttequiet (she/her) – Belgium

Els was first influenced by modern dance before she discovered the world of authentic jazz. Ever since, she has been digging deeper into blues, swing and more traditional African rooted dances, gaining profound knowledge and abilities in those styles.

Els likes to dive into different dance forms and bind them into her own kind of movement, shaping an energetic, raw and playful style. She is actively teaching for Crazy Legs Dance School (Ghent) and has been performing as her alter ego Sweet Elle, and with the Steam Heat Cats.

Felipe Braga (he/him) – Brazil, Germany

Felipe grew up in an environment where music, dance, and rhythms are a part of everyday life.

Spending most of his youth in music studios, theatre productions and performing absurd theatre sketches in a local theater in his hometown in Brazil, Felipe only encountered Swing Dancing when he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to study filmmaking.

Feeling drawn to Jazz Music and the beauty of the social dance culture, Felipe’s pursuit in the Jazz Dances took him to the biggest dance camps and competitions around the world.

There he would learn more about the origins and history of this culture that had captivated him. In the next few years, Felipe would establish himself as an avid performer and instructor, sharing his passion and love for Jazz history, music and dance.

Genia Tsvietkova (she/her) – Ukraine

Genia’s dancing story begun when she was 6 years old. She is a lindy hop and blues dancer from Kyiv, Ukraine. She likes to learn, teach and explore. She really appreciates the process of teaching, working with people, sharing energy and ideas.

During the classes she mostly works on discovering body motion, body control, joy of listening to music and being moved by music.

Jamica Zion (she/her-they/them) – USA

Currently living the nomadic life, Jamica Zion takes pride in being a groovy solo dancer, a dynamic follow, and growing lead. Jamica aims for range, not just in connection and style, but across genres too! Since starting Jazz and Blues dances 15 years ago, she has built a diverse and abundant performance portfolio as well as collected multiple titles from contests.

Jamica’s approach towards sharing dance with others includes a critical understanding and appreciation of its history and culture, while simultaneously ushering students to build their own styles and meaningful connections to it.

Jamica draws on their professional training from various social justice organizations and a long educational background which includes nearly three degrees in Sociology. This unique blend of experiences, teacher training, and knowledge allows Jamica to deliver inclusive and culturally responsible classes that are creative, thought provoking, and original!

Lotte Dijkstra (she/her) & Wouter Vervloet (he/him) – The Netherlands

Lotte Dijkstra’s journey began at the Hërrang Dance Camp, where she discovered the deep, soulful rhythms of Blues Dance. With a broad dance background and love for blues music, she helps students connect with the groove and rhythm that define this expressive dance form. 

Wouter Vervloet’s path to Blues Dance started in Rotterdam, but his understanding of movement began much earlier with gymnastics. In his teaching, Wouter focuses on the fundamentals, while emphasizing the importance of simplicity, strong partner connection and the diversity of blues music. 

Lotte and Wouter hope to inspire you by sharing their passion for blues music & dance and strive to create an environment in which dancers feel free to experiment and discover their own way of dancing. 

Nawelle Saidi (she/her) – France

As far as she can remember, music has always played a central role in Nawelle’s life. Raised in the countryside of Lyon, she grew up in an Algerian descendant family where music and dance was always in the center of her community. American black music and dance forms played are her main influences where the Blues has a special place in her heart.

In 2013, she co-created “Shake that swing” association, based in Paris, dedicated to promoting jazz dance heritage, through different types of events. She mostly teaches lindy hop but blues is never far away. Her path and passion for music is so diverse that you can see her jumping on metal music or performing the “pop dip and spin” category on the ballroom scene, with a particular interest for trance states and healing. 

Sep Vermeersch (he/him) – Belgium

Meet SEp, your playful dance facilitator, MC, performer and co-organiser of/at Big City Blues. He has always been immersed in the thriving blues scene in Ghent, working with blues legends such as Tiny Legs Tim and the Ghent blues club Missy Sippy.

More then 10 years ago, with Brecht Devloo, Sep started organizing the first legendary blues dance parties in Belgium. And as LouisLou (now Upside Down) Leni and Sep were co-creators of the epic Boogieville parties.

Sep loves holding space to inspire and support dancers in developing a personal expression. As a guest in the culture, he likes to start from the question: ‘how can we develop our ways in blues, while trying to respect the powerful black African American Roots of the dance and its culture?’

Valérie Villers (she/her) – Belgium

Valérie is a local teacher, dj and facilitator supporting different styles within the swing & blues dance community. She values connecting people to their body, to the music, to fellow dancers and the community. Dance has become her main way of communication and growth.

As a teenager she first did a couple of years of street dancing, but very fast she also dove into more traditional African dances & percussion, following her interest in African cultures, music and dances. The love for all kinds of jazz & blues music grew alongside her art studies. With the discovery of Lindy hop and Blues dances, the love for music, cultures and movement fell into place.

Within her classes, she likes to challenge people to get out of their comfort zone and authentically express how the music makes them move their body (out of the box).

Victor Hristoskov (he/him) – Bulgaria

Victor has been immersed in the magical dance universe for almost 14 years. His journey began as a Ballroom dancer, and he has expanded his expertise by working with one of the top Ballroom teachers and taking classes in classical ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and broadway jazz.

As a multi-style dancer, Victor has a wealth of experience performing on big stages for dance and musical performances. Blues and Lindy Hop have become his new affair. He fell in love with the freedom of the dance and the jazz music which makes you feel, connect and give you the space to express yourself.

Victor has been teaching Lindy Hop for 7 years as part of the instructors’ team at Lindy Hop Bulgaria.