Mile High Blues

Damon Stone and Heidi Fite

Damon has been dancing his entire life. Starting with vernacular Jazz/Blues he went on to Hip- Hop, and eventually studied well over a dozen different dance forms until coming full circle in 1995 to focus primarily on the history and styles of Swing and Blues. He has taught dance extensively on both coasts, and studied the development of vernacular Jazz/Blues dance regionally and nationally. He has been interviewed as a Black dance historian in documentary and radio. Damon has been a featured instructor at numerous swing camps, jazz festivals and workshops across the U.S. and Canada. He is a member of the California Historical Jazz Dance Foundation and a Director of the Northern California Lindy Society.

Heidi began dancing and teaching Lindy Hop and Blues with Charlie Fuller in St. Louis, Missouri in 1999 and has been dancing, teaching and performing ever since. She now lives in San Francisco, California where she teaches weekly Lindy Hop classes at the 9:20 Special and travels on the weekend teaching Blues workshops. Admired for her clear explanation of fundamentals, Heidi brings not only a focus on solid techniques, but more importantly, a love of dance and a dedication to the learning process.

www.blues-dance.com

Joe Demers and Nelle Hatley

Joe and Nelle are known for being very versatile dancers ranging from modern Jazz to vintage Blues to performance Lindy Hop. They possess an aesthetic quality that flourishes as a dance couple. They continually train, travel and teach worldwide and pride themselves with basing their dancing on original styles while continually striving for new ideas. They believe that Blues is a very eclectic dance. Within each genre and style of music there are rhythms and moods that change the Blues aesthetic and connection. The constant change and freedom within the music really attracts them to the dance. Blues is a feeling that comes from within. Itʼs an expression and release of style and personality. When you dance with a partner that can match you, you'll feel like the only dancer in the room… just you, your partner, the music and the floor.   

www.joeandnelle.com

Reuel Reis and Mike Legett

Brought together by their love of connection on the dance floor, Mike and Reuel are known as one of the most engaging teaching couples in the country.  They provide clear explanations and balance in-depth technical information with levity and humor, creating a classroom that is both productive and fun.  They first taught together at Lindy Focus in 2007 and have since become a force to be reckoned with, teaching all over the country and taking first place in the BluesShout Strictly Ballroomin Competition.

Rachael DeMers and Bryan Spellman

Rachael is an accomplished Blues and Lindy Hop dancer and instructor. She focuses on concepts such as simplicity, clarity, expression and body awareness which are critical to advanced social dancing. She strongly believes in incorporating both creativity and technique into social dancing and teaches her students how to find a balance of the two within their own dancing. Being an avid listener and fan of the music she dances to, Rachael loves to emphasize the importance of musicality in social dancing, including rhythms and layering to match the music. Overall, she has a genuine passion for teaching every level of social dancer and is excited to share her knowledge and love for dance with those who would like to learn. 

Ronnie Shellist

Over the last 10 years, Ronnie has hosted numerous harmonica workshops around the nation, and was featured on The Today Show for his performances on YouTube where he has 10,000 subscribers. He has opened for blues legends B.B. King and Robert Cray, and worked with students around the world offering personalized harmonica instruction. His dedication to the instrument and to his teaching is reflected in the music and instruction he creates.

In 2006, Ronnie developed www.Harmonica123.com, an online instruction website offering customized harmonica lessons for all levels of players. Beginners, intermediate, and more advanced players can find unique lessons that truly fill a niche which hasn't been made available yet to individuals seeking harmonica instruction. His approach is a step-by-step, straight-forward teaching style that anyone can easily understand and follow while having fun.