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Sophie began her swing dancing journey in 2002. A couple of years later she created SwingZing to share her swing dance passion. SwingZing now operates several venues across Perth and performs at many community and corporate events. Sophie has a strong contemporary and dance teaching background, having worked in 2 contemporary dance companies, Tasdance, and Buzz Dance Theatre. She has also worked on many independent dance projects, taught in several private studios, primary and high schools and holds a Degree in Dance. Swing dance was immediately attractive to Sophie, as it has similar concepts, playfulness and creativity to Contact Improvisation, another passion of hers. Sophie also enjoys the spontaneity of Jack and Jill competitions and took first place in the 2004 and 2008 Hullabaloo Jack and Jill Lindy Hop Competitions in Perth and first place in the 2007 BalOnTheRiver Balboa Jack and Jill Competition in Brisbane. Sophie has developed a huge passion for Balboa and has visited the USA twice to meet the 'old timers' of the dance. She has a strong dedication towards building a Balboa dance community in Perth. Sophie’s aim, in teaching for SwingZing, is to impart the immense joy of swing dance and music to the Perth community. Sophie believes swing dance is an ideal form of exercise mixed with creativity, which can be practised and enjoyed by people of any age and skill level. Swing dance complements Sophie’s work in alternative health therapies, where she practises privately as a registered homoeopath and acupuncturist.
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Greg has been a keen dancer since the age of seventeen. Proficient in many disciplines of ballroom, he has gained achievements of Gold Latin, Silver Ballroom and Silver New Vogue. In the last eight years Greg has found his passion in Swing Dancing when the resurgence of swing first hit Perth. Greg has attended many Lindy Exchanges in Melbourne, Sydney, Lismore and Perth, and taught Collegiate Shag at Auckland Lindy Exchange. He also has had the privilege to learn from Frankie Manning during both visits to Perth
Greg loves the variety of swing styles - Balboa, Collegiate Shag and
Lindy Hop, and the wonderful tunes of the 30's and 40's swing era.
For Greg, Swing allows the dancer to be playful, creative, and have
fun while embracing the wild culture. Greg enjoys and values the
social and friendly nature of the swing scene, and is always happy
to share his passion with those new to the dance.
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Lauren's passion in swing dancing started in 2001 after being introduced to Lindy Hop by Roger Schmidlin (Switzerland) and Janet Tolifson (Arizona) when they taught in Perth, Australia. Spending almost 3 years in London, Lauren continued to attend regular classes, workshops and camps learning from many international instructors such as Joel and Alison Plys, Nick Williams, Sylvia Sykes, Dawn Hampton, Jenny Thomas and Ryan Francois, Ray Cunningham, Bill Borgida, Frankie Manning, Marcus and Barbl, Anne-Helene and Bernard, Zack and Maryse and more. In 2005, she returned to Perth with an abundance of energy and ideas to share with others as well as her new found love of Balboa. Lauren has a childhood background of calisthenics, gymnastics, jazz and tap and currently continues taking classes in other dance genres. She graduated from Edith Cowan University with a Degree in Sports Science and Nutrition, and has recently completed a Post Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education specialising in Dance, Physical Education and Health. She has studied and worked in the health and fitness industry for many years and believes staying fit and healthy is essential to a happy life. She also believes yoga gives her a good grounding for Lindy Hop as it works on strength, muscle balance and flexibility.
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