ABOUT TUESDAY NIGHT JUMP TEACHERS
- Jenna Chalmers has been teaching and performing dance
professionally since 1993. You may have seen her in the Sony TriStar film "The
Thirteenth Floor" or "Swing: The Movie." Jenna has appeared in a national
Washington Mutual ad campaign, 7x7 Magazine, and KRON’s Live Broadcast of the New
Years Eve countdown. She provided dance reference for animators at Pixar Studios and
Electronic Arts, and choreographs for groups like The Decobelles and Retro Cabaret and SF
Jitterbugs! She is the co-director of the long-running Camp Swing and has appeared on TV
and National Public Radio as an expert in the field of swing dance.
Jenna has taught with popular instructors like Jason Christodoulou , Kevin St.Laurent,
Micah Jacobson and recently at "Rock That Swing" in Munich , Germany with Johnny
Lee. Jenna has competed and judged internationally, recently placing 2nd at the National
Jitterbug Championships in the Pro Collegiate Shag Division.
- Johnny "BlueJeans" Lee - founding member of The San
Francisco Jitterbugs, a professional dance troupe known for their vivacious and exciting
performances. The Jitterbugs have been featured along with top acts such as The Glenn
Miller Orchestra, Benny Goodman Orchestra and Les Brown. Johnny has been teaching,
competing and performing since 1998 and has appeared on televised shows such as Big Band
Magic, Check Please! and on KRON's New Year Special on the USS Hornet & Sheraton
Palace in 2004, 2006 and 2007. He has been featured dancing in two full length motion
pictures, including "Swing" The Movie & "24 Hrs. On Craigslist."
He has also performed with The San Francisco Jitterbugs in front of 70,000 people during
the half time show for the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. In 2001 he earned the
1st place title in the Boogie by the Bay Lindy Hop Championships and 1st place in Balboa
Championships in 2004.
- "Jumpin" Jeff Kroll - Carrying the Bay Area Balboa
Torch...
Jeff Kroll has been swing dancing since 1996, and teaching and competing nationally since
2004. He has danced on TV and for the big screen, and has performed, taught, and DJed at
countless weddings and private events.
While Jeff enjoys all styles of swing dancing, he has a particular fondness for
Balboa-Swing and will dance it and teach it almost every chance he gets. His love for
dancing and his desire to share it shows in the enthusiasm and positive energy he brings
to his classes, the fun and creativity with which he infuses everything including even the
most technical of details, and the relaxed, patient individual attention and encouraging
guidance he gives.
Jeff is currently teaching regular weekly group classes on Tuesdays at Tuesday Night
Jump, on Thursdays at 200 Grand, and on Fridays at UCSF.
- Rockin Raul - Raul Castro offers a unique blend of Swing dancing
that incorporates many techniques from several different types of dance. While the basis
remains heavy on East Coast Swing and Jive, you may recognize moves from Salsa, Zydeco or
Country Two-Step to name a few. This creates a dance that’s fun, exciting and always
evolving.
In the mid ‘90s, as Swing music was having a revival, Raul moved to the Bay Area from
Southern California and began performing and teaching with Work That Skirt at clubs such
as Bimbo’s, 330 Ritch and the HiBall Lounge. A few years later K-Tel International
released an instructional series of CD-ROMs with Raul as one of the featured instructors.
Today Raul continues to teach private and group classes with commendation for his friendly
nature, patient instruction and clear, concise description of techniques. He has also
choreographed numerous 1st dances for weddings as well as performing and teaching at
receptions and parties working with such notables as Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson,
Honda and Coca Cola.
- Jason Christodoulou - Jason, a talented dancer, choreographer,
instructor and cofounder of the Dog House in San Francisco and the hiphop/swing dance
group Loose Change. Known for his incredible versatility, energy, and style, Jason knows
how to motivate dancers! Jason teaches with swing legends Sylvia Sykes, Virginie, and of
course of very own Jenna Chalmers. Jason is in high demand at workshops around the world,
including prominent favorites like Southwest Lindy Fest, Balboa Rendezvous, Herrang, and
Beantown.
- Micah Jacobson has been an ambassador of the San Francisco swing
scene from the beginning. He began teaching with partner Jenna Chalmers in 1995 at the
historic Hi-Ball; voted the best swing club in the country during its peak years. Micah
has a true gift for teaching the dance and making it FUN! He is a expressive dancer and
was even asked to fill in with Jenny Thomas for Ryan François.
Micah is can be seen in music video, advertisements, and movies like the Sony Tri-Star
film “The Thirteenth Floor.” Micah is an original member of the swing group
“Bay City Boogie,” who performed at numerous events and in front of thousands at
the Sacramento Kings half time show. He has trained, taught, and competed all over the
world including Monsters of Swing, “Blast from the Past,” the National Lindy Hop
Championships and the SF Swing Jam where he placed first.
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