The Delta Breeze

Instructors, Bands, and DJs

Fancy Dougherty

Instructor: Collegiate Shag Advanced Workshop, Saturday November 14, and Specialty Lindy Hop Class Friday November 13
  Bio: 
  • Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Fancy (a birth name) fell in love with Lindy and Shag in 2008, with Balboa trailing not far behind.
  • She’s been hooked ever since, constantly endeavoring to improve her technique on a never-ending quest for connection, improvisational freedom in social dancing and the true jitterbug spirit.
  • She loves to dance with new people and beginners, so be sure to ask her to dance! 
  Webpage: https://fancydances.com/

Julie Roman

Instructor: Collegiate Shag Advanced Workshop and Specialty Collegiate Shag Class, Saturday November 14
  Bio: 
  • Artistic Background: Julie Roman is a classically trained concert pianist and vocalist with experience as a certified music educator and vocal coach, dedicated to promoting the arts..
  • Swing Dance Passion: She collaborates with vintage swing dancers globally, focusing on teaching, choreographing, and performing, with a particular love for Collegiate Shag and aerials.
  • Julie loves exploring the technical skills and personal styles with students to give them mastery over their movements so they can embody the music in whatever ways they choose.
   Video: Julie and Haily, Hot Rhythm Holiday 2025 Advanced Shag Finals

Haily Holt

Instructor: Collegiate Shag Advanced Workshop and Specialty Collegiate Shag Class, Saturday November 14
  Bio: 
  • Haily began dancing Collegiate Shag in 2017 Portland, OR, and it was love at first step.
  • She enjoys both leading and following, and competed in both roles in the 2023 Open Collegiate Shag Finals at Camp Hollywood.
  • Passionate about the dance’s energy and creativity, Haily focuses on teaching sustainable, fun techniques that explore its full expressive potential.
  Video: Haily and Julie, Hot Rhythm Holiday 2025, Advanced Shag Finals (switch!)

Sylvia Sykes

Instructor: Balboa Advanced Workshop, Sunday, November 15
  Bio: 
  • Sylvia Sykes began dancing in 1966, competing in 1970, and teaching in 1979. She has studied with many of the dance greats, including Frankie Manning, Dean Collins, Maxie Dorf, and Willie Desatoff. .
  • Her extensive studies and travels have made her an expert on regional dance styles and she is known for her expertise in, and the preservation of the older forms of Swing dance. In addition, she is credited with helping to preserve the Balboa by introducing the dance World Wide
  • Sylvia is actively judging and teaching various forms of Shag, Balboa, and Lindy Hop throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia.
  Video: Coming Soon

Nick Williams

Instructor: Balboa Advanced Workshop, Sunday, November 15
  Bio: 
  • Nick Williams has embodied the passion and spirit of swing dancing ever since his first lesson in 1998. The depth of his understanding of Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag stems from studying with the original dancers.
  • Nick’s desire for authenticity, combined with his passion for dance evolution, leads to a style known for precision, lightness, musicality and dynamic energy.
  • His true love of music and dancing will forever inspire him to learn, teach, and grow.
   Video: Coming Soon

Amy Sorenson (she/her)

Instructor: Collegiate Shag Intermediate Workshop, Saturday, November 14
  Bio: 
  • Amy Identifies as a Collegiate Shag enthusiast and is excited to share her knowledge and love of this fun filled dance style. 
  • Her passion for all things swing dance in general and Shag in particular are an integral part of her life.
  • Based in San Francisco she dances, competes, teaches, and helps organize events at the local, national, and international levels. She focuses on body mechanics, technique, and making dance work for every body. Please be sure to ask her to dance.
  Video: Coming Soon

Lauren Smith

Instructor: Collegiate Shag Intermediate Workshop, Saturday, November 14 and Balboa Specialty Class Sunday, November 15
  Bio: 
  • Lauren Smith is a lifelong dancer in many styles, and started swing dancing in 2007 when a friend brought her to LA’s Lindy Groove. After that, she could be found dancing almost every night of the week, competing regularly, and teaching locally and around the world.
  • She specializes in jazz era dances, including Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, Charleston, and Slow Jazz. Her degree in vocal music education allows her to bring a unique approach to classes, incorporating natural musicality, body efficiency, and Alexander method techniques.
  • Lauren regularly competes as both a lead and a follow, winning and placing in a number of international dance competitions
Video: Coming Soon

Sara-Sofia Rentas (she/her)

Instructor: Balboa Intermediate Workshop, Sunday, November 15
Bio: 
  • Sara-Sofia Rentas first discovered swing dancing in Orlando, FL in 2015 and is now proud to be NYC-based, sharing Balboa in the studio and anywhere jazz happens to be playing.
  • With limited opportunities for learning Balboa early in her dance journey, she adopted social dancing as her first classroom where she would experiment with mechanics, musicality, and the relationship between leader and follower. 
  • In her classes you’ll find a blend of excitement for technique and playful improvisation, honoring the greatness of swing music and each student’s personal expression.

Video: Coming Soon

Jonathan Ng

Instructor: Balboa Intermediate Workshop, Sunday, November 15 
Bio:
  • Jonathan Ng is a New York City–based dancer specializing in Balboa, Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, and Solo Jazz
  • His teaching emphasizes conversation, musicality, and play to help students develop their own unique dance voice
  • With a background as a jazz violinist, he approaches swing dance with a focus on strong technique and creative exploration
    Video: Coming Soon

Tzefira Medrano

Instructor: Collegiate Shag Beginner Workshop, Sunday, November 14 
  • She began her dancing journey in the summer of 2017 after a friend convinced her to attend Dallas’ weekly Lindy Hop social dance.
  •  After the passing of her grandmother, who was a swing dancer, she felt a new found drive to stay connected to her lineage through dance.
  • As an instructor she aims to foster a deeper understanding of music, musicality and expression while developing technique in her students.
Video: Coming Soon

Mark Soraci

Instructor: Collegiate Shag Beginner Workshop, Sunday, November 14
  • Mark Soraci is a Southern California-based swing dancer known for his high energy, silly facial expressions, musicality, and deep love of Collegiate Shag.
  • First encountering Shag in 2013, he quickly fell in love with the fast footwork and playful spirit.
  • He is especially drawn to exploring fun and unexpected transitions in and out of classic patterns and has enjoyed experimenting with dynamic ways to incorporate air steps
Video: Coming Soon

Bridget Hughes

Instructor: Balboa Beginner Workshop, Sunday, November 15
Bridget and Robbie Hughes have been dancing Balboa together since 2011. They met during a Lindy Hop class, quickly got introduced to Balboa, and absolutely fell in love with the dance. They have learned from some of the best Balboa dancers, and strive to pass on the legacy that they have been gifted. They established Central Coast Balboa in 2023, and run a venue in their local scene where they teach weekly. Robbie and Bridget focus on the feel and flow of the dance, and are inspired by the original Balboa dancers
Video: Coming Soon

Robbie Hughes

Instructor: Balboa Beginner Workshop, Sunday, November 15
Robbie and Bridget Hughes have been dancing Balboa together since 2011. They met during a Lindy Hop class, quickly got introduced to Balboa, and absolutely fell in love with the dance. They have learned from some of the best Balboa dancers, and strive to pass on the legacy that they have been gifted. They established Central Coast Balboa in 2023, and run a venue in their local scene where they teach weekly. Robbie and Bridget focus on the feel and flow of the dance, and are inspired by the original Balboa dancers.
Video: Coming Soon

Kelli Wilkerson

Instructor: Lindy Hop Specialty Class, Friday November 13
  • Kelli Wilkerson has been dancing lindy hop for 25+ years and has spent much of that time teaching and competing worldwide. She has placed in top pro-level competitions, including the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, US Open, and American Lindy Hop Championships, and has taught in major swing scenes across the U.S. and internationally. 
  • Kelli’s teaching combines fun with a focus on technique, timing, and partner teamwork. A skilled dancer in both fast and slow tempos, she brings musicality and creativity to every move. 
  • Her passion lies in teaching, and she strives to leave her students excited and inspired, always ready to try something new and push their dancing further.
Video: Coming Soon

Olivia Hales Adams

Instructor: Balboa Specialty Class, Sunday November 15
  • Olivia started Swing Dancing on and off in 2005, but discovered Balboa in 2023 thanks to Jacob Wigger. He introduced her to “The Balboa” and she’s been obsessed ever since. Olivia currently works full time as a Horse Trainer and Riding lesson instructor. While also teaching dance classes and workshops in her So Cal home scene as well as nationally and internationally.
  • Olivia has finaled or won titles in Pure Balboa and Bal Swing at events such as California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, Hot Rhythm Holiday, Great Lakes Balboa Escape, The Snowball and European Balboa Festival.
  • The things Olivia values the most in Balboa is the social partner connection…the flow of movement and the intricate subtleties of communication. She loves drawing inspiration from Old Timers such as Natalie Esparza, Darlene Lind and Annie Hirsch.
Video: Coming Soon

Music

Death and Taxes Swing Band

Live Band: Friday November 13
Unstoppably swingin’, unapologetically different. Forget the usual—this is a full-throttle fusion of electrifying dance arrangements, sultry vocals, and a rhythm that’ll leave you breathless.
Death and Taxes Swing Band page

Band Leader: Jonathan Ng

Live Band: Saturday November 14
 Bio: 
  • Jonathan Ng is a jazz violinist, vocalist, and bandleader specializing in swing-era music, blending technical skill with emotional expression
  • He brings a dancer’s perspective to bandleading, informed by his background in lindy hop, balboa, and blues dancing
  • Whether performing for listeners or dancers, he aims to share the spark that inspired him through legends like Django Reinhardt and Count Basie

Band

Todd Morgan

Drums

Alex Reiff

Bass

Sean Krazit

Sax

PJ Ryan

Guitar

DJs

Head DJ Gary Sharpe

Head DJ: Friday - Sunday November 13-15
  Bio:
  •  Gary has DJed for nearly 20 years, entertaining crowds at events across California.
  • An avid swing dancer since 2002, he has journeyed across the U.S. to groove to top DJs and live bands.
  • Gary's passion for swing and jazz spans from the 1920s to contemporary, manifested in mixtapes and a dedicated music collection.

DJ Brigette Marquardt

After Hours DJ: Friday November 13
  Bio: 
  • A music junkie from Texas, Brigette has been spinning tunes across Dallas/Fort Worth dancehalls for over a decade
  • A passionate and playful Lindy Hopper (with a special affection for Dean's Whip), her love for Collegiate Shag and Balboa has taken the lead in recent years
  • She shares 1/4 of a name with Django Reinhardt

DJ Jason Hammons

Late Night DJ: Saturday November 14
  Bio:
  • Lifelong music lover and musician, frequently DJing at Atomic Ballroom and LindyGroove in Southern California.
  • Began dancing Balboa in late 2018, developing a strong passion for both social dancing and competition.
  • Actively involved in the SoCal dance scene and travels to Balboa events both locally and internationally.