The amazing teachers crew
Jennifer Barnet ( USA )
Known for bringing a little math and science into the ballroom (don't worry, just a little), Jen began tap dancing in pre-school and continued learning and later teaching tap through high school. After putting aside dance to focus on chemistry in college, Jen was happy to return to dancing after graduation–-this time to the partnered swing dance of Balboa. During that time, Jen began teaching and promoting, co-running beloved Philly events such as the Saturday Night Fish Fry, Tokio/Jazz Attic/Jazz Attack, Philly Bal Night, and Bal Jam '08. She now calls New York City home and enjoys teaching locally and dancing at White Heat among other favorites.
Jen has taught in North America, Asia, and Europe and regularly competes in Balboa, having won lots of Mix & Match competitions. In fact, she once even placed first *and* second when she was drawn twice. True story In addition to competing and teaching, Jen also enjoys performing. (What can you say? She's an only child.) Jen's favorites have been smack dab in the middle of the Museum of Natural History right under the giant blue whale and, of course, Lincoln Center.
As a teacher, Jen tries to balance her straight-forward manner and high expectations with lots of love, humor, and support for her students. She's known for being able to teach truly multi-level classes where everyone is challenged to push their best a little farther. Never forgetting to address both follows and leads, Jen blends a clear, technical presentation of practical advice with the creativity and improvisational spirit that make swing dancing so enjoyable.
Dominic Hanna ( USA )
Dominic is a dancer and dance enthusiast based in the Triangle region of North Carolina. He has been dancing balboa for about 10 years, and is deeply fascinated by the elements that compose the feel and aesthetics of balboa. His dancing has been described as musical, smooth, playful, and connection centered. As an instructor, Dominic is known for his open communication style, and his ability to tangibly share concepts in various forms.
Luis Arredondo & Maria Acuñas ( Spain )
Laura Marino & Francesco Ciani ( Italy )
Luis Arredondo is noted for his energetic dance style, risk-taking, never-ending smile, and detailed approach to the learning process . He relocated to Toronto in 2011, where he lived for ten years, traveling, teaching, and competing across North America. He is now back in Spain, working to build the Balboa scene in Mallorca.
Luis likes to keep his lessons moving by including lots of positive energy, a creative approach to partnership conversation, and a healthy dose of technique. He likes to make sure that each class gets everything it needs to succeed, and no two classes are the same!
In North America and Europe, he has won and placed in numerous national and international contests.
Maria Acuñas began dancing swing in 2014, and her love of the learning process has kept her going, adding more and more abilities and ideas to her distinctive style. She is a fan of high energy swing music, so Balboa was an obvious option for her next step.
She started Jazz Bouncing, a dance studio in Mallorca, in 2015, where she is the principal instructor of Lindy Hop and Balboa, quickly becoming one of the island's reference followers.
She has been dancing and competing in national and international events since the beginning of her dance career, winning various competitions, the most recent in Balboa being a second prize in Valencia Balboa or a first place in the European Balboa Championships.
Her dance is defined by her FUN and carefree style, with a strong emphasis on creativity, musicality, and partner communication.
Laura & Francesco are a dance duo based in Rome, with a particular interest in Balboa and other Swing dances. Coming from a background in contemporary dance, they enjoy exploring how its principles—such as fluidity, body awareness, and spatial dynamics—can support and enrich the energy, rhythm, and connection at the heart of Swing.
Their dancing is shaped by a desire to stay rooted in the musical and social essence of Swing, while allowing space for personal movement research. The result is an approach that stays true to the character of the dance, while remaining open to influence and evolution.
They teach regularly at Swing Circus and collaborate with dance communities across Italy.
Alberto Boffa & Elena Giulia Paiola ( Italy )
Alberto and Elena are Balboa and Slow Balboa dancers and instructors, appreciated for their elegant and harmonious style. With a background in contemporary dance and dedicated swing training, they bring their personal perspective to Balboa, emphasizing fluid dynamics and seamless partner connection.
They are deeply passionate about Pure Balboa, and love to explore its subtleties and nuances to create partnership and complicity. Their lessons are lively and engaging, with a special focus on body awareness and movement mechanics. Committed to creating a positive, supportive environment where dancers can grow in both technique and confidence, they strive to incorporate historical context into their teaching, ensuring that students gain a deeper appreciation for the roots of the dance.
In recent years, Alberto and Elena have been featured instructors at numerous international events and have achieved important results in several of the most significant Balboa competitions around the world.