About
Joanna didn’t manage to find her way to lindy hop in the small town known as New York City, where she grew up. Instead, she came across the dance in the thriving metropolis of Rochester, NY where she attended college. It took her three years to find the school swing club but you know what they say — the best things in life are worth waiting for.
She was hooked from the first swing-out. Having already had a background in ballet, tap, and partnered social dance of the latin variety, she picked the basics up pretty quickly and then… practice, practice, practice. Her dancing developed primarily from social dancing, traveling to workshops, and exchanging ideas with fellow lindy addicts. When she dances, Joanna is a tiny bundle of energy. She finds her joy in the music. And as a teacher, she strives to help her students do the same.
Teaching Experience:
Member of The Lindy Project, Teacher – November 2009 (Austin, TX)
Swing Soulstice – May/June 2009 (Atlanta, GA)
GTDA Dance – April 24, 2009 – w/ Jeff Camozzi (Atlanta, GA)
Sparx – April 3-5, 2009 – w/ Carl Nelson (Cleveland, OH)
Swing Into Spring – March 14-15, 2009 (New Haven, CT)
Lindy Focus – December 29th, 2008 – Community Class: Day at the Races – w/ Sosh Howell (Asheville, NC)
Cat’s Corner 10th Anniversary – October 31st to Nov 2nd, 2008 – w/ Carl Nelson (Montreal, QC)
LEAF Festival – October 17th and 18th, 2008 – w/ Sosh Howell (Asheville, NC)
Frim Fram – July 17th, 2008 – w/ Carl Nelson (New York, NY)
Lindy and Blues – July 16th, 2008 – w/ Carl Nelson (Philadelphia, PA)
RIT Swing Club – Fall, 2006 to Spring, 2008
Notable Competitions:
2009
Lindy Focus 8 – 1st place – Crossover Jack n’ Jill (adv. follow) (partner: Mitchel Kwiatkoski)
Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown – 1st place – Showdown (strictly) (partner: Chance Bushman)
Swingtime In the Rockies – 1st place – Advanced/All-Star Jack n’ Jill (partner: Partick Szmidt)
2008
Lindy Focus 7 – 1st place – Solo Charleston
Lindy Focus 7 – 1st place – Advanced Jack n’ Jill (partner: Marc-Andre Vachon)
Lindy Focus 7 – 2nd place – Showcase (partner: Carl Nelson)
Atlanta Varsity Showdown – 1st place – Advanced Jack n’ Jill (partner: Huy Huynh)
Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown – 1st place – Team Division (Hot Rhythm Rising)
Southern Belle Swing Bash – 1st place – Jack n’ Jill (partner: Hurley Francois)
Southern Belle Swing Bash – 1st place – Solo Charleston
International Lindy Hop Championships – 3rd place – Strictly Lindy (partner: Carl Nelson)
Sugarfoot Stomp – 1st place – Sugarfoot Jam (partner: Carl Nelson)
Big Big Event – 1st place – Strictly Lindy (partner: Andrew Thigpen)
2007
American Lindy Hop Championships – 2nd place – Strictly Lindy (partner: Carl Nelson)
American Lindy Hop Championships – 3rd place – Open Jack n’ Jill
Southern Belle Swing Bash – 1st place – Jack n’ Jill
Southern Belle Swing Bash – 3rd place – Solo Jazz
Boston Tea Party – 1st place – Novice Jack n’ Jill (partner: Jason Lancaster)