~Nick Williams~
Nick 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 successes include World Lindy Hop Champion, US Open Swing Dance Champion, American Lindy Hop Champion, National Jitterbug Champion, International Lindy Hop Champion, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown Champion, American Classic Balboa Champion and California Balboa/Swing Champion.
He is also an accomplished choreographer and has been featured on the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance. As an instructor, he is known for his ability to break down movements and technique to create a fun and light-hearted learning environment. His true love of music and dancing will forever inspire him to learn, teach, and grow. In 2004 and 2010, Nick was honored to be recognized by the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.
~Laura Keat~
Laura began her swing dance career in Denver when she joined the award-winning Lindy Hop performance team, 23 Skidoo! She immediately developed a passion for the art of swing dancing. Ever the disciplined student and skilled competitor, Laura began winning national titles and gaining recognition as a championship lindy hop follow with an independent style and point of view. She loves dancing with a wide variety of leads with diverse styles and ideas to challenge and broaden her own abilities as a follow. And as an instructor, she brings a fresh perspective towards developing each student’s technical foundation and individual style. For Laura, every dance is a chance to put smiles on peoples’ faces with an entertaining performance which shares and inspires the joy and excitement for swing dancing.
Laura's accolades include placement and winnings from: ALHC "Classic" Champion, US Open "Strictly Lindy" and "Fast Dance" Champion, NJC "Balboa" and Shag," Collegiate Shag" Champion, Camp Jitterbug "Lindy Hop couples" Champion, NJC "Showcase" 2nd place, ILHC "Showcase" 2nd place, ILHC "Champions Strictly Lindy" 3rd place. Laura was also recently recognized by the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame for 2008.
For an idea of how many championships these two have won together and separately, here's a short list:
1st Place:
Lonestar Championships – Invitational Strictly Lindy 2012
Lindy Focus – Tri Swing Tournament 2011
Lindy Focus – Invitational Balboa Jack n Jill 2011
Eastern Balboa Championships – Open Classic 2011
Eastern Balboa Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2011
National Jitterbug Championships – Classic Division 2011
National Jitterbug Championships – Advanced Jack n Jill 2011
Lonestar Championships – Invitational Strictly Lindy 2011
U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships – Lindy Showcase 2010
U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships – Strictly Lindy 2010
U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships – Balboa 2010
Lindy and Party Weekend – Invitational Jack n Jill 2010
National Jitterbug Championships – Pro Lindy 2010
National Jitterbug Championships – Classic Division 2010
American Classic Balboa Championships – 2010
Boston Tea Party – Invitational Strictly Lindy 2010
Lone Star Championships – All-Star Invitational Strictly Lindy 2010
Swingin’ New England – Invitational Lindy Hop Jack n Jill 2009
Eastern Balboa Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2009
International Lindy Hop Championships – Champions Balboa 2009
International Lindy Hop Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2009
American Classic Balboa Championships – 2009
All Balboa Weekend – Instructor Jack n Jill 2009
Boston Tea Party – Invitational Strictly Lindy 2009
Frenchie Balboa Festival – Euro Bal Cup 2008
National Jitterbug Championships – Pro Lindy 2008
U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships – Strictly Lindy 2008
Eastern Balboa Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2008
International Lindy Hop Championships – Champions Strictly 2008
International Lindy Hop Championships – Champions Balboa 2008
Eastern Balboa Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2008
All Balboa Weekend – Invitational Jack n Jill 2008
Camp Jitterbug – Couples Contest 2008
Boston Tea Party – Invitational Strictly Lindy 2008
National Jitterbug Championships – Pro Balboa 2007
National Jitterbug Championships – Instructor Jack n Jill 2007
Eastern Balboa Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2007
Frenchie Balboa Festival – Jack n Jill 2007
Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown – Liberation Division 2006
Northeast Lindy Hop Championships – Showcase 2006
Northeast Lindy Hop Championships – Strictly Lindy 2006
Frenchie Balboa Festival – Jack n Jill 2006
Eastern Balboa Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2006
Great Southwest Lindyfest – ALHC qualifier 2006
Great Southwest Lindyfest – AHLC qualifier 2005
Boogie by the Bay – Lindy Showcase 2006
Reno Dance Sensation – Champion’s Strictly Lindy 2006
Reno Dance Sensation – Champion’s Lindy Jack n Jill 2006
World Lindy Hop Champion – 2005
U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships – Lindy Showcase 2005
American Classic Balboa Championships – 2005
Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown – Invitational Jack n Jill 2005
National Jitterbug Championships – Pro Jack n Jill 2005
Camp Hollywood – Jitterbug Contest 2005
Boogie by the Bay – Lindy Showcase 2005
Boogie by the Bay – Strictly Lindy 2005
Frenchie Balboa Festival – Euro Bal Cup 2005
American Lindy Hop Championships – Balboa Division 2005
Sugarfoot Stomp Lindy Hop Couples Contest – 2005
Northeast Lindy Hop Championships – Advanced Jack n Jill 2005
OCLX – Judges Call It Jack n Jill 2005
California Balboa/Swing Championships – Balboa Division 2004
California Balboa/Swing Championships – Swing Division 2004
Reno Dance Sensation – Champion’s Lindy Jack n Jill 2004
National Jitterbug Championships – Balboa Division – 2003
American Classic Balboa Championships – 2003
Triple Crown Champion – 2003
Triple Crown Championships – Slow Swing 2003
Paladino’s Face-Off – 2003
Paladino’s Face-Off Prelim – 2003
Fast Feet Contest – Green Hotel 2000
National Jitterbug Championships – Shag Division 2002
California Balboa Championships – Pure Balboa 2002
Jitterbug Jam – ALHC qualifier 2001
Swing by the Sea – Couples 2001
Swing by the Sea – Advanced Jack n Jill 2001
Swingpit Red Square Shag/Balboa Challenge 2001
Swing and Lindy Desert Dance – Strictly Lindy 2001
Be Bop Burger – Balboa 2002
Be Bop Burger – Jack n Jill 2002
2nd Place:
Lonestar Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2012
European Swing Dance Championships – Balboa 2011
Boston Tea Party – Invitational Strictly Lindy 2011
Lonestar Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2011
Eastern Balboa Championships – Invitational Jack n Jill 2010
International Lindy Hop Championship – Champions Strictly 2010
Camp Jitterbug – Couples Contest 2010
Swingin’ New England – Invitational Strictly Lindy 2009
Boston Tea Party – Crossover Jack n Jill 2009
National Jitterbug Championships – Showcase 2008
International Lindy Hop Championships – Showcase 2008
American Classic Balboa Championships – 2007
Boston Tea Party – Invitational Strictly Lindy 2007
Boogie By The Bay – Lindy Showcase 2007
Lindy Groove – Couples Contest 2007
National Jitterbug Championships – Pro Jack n Jill 2006
National Jitterbug Championships – Pro Lindy 2006
American Lindy Hop Championships – American Showcase 2006
American Lindy Hop Championships – Cats Corner 2006
American Lindy Hop Championships – Champion’s Jack n Jill 2006
U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships – Strictly Lindy 2006
American Classic Balboa Championships – Pro Jack n Jill 2006
International Balboa Championships – 2006
Northeast Lindy Hop Championships – Balboa Division 2006
National Jitterbug Championships – Pro Balboa 2005
Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown – Liberation Division 2005
World Lindy Hop Championships – Improv Division 2005
World Lindy Hop Championships – Showcase Division 2005
All Bal Camp Detroit – $1000 Invitational 2005
Reno Dance Sensation – Champion’s Jack n Jill 2005
Boogie by the Bay – Lindy Showcase 2004
Sizzlin’ Lindy Slam – ALHC Qualifier 2004
National Jitterbug Championships – Shag Division 2003
National Jitterbug Championships – Pro Jack & Jill 2003
Triple Crown Championships – Lindy Hop 2003
Triple Crown Championships – Jack n Jill 2003
SCX II – Jitterbugs Wild 2003
National Jitterbug Championships – Balboa Division 2002
Swingpit Jack n Jill Shoot-out 2001
Monsters of Swing – Slow Couples 2001
Monsters of Swing – Slow Couples 2002
Jitterbug Jam – Couples 2002
Swingpit 007 Jack n Jill Shoot-out 2002