Instructors
Shani hails from sunny southern California. She is best known for her fast, syncopated Balboa footwork, tight swing style and soft connection—which has been said to feel like a ‘warm hug’. As an instructor, she strives to make dancing effortless, combining foundational basics with the soft skills of connection and personal body awareness to develop one's smooth flow and style.
For 25 years, Shani has dedicated herself to learning, preserving and sharing her love for Balboa and other social dances. She began swing dancing in 1998 before moving to Orange County, where she discovered a vibrant vintage swing community well connected to its local original dancers. She was immediately attracted to Balboa's smooth, rhythmic footwork and began frequenting first-generation dancers' dance floors.
Shani is honored to have honed her social dance skills and footwork under the guidance of legendary dancers Willie Desatoff, Hal and Marge Takier, Bart Bartolo, Jack Carey and many others. Although she has competed, placed and won several major competitions, she mainly enjoys social dancing and inspiring others to love Balboa and swing.
Corey and Susan Manke are Balboa and Swing dancers from Nashville, Tennessee. While Lindy Hop was their first passion, they soon discovered their true love of Balboa in 2004 fascinated with its connection, rhythms and partnering. They have spent over a decade studying the dance with many international instructors.
Corey and Susan are particularly drawn to the aesthetic, connection and feel of the original dancers. They strive to implement these elements into their own dance style and reference these dancers in their teaching to preserve the original dancers’ contribution to the dance floor.
They have been participants of The Balboa Experiment every year since 2010, where they have been students, served as Guest Mentors, awarded “Honorary Fellows” in 2014 and became "Distinguished Fellows" in 2016. Corey and Susan have been instructors at All Balboa Weekend, Atlanta-Bal-phia, Bal-ast Off, Barcelona Balboa Festival (Spain), California Balboa Classic, Eastern Balboa Championships, Edinburgh Balboa Weekend (Scotland), Great Lakes Balboa Escape, Northwest Bal Fest, Minor Swing (Sweden), NuBalboa (Spain), Phila-Bal-phia, Thames Valley Balboa Festival (UK), Zaragoza (Spain) and invited to teach at other regional, national and international events.
Corey and Susan have received placements at All Balboa Weekend, Bal-Ast Off, Northwest Bal Fest and are regular finalists in several national competitions. However, they enjoy the aspect of social dancing the most.
DJs
To Be Announced