Bios (in alphabetical order)
Nathalie Gomes Adams
Nathalie is originally from France. She is a World Swing Dance Champion and a Master Teacher. She has repeatedly won every major U.S. swing dance title. Known for her gravity-defying aerials, Nathalie has taught and performed in more than 23 countries. Her vibrant performances have earned Nathalie many stage, film, and television appearances. She performed and served as a consultant in the original Broadway production of Swing!, and has appeared at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She was a featured dancer in the 2003 Julia Roberts film Mona Lisa Smile and was a model for the dancing elves in Robert Zemeckis' 2004 animated feature The Polar Express with Tom Hanks. Her national television appearances include repeat engagements on The Today Show, as well as Entertainment Tonight, The View, Good Morning America, and on MTV.
Nathalie's other notable credits include choreography and performances for Will Smith's Willennium CD-release party, and a performance for President Bill Clinton at America's Millennium New Year's Eve Party, produced by Quincy Jones and Stephen Spielberg. Nathalie frequently teaches, choreographs and performs for corporate functions. Some of Her past clients include British Airways, Sony, Samsung, Biore, the New York Knicks, and Seagrams.
Although her performances are awe-inspiring, Nathalie's true love is teaching and coaching. In New York City, where she lived for eleven years, she founded Hop Swing & A Jump, Manhattan's primary swing dance studio and company. In New Orleans since 2005, she is now bringing you Dance Quarter, a dance studio dedicated to sharing the joy of partner dancing, primarily as a social activity but also as a competitive endeavor that breeds self-confidence, teamwork and communication, all of it in a fun environment. Many of Nathalie's students have gone on to win championships of their own and to spread the joy of dance in their own communities.
Finally, Nathalie created and coordinates a social dance program for 5th Graders at the request of Martin Marino, President of the Board of the Jefferson Parish Public School System. After five years of existence, classes are now being offered in 26 Elementary Schools. About 700 children learn how to dance weekly!
Giselle Anguizola
Giselle has dedicated her life to Jazz Era dances and has been an unmissable voice in the swing community for over a decade. One of the top proponents of intricate, syncopated footwork, Giselle will breathe rhythmic life into any dance, class, or stage appearance. She frequently performs with traditional jazz bands, blending live music and dance improvisation. She has appeared at New Orleans’ “Jazz Fest” with Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and has been featured on the television show, “After the Catch”. Giselle also co-produced and danced in “Olio The Show”, a modern day, vaudeville production based out of San Diego. She is the founder of Girl Jam, the first dance festival franchise devoted to honoring women in jazz music and dance. Now residing in New Orleans, she teaches and performs with NOLA Jitterbugs and Dance Quarter. She is also a board member of the NOLA Jitterbugs Initiative, a non-profit that builds stronger community through social dance.
Lori DeLeon
Lori DeLeon recently migrated from San Francisco to the Big Easy. A balboa enthusiast and instructor, Lori has toured the country to learn, compete, and teach balboa any chance she gets. A former jazz dance instructor, choreographer, yoga instructor, and current physical therapist, Lori uses her experience to help build balboa communities around the nation.
Laura Manning
Laura Manning is a performer, instructor, and all round disciple of early 20th century American jazz dances, a field in which her talents and experience vary widely: On any given day you’ll find her practicing with New Orleans’ Wild Dominoes, entertaining the crowds on Royal Street with the Smoking Time Jazz Band, teaching classes uptown and down, planning or choreographing the Old New Orleans Lil Big Vaudeville Variety Show, or just going for it at the Spotted Cat to her favorite local band. Personable and down to earth, Laura is esteemed for her distinctive, rhythmic dance styling, her amicability, professionalism and acuity when working with others, and the joy and spirit she brings to all aspects of her working life, from writing scripts, creating and producing shows, to dancing, teaching and performing. She loves her students and she loves her home, New Orleans.
Jayna Morgan
Jayna began dancing in the fall of 1998 while attending the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and her passion for dancing motivated her to become the head of GWU's Jitterbugs Swing Society. This organization produced the first ever Inter-Collegiate Swing Dance Competition and hosted dances with up to 400 attendees. After studying with some of the world's top Lindy and Swing dance instructors, Jayna moved to New Orleans and continued dancing at the local jazz venues.
Once in New Orleans, Jayna became inspired by the hot sounds of New Orleans Dixieland jazz, and began to study 1920's Charleston. Jayna and friend, Ellen Boyer, co-founded the only local flappers troupe, The Frenchmen Street Flappers. She currently teaches East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, solo Charleston, Blues, and Balboa. You can find Jayna shopping around Magazine Street for vintage duds and giving lessons on how to style 1940's hair.
Reuel Reis
Born and raised in New Orleans, Reuel Reis grew up listening and dancing to Jazz and Blues before learning to partner dance at the age of 17 to the music of his beloved city. Reuel has been sharing the art of Lindy hop, Blues and other vernacular jazz dances for more than a decade, having taught workshops and won competitions everywhere from Chicago to New Orleans, Orlando to Seattle, Philadelphia to San Francisco - and many places in between. Reuel imbues the acceptance, spirit, and flavor of his hometown in every class and dance shared.