Spring Workshops 2012

About The Instructors

Joel Plys began his swing dance career in the summer of 1998 on a date in Chicago. He learned very quickly from countless workshops and non-stop dancing and brought his skills to Cleveland, OH.  Joel taught swing full-time out in Cleveland, OH for 4 years (1999-2002) and started Get Hep Swing, LTD. He co-created the very first All Balboa Weekend with Valerie Salstrom (June 2001)  He moved to San Diego in 2002, started 2PlySwing Productions and taught all over the world with Alison Scola. Joel continues to travel the globe sharing his love of Swing dancing teaching with many amazing partners. Joel has a high quality, energetic approach to the dance that makes every lesson with him and any partner a blast!  As a regular teacher at major events all over the world, his down to earth, enthusiastic attitude is contagious.  He has taught all over the US (33 states and counting) as well as Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Caledonia, Scotland and Sweden.  In 2011, Joel was inducted into the Camp Hollywood Hall of Fame.  He has a full knowledge of various styles from years of study that he shares in his instruction of Balboa, Lindy, Charleston, Collegiate Shag, Jazz Movement, and Pre-Swing dances (Texas Tommy, One Step, etc)  “To 'preserve' a dance, you must understand the technique and characteristic fundamentals of that dance.
For a dance to 'evolve', you must be open to everyone adding creative elements to that dance.” Joel encourages students to study and be open to “differences” so that they can make the dance their own. He embodies these qualities in his instruction and dancing while remembering the true reason we dance - for FUN!  Besides teaching all over the world, Joel also has a passion for organizing amazing dance events, including:

   * Swing Camp OZ (held each January in Australia)
   * Balboa Rendezvous (held each April in San Diego)
   * Catalina Swing Dance Festival (held each November on Catalina Island)

Jenna Applegarth first started dancing when she was still in diapers. She began dancing Lindy Hop some many years later, which opened doors to many other forms of dance including various forms of solo and partnered dancing. Swing Dancing has created many opportunities for Jenna, including allowing her to use her second passion, event planning, in the realm of dance events.

Jenna continues to expand her dancing repertoire and share her love and knowledge of these dances with others. Although she enjoys pretty much any type of music you can move to, her first love is still Lindy Hop. Her energy and passion create the perfect environment for learning, creating challenging yet applicable lessons.

Jenna has attended, coordinated, and taught various workshops and exchanges all across the globe. Above all else she believes that learning to dance should be fun. She loves finding new ways to connect with other dancers on the floor and in the classroom.