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Preliminary rounds take place each Wednesday from November 2, 2011 to November 30, 2011. Participants can keep entering every week, as long as they don't win. Contestants will be paired with 3-4 partners, at random. The music style and tempo will vary for each partner. Each week, we will select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from our Jacks and Jills. If you win a prelim round, you automatically qualify for the finals. You are also not allowed to enter any other prelims. If you don't win, but place, you are encouraged to enter again. Earning a placement wins you points. In the end of the preliminary rounds, we will be adding up your total points over 4 weeks to determine any additional finalists and alternates for the finals.

Preliminary round format:

• Each Jack will be randomly paired with 3-4 Jill's and dance for 1 minute and 30 seconds to a different song picked by the competition DJ.
• Jacks and Jills are judged separately in the preliminary contests.
• Judging for the preliminary rounds will be scored by relative placement.

The final round takes place on December 7, 2011 to LIVE MUSIC. The finalists and alternates will be announced on December 2, 2011. Registration is not required for the final round. Each contestant will be assigned one partner, at random.

Final round format:

• Finals begin with a brief all skate warm-up, followed by a spotlight phrase battle to LIVE MUSIC performed by Clint Baker's New Orleans Jazz Band. We go until the judges and crowd are satisfied!
• Phrase battle format T.B.D.
• Judging for the final round will be scored by relative placement.

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Nicole Frydman
Nicole has been singing and dancing since she was a small child and, thanks to her parents' support and encouragement, has always been active in the arts. She studied classical acting at Tisch School of the Arts and in 1998 graduated from NYU with a BFA. Since then she has performed all over the country in national tours, regional theaters, summer stock, repertory, and even some major motion pictures. For example, you can catch her head fly by Julia Roberts in the dance scene of "Mona Lisa Smile".

In 1997 she discovered swing dancing to go along with the jazz she already loved so much. Since then she has become a professional dancer placing in over 40 local, regional, and national swing dance competitions and previously taught swing at Dance Manhattan Studios in New York. She considers her emphasis and style in teaching and dancing to be about connection with her partner and the music - all else is secondary.

She is a teacher and organizer at the 9:20 Special.

Ann Mony
Ann hails from Montreal where she honed her skills as a dance teacher after falling madly in love with swing dancing in 2000. Known for her playful style and the joy that she exudes while dancing, she travels as often as she can to share her love of the dance in competitions, performances, classes, and on the social dance floor. She holds titles from such events as the International Lindy Hop Championships, American Lindy Hop Championships, Canadian Lindy Hop Championships, Boston Tea Party, Quebec Swing Rendez-Vous, and Lindy Focus. Ann was a founding member of the DC Cherry Blossoms, an all-female solo charleston team, and was proud to be a member of various lindy hop teams in Montreal, including the always-inspiring Northern Lights.

You can visit her site to get more info about her and all the details on where she'll be teaching.

Romain Feuillette
After trying different types of dances starting in 2001, Romain Feuillette discovered lindy hop and balboa in summer 2004 in Montpellier-France. From then on, he stopped all other forms of dancing as he fell in love with lindy hop and balboa. In September 2004, Romain was among the founders of Grenoble Swing, an association that aims to promote the swing dancing scene in Grenoble, France through teaching, weekly dances, and workshops. Romain currently teaches weekly in Grenoble, has also taught in Aberdeen (Scotland), and thoroughly enjoys traveling around Europe and the United States to expand his dancing.

When not dancing Romain is working in the Grenoble area as a microelectronics industry manager, hiking and cooking!

Jean Ma & Bromley Palamountain
Jean Ma and Bromley Palamountain are award-winning swing dance instructors, choreographers, and performers specializing in vernacular movement through the dance patterns of Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Charleston. They also run a weekly venue in Berkeley, CA called The Dancers' Den (berkeleydancersden.com). They teach group and private lessons and can be contacted at or visit their website at jeanandbromley.com.

Kevin St Laurent
Kevin St Laurent is internationally recognized for his energy and innovation as a Lindy Hop dancer, instructor, performer and choreographer. His creativity on the dance floor stems from a command of musicality and partner connection, features of his dance that make him such an engaging performer, and his priorities in both improvisation and choreography. As an instructor, he concentrates on the technique of these elements at all levels, teaching his students the ability to adapt the style of their dance to that of the music and to create a dynamic dance with their partner. Kevin's energy and focus on fun are a constant backdrop to all of his work.

Learn more about Kevin on his website.

Jason Christodoulou & Jenna Chalmers
Jason Christodoulou is a talented dancer, choreographer, instructor and cofounder of the Dog House in San Francisco and the hiphop/swing dance group Loose Change. Known for his incredible versatility, energy, and style, Jason knows how to motivate dancers! Jason has taught previously with swing legends Sylvia Sykes and Virginie. Jason is in high demand at workshops around the world, including prominent favorites like Herrang and Beantown.

Jenna Chalmers has been teaching and performing dance professionally since 1993. You may have seen her in the Sony TriStar film "The Thirteenth Floor" or "Swing: The Movie." She provided dance reference for animators at Pixar Studios and Electronic Arts, and choreographs for groups like The Decobelles and Retro Cabaret. She is the co-director of the long-running Camp Swing and has appeared on TV and National Public Radio as an expert in the field of swing dance. She has taught with popular instructors like Kevin St.Laurent and recently at "Rock That Swing" in Munich, Germany with Johnny Lee. Jenna has competed and judged internationally, recently placing 2nd at the National Jitterbug Championships in the Pro Collegiate Shag Division.

Jason and Jenna first taught together in San Francisco in 1997. They have appeared in advertisements, publications and on television including the Washington Mutual ad campaign, 7X7 Magazine, and KRON'S Live broadcast of the New Years Eve countdown.

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