 Rusty Frank Tap dancer, Lindy Hopper, producer, choreographer, writer, and tap dance preservationist Rusty Frank began her love affair with dance at the tender age of 6 when, inspired by Shirley Temple movies, she started tap classes. In her career as a tapper, Rusty has studied with many legendary names including Louis DaPron, her mentor, as well as the famous Fayard Nicholas, who Tom and Debra were honored to present to DC audiences twice. Rusty has appeared in many dance documentaries, including the BBC's "Fascinating Rhythms—The Story of Tap," Warner Home Video's "Astaire-Rogers" Box Set documentary, and Bravo's "This Joint Is Jumpin'."
Not content to merely conquer the world of tap, Rusty fell in love with Lindy Hop in 1996. She spent two years in the United Kingdom partnering with London Lindy Hopper Simon Selmon, together making numerous television, movie, radio, festival, and special event appearances throughout Europe. She returned to the United States in 1998, making her home in Southern California. Teaming with Peter Flahiff, they were guest teachers at The Satin Ballroom and the well-known Derby, and performed on national television and in films. Rusty has been running her dance school, Lindy By The Sea, and weekly dance, Rusty's Rhthm Club, since 1998. She also owns and operates On Tap!, an online store through which she produces Lindy and Tap dance instructional DVDs.
A
highly sought-after teacher of Tap, Lindy, Balboa, Collegiate Shag and Charleston at national and international dance weekends, Rusty loves to spread her joy of dance all over the world. Check her out at RustyFrank>.
Giovanni Quintero Giovanni (or as most of his friends call him, Gio) started swing dancing in 1999. He first learned basic East Coast swing at the Derby, and he was hooked immediately.
Gio has been competing since 1999. He competed at the Hollywood Palladium where he took first place in their Amateur Jack and Jill division. This year he competed with his wife, Mae-Lae, and they won two first places at The Connexxions--World Swing Dance Championships for Jack and Jill and Strictly Lindy, and third place at the first Annual $10,0000 Viegas Casino Dance Competition. They have also placed third and fifth in NJC Amateur Lindy division.
Gio is a member of the Hollywood Hornets; this popular team is three-time Team Division National Jitterbug Champions (2002, 2004, 2005).
Gio began teaching the Sunday afternoon Lindy By The Sea classes and the monthly Rhythm Club classes with Rusty in January 2003. He is a favorite throughout the Southern California swing scene for his knowledge, enthusiasm, styling, and social-dancing philosphy. Back to TOP ^ |
 Jean Veloz It all began when Jean Phelps and her brother Ray made the trip from their home town of Santa Maria, California to Los Angeles for a big dance contest at the Hollywood Legion Auditorium. Avid swing dancers who made it to all the big band concerts in the Santa Barbara area, Jean and Ray won the contest—a Screen Actors Guild membership card and a role for Jean in the movie Swing Fever. Jean quickly became a devotee of Dean Collins, and eventually was featured in the 1944 MGM comedic short, Groovie Movie. Tom and Debra featured Jean and Ray at their first dance workshop weekend, Hooray for Hollywood in 1998, and have been happy to welcome them back to the DC area many times since, including hosting them as featured guests at the dedication of the World War II Memorial activities in May 2004. Back to TOP ^ |
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