Paolo "Pasta" Lanna has been teaching and performing the Lindy Hop for over 6 years. His most noteworthy endeavors have included touring with Wynton Marsalis and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and the big band show "Forever Swing". Paolo is the 1998 American Swing Dance Championship's Showcase Lindy Hop Winner. Jennifer Gapay is this year's North American Dance Championships winner for the Just Dance Lindy division. Jennifer has a background in Brazilian tap and has over 4 years of Lindy Hop experience. Together, Jennifer and Paolo specialize in the Balboa. They demonstrate, perform and give workshops on it on a regular basis.

Why do you want to come to the MLX?

The opportunity to see Australia & to dance with fellow lindyholics was too much to pass up. We are absolutely thrilled to see your country & meet all of you!

Lucinda Knight (a.k.a. Lucy) is one of Australia’s most experienced lindy hop teachers and dancers. After teaching LeRoc for 5 years she discovered a style of dance that was lindy hop and has never looked back! In 1996 she started lindy hopping and attended Swing Camp Catalina off the coast of L.A.– taking lessons with the world’s top international lindy hop instructors. Since then she has been the driving force behind the swing scene in Brisbane, performing and teaching with Swing Tuit and Alive ‘n’ Swingin’. She has partnered Mattias Lundmark (The Rhythm Hot Shots) in Brisbane, as well as the Master himself Frankie Manning (Adelaide 2001, Brisbane 1997). Also Lucy has cruised the northern hemisphere expanding her knowledge of swing dancing – taking in Swing Camp Catalina (1996,1999), Dallas Lindy Hop Body Shop (1999) and Herrang Dance Camp (1999). Mark shares Lucy's passion for the Dance, Music and its roots, and although he has no dance training prior to taking up Lindy Hop, during his teens and twenties studied Martial Arts which has provided him with an excellent sense of balance and timing.

Roger and Janet met at Swing Camp Catalina in 1996, and became dance partners. Together they have travelled to many other swing camps including the wonderful, and ever so famous, Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden. In 1999 they moved to Perth, Western Australia where they started the Lindy Hop scene. In two years, Janet and Roger have worked from scratch to build a very healthy scene having over one thousand people pass through their classes. They specialize in the classic savoy style of Lindy Hop, but have also adventured out to other dance forms including Hollywood Lindy, Shag, Balboa, and Charleston.

Why do you want to come to the MLX?

"We would like to be a part of the Melbourne Exchange to see old friends again, to meet new friends, and to be a part of the Australian Swing Scene!"

Vida and Peter are very serious about Lindy Hop, in a very silly kind of way. With a great passion for the swing era, including the music, fashion and the dance, they have been enjoying classic Lindy Hop for almost three years, and teaching in Melbourne since January 2001. While they've choreographed and performed for events from private functions to TV shows to the Australian launch of Pearl Harbor, their real joy comes from the interaction, styling and sheer fun of social Lindy Hop. They've been inspired by and studied with the likes of The Rhythm HotShots, Frankie Manning, and Ryan Francois, to name a few. They're just back from a six week swinging vacation in Herrang, Sweden, and Lindy U, Chicago, and are keen to share with you some of the style, steps and spirit of Savoy-style Lindy Hop.

Glenn & Rachael have been partner dancing for over ten years doing different styles - 50's Rock'n'Roll, Rockabilly, Savoy Lindy Hop/Swing, Boogie Woogie & now their latest love Hollywood Style. Their dance experience includes a 6 year stage performance in a 50's style Theatre Restaurant, singing, acting & dancing. Competition has also played an important part in there dancing development and also various other performances over Melbourne. After sevens years Lindy experience they travelled overseas in 2000 to further their knowledge of the Swing Dance styles. They spent 4 weeks Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden studying Boogie Woogie & Lindy Hop then flew to L.A. to check out the movie capital of the world. The teachers and the social scene in L.A. blew their mind. Since returning to Melbourne they have begun teaching Hollywood style 3 nights per week with great success. Rachael & Glenn had the honour of performing with world swing champions Marcus & Bärbl in the Hollywood Downunder Dance Troupe. With all this experience they are just itching to pass it on.

Michelle Stoupe is New Zealand's most prominent lindy hop teacher and dancer. Having danced and taught Ceroc for 7 years she travelled to the UK on her OE where she saw the lindy hop being danced at a Ceroc venue. From then on she was hooked. That year (1995) she started taking lindy hop classes at Jitterbugs London and the London Swing Dance Society, learning from some of London's best (Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas, Julie Oram, Simon Selman). In late 1997, she returned to New Zealand via the USA lindyhopping up the West Coast, to set up Jitterbugs New Zealand. She has partnered Mattias Lundmark (The Rhythm Hot Shots) and attended several dance camps including Hoppin at the Hydro, Hoppin with the Hot Shots, Masters Swing Jam and Herrang Dance Camp.

Why do you want to come to the MLX?

"It's going to be a great melting pot of lindy hoppers from the down under region. Should be fantastic! I'm really excited about it."