Jennifer Reed
The Motivator (Board of Directors)
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The following bio brought to you by the Tech Overlord.
Cats. Whiskey. Balboa. In no particular order, these are all things Jen Reed knows well. You know what else she knows well? How to get stuff done. In addition to leading the Hot Rhythm Foundation, she manages staffing for the Austin Swing Syndicate, and co-runs the local Balboa and chorus girl teams. Suffice it to say, she knows what she's doing. |
Tabitha Robinson
Mo' Money, No' Problems (Board of Directors)
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The following bio brought to you by the Tech Overlord.
Tabitha manages the Foundation's money, which comes with the exciting challenge of keeping Caitlin's hospitality spending in check. She loves dogs and baking. Strangely enough, she's less thrilled by her dogs eating said baking. She co-runs the Austin chorus girl team and, formerly, Collegiate Shag teams in Austin and DC. She loves aerials so much I'd guess that, personally, she prefers the air. |
Shannon Butler
Professor Shag-onagall (Board of Directors)
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Committed to extend a hand to stretch the circle wider, Shannon Butler seeks ways to help strengthen and advance the dance community that has brought her so much joy over the years. Her tools – education, inclusion, patience, and a dash of humor aim to broaden the depth and breadth of the vintage dance community. To honor her commitment, Shannon is an artist in residence through a Minnesota non-profit, which uses dance to teach social and emotional skills to elementary school students. In the evenings, she teaches dance to a variety of audiences: as the founder and host of one of the longest running weekly swing dances in the Twin Cities, through her local school district, and through another non-profit teaching adults with special needs. Since Hot Rhythm Holiday’s creation, Shannon has worn many hats: instructor, speaker, presenter, deejay, vendor and competition coordinator, judge, contestant and assistant tabulator. She is honored to be on the Board of Directors for Hot Rhythm Foundation, and a lead organizer for Hot Rhythm Holiday.
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Cailin Flaherty
Schedule-maker; Cat Herder
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Cailin has been swing dancing in Austin since 2013, and quickly found her way into the Collegiate Shag community. She has been part of the Rad Youth and Shag Hags Shag teams and teaches locally. In real life, she teaches elementary music. She is excited to work with the Hot Rhythm Foundation for a third year!
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Caitlin McTaggart
Hanger Decimator; Also Cat Herder
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The following bio brought to you by the Tech Overlord.
"Ain't no one getting hangry on my watch" -- Caitlin McTaggart Caitlin joined the Austin swing scene in early 2017, and immediately set herself the task of infiltrating its ranks – with food. It worked, perhaps a little too well, because she found herself in leadership positions on both the Foundation and the Austin Swing Syndicate faster than a quick-quick. She also is responsible for starting twice-monthly shag house parties in Austin, known as "Shagville." Caitlin's endeavors to create a sense of home in the swing scene often manifest as delicious homemade creations, earning her a non-stop stream of gratitude from dancers all over the world. Naturally, she's too modest to say any of this herself, but somebody had to. |
Melanie Nguyen
Volunteer Coordinator; A+ Hype Woman
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If you’ve ever heard a loud laugh or sonorous cheer from the dance floor, it’s probably Melanie. Melanie’s passion and enthusiasm for swing dancing started in Austin, Texas in 2013. This passion, tastefully paired with her passion for travel, has taken her around the world seeking dances with new friends in new places. A native of North Texas, she now resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma when she’s not traveling. Melanie is a board member of the Oklahoma Swing Syndicate. In 2020, Melanie joined the Hot Rhythm Foundation. (This bio not brought to you by the Hot Rhythm Foundation Tech Overlord.)
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Zach Lockett-Streiff
Tech Overlord
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This bio brought to you by the Tech Overlord.
Zach's first foray into dance organizing was his college senior spring, in which he lost the secretary election in his college Swing club to a freshman. Not to be outdone, he created a new 'event coordinator' position, so he could still realize his desire to be useful. It ended up being much more fun than recording meeting notes. Upon returning to Austin, Zach volunteered with the Austin Swing Syndicate and the Austin Lindy Exchange for two years, briefly acting as Instructor Coordinator for the former. In 2016, Zach joined the Hot Rhythm Foundation to assist the previous Tech Overlord, taking over in 2018. Zach co-runs Shagville with Caitlin. |