Jennifer Reed
The Motivator (Board of Directors)
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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 serves as Teacher Coordinator for the Austin Swing Syndicate and co-runs the local Balboa scene. Suffice it to say, she knows what she's doing.
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Tabitha Robinson
Mo' Money, No' Problems (Board of Directors)
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Tabitha manages the Foundation's money. She loves dogs and baking. Strangely enough, she's less thrilled by her dogs eating said baking. She runs the Austin chorus girl team and, formerly, Collegiate Shag teams in Austin and DC.
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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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Amanda Pincock
Live Music Coordinator
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Amanda proudly joins the team for the first time this year as an organizer after many years of enjoying it as a participant - volunteer, competitor, performer, instructor, judge, and, of course, social dancer. Her love of swing dance and the music it was born from is her main draw, as well as the community it fosters and creates.
Amanda brings her passion for community to this year's team. As the "live music capital of the world", Austin has cultivated and drawn incredible musicians from all over the world. She respects the symbiotic relationship between musicians and dancers and the magic they can create together, and enjoys fostering that. She has participated in organizing community events in both San Diego and Austin, and can't wait to share Austin music with y'all. |
Melanie Nguyen
Resident Memelord (Volunteer Coordinator)
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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 volunteer and instructor for the Oklahoma Swing Syndicate. In 2019, Melanie joined the Hot Rhythm Foundation. Off of the dance floor, Melanie enjoys browsing memes, taking naps, and going to Zumba classes. Don’t hesitate to ask her for a dance or tag her in a meme! |
Devon Johnson
Schedule Wrangler
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Devon started dancing in San Antonio, Texas in 2017. While Lindy Hop hooked him enough to return every week, he soon fell in love with Collegiate Shag. Since then, Devon has performed and taught in San Antonio, Rochester and Syracuse, proselytizing the joy of Shag to all willing listeners.
While Devon has spent many years organizing esports tournaments and other gaming events at grassroots and professional scales, the Hot Rhythm Foundation is his first formal foray into swing dance event organization. |