Jennifer Reed
The Motivator (Board of Directors)
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.
Tabitha Robinson
Mo' Money, No' Problems (Board of Directors)
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.
Shannon Butler
Professor Shag-onagall (Board of Directors)
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.
Amanda Pincock
The Conductor (Live Music Coordinator)
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.
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)
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!
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!
Sydney Abel
The Next Gen (Registration Manager, Contest Coordinator, Doer of all things!)
When Sydney isn’t taking 30 credits per semester in college, collecting typewriters, and solving Rubik's cubes, she is helping get things done at dance events. Sydney loves helping with all of the things. She began swing dancing at 13 years old in Mesa, AZ and has been a frequent traveler ever since. Please bring her a caramel latte if you see her, she probably needs it.
Alex DeVoe
The Ringmaster (Event & Project Manager)
Alex DeVoe loves a well-organized inbox almost as much as she loves balboa. She has been dancing since 2007, and is the other half of the organizing team for the Philly Balboa scene and Phila-bal-phia. She works in academic publishing and, as a result, reads a lot of books.
Brennan DeVoe
The Muscle (Ballroom Manager, Setup, Teardown)
Brennan DeVoe grew up dancing in old country music bars to his family’s band and made the transition to jazz in college when his sister dragged him to his first swing dance. Fifteen years later, he is a teacher, DJ, sound engineer, and half of the organizing team for the Philly Balboa scene and Phila-bal-phia. In ‘real life,’ Brennan is a Subaru mechanic and a blacksmith.
Katya Kogan
Chief Hype Officer (Marketing Manager, Contest Coordinator)
Katya Kogan is a passionate and experienced dancer, marketing manager, and contest coordinator based out of Montreal, Canada. With over a decade of experience in various dance styles, including Lindy Hop, Balboa, West Coast Swing, and Collegiate Shag, she has become an accomplished social dancer and competitor. Her expertise in event planning and social media marketing make her a valuable asset to any team, and her attention to detail ensures that events are always successful and fun. Katya's love for dance and travel drives her to explore new cultures and destinations, and she is excited to continue organizing and executing successful events that bring joy and inspiration to all involved.
Scott Angelius
The Mentor (Contest Manager, Tabulator, Lindy Hop Instructor)
Scott started dancing in 1998 in what became a mecca of swing dance, Austin, TX. He helped build the community by teaching, running a successful dance company, and organizing events. Now in Knoxville, TN, he regularly teaches and mentors dancers.
Scott is passionate about teaching and working with dedicated, focused dancers of all levels. In class, he teaches what he loves: exploring and building on the fundamentals, partnership, listening, and self-expression. Scott has won numerous Lindy Hop competitions and was a member of the renowned team Lindy Hoppers’ Dozen.
He also helps organize dance events. He is an organizer of the International Lindy Hop Championships and the Competition Manager at many of the largest dance competitions in the country. He has also developed a competition scoring management system, RP-Scoring, which is utilized by most large Lindy Hop events in the country. Previously, he founded and ran the Lone Star Championships from 2008 to 2013 and was an event director of Lindyfest from 2014 to 2020.
Scott is passionate about teaching and working with dedicated, focused dancers of all levels. In class, he teaches what he loves: exploring and building on the fundamentals, partnership, listening, and self-expression. Scott has won numerous Lindy Hop competitions and was a member of the renowned team Lindy Hoppers’ Dozen.
He also helps organize dance events. He is an organizer of the International Lindy Hop Championships and the Competition Manager at many of the largest dance competitions in the country. He has also developed a competition scoring management system, RP-Scoring, which is utilized by most large Lindy Hop events in the country. Previously, he founded and ran the Lone Star Championships from 2008 to 2013 and was an event director of Lindyfest from 2014 to 2020.