Workshops
Sept, 24, 2022 - SeptemBAL, featuring Jennifer Barnett & Matt Mitchell
Calling all Intermediate & Advanced Balboa dancers! Join us for this special Saturday workshop and loads of fun with Jen & Matt!
Click here to sign up!
Schedule
Noon to 2:00 PM: Intermediate Workshop
2:00 to 3:00 PM: Lunch break, everyone welcome! BYOL or grab tacos with us!
3:00 to 5:00 PM: Advanced Workshop
2:00 to 3:00 PM: Lunch break, everyone welcome! BYOL or grab tacos with us!
3:00 to 5:00 PM: Advanced Workshop
Pricing
One workshop
Both workshops
- General Public: $30.00
- Austin Swing Syndicate Member (with valid membership): $25.00
- Student (with valid student ID): $20.00
Both workshops
- General Public: $55.00
- Austin Swing Syndicate Member (with valid membership): $45.00
- Student (with valid student ID): $35.00
Location
Balance Dance Studio
4544 S. Lamar #200/#300
We will be in Studio #3
Austin, TX 78745
4544 S. Lamar #200/#300
We will be in Studio #3
Austin, TX 78745
Instructor Bios
Jennifer Barnett (NYC, NY)
Known for bringing a little math and science into the ballroom (don’t worry, just a little), Jen began tap dancing in preschool and continued dancing and later teaching through high school. After putting aside dance to focus on chemistry in college, Jen was happy to return to dance during graduate school–-this time the partnered swing dances of Lindy Hop and Balboa. During that time, Jen began teaching and promoting, co-running beloved Philly events such as the Saturday Night Fish Fry, Philly Bal Night, and Bal Jam ’08. She now calls New York City home and enjoys teaching locally at You Should Be Dancing! and dancing at White Heat among other favorites.
Jen teaches and competes in Balboa on the international stage, having won the All Balboa Weekend J&J five times (0.500 batting average this last decade :)) She has also won or placed in various strictly competitions at the All Balboa Weekend, California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, and the Eastern Balboa Championships (R.I.P.) and teaches around the world. In addition to competing and teaching, Jen also enjoys performing. (What can you say? She’s an only child.) She can be seen dancing real fast in NYC’s own AmazeBals as well as at private events. Jen’s favorites have been smack dab in the middle of the Museum of Natural History, right under the giant blue whale, and of course Lincoln Center!
As a teacher, Jen tries to balance her straight-forward manner and high expectations with lots of love, humor, and support for her students. She’s known for being able to teach truly multi-level classes where everyone is challenged to push their best a little farther. Never forgetting to address both follows and leads, Jen blends a clear, technical presentation with the musicality and spirit that make swing dancing so enjoyable.
Jen teaches and competes in Balboa on the international stage, having won the All Balboa Weekend J&J five times (0.500 batting average this last decade :)) She has also won or placed in various strictly competitions at the All Balboa Weekend, California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, and the Eastern Balboa Championships (R.I.P.) and teaches around the world. In addition to competing and teaching, Jen also enjoys performing. (What can you say? She’s an only child.) She can be seen dancing real fast in NYC’s own AmazeBals as well as at private events. Jen’s favorites have been smack dab in the middle of the Museum of Natural History, right under the giant blue whale, and of course Lincoln Center!
As a teacher, Jen tries to balance her straight-forward manner and high expectations with lots of love, humor, and support for her students. She’s known for being able to teach truly multi-level classes where everyone is challenged to push their best a little farther. Never forgetting to address both follows and leads, Jen blends a clear, technical presentation with the musicality and spirit that make swing dancing so enjoyable.
Matt Mitchell (Austin, TX)
Since 1998, Matt has been honing his dance skills; starting with East Coast, he quickly moved into Lindy Hop and other Swing-era dances–with a very short detour into Ballroom. He’s studied with top Lindy Hop and Balboa contemporaries, as well being influenced by the original greats (Frankie Manning, Dean Collins, Maxie Dorf and Willy Desatoff). From 2007 through 2011, he was one of the lead instructors for Get Hep Swing (assisting the incomparable Valerie Salstrom) and helped choreograph Hustle and award winning Swing routines. He strives to bring solid fundamentals and just-the-right amount of connection to Lindy Hop and Balboa, while creating room for musicality and playfulness.
In 2011, he relocated to his home town of Austin, where he’s enjoyed teaching Lindy Hop and Balboa for Four on the Floor, and is a contributing instructor for BalAustin. Nationally and internationally, Matt has been an instructor at Boogie By The Bay, the Eastern Balboa Championships, Dance Renaissance, and the Canadian Balboa Championships. He competes regularly in Balboa, consistently making the finals and has several placements at ABW, EBC, CBC, ILHC, and Camp Hollywood. He was also a stand-in for Kevin Bacon in Footloose.* *Recreating the famous dance scene in a skit. C’mon, he’s not that old.
In 2011, he relocated to his home town of Austin, where he’s enjoyed teaching Lindy Hop and Balboa for Four on the Floor, and is a contributing instructor for BalAustin. Nationally and internationally, Matt has been an instructor at Boogie By The Bay, the Eastern Balboa Championships, Dance Renaissance, and the Canadian Balboa Championships. He competes regularly in Balboa, consistently making the finals and has several placements at ABW, EBC, CBC, ILHC, and Camp Hollywood. He was also a stand-in for Kevin Bacon in Footloose.* *Recreating the famous dance scene in a skit. C’mon, he’s not that old.