LIOSA Instructors
Sylvia Sykes & Nick Williams
Sylvia Sykes, an internationally recognized authority on most types of Swing Dance, has been teaching and judging for 20 years throughout the US, Europe, and Australia. Sylvia is an inductee into the National Swing Dance Hall of Fame, as well as the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. She is a U S Open champion, was the NASDE top point winner, two time California Balboa Champion, took third place in the National Carolina Shag Dance Championships, and has won many Strictly Swing and Jack & Jill dance contests through the U.S. in Lindy, Balboa and West Coast Swing. She was twice voted Swing Dance Teacher of the Year, and is a 4 time Feather Award winner as Best Female Lindy Dancer in the U.S.
Nick Williams has embodied the passion and spirit of swing dancing ever since his first lesson in 1998. His in depth understanding of Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston and Collegiate Shag stem from studying with the original dancers. His successes include World Lindy Hop Champion, U.S. Open Swing Dance Champion, American Lindy Hop Champion, National Jitterbug Champion, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown Champion, American Classic Balboa Champion, and California Balboa/Swing Champion. He is also an accomplished choreographer and has been featured on the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance? His true love for music and dancing will forever inspire him to learn, teach, and grow. In 2004, Nick was honored to be recognized by the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.
Bill Borgida & Lenore Saltz
Highly regarded for his teaching skills, Bill Borgida's emphasis on connection and technique has had a profound influence on the Lindy Hop scene in the U.S. and abroad for the past 11 years. He has taught around the world and back again - as far away as Sweden, Spain, Singapore, Japan, France, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, England, Scotland, Australia & New Zealand. In particular, he has been on the teaching staff at Herrang Dance Camp, Swing Out New Hampshire, Beantown, and the American Lindy Hop Championships (ALHC). He also judges at ALHC, as well as the World Lindy Hop Championship.
Lenore Saltz will be instructing with Bill Borgida. Lenore taught with Bill Borgida at Four on the Floor and was highly involved in the Austin Swing Syndicate. She has recently moved to Dallas and we are sad to see her move farther away from San Antonio.
Lenore thinks that dancing should be fun. She tries to make every dance reflect her personality and hopes to get some personality out of her dance partner as well. Lenore started dancing in New Orleans in 2000 and started teaching in Baton Rouge (where she started the college's swing club.) in 2004. She continues to teach today because she wants to pass on the joy of dancing to others.
Laura Malloy & Matt Jones
Laura Malloy was one of the founders of Austin's Four On The Floor www.fouronthefloor.com, and has been teaching in Austin since 1996. Laura, along with Matt, was originally responsible for bringing swing to San Antonio! Her spunk and marked enchantment always seem to spread delight and energy over the dance floor. She has also taught at Beantown and Swing Out New Hampshire and LIOSA, and we're delighted to welcome her back this year.
Matt "Moo Cow" Jones was a founding partner of Four on the Floor in Austin, Texas, and has taught Swing and Lindy Hop in Austin and is a pivotal element in the success of the Austin swing scene. He and Laura Malloy run the Four on the Floor Tuesday night classes and 9:45pm dance in Austin. Matt has been a guest instructor in LIOSA in San Antonio, New Orleans and Tampa, and has been an associate instructor at Lindy U, Beantown Mini-Camp, the Oakland Swing Dance Festival, the Great Southwest Lindy Fest and Balboa Rendezvous.