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Get To Know Some Area Lindy Hoppers

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Adam Velez
What's your style?	Hollywood!
When did you start?	July of 1997, but didn't really go out much except for Country Rock Cafe (until they raised the price and stuff like that), until well not really until July of 1998.
How did you learn?	I originally learned at this place by my house called "The Ultimate Dance Connection," but then I took some lessons with Peter, in which I learned to dance the way I do now. After that though I've just been dancing at clubs and have learned tons that way.
Where do you go?	I go to Memories, Music City, Hot Rods, occasionally Disneyland, and wherever else...
Who are you with?	My dance partner is Trina Sisson. (Top)

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Corina Acosta
What's your style?	I dance primarily Hollywood Style but I would like to think that I go a little more beyond that definition. I like to combine "certain" aspects of traditional Savoy with its roots in black harlem, along with the technical, smooth footwork and grace of Hollywood Style dancers. I am inspired by just as many black dancers as I am of white dancers of that time but to get specific, I am inspired by the grace of Jean Veloz, the fast feet of Kay, the technicality and rythym of Jewel McGowen, and the comic personality of Irene Thomas. I have sort of melted them all together into a perfect dancer that continues to inspire me to find my own personal style out of all of them.
When did you start?	September of 1997.
How did you learn?	The very first person who taught me how to do a triple-step, triple-step, walk-step was Jerry Jordan. He was my first teacher, and my first inspirational bridge into the world of Lindy Hop. Since then I have learned primarily from breaking down old dance clips, from fellow dancer friends, as well as learning from the source themselves: the "oldtimers."
Where do you go?	Anywhere there is a great band or a good floor to practice on. My favorite place "to dance" would most likely be the Palace (on a goodnight). Even though the floor isn't that great I like the vibes there and plus its close to me. I guess I like the Derby, and Hollywood Athletic Club for those same reasons; they are close. To practice I like to goto Golden Sails, Bobby McGees, Memories, maybe Alpine...whatever.
Who are you with?	Blank (Top)

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Adam Hernandez
What's your style?	Um, techno style??? I try to be as close to Hollywood Style as I can.
When did you start?	October 6th 1997
How did you learn?	I first learned the East Coast basic from Josey at Music City, then I just started learning things from different people here and there. I finally started learning more of the Hollywood Style from Emily just a few months ago.
Where do you go?	Mostly Memories. Occasionally Disneyland, Twin Palms and Rhino Room. And of course anywhere that Wolfman is DJing. (love ya, bro!)
Who are you with?	As far as dancing goes, basically anyone that says yes! (Top)
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Erica
What's your style?	Umm... not too sure. Whatever Jofflyn teaches.
When did you start?	March of '97.
How did you learn?	From Jofflyn whom I met off stinky AOL, them at Disneyland he taught me how to dance!
Where do you go?	To Disneyland on the weekends, and other places sporadically. Not nearly as many places as I'd like.
Who are you with?	My sweetie Frank (the white haired guy in the picture, who is NOT the drummer from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Sorry to disappoint.) (Top)

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Chris Campbell
What's your style?	Savoy
When did you start?	1993
How did you learn?	My brother always danced, so I learned from him, as well as Audrey Wilson.
Where do you go?	Disneyland mostly.
Who are you with?	Maeva Garcia. (Top)

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Evan Kennedy
What's your style?	Reverend Style baby...Well, actually I dance mainly a Smooth, Hollywood, or Dean Collins style. (Which ever term you choose, they are all basically the same style, just different names...I think)
When did you start?	I started about January of '97, so about 2 years.
How did you learn?	I learned from Audrey Wilson. I took about 8 weeks of lessons and then I stopped going. I then learned a lot with my first partner. From there we stopped dancing together and we both kept dancing separately. I learned a lot from just socially dancing, until I broke my leg in Dec. of '97. I healed in March of '98 and started dancing again. I started to learn a new style called Smooth and started to do that in Aug. of '98. I have been doing that till now.
Where do you go?	Well I'm from OC so you can guess where I go mainly. Memories, Music City, Rhino room, Disney (sometimes), and Twin Palms (sometimes). I go up to LA if something good is going on, and anything good that goes on down here.
Who are you with?	Unfortunately, I am with no one right now...sniff sniff. (Top)

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Maeva Garcia
What's your style?	Savoy
When did you start?	1996
How did you learn?	I was brought up on the music and loved to danced. A perfect combo that made me learn from friends at Disneyland.
Where do you go?	Disneyland mostly.
Who are you with?	Chris Campbell. (Top)

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Evan Tsuchiyama
What's your style?	??????
When did you start?	June of '97 at Disneyland.
How did you learn?	A dance studio then just went out dancing all of the time.
Where do you go?	Memories, Music City, Alpine Village, Hollywood Athletic Club, Club Caprice, and sometime the Rhino Room.
Who are you with?	I am the great Lindy flirt (not to be confussed with the great Lindy pervert Vitally.) (Top)

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Marissa Hernandez
What's your style?	Dean Collins and Hollywood Smooth Style is my preferred style, but I like to dance Savoy too, depends on the lead!
When did you start?	I know exactly, November 1, 1997.
How did you learn?	I took lessons at a studio in Orange and then picked stuff up from clubs and camps (insert plug for Camp Hollywood here).
Where do you go?	Only to underage clubs, Disneyland, Memories, Music City, HopCity.
Who are you with?	My mom, mostly. But I have my favorites... you know who you are! (Top)

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Jofflyn Valencia
What's your style?	I don't know what to call my style, I guess you could call it Savoy...but I like the whole Lindy "hip" hop... It's hard to really define my style because I didn't learn from P.B.D.A.; thank god! (I (Reuben) like to describe it as 3/4 Savoy, 1/4 Groove).
When did you start?	I started dancing January of '97. But I had been watching the dancing since September of '96. I use to watch all the people dancing at Disneyland and I immediately fell in love. I wanted to learn but I was too afraid to ask anybody to teach me. I met your beloved Taryn there and I was very impressed when she remembered my name weeks later.
How did you learn?	Everybody at Disneyland seemed so friendly and helpful. I remember going to Birraporetti's for the first time and seeing Peter there...and I half-jokingly asked him to teach me and he said O.K. and taught me right there.
Where do you go?	I love going to Disneyland the most. It's where I first saw the dancing and the people for the most part are friendly...like I said FOR THE MOST PART...you know who I am talking about...hehehehehe...
Who are you with?	Megan Lysko (Top)

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Megan Lysko
What's your style?	Coming Soon!
When did you start?	.
How did you learn?	.
Where do you go?	.
Who are you with?	Jofflyn Valencia (Top)

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Johnny Pedroza
What's your style?	Smooth Lindy
When did you start?	I started actually dancing in about March of this year. I had been listening to some off the newer music since about February but I didn't have the guts to actually start dancing 'til March. Then in about mid June I started talking to Adam (Ragg Mopp) and we started to hang and go to clubs like Memories, Hot Rod's, Music City. I was hooked...we went to clubs all summer long.
How did you learn?	I learned at this place down here in South Orange County called "The Ultimate Dance Connection." That's where I first learned basics like triple steps and the basic Lindy steps. After that allot of the stuff I have to give credit to watchin' Adam (Ragg Mopp) and allot of my friends from Riverside, Sean (Boogerboy), James(TofuBob), and Mark, and basically just watching some great dancers like Peter and Eric from "The Hollywood Jitterbugs". Just watching them move to that intoxicatin' beat made me wanna keep trying to learn.
Where do you go?	I go dance at local places mostly. I go to Memories of course (where everyone and their mom goes.) I used to go to Hop City until they stopped dancing on Tuesdays. I also go to Music City in Fountain Valley and Hot Rod's out in Norco. I also had the opportunity to go to Golden Sails out in Long Beach a while back. That was so great, I love watchin' the old timers dance, they are so damn smooth.
Who are you with?	Right now I ain't to sure. I'm trying to see if this girl can be my dance partner but it's still up in the air. (Top)

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Joey Barlev
What's your style?	I didn't know I had any style. But I would call it LA Smooth Style.
When did you start?	August '98
How did you learn?	I'm lucky. I was never taught by the PBDA. My brother showed me my first 8-count step. From there I went to Swingfest '98 up in Big Bear and then went out dancing all the time. I saw "Hollywood Style" and fell in love. Now I try to look like the dancers from back then.
Where do you go?	Memories, lately Hot Rod's, Disneyland, HAC, and The Palace
Who are you with?	I am with no one in particular at this junction in time. (Top)
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Melanie Olds
What's your style?	For a while I didn't have a true style. We danced like what seemed like everyone elses that we were friends with was doing. Then after Camp Hollywood we fell in love with Hollywood style. So now it's just a matter of perfecting it.
When did you start?	I would go to Disneyland and watch the dancers as early as 1995, then attemped to find someone to dance with, and to take lessons from. I just didn't go in the right direction until Feb. 1997, with my frist Lindy class.
How did you learn?	I've taken a few basic classes, then a lot of it is from watching and having Josh and Theresa showing us.
Where do you go?	Mainly Disneyland, Memories, and special events.
Who are you with?	Andy Holdridge (Top)

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Josh Collazo
What's your style?	Los Angeles Style
When did you start?	September 1997
How did you learn?	Camp Hollywood, but I really like watchin' Peter, Min, Erik, and all the old timers, especially Lenny and Hal!
Where do you go?	Memories, Club Caprice, Hot Rods, Disneyland, The Palace, in front of my house.
Who are you with?	Mini-Me's friend Theresa Salazar (my girlfriend) (Top)

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Molly
What's your style?	I am more into the Savoy style of dancing. I think that the little style wars that are going on are pretty dumb. We are all out here to dance, and to have fun. Clicks, arguments, and attitudes might make life a little more interesting, but I feel that the happy fun side of life is a little safer, a little brighter, and healthier. I like watching almost all styles of dancing, yet I feel partial to the Savoy's style. I know there is a big discrepancy on what came first, but I don't really care. As of right now, I like Savoy because it is easier on my knees and therefore better for my physical health. Oh and Peace to Frankie!
When did you start?	I have East Coasted with my family for as long as I can remember, but I didn't really start dancing until almost three years ago. I met Christopher Browning at Disneyland and East Coasted with him, then met up with him again in the circle at the Gogh Van Orange Festival about six months later. We planned on meeting up again, but never did until I saw he and Heidi Christopher at the Phoenix Club almost a year later. He told me that there were now tons of kids dancing at Disneyland, and since I finally had my license, I showed up. There I met Shesha Marvin, Chris Baker, Joy, Mike Obermeire, Bill and Marty Sexton, and the rest is history. Shesha and I danced together for about a year and a half and now we are best buds.
How did you learn?	I don't really know, I owe my life to Shesha though. We pretty much started together, and we STUNK!!!!! We were famous for taking up too much space on the floor, and running around in circles, trying to get in as much "footwork" as possible. I think it was Chris Baker who brought us back real information about dancing after he went to swing camp Catalina 96. Somehow we all learned the concept of dancing in a line (thank god) and I kinda learned how not to be a spazz.
Where do you go?	Disneyland, Memories, Music City (sometimes), Birraporetties, Hollywood Athletic Club, and a sprinkling of other secret joints.
Who are you with?	I don't have a steady "dance partner" if that is the question - I do on the other hand have a wonderful boyfriend, who by the way is a great dancer - Mr. Brandon Brown (Top)

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Peter Loggins
What's your style?	I love all forms of ''authentic'' swing but as far as Lindy goes I've been doing Hollywood style. It's a lot more complicated to lead and follow, really fun foot improvising, different slides and it really allows the lady to dance like a lady!!! I love it smooth and fast. Basically I try and dance like the early 40's Hollywood dancers: Dean Collins, Lenny Smith, Bob Ash and Lou Southern to name a few! Our troupe does a lot of demonstrations so I really practice a lot of styles of swing going back to the 1920's, I try very hard to do it exactly like they did it back in the day by using old film clips and learning from old timers. So if I'm dancing Balboa, Shag, or Swing my style would be ''authentic'' to a certain time and place, the question is what time and place!!!
When did you start?	I started dancing in February of 1995.
How did you learn?	Bernard showed me my first 8 count basic (yup, you read that right.) But then it was all movies, study, practice and more practice and more practice.......
Where do you go?	Anywhere that has good music! I really enjoy fast Boogie Woogie! The faster the better because most dancers can't dance fast so there's more room!!!
Who are you with?	Lisa Furgeson (Top)

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Taryn Monroe
What's your style?	A little of this, a little of that.
When did you start?	Four years ago ('94).
How did you learn?	Friends.
Where do you go?	Disneyland, The Palace, Memories, etc.
Who are you with?	Reuben Brown (Top)

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Reuben Brown
What's your style?	A little of this, a little of that.
When did you start?	January of 1996.
How did you learn?	I first took classes taught by Jeff ('Lil Hitler, Rat Boy, etc.) & Denise (now with Steve). But I only took 6 classes, I swear. From there I picked stuff up by way of a number of friends, oh and watching our Reverend Lenny on the back floor of Alpine back in the day.
Where do you go?	Disneyland, The Palace, Memories, Twin Palms, etc.
Who are you with?	Taryn Monroe (Top)

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Theresa Salazar
What's your style?	Los Angeles Style
When did you start?	September of 1997
How did you learn?	Camp Hollywood, but I try to watch Peter & Lisa as much as I can as well as old dance clips (Kay's the shit!)
Where do you go?	Memories, Disneyland, Club Caprice, Josh's house, Taryn's living room, anyplace where there's a good band.
Who are you with?	Josh Collazo a.k.a.- The Disco Midget (Top)

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Sean Banister
What's your style?	I dance my own style, I cannot take credit for it completely though because it is heavily influenced by the dancers of yester year. But I don't really see anyone around who dances like me (I guess they just can't pick thier nose and do rhythm circles simultaneously).
When did you start?	I started to learn to dance in March of '98. But it wasn't until early summer that I was exposed to the style that I do now.
How did you learn?	I learned my basic six and eight count from my friends James and Mark. I owe a lot to them as far as my dancing goes because they put a lot of time into bringing me up to speed. As far as style goes however, I watched a lot of the people at the clubs that I admire. I learned a lot from just watching. But equally I learned from Erik and Sylvia. It was mostly because of them that me and the rest of Riverside got exposed to the dancing that we do now because they would come and teach at our clubs. For the most part nowaday's though my main influences are old movie clips of the original dancers of the 1930s and 40s.
Where do you go?	Memories (mainly) because it's got a kick ass floor and a lot of good dancers frequent the place. Everywhere else is to far to travel. Occasionally I'll hit some of the clubs in O.C. like Music City or something. But it's really rare that I go to L.A.. The only club I've been to out there is Fais-do-do (which sucked).
Who are you with?	Savitri Young (Top)

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Trina Sisson
What's your style?	My friends call me "Spork." This is because I can dance Savoy and Hollywood Style. But I dance Hollywood Style with my partner, Adam. This is the style I prefer.
When did you start?	I learned Lindy Hop in January '98, but I've been doing this style since about June '98.
How did you learn?	I first saw swing dancing at Disneyland in December of last year. I thought it was so rad. I heard of a place called Global Village in Fullerton that taught a lesson before the band went on. Me and my friend decided to check that out and took the lesson. I thought I was swing dancing until I saw Shesha and Adrienne and Justin and his old partner Cheryl Lindy Hopping. So, then somehow I took one private with Mike, Shesha's roommate. He taught me the basics of Lindy Hopping in one private. The rest I learned from social dancing. I do have to give credit to "ribbon boy" though for teaching me my first triple step. Thanks ribbon boy.
Where do you go?	Well right now I basically feel like I live at Memories in Anaheim. I go there Monday, Friday and late night Saturdays. (As if every night isn't a late night). Occasionally, I'll show up at Rhino Room on Wednesdays. I always go to Music City on Thursdays and sometimes Disneyland on Saturdays. Sometimes I dance on Sundays wherever there is dancing. I almost forgot about Hot Rod's in Norco on Friday nights. I go there before Memories.
Who are you with?	I dunno what you mean by who are you with. I have no significant other **sniff sniff**. I dance with Adam Velez, he's my partner (Top)

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This Page Last Revised: September 07, 1999.