The team.
Lana williams.
Lana is a professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator with over 16 years experience working in the performance industry; including TV, Theatre and Film. Some of her work includes; Bridgerton on Netflix, BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, See How They Run (film) - Universal Studios, The Muppets Movie and The Orchestra Of The Swan. Lana trained at vocational dance college obtaining multiple Associate teaching qualifications and diplomas in a variety of dance genres, including Tap, Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre, Drama and Musical Theatre. It was right back at the beginning of her career, at just 20 years old, that Lana was introduced to the world of Vernacular Jazz and of course the Lindy Hop. Her training in Lindy Hop involved, the history, the repertoire, the airteps, the fundamentals, the performance and the social. From Charleston, to Black Bottom, to Cake Walk, to blues, to the Lindy Hop Lana has studied them all. She has taught Lindy throughout the UK and Europe in International Festivals and Workshops. Throughout the years that followed Lana has honed her skills and developed her personal styling of her vernacular movement. Lana prides herself on being grounded in the movement history and the origins of this dance genre whilst still being able to unleash her ever present and contemporary styling influenced by today's world. Lana lives for the passion, freedom and unlimited release that dancing gives. Most recently Lana has been awarded Arts England Funding to continue her research, development and creative fusions with the Lindy Hop and other movement styles, including Contemporary dance, Afro beat, and circus.
Throughout Lana’s career she has continued to develop her teaching style and movement philosophy. Her unending interest in movement and the body has led Lana to work and research with some of the best minds in dance teaching, whilst training many professional dancers of tomorrow. Her love for teaching is obvious. To be in a room with her is to get her undivided attention on what will make you a better dancer. “I just don’t know any other way to teach”
Working with students from all levels; professionals, hobbyists, advanced dancers to absolute beginners, Lana has a drive to unleash each students true potential. I live in two worlds, the professional dance industry and the Lindy Hop Community. I love them both and I want to share with the Lindy Community the level of training and knowledge available to you. The way so many other dancers and athletes train. From Hip Hop, to Ballet to Jazz. So ultimately you can reach your full potential as a dancer and so that the Lindy Hop will continue to live on, grow and be recognised and enjoyed for the movement genius it is.
Sam Hague is an established professional circus performer, who graduated from The National Centre for Circus Arts, along with training at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and Dartington College of Music. Sam has worked in TV, Film, Theatre and with touring companies, including: Gandini Juggling Project, National Theatre, English National Ballet, The three Musketeers and Popcorn Cabaret. After falling love with the Lindy Hop almost 8 years ago, Sam has brought his professional training techniques and discipline to his swing dance training. A master of body and acrobatic movement, Sam has worked with some of the leading physical performers in circus, homing new skills and developing training techniques to get the most out of acrobatic and performance movement. With over 20 years performance, training and teaching experience Sam is joining the team at Swing Intensive to offer specialist knowledge in the field of acrobatics, gymnastic movement, and airtesp development to bring you an unparalleled training experience to develop your lindy hop airsteps. As an active member of the London Lindy Hop community Sam is looking forward to use his professional skills and knowledge to train lindy hoppers to throw healthy, exciting and dynamic airsteps.
Sam Hague.
Ezra Weill.
Ezra is from Seattle Washington, where he grew up street performing with his sister. His act, back in those days, was standing on 5 stacked-up skateboards and juggling knives. After many years of training at circus school in Seattle, he went on to perform with a Vermont based youth circus, called Circus Smirkus. After graduating high school, Ezra attended the prestigious l‘Ecole National de Cirque in Montreal, where he completed his studies in 2015 with a degree in aerial rope and hat juggling.
Since then Ezra has performed in North America, South America and all across Europe. He enjoys playing music on and off the stage, as well as pursuing his passion for Lindy Hop dancing, which he has recently taken onto the stage. Ezra has trained Lindy Hop for many years, in the USA, Europe and the UK. HIs style is uniquely his own. Citing his movement influences from the authentic jazz and lindy hop era with his stylised twist that has risen from dancing in modern times and taking classes from a variety of different teachers. Ezra has an all round and contemporary lindy style. From shag, to blues, authentic solo jazz, to The Lindy Hop, Ezra dances them all. Within the last few years Ezra has taken to teaching Lindy Hop and Blues. A natural teacher with a flair for both detail and style, Ezra embodies the joy and natural movement of Swing Dancing. We cannot wait to share with you our creative syllabus for Lindy Hop training.
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Theo studied for his National Diploma in Performing Arts (drama base) at Southwark College then obtained his BA in Dance and Theatre Performance at Laben. Whilst in Southwark college Performing with Carl Campbell's Dance Company 7 a company choreographer specializing in African dance Theo had the opportunity to work with some established and up and coming dance companies and choreographers such as Michael Wallace Artistic Director of Yozo Fass Theatre Company.
Throughout his career Theo as been experimenting with different styles of dance and movement such as Capoeira. He has also work with Hakim Onibudo from Impact Dance as well as touring with Transition Dance Company and Danca Da Liberdade (capoeira group) led by Mestre Guimba). Theo also worked with Irvin Lewis Dance Company performing at Breakin’ Convention, and under the artistic direction of RHUC had the opportunity to develop hip-hop dance styles popping, locking and b-boying, alongside his contemporary dance, African and street styles. Theo is an established teacher working with schools across the country teaching dance and capoeira.
Theo was first introduced to Lindy Hop in 2011 whilst working within the professional dance industry. It was here he met and worked with Lana on a number of Swing and Swing Fusion performances. Since then Theo has gone on to continue his Lindy Hop and Jazz dance training with London based choreographer and swing dancer Jereena Green. As a force on the dance floor, with undeniable presence in any room, Theo has an energy that spreads a real love and joy for dance and people. We are honoured to have him join our team at Swing Intensive.