Private Lessons
There are no classes at Baloween!
However, if you are looking to add some structured learning to your weekend, we have some awesome instructors attending that you can book a private lesson or small private group lesson with!
To book your private lesson or small-group class, please contact the instructor directly using the contact information below.
Jennifer Barnett
Jen has been an integral part of her local scenes throughout the years and now calls New York City home, but you can find her all around the world. During her more than two decades of swing dancing, Jen has taught in North America, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and Europe. She regularly competes in Balboa and Slow Balboa and has placed in Strictly competitions at CalBal, Stardust, and Camp Hollywood, among other prestigious events. A social dancer at heart, she has also won lots of Mix & Match competitions. In fact, she even placed first and second when she was drawn twice. True story :) 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 of practical advice with the creativity and improvisational spirit that make swing dancing so enjoyable.
mrs.jen.barnett@gmail.com
Ross Blythe
A favorite on the social floor for his rhythmic play and clear lead allowing for effortless follow expression, Ross inspires his partners and onlookers alike. His movement background in martial arts and sport fencing affords him a grounded strength and athletic balance, giving rise to precise, secure changes between shapes and directions. As a teacher Ross builds layered classes to challenge all levels, balances technique with application, and chooses appropriate music to support each exercise. Ross has placed or finaled in a number of contests for Blues and Slow Balboa over the years: Backwater Blues MnM (2020, 2019), Stardust Open Slow Balboa Strictly 2025, Northwest Bal Fest Amateur Strictly 2025, Blues Muse Pro-am 2023, bluesSHOUT All Star Strictly 2018, Southbound Invitational MnM (2017).
ross.blythe.e@gmail.com
Sam Chan
Sam Chan started swing dancing in 2003 and has trained under many world-renowned Balboa instructors, as well as Original Dancers like Dean Raftery and Old Timers like Marge Takier. He has placed in many Balboa events (including 1st place at Balorado 2025 Invitational and 1st place at California Balboa Classic 2025 Wild Card) and recently in the invitational level contests at Hot Rhythm Holiday, Great Lakes Balboa Escape, and Balorado. In his dancing, he values good connection, flow, and musicality. As a teacher, he excels at breaking down dance techniques in a clear and understandable way, providing students with an in-depth understanding of Balboa Intricacies. Above all, Sam is an enthusiastic social dancer, and can often be found as one of the last dancers standing, closing down dance floors wherever he goes.
Samuel7275@gmail.com
Ian Dawson
ianmdawson@gmail.com
Ian (he/him) came to the world of Swing Dance through his love of vintage clothing and jazz music. Once mentioning to a vintage friend that he was ‘tired of standing around at parties without knowing what to do’ they pointed him to the Cat’s Corner in San Francisco and he never looked back. Ian has helped to run Shag and Balboa scenes in San Francisco, Houston, and Denver, competed and placed in competitions all over the globe, and has taught local workshops and classes all over the US. He is excited to share his passion for these dances with you! He focuses on the improvisational aspect of dance, rhythm, and a comfortable connection.
Galen is a movement enthusiast, from Feldenkrais to social dance. She has been teaching various styles of dance for close to 15 years and is also a certified AWARENESS THROUGH MOVEMENT® and FELDENKRAIS® movement teacher. Galen’s Feldenkrais training lends her dance teaching an attention to the mechanics of anatomical movement patterns as well as the skill to explain these movement patterns clearly.
Galen has been a dancer since age 4, starting with tap lessons, then moving on to ballet and modern dance. In 2010 her mother introduced her to Argentine Tango and from there Galen quickly found her way into the Lindy Hop, Balboa, Blues, and West Coast Swing scenes in Bozeman, MT. After moving to the Seattle area for college, Galen taught Argentine Tango at Grit City Ballroom, became president of her university’s social dance club, and taught beginner lessons as well as frequent lesson series in Lindy Hop, Blues, and Argentine Tango. During this time she also had the opportunity to take classes and privates from national and international teachers, in addition to working for and being mentored in the running of T-Town Swing in Tacoma, WA. Following college Galen spent time living in both Montpellier, France, and Dublin, Ireland, becoming part of the local dance scenes and learning from internationally recognized instructors.
Following her move back to Bozeman, MT, Galen helped to Found Downbeat Vintage Swing Society, a 501 3c nonprofit which focused on educating dancers on the technique and history of historically Black American Vernacular Jazz dances.
Throughout the years Galen has traveled to national as well as international dance festivals focused on Lindy Hop, Balboa, Blues, and Tango. In competition she has met with success as a follow, as a lead, and in ELEF (switch) dancing. Some of her competition successes include: making finals in Switch Lindy Hop at Camp Hollywood 2022, placing 2nd in Switch Lindy Hop at Lindy Focus 2022, making finals in Lindy Hop Pro-Am at Lindy Focus 2022, making finals in Open Slow Balboa with Ross Blythe at GLBE 2025 and Stardust 2025, placing 3rd in Northwest Bal Fest’s 2025 Amateur Balboa Strictly with Ross Blythe, placing 3rd as a follow in Intermediate Balboa Mix & Match at GLBE 2025, making finals as a lead in amateur Balboa Mix & Match at GLBE 2025.
Now living in Santa Fe, NM, Galen can be found teaching lessons and out at as many dance evenings as possible. Known for her playfulness and rhythmic creativity, her interest in conversational dancing and shared innovation in partnership, and her dedication to social justice issues, Galen teaches and dances with a focus on these elements.
galen.elizabeth.king@gmail.com
Galen King
Since 1998, Matt has been honing his dance skills; starting with Six Count, he quickly moved into Lindy Hop and other Swing-era dances–with very short detours into Ballroom, WCS and Blues. 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 hometown of Austin, Texas, where he’s enjoyed teaching Lindy Hop and Balboa for Four on the Floor and the Austin Swing Syndicate, 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, Northwest Balboa Fest, Hot Rhythm Holiday, BalAstOff, Rocky Mountain Balboa Blowout, GLBE, and the California Balboa Championships, Minsk Balboa Weekend, Shanghai Balbo Weekend, among other great events. He competes regularly in Balboa, consistently making the finals, invitationals, and has several placements at ABW, EBC, CalBal, 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.
Matt may also be contacted through his Facebook messenger.
https://youtu.be/l9e2XJvdHRw?si=wAW2ReEindst4eh8
texasmitch@gmail.com
Matt Mitchell
Jen dances Balboa in all its forms, plus Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing. When she's not running an event or teaching, Jen likes to compete and holds first placements in Balboa and Slow Balboa. Based in Austin, TX, she teaches Balboa classes and workshops and runs monthly practice sessions for local students with Matt Mitchell. Jen brings a classic, graceful style with a focus on feeling and flow, always prioritizing connection to her partner and the music. Jen wants her students to enjoy all facets of the dance community - learning, social dancing, connection with others who share passion for dance. Beyond teaching, Jen is passionate about creating opportunities for the community to come together. She serves as president of the Hot Rhythm Foundation and teacher coordinator for the Austin Swing Syndicate, and co-organizes California Balboa Classic and Hot Rhythm Holiday. Jen also has a lot of experience with contest design, coordination and tabulation. She loves to talk shop — feel free to reach out to chat about classes, events, contests, grants, or anything else swing-related.
jen.m.reed@gmail.com
Jennifer Reed
Sarah Stembridge
sarah.stembridge@gmail.com
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sarah developed a love for the music and films of the 1930s and 40s at a very young age. Growing up watching films like A Day at the Races and Disney’s “All the Cats Join In” cartoon, she always dreamed of learning how to dance like the people she saw on the screen. In the early 2000s, she decided to make that dream a reality and quickly found herself madly in love with all things swing. As a dancer, Sarah values the playful collaborations and creative possibilities that emerge in a social dance, and loves to explore the ways in which developing one’s technique, connection, and body awareness can bolster confidence and individual expression. As an instructor, she hopes to help other dancers develop their sense of self-efficacy, confidence, and curiosity in the classroom and beyond.
Private lesson inquiries may also be made through Sarah’s Facebook Messenger or Instagram.