Our Members
Groove Juice Swing currently has the following teachers in Rochester:
- Mike Thibault
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Mike started dancing Lindy Hop in 1998, and was a founding member of the RIT Swing Club. Since then he has attended countless workshops, exchanges, and camps, all to fuel his thirst for Tang. I mean Lindy Hop. Mike has also become an accomplished DJ at exchanges, dances, and workshops all over North America. Mike teaches small group and private lessons regularly and holds really rockin' parties at the Lindy Compound. In his spare time Mike likes to play jazz saxophone, geek out on the computer, and eat lots of cheese. Mike is very excited to be bringing the joy of Lindy Hop to a new generation of dancers.
- Alex Burr
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Alex is Groove Juice Swing's tallest and third funniest member. Alex began swing dancing in the spring of 1998, and learned the Lindy Hop soon after. Since then, he has made it a full- time passion, traveling to far-off exchanges, camps, workshops, and competitions. The Lindy Hop has sparked his love of swing music, which he has shared with Rochester as the host of WITR's Swing Show since 1998. Alex prides himself on being a musical dancer and he is very excited to share his musical approach to the Lindy Hop with the Rochester community. When not dancing or working on websites, Alex can be found playing guitar or poking himself in the eye.
- Beth Midavaine
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Beth started dancing in August of 1998, and has since spent those years attending dance events all over the country and Canada. These events include camps, exchanges (weekend long dance events), workshops, and competitions. Since 2000 she has been passing on her love of Lindy Hop by teaching the RIT Swing Club. She has since taken a hiatus there to pursue teaching with Groove Juice Swing.
Though her love for Lindy Hop runs deep in her veins, she has also pursued other dances as well. She has developed a unique philosophy and style of Blues dancing, currently dances Salsa, and even performed on a Salsa team. Being a part of Groove Juice Swing is a dream come true, and she's thrilled to be associated with a group of wonderful and talented teachers.
- Bronwyn Bryant
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Bronwyn first got her swing dancing feet wet with east coast swing in her hometown in Maine in 2001. She continued to take classes with the Brown University Swing Club, where she learned lindy hop, charleston and balboa . She began taking more advanced workshops in 2004, and after her first class with Steven and Virginie in '04, she vowed to dance day and night until her swivels looked as sexy as Virginie's. Since that time she has focused on fine tuning her lindy technique by studying with instructors across the country. Most of her inspiration comes from Nina, Frida, and Virginie, and she is known for her playful musicality and energetic dancing. Bronwyn's current goal is to win a Solo Charleston contest and has been working hard to make that dream a reality. Bronwyn is currently attending medical school at the University of Rochester.
Groove Juice Swing also has the following teachers in Ithaca:
- Jerone Gagliano
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Jerone started dancing in 2003, after being inspired by the Minnie Moochers. He first learned from Cindy Overstreet and has continued to study Lindy Hop passionately. He has attended many workshops and camps, and had private instruction from national champions. He has taught locally with Cindy and at workshops in the Northeast. Jerone really focuses on the rhythm of the music, from janky to graceful. He is excited to share his love of the music and dance, and wants to see the Ithaca community become a stronghold of Lindy Hop again as it was at the turn of the millennium. When not dancing, Jerone is playing old time fiddle music or fixing the world's energy crisis one building at a time.
We also have to thank our team members, without whom we'd never have gotten this far:
- Michelle Long and Corinne Shaffer on advertising and community connection
- Tim Vail on finances and accounting
