Gretchen has been passionate about swing dancing since her very first swingout in 2013. Within her first year of dancing she became the president of the Catholic University Swing Dance Club, an organizer for DCLX, and the founder of the CUA Lindy Exchange. Since then, she’s gone on to found a local college program (first through the Jam Cellar, now through Capital City Swing), Jam Cellar’s DC Balboa Club, the East Coast Balboa Beach Trip, and the Collegiate Lindy Hop Championships. Gretchen also founded and serves as Artistic Director for Capital City Swing, a local swing dance non-profit, and runs their weekly Wednesday night dance as well as two annual events: Capital City Swingout and Red, White, and Bal. She also leads and sings for a new local swing band, Gretchen and the Sidecar Six. When not working on one of the five events she is currently involved in or singing on the bandstand, she loves teaching around town. Gretchen taught for the Jam Cellar for three years, has taught at Catholic University since 2014, and is excited to be on teaching staff for New Columbia Swing!

In an effort to redirect some of her boundless energy, Heather's parents enrolled her in gymnastics at the age of 3. When that wasn't enough to rein her in, they added dance classes to the mix and Heather found her first true love. While living in Boston, in 2009 she decided to try her hand (erm, feet) at Lindy Hop and from the first class she was hooked!  She began teaching in 2015 and believes that dance and movement can break down barriers and increase joy, and she sees great value in social dancing as a means to making the world a better place. As a dancer she loves the communication between partners and taking inspiration from the music and her partner. As a teacher she strives to provide clear instruction and assist in increasing body awareness in her students. She also regularly travels to regional and national events to dance and learn (and she thinks you should, too!). But above all she believes that dancing should feel great and be fun!  Ask her to dance!

In 2007, a friend sent her a video of the 2006 ULHS solo Charleston competition, and she was entranced. It took a few years, but in 2011, after Googling "swing dance DC," she ended up at the Josephine Butler Parks Center and took her first basics class as a follower. About a year later, she decided she wanted to lead as well as follow, and an ambidancing dragon was born. Although she now has a boring job, she was once a Ghost Tour Guide in Lafayette Square in a whole get up and everything.

In addition to teaching, Lexie serves as New Columbia Swing's Director of Community Partnerships. She's so glad you're here! 

Michael Quisao grew up in Dallas, TX and has been a proud Washingtonian since 2012. After growing up as a wallflower at school dances, Michael took his first swing dance lesson in 2006 and has been captivated by swinging jazz and social dancing ever since. His love of swing music and social dancing has taken him across the country to dance, compete, teach, and DJ for dancers; he strives to share the joys of swing dance and swinging rhythm with everybody he meets.

Michael believes that the music is the heart of the dance and that attentive partnership and comfortable technique are the keys that unlock the door to exhilarating and creative dances.

Michael has DJ’d for dancers at All Balboa Weekend, Lindy Focus, DCLX, I *Heart* Bal, The Balboa Experiment, and is the Head DJ and music coordinator of local swing dance organizations in Washington, DC including New Columbia Swing, Capital City Swing (and the now defunct Jam Cellar).

David has been passionate about swing dancing since he first started in 2006. He loves to share his enthusiasm for Lindy Hop, Balboa, Collegiate Shag, Charleston, and numerous other swing dances. He is known for his musicality and creativity on and off the dance floor and excels at breaking down mechanics in a way that is accessible to dancers of all levels and learning styles. His dance accomplishments include placements at All Balboa Weekend, the International Lindy Hop Championships, Lindy Focus, and Hot Rhythm Holiday. He has taught with his partner Chelsea at events such as the Eastern Balboa Championships, the Twin Cities Balboa Festival, the Canadian Balboa Championships, Hot Rhythm Holiday, and Shag Explosion, and was a special guest mentor for the 2012 Balboa Experiment.

Despite seeing "Learn to Swing Dance!" stapled to trees around the University of Chicago campus starting in 2005, Pam was too nervous and shy to go in by herself. Finally, in 2007 she started dating a boy who took her to dances, and when he broke her heart into a million pieces, already knowing she loved the dance independently of going with him, she decided to make it "her thing" not just "their thing." She kept going to dances and classes -- even by herself -- and was determined to become a better dancer than he was, out of REVENGE. She found the dance scene in DC upon moving here in 2008, and more than a decade later, she's still at it. She especially finds delight in huge swivels, subtle jokes via dance, and the Tranky Doo. (Photo credit: Devon Rowland Photography)

Sarah has been swing dancing since she started learning the Lindy Hop outside in the sweltering summer heat of Columbia, SC in 2008. She has been teaching since 2010, and is happy to call the air-conditioned venues of Washington, DC her home scene since April 2018. Sarah has taught swing dancing to large classes, in private lessons, and at parties and corporate events. She enjoys dancing and teaching both as a follow and as a lead, and loves to dance with anyone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously. Whether it’s your first foray into Lindy Hop or your gazillionth time on the (swing) dance floor, Sarah wants to dance with you!

Annabel is a social dancing addict who loves the communication, spontaneity, and musical interaction fostered on the swing dance floor. After hearing many enchanting stories of her grandparents’ favorite pastime—dancing to big bands—it was no surprise when Annabel became hooked on Lindy Hop in 2003. Over the years, she has also fallen in love with Charleston, Blues dancing, and especially Balboa. Annabel loves the challenge and excitement of competition and has taken away top prizes at many events including the International Lindy Hop Championships, All Balboa Weekend, Camp Hollywood, the California Balboa Classic, and BluesShout. While competition yields prizes, her true reward comes in spreading the joys of dancing. Annabel has been teaching regular local classes since 2006 from State College, PA to Memphis, TN to Boston, MA to Washington, DC. She also teaches at workshop weekends, camps, and festivals around the country and the world, as near as Baltimore, MD and as far as Seoul, Korea. She adores seeing students develop the technique and enthusiasm to inspire themselves and their partners to have fun, fulfilling dances. She is currently the Education Director of New Columbia Swing.

Alex grew up in the Northern Virginia area, but started swing dancing in 2014 at Virginia Tech and has been teaching since 2016. At Virginia Tech he was a regular teacher at weekly dances with Blacksburg Swing and an officer and organizer with the student group, Solely Swing. Alex has a passion for Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Solo Jazz, and values mutual partnership, connection quality of movement and above all fun! He is excited to be on the teaching staff with New Columbia Swing. Can’t wait to dance with you!

Amanda got her first taste of swing dancing as an undergrad in Austin, Texas, but really became obsessed after moving to DC and finding the vibrant swing scene here.  She enjoys exploring the variety of early jazz dancing, including solo jazz, Charleston, Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, St. Louis Shag, and holds a special place in her heart for Balboa.  As an ambi-dancer, she approaches dancing and teaching from multiple perspectives and appreciates the complexities of both leading and following. Whether teaching second graders how to read or adults how to swing dance, Amanda views teaching as an opportunity for mutual learning and empowerment. For Amanda, swing dancing provides a conduit though which she can explore connecting to others, self-expression, and improvisation.  She would like to share a dance with you.

Swing dancing has been a major part of Lee's life for over fifteen years, and he has become a fixture of the local and regional dance communities wherever he goes.  Having recently returned to the District after several years in Boston, he's excited to bring his knowledge and experience as a teacher and organizer to the DC area once again.  Lee believes in the importance of Lindy Hop as a social dance, and his teaching style emphasizes developing the techniques that give both leaders and followers more space to explore their own creativity.  Lee is Infrastructure Director of New Columbia Swing, a former board member and instructor of Boston Lindy Hop, and also the lead developer of the Django Dance School project, an open source solution for dance registration, administration, and financial management that has been adopted by dance organizations across the country (including this one).  Ask him to dance!