LaTasha Barnes
Bessie-award winning LaTasha Barnes is an internationally awarded and celebrated dance artist, educator (Asst. Prof of Dance, ASU), decorated U.S. Army Veteran (SFC/ SATCOM Engineer) and Tradition-Bearer of Black American Social Dance.
Her love of dance and music exceeds her known life, as Barnes’ parents lovingly joke she was dancing even before she was breathing, recalling memories of LaTasha grooving in her mother’s womb while she sat next to speakers at parties LaTasha’s father DJ’d. From this early love/education her expansive artistic, competitive, and performative skills flourished and have made her a frequent collaborator to prominent artists and arts organizations around the world. She is deeply honored to be in service to her culture across social, academic and performative spaces as shared in her March TODAY Show with Hoda & Jenna and July 2022 DANCE Magazine profiles.
And while contributing to the success of the ground-breaking stage production SW!NG OUT with Caleb Teicher (BrainTrust), and championing the expansive intergenerational and intercommunal cultural arts experience ‘The Jazz Continuum’ brings her great pride, LaTasha most cherishes the guidance, support and empowerment bestowed by her family/framily, elders, mentors and ancestors. Their love gives her the strength to strive for authentic expression, excellence and fulfillment in every endeavor – for them and this work LaTasha is eternally grateful.
Visit www.latashabarnes.com to learn more about her journey, achievements and ways to support her cultural efforts.
AJ Howard
With nearly 10 years of experience, AJ takes the influences from Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles Lindy Hop scenes to bring his own unique style and energy to the Swing Dancing community. He burst into the scene in 2016, winning competitions throughout the US with his partner Jennifer, showing the dance world what Sacramento really had to offer!
Competing at international events such as Camp Hollywood and the International Lindy Hop Championships, AJ became well known for his generous use of aerials paired with his energetic dancing.
AJ has also had the honor of performing on stage for the debut run of “SW!NG OUT” in addition to dance groups such as HellaBlackLindyHop and the Midtown Stompers, along with the privilege to spread his love of dance through teaching at Lindy Hop events across the US, on a Carnival Cruise ship, and overseas in countries such as Denmark and Sweden.
You can regularly find AJ teaching at Midtown Swings in New York City and follow his work on his Instagram: @flattoplindyhop
Hannah Lane
Hannah Lane (she/her) is a Jazz dancer and jazz history researcher from Baltimore, Maryland. As a teenager Hannah found Lindy Hop at the Mobtown Ballroom, the center of Baltimore’s swing dance scene, and a unique community space that has been like a second home to her for more than a decade.
In addition to her love for jazz music and social dancing, Hannah is passionate about historical research. Her work centers historical jazz dancers and nightlife venues in Black American communities from her home of Maryland, to cities throughout the United States. Hannah’s project “Queens of the Nightclub” explores the lives, artistry, and careers of Shake Dancers, and seeks to uplift their importance in the history of Jazz dance and in American popular culture.
You can follow Hannah’s work on her Instagram: @hannahpilarrr
Tim Christopher
Timothy Christopher was first a musician! His journey with jazz starts with self taught piano from youtube and old recordings. He stumbled into dance years later while looking for a jazz jam when he got back to his home town from college.
He found himself in a room full of people moving their bodies around to swing music, but there was one couple that was dancing! The next day he found himself in the couples’ house learning this lovely dance called the Lindy Hop!
Clearly he got obsessed with this dance and the culture surrounding the dance and now he is competing, dancing, and teaching internationally! He was in the most recent installment of SW!NG OUT in New York 2023 and has performed at the Lincoln Center in New York.
You can follow Tim’s work on his Instagram: @i.am.timchristopher