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
Carla Rodrigo
Carla Rodrigo (she/they) is a Vancouver-based dancer and lover of jazz. A lifelong music kid with stints in marching band and theatre, Carla found her footing in Lindy Hop and jazz dance in 2017. Since then, she’s had the incredible fortune to dance, learn, compete, choreograph, and teach in her community. In 2023, she had the privilege to share a blend of jazz and Filipino folk dance at Lindy Bout XV – a personal love letter to her own heritage, and the culture in which she is a deeply grateful guest.
Above all else, Carla loves a tasty groove. As a dancer and instructor, she prioritizes connecting with the music and exploring how and why it moves us.
Damian Cade
Damian grew up in a household infused with jazz and is descended from jazz musicians. He has spent his adult life in the swing and tap dance communities- researching, listening, performing, teaching, and celebrating.
He presents jazz dance in its historical and cultural context, and connects it back to its African American roots. He competes regionally and abroad, and his awards include ‘Favorite Competitor’ from the Lindy Hop Championships in Western Canada. He currently lives in Bellingham, WA where he is a visiting faculty member at WWU teaching dance therapy.