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Workshop Instructors
Beata Howe - Allen, TX
A Little Bit About Me, Beata Howe
Born in North Chicago, by the age of 6 I was in Cincinnati and enrolled
in ballet classes.
By the age of 18, I had 9 years of ballet, some jazz, and some
gymnastics and had
choreographed the dancing for the school drama club performance of the
Wizard of Oz.
While majoring in science (and partying) in college at the University of
Cincinnati, I
missed dancing and joined a teacher training class with Arthur Murray
Dance Studios in
1980. Bitten by the dance bug I have been teaching and dancing part- or
full-time ever
since!
In 1982, a high school chum invited me to move to Dallas. Among other
things, I found
Push (a version of West Coast Swing), Hustle and Country danced socially
with
exceptional skill. Until that time, the only accomplished dancing I had
found had been in
the ballroom studio and competition community.
Drawn by the availability of good dancing and instruction, and the
casual, fun, social
atmosphere generated by the Push Dance Clubs, Country Nightclubs and
Discos in
Dallas, I quickly began spending more time dancing socially in the Push
and Country
communities.
In 1991, I moved to Los Angeles to work for a nonprofit organization,
The Citizens
Commission on Human Rights. In 1992, while teaching dance at my church
Celebrity
Centre, I was told about the West Coast Swing community. At a swing
event in Orange
County, California, Labor Day 1992 was "the beginning of the
end" of my normal life. I
had been bitten by the dance bug early in life, but in 1992 I developed
the terminal swing
infection with which I am sure I will live and die, happy and active
with this social
disease.
In October of 1995, I left my "real" job and went back to
teaching full time. Since April
1996, most of my work is on the road and, though I currently call
Glendale, California
"home", I truly believe my real home is where my friends
are... all over the country!
My other interests include Scientology, activism for mental patients'
rights, and reform of
the education system. I design and make most of my own costumes and many
of my
dance clothes. [editors note: It's also rumored that she makes some
pretty good brownies!
:~)] If you're wondering if I am where you are, just listen for my
now-famous growl -
YEEAAAHHHH!!!!!
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 14 October 2007 )
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Phil Dorroll - Nashville, TN
Phillip Dorroll resides in Clearwater, FL, and Nashville, TN, where he is the owner and operator of
Dance America Productions & Dance Connection Dance
Studio. Phil is a full time dance instructor and promoter
teaching workshops and privates in the Mid-South and Mid-West region. Phil teaches
dance, promotes and organizes various dance events and weekends across the
country, including, Tampa Bay Classic, Michigan Classic, Brickyard Boogie, and Summer Dance
Party
In November of 2005 Phil received the Star Award and was inducted into
the
National Living Legends of Dance. In addition, to teaching workshops at
national conventions and local clubs and studios, Phil has competed in many
competitions on the swing circuit during the past few years and some of his
accomplishments include…
US OPEN - 4th
Place Masters, 2001
KC Swing Challenge – 1st Place Masters, 2001
Heartland Swing – 3rd Place Open, 2002
Swing Fling – 3rd Place Sophisticated Swing, 2002
KC Swing Challenge – 1st Place Showcase, 2002
Heartland Swing – 1st Place Masters, 2003
Heartland Swing – Advanced Jack & Jill 1st Place, 2003
Swing Fling – 3rd Place Sophisticated Swing, 2003
Atlanta Summer Swing Jam – 1st Place Adv J & J, 2003
Atlanta Summer Swing Jam –2nd Place Adv S. Swing, 2003
Associations and
Memberships
World Swing Dance
Council
Masters Swing Dance
Tour
A.A.N.C.E. Swing Tour
All Swing DJs
National Association
of Rhythm & Blues DJ’s
National
Fast Dance Association
Buddy Stotts & Honey Larsen
- Atlanta, GA
First Dance owners Honey Larsen and
Buddy Stotts, have won 1st place titles including: The US
Open Swing Dance Championships, Virginia State “Swing
Fling” Championships, Hustle USA and American
Swing Dance Championships. They gained national recognition for their
“Robot Doll” number.
As top teachers, they taught at major independent
dance studios in New York City. Honey was Dance Director at Stepping Out Studios
(where they met!) and is accredited with the Imperial Society of Teachers of
Dance. She was director of Stepping Out’s Swing Company and also developed and
ran their International Modern program. Teaching highlights include: The Lincoln
Center “Midsummer Nights’ Swing”, The South Street Seaport “Twilight
Dance Series”, The Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center, Sony Records/Julio
Inglesias’ “Tango” CD, and teaching celebrities including Peter Jennings,
Jeff Prost (Survivor Host) and Matthew Modine.
Both professional actor/singer/dancers, Buddy has
appeared On Broadway in "A Chorus Line"
and "Barnum". Honey appeared Off B-way
and began her ballroom career in American Ballroom Theatre.
Their film & TV dance credits include: “Sabrina”, “First Wives’
Club”, “Blue In the Face”, “The Cosby Mysteries”, “USA Up All
Night” and “Good Day New York”.
Together they have performed on stage and at
special events including Frankie Mannings’ 80th Birthday Bash
“Can’t Top the Lindy Hop”, Tavern on the Green and Resort Hotels. As a
Comedy Team they were the featured act in “Big Band at the Savoy” in Myrtle
Beach and as an opening act in a Miami tour.
Honey has choreographed in NYC "White Tie
and Tails" and Regionally for the Florida Repertory Theatre (Over the
Tavern, The Guys) and the J Howard Wood Theatre (Nunsense II, Private Lives,
Bullshot Crummond & Nobody Loves A Dragon).
In addition to operating First Dance they
are currently performing their stand-up comedy act throughout the United States.
Suzanne Lilly - Atlanta, GA
Suzanne is an accomplished
instructor, dance director, choreographer and judge, and has been dancing since
the age of five. After studying in
various schools, she began dancing professionally at seventeen years of age.
Her experience includes a variety of styles…..Ballroom, Latin, Swing,
Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Nightclub dancing. In
addition to dance and dance instruction, she has extensive experience in
music……vocal as well as instrumental. This
gives her a unique understanding of music which aids in choreography as well as
performance.
Her dance instruction career began over 30
years ago after winning several competitions and being recognized as one of the
“Outstanding Young Women of America”. She
has taught and trained other instructors on the East and West coasts of the
United States
as well as “Overseas.” She
has taught dance for all ages, from preschool to senior citizens.
Teaching at all levels,
including training new teachers and coaching competitors, has provided her with
an exciting dance career.
She
has also been an instructor and a judge for the Senior Olympics in
California, and started several dance clubs. While
managing the Ballroom of Sacramento, she founded a bi-weekly dance club for
senior citizens called “Dance for Life”. This dance is still held each week.
Suzanne was inducted into the
“National Living Legends of Dance” Hall of Fame, in 2004.
Her style as an instructor is
infused with her own passion for dance.
Her warm, open personality, along with her knowledge, combine to offer instruction
that is easy and fun.
      
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