Instructors

Anthony's first ingress into the performing arts was at age 8 when his parents convinced him to learn and perform Chinese lion dances.He then stumbled upon breakdancing during a national speech and debate tournament in middle school, and at the age of 16, he had his first foray into swing dancing alongside other young interns from a research laboratory.Since then, he has trained in other dance styles ranging from hip - hop to West Coast Swing, but most of all he enjoys using this background to expand upon his technique and creativity in Lindy Hop.On the social dance floor he is known to be playful, musical, creative, and clear.He holds first place titles from events such as Lindyfest and Lone Star Championships, Montreal Swing Riot, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, Lindy Focus, and International Lindy Hop Championships.

Combined with his professional background in education, his love of both leading and following have been instrumental to making the classes that he teaches both clear and intuitive. Anthony is excited to call Salt Lake City his home since 2015, and is also a proud recipient of the 2021 Utah Arts & Museums Performing Arts Fellowship.

Nothing brings Irina (she/her) more joy than sharing a dance and building community. Since discovering Lindy Hop at 15, she has been a lifelong lover of social dancing — a passion that grew to include Balboa, Collegiate Shag, Solo Jazz, and West Coast Swing. Raised in Southern California, she feels fortunate to have learned in a scene shaped by some of the world’s finest dancers, teachers, and musicians.

Irina’s dancing has since earned recognition at Camp Hollywood, the International Lindy Hop Championships, the California Balboa Classic, and All Balboa Weekend, and she is honored to be a member of both the Camp Hollywood Hall of Fame (2019) and the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame (2022). She has also taught across the U.S., Asia, Europe, and Australia. Just as meaningful is her work in Salt Lake City, where she co-leads Salt City Swing with her partner in both dance and life, Anthony Chen. Investing in her local scene — teaching, organizing, and creating space for others to connect — has been one of the most rewarding parts of her journey.

As a teacher, Irina strives to be patient, encouraging, and approachable. Her goal is to inspire students to value the foundations and culture of these dances while also celebrating individuality, expression, and confidence through movement.

Elizabeth's first experience with swing dance was when she was 8 years old, dancing with her brother as a partner in a talent show. Swing surged again into her life as a teenager along with tap dancing and a little jazz. In 2003, during her university years(BYU), Elizabeth found Lindy Hop. Her heart found its home, its song, its dance. Though she has enjoyed Ballroom, Latin, Clogging, African, Tap and Blues, Lindy is her soul's fabric. Whether she is in Utah or traveling, Elizabeth believes that the purpose of dance is to experience joy. Anyone who sees her dance, cannot doubt she lives that belief.Her joy comes first through connecting with her partner and second in creative expression. Elizabeth is excited to teach with Salt City Swing, sharing not only her talent and skill, but her love for this art form.

Dancing has been a lifelong passion for Sara, who began her dance training at an early age in ballet, modern, and tap. In the last two decades, she has shared her love of tap with people of all ages in Hawai'i, Wisconsin, and Utah. She moved to Salt Lake City in 2014 to take a faculty position in the Department of Communication at the University of Utah.Here, she was introduced to the world of social dancing when she discovered Lindy Hop with Salt City Swing in April 2017. She has since devoted significant time to learning all things related to swing dancing and began teaching in July 2018. She occasionally teaches tap in the Salt Lake City area and is a member of WOFA, a local African dance and drum company.As an instructor, she is committed to helping students build a solid foundation of technique in a fun and inclusive environment.

Blake’s introduction to Lindy Hop was joining a Salt City Swing class in 2018 as the first dance class he’d ever taken. The love of jazz music came first and it was a catalyst in breaking him out of his comfort zone and getting in the door. Once he started learning, it was an instant connection and there was no turning back. He values the history of Lindy Hop and how, on a personal level, it gives such an amazing platform for improvisation, individuality, connection, and pure joy.He truly appreciates the outstanding teachers and friends that made the Salt City Swing community such a comfortable space learn, gain confidence, and grow as an individual dancer.

Blake is grateful for the opportunity to teach those who want to learn this art form. He emphasizes being able to enjoy your dancing with confidence and really feeling the music to bring out your own expression and creativity.

Bio coming soon...

Keara has been dancing for as long as she can remember. For nearly 15 years, she competed as an Irish dancer, earning placements at both regional and national levels. In 2022, she felt ready for a new chapter. One day, while scrolling Instagram, she stumbled across the iconic Hellzapoppin’ dance scene from 1941—and instantly knew she had to learn that style. A quick Google search led her to Salt City Swing, and she’s been hooked on Lindy Hop ever since.

What Keara loves most about the Lindy Hop community is its spirit of self - expression and the genuine connections formed on the social dance floor.She’s passionate about sharing the joy of dance with students, partners, and new friends.Don’t hesitate to ask her for a dance!