Conversations in Closed – Details, episodes & analysis

Jose & Denise sit down with Laura Keat.

Laura is an accomplished swing dancer who has won international titles in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. As an instructor, she brings a fresh perspective to her classes, working to develop foundations in partnering for the express purpose of creating opportunities for individual expression and voice in response to the music. She is also the owner and creator of the premiere Balboa event, The California Balboa Classic.

Music: Deja Vu by Greg Ruby

Jose interviews & hangs with Dominic Hanna.

Dominic is a dancer and dance enthusiast based in the Triangle region of North Carolina. He has been dancing balboa for nearly 10 years, has numerous competition placements, and is deeply fascinated by the elements that compose the feel and aesthetics of balboa.

Music: Deja Vu by Greg Ruby.

Jose and Denise visit Jeremy Otth to hear his stories on how he found dancing and his experiences with the old timers.

Jeremy has amassed a great amount of knowledge on the historic essence of vintage swing dances from many of the original jitterbugs. His expertise lies in Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, Balboa, and Solo Jazz. He holds championship titles in competitions such as The International Lindy Hop Championships, National Jitterbug Championships, and the American Classic Balboa Championships, to name a few. He has also been inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.

Music: Deja Vu by Greg Ruby.

Denise & Jose sit and chat with Andreas Olsson.

Andreas grew up immersed in both wrestling and violin, early experiences that helped shape the creative, musical, and unpredictable style he brings to swing dancing. Trained in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Solo Jazz, he built an accomplished career in performance, competition, and international teaching, earning top placements at events such as Camp Hollywood, the International Lindy Hop Championships, All Balboa Weekend, and more.

He is deeply involved in scene building, co-organizing events like Bal-Love, Slow Bal-Love, and Slow Flow, serving for years as competition and DJ coordinator at the Snowball, and acting as artistic director for Breezy Balboa Camp and Weekend in Bangkok. 

Known for his musicality, creativity, and technical precision, Andreas brings a warm, approachable teaching style that inspires dancers to grow and stay curious in the ever-evolving world of swing dance.

Our season finale! Welcome to the first of a new episode format titled Pulse, where we interview everyday dancers from the Swing community at large.

Our guest is Karen Tong, from Hong Kong, China. In this episode, Karen talks to us about her injury she obtained during a competition and the discussions that have arisen in the aftermath on competition etiquette and safety.

Jose meets with international dance instructor, Jennifer Lee.

Jenn is an internationally recognized swing dancer and Balboa instructor with a long list of competition titles, but some of her most important victories happened far from the dance floor.She earned her first blue ribbon at age eight by winning the 4-H Food Festival, an achievement made possible entirely by her mother’s cooking. In high school, she won first place in state debate, proving she can out-argue nearly anyone.

She later became a board-certified physician, despite receiving a strongly worded letter from her medical school dean after she convinced half her class to dance on top of a bar.

In the dance world, Jenn has picked up numerous awards across Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. She is especially proud of placing second in the Hot Wings Showdown at the California Balboa Classic, losing only to the legendary Andrea Gordon. Jenn is known for her musicality, her humor, and her dedication to helping dancers find their voice on the social floor.

Music: Deja Vu by Greg Ruby.

The tables are turned! Guest host Desiree Roffers interviews Jose Tello and Denise Lwin about how they got started with this podcast and what we can expect in the future.

Listen for a preview of the next interview with Jennifer Lee!

Denise & Jose hang out with Taiga Miyajima at Snowball 2025!

Taiga found Swing dancing in 2016 and since then has been relentlessly traveling and competing across the world. In 2023, he embarked on a dynamic six-month worldwide dance adventure, making 23 stops across 17 countries and immersing himself in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. Along the way, he earned placements in both national and international competitions across all three styles.

Today, Taiga continues his journey, not just as a dancer but as an organizer in Japan. Inspired by the people he met around the world, he has started a new adventure to create welcoming spaces for dancers from all corners of the globe, fostering the same sense of connection and community that has been so central to his own experience.

In this Bite Size episode, we listen in on Denise's chat with Bobby White at Bal-Love 2025. Bobby talks practice tips, and Balboa history & resources.

In this episode of Pulse, Jose & Denise interview a panel of dancers from the queer community! Listen to Emily Schuhmann, Jona Venzor, and Chuyu Liang share their diverse experiences as queer folks moving through dance spaces.

Special thanks to Balorado (Denver, CO) for supplying promo material.