Annabelle began dancing in 2012 after seeing lindy hoppers perform at a charity event. Through swing dancing she met Nial, and their journey into Shag dancing began!

Annabelle loves performing and has been involved in several troupes in Melbourne. Including Shout!, The Bluebelles and not least, the shag troupe Double Rhythm Riot. Annabelle was also co-teacher of The Bluebelles for several years, and loved helping troupe members develop their skills and confidence.

She has taught Shag at events and workshops around Australia, America and Europe. She has competed internationally, winning and placing in several events.

While Annabelle loves all styles of swing dancing, she has a special spot in her heart for Shag and fast dancing. Her biggest joy is seeing other people’s amazement at how fast you’re moving and hearing the roar of a jam circle crowd when you bust in there with some shag. Dancing fast is exhilarating and exciting, you feel on top of the world!

Nial fell in love with swing music when he joined his high school swing band as a saxophone player. Years later he realised he had lost any musical talent he once had and decided to take up swing dancing instead, where he was quickly introduced to Collegiate Shag. He dances as many of the swing dances as he can but Shag will always be his favourite and, together with Annabelle, has worked to build the Australian Shag dancing scene.

He's an avid competitor, having picked up multiple awards on his journey, however his focus is always on the social dancing aspect of Shag and on introducing more people to this fantastic dance. This lead him to organise The Shag Geek Out, a one time weekend away where Shag dancers could develop their skills in a communal environment.

Together with Annabelle he's taught around Australia, Europe, and the US, where their enthusiasm for social dancing skills has been well received. He's always up for a dance so never feel too shy to ask.

Julia has been dancing some form of partner dancing since she was a teenager, but she found her true love in all things swing in 2008. While she is a bit of an all-rounder, happily dancing Balboa, Lindy Hop or Shag, Balboa is the dance closest to her heart. She loves dancing to either the sweetest Slow Bal tunes, or those irresistible fast tempo tunes that inspire her playful nature and keep the adrenaline pumping all night. 

Julia has won or placed in many Balboa competitions in Australia as well as in the US. While competing is fun, what excites her most is sharing her passion for the dance with students in Australia and around the world. She has been teaching dance for 30 years, and Balboa since 2011. Julia is known to bring a fun and contagious energy to her classes, while at the same time geeking out and aiming to provide her students with those little light bulb moments that make things click into place and help them advance their skills.

Meaningful play is all about getting into the zone, which for John, Balboa delivers in spades. He finds fast dancing to be one of life’s true joys, getting swept up in the music, achieving dexterity and mobility, with scarce time to think ahead yet able to strike flashes of inspiration.

He has been teaching Balboa regularly since 2007 with a focus on creative teaching techniques, distilling the dance to its essence, and bringing an infectious enthusiasm to his classes. He has taught numerous workshops throughout Australia as well as overseas, and he is an accomplished competition dancer, with six Australian Balboa Championship titles and a number of international placings under his belt. 

John has an analytical approach to the dance, loves to explore the frontiers, and is highly motivated by seeing his students’ progress. Incorporating games frequently into classes, John strives for his classes to be memorable and rewarding for everyone.

Michael brings exuberant energy and joy to every project, whether it's teaching classes worldwide or performing in renowned theatres. With his partner Evita Arce, their combined resumes span the globe from Dubai to the UK, Sweden and now Australia! Michael has many stage credits to his name including the 2008 Japan Broadway tour of SWING!, The Old Vic in London and as the Associate Choreographer for the UK revival of South Pacific, to name a few.

In his classes, Michael focuses on connection with one’s partner through technique and intention, and by improving those areas of your dancing a world of fun and improvisation becomes possible.

To say that Catherine loves Balboa is an understatement. Balboa is her passion. Be it quick, slow or blisteringly fast, she finds endless inspiration in the music, the connection, the rhythms and the space for self-expression. And above all - it's so much fun!!!

Catherine started dancing as a kid and hasn’t stopped moving. For years, her heart belonged to the rhythms, style and music of tap and cabaret. After dancing professionally for a few years, Catherine found Lindy Hop, then Balboa and felt instantly at home.

Catherine has contributed to building the swing dance and Balboa scene in Sydney for years. She has run a performance troupe, taught workshops locally and interstate, attended as many Balboa events as possible, and won or placed in numerous competitions.

Catherine's passion is evident in all of her classes. She is enthusiastic, curious and inclusive - and she loves a good laugh. Her goal is to share the joy, learn together, and help everyone dance freely, safely and comfortably.

Squish has been a vibrant force on the Sydney dance floor since high school, starting with ballroom and Salsa in 1999. She is an experienced teacher with 15 years experience teaching with Swingtime Dance School. Currently, Squish also teaches Balboa at The Wriggle Room.

Squish’s overall vibe is quite energetic, so dancing to faster tempos and forever mastering dance styles like Balboa and Shag is what she gets out of bed for.

She loves attending events and meeting new people through dance - if you’ve been to an Australian event she’s hard to miss! Squish was a dynamic member of the Swingtime performance troupe and has placed and won competitions in various dance styles, including making it to the finals at Snowball in Sweden.

In Squish’s classes, fun is the key element. A big smile on your face shows you’re getting it or at least enjoying the hot tips. Her goal is for students to dance comfortably with anyone while adding their unique flavor.

Bridget is an energetic dancer and swing dance teacher based in Sydney. She has been hooked on Collegiate Shag since 2017 and loves to share the joy of this dance through social dancing and performances to hot jazz tunes with Shagaroo teams.

She was introduced to the dance by Azi and they have spent countless hours exploring online resources, training and creating fun dance sequences. They won the Collegiate Shag competition at the Australian Swing Dance Championships in 2024 and best performance at All the Cats Join in in 2019. Bridget has taught Collegiate Shag in Sydney and Internationally, and danced at events across the globe. She is always keen to strut her stuff in a Jam - her enthusiasm for the fast foot work and pops of fun in Collegiate Shag keeps the Jam circles fresh and exciting.

Passionate about growing the community of swing dancers, Bridget is also co-organising Fast Foot Jam - Yay!

When Azi did his first Shag workshop in 2017 (with the inimitable Nial and Annabelle) he knew immediately that this was the dance for him. Fun, energetic, expressive, rhythmic and endlessly variable.

Since then he has been dedicated to spreading the love of Shag in Australia and across the world. From routines, to workshops, to repping Shag in any and all competitions, it is his hope that Shag will be a dance that all swing dancers have in their arsenal for when the music gets hot.

To this end Azi is co-organising Fast Foot Jam and is deeply excited to share it with all of you! He has also been cooking up some special content exclusive for the Jam which will be debuted with this event.

Award-winning trumpeter and singer Eamon McNelis plays evocative, swinging tunes from the 1930’s and 1940’s. Repertoire from the catalogues of Billie Holiday, Una Mae Carlisle, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Hoagy Carmicheal and more. Eamon McNelis was the 2010 winner of the Wangaratta Jazz Award for Brass, and is known for his work with Flap!, The Big Idiot Club, JAZZPARTY, The Meltdown, and many more. We're thrilled to fly Eamon up from Melbourne to collaborate with Sydney’s finest musicians and elevate the sounds at Fast Foot Jam to new heights.

Kate Wadey is one of Sydney’s most beloved jazz vocalists, celebrated for her sweet, rich voice and effortless charm. With a style that blends timeless sophistication and heartfelt emotion, Kate brings a fresh perspective to the jazz tradition. Her performances highlight her mastery of swing and ballads, captivating audiences with her ability to navigate melody and emotion with equal finesse. With multiple acclaimed albums to her name, Kate continues to enchant listeners and bring fresh energy to the jazz tradition.

A cornerstone of Sydney’s vibrant jazz scene, George Washingmachine is a masterful jazz violinist and captivating vocalist who brings unparalleled artistry to the world of jazz manouche. With a career spanning major Australian festivals and acclaimed international tours, George blends technical brilliance with heartfelt artistry, breathing fresh energy into the timeless swing tradition. A regular on local and global stages, he has become a vital voice in both Sydney and the broader jazz world, captivating audiences with his unique take on jazz manouche.

A favourite among swing dancers, Andrew Scott is an acclaimed jazz pianist known for his infectious rhythm and effortless swing style. As the leader of The Pocket Trio, he’s known for tight arrangements with a deep, swinging groove and soon to release a second album featuring four of Sydney’s top jazz vocalists. Inspired by greats like Count Basie, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson and Duke Ellington, he is a versatile performer switching to match the dance floor tempos and always there to support the vibe on the night. Andrew will play each night of Fast Foot Jam and has materfully curated the music across the weekend.

Alyssa is a creative powerhouse. Outrageously funny and talented Alyssa expresses herself authentically through her art, across many forms including UI/UX design, illustration, and swing dancing.
She met Bridget and Azi while they all lived in Montreal, and their friendship quickly blossomed through a shared passion for fast dancing. Alyssa has a reputation for promoting events with her provocative designs, demanding your attention and inspiring participation.
Alyssa led the design of our incredible logo for a Fast Foot Jam. Her talent and dedication shine through in her work, and we are thrilled to credit her for the brilliant collaboration that has truly elevated the promotion of the event.