Embedded Files
We're Bringing Swouzy Back! This time with live music on the Sunday before Memorial Day (May 25)
The Sonny Hill Trio
The Sonny Hill Trio
The Sonny Hill Trio is keyboardist & lead vocalist Sonny Hill, guitarist & vocalist Jim Sanders, and Shawn Baurichter on drums.
Sonny Hill was born in Helena, Arkansas, (birthplace of blues legend Robert Johnson). His music career began at age seven, playing piano Sunday mornings in the little Helena Baptist Church and performing with a youth choral group on the now legendary "King Biscuit Blues Radio Station." Eventually Sonny hit the Chittlin' Circuit, touring with Blues notables Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Rufus Thomas and Jimmy Witherspoon. Hill was selected twice for the prestigious Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Blues and R&B Performer. Also to his credit: two consecutive wins at the Greater Cincinnati Blues Society which led him to represent Greater Cincinnati for the International Finals in Memphis, Tennessee. Sonny Hill performs a diverse selection of R&B, Jazz, Top Forty, along with the Blues. His own soulful ballads, Blues and R&B originals make any Sonny Hill "gig" a music fest.
Jay Sheaffer (they/them)
Jay Sheaffer (they/them)
In 2003, as an 18-year-old college student in LA, I found swing dance at Memories (in Whittier). It changed my life.
Since then, I split my time between California and Chicago, with the exception of 2008 when I spent time in Cincinnati training and performing with Joel, Melanie, and the Snapshots.
'Sup my Cincy old schoolers!
In Chicago, I trained with and worked at Big City Swing under the leadership of Julee Mertz before moving to San Francisco. I spent over a decade in San Francisco deepening my movement practice, I returned to Chicago in January 2025 with renewed focus and intention.
Today, I'm dedicated to studio life and study in the styles of Lindy, Blues, and House dance. I have trained recently with Jo Hoffberg and the instructors at RhythmHood & Snipes.
I'm passionate about solo movement. I seek to help dancers build creativity, confidence, and musicality first alone, then with a partner.
As a non-binary queer switch dancer, I'm here to help break down gender norms in partner dance while honoring the Black American roots that built this artform.
Clay Marshall (he/him) & Cherie Lanier (she/her)
Clay Marshall (he/him) & Cherie Lanier (she/her)
Clay Marshall and Cherie Lanier started Bourbon Tango to pursue their idea that dance can save the world.
Social dancing teaches you how to enjoy yourself, and where you are at, while pursuing growth. It teaches you connection and listening skills that any partner will appreciate, and if you can dance through your challenges and the adversity of life you will be happier for it.
While known for their Argentine tango they teach most social dances including Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, East and West Coast Swing, Blues and much more, in addition to private lessons and performance group classes.
They created Bourbon Tango as a highly adaptable social tango fusion dance, taking Cuban and Blues dance roots and applying Argentine connection, musicality, and the freedom that comes with a good glass of Bourbon. It’s simplest forms can be danced in the grass or at your favorite concerts.
Claire Danna (they/she)
Claire Danna (they/she)
Link
Bryan Sykes & Beth Brown
Bryan Sykes & Beth Brown
Daniel Verdon (he/him)
Daniel Verdon (he/him)
Queen City Swing Dance on Facebook
Daniel fell in love with swing dancing over a decade ago, mesmerized by the healing power of dance. The more time he spent on the dance floor, the greater his curiosity grew about the music that drives the movement. As that exploration deepened, Daniel began djaying with a focus on making each playlist a unique experience. His sets feature a solid foundation in the original jazz of the 20s and 30s, paired with a healthy dose of current artists, complete with a surprise or two.
Aaron Mabson (he/him)
Aaron Mabson (he/him)
Link
Shannon Varner (pn)
Shannon Varner (pn)
SwingColumbus SwingColumbus LinkTree LindyRoos
Shannon Varner discovered Lindy Hop while living in New York City ages ago. Since then she has been fortunate to live in Lindy Hop-centric cities ever since. Whether Washington DC, Chicago, or Columbus, OH, they all have provided rich opportunities to hone her dance skills, and influence her dance styles. She enjoys sharing her passion for these dances with others and truly believes dancing is for everyone.
Shannon has won numerous awards, placing in such competitions as the American Lindy Hop Championships, Beantown Dance Camp, Nevermore Jazz Ball, SwingIN, Southern Swing Challenge, and Midsummer Night Swing in NYC.
Shannon also co-founded the award-winning competitive dance team SwingColumbus and served as co-choreographer.
Delaan Sumler (pn)
Delaan Sumler (pn)
Hello, everyone! I started my dance career in 2018 as a sub-par Lindy Hopper, but after going to school shortly after for Music Education, I discovered a drive to bring Swing Dance to a broader community here in Cincinnati! I believe that through community participation and visibility, the mostly forgotten art of partnered dance can rise anew! I love the idea of celebrating tradition by adding a modern twist to it - making these spaces inclusive for and of all different music genres, perspectives, creeds, and ability levels, and so I hope to aid in this cause by working within the SupermurgaNati brand to introduce as many people as possible to the culture and work with existing dancers to create enriching opportunities.
Joel Domoe (he/him)
Joel Domoe (he/him)
Joel has been teaching, performing, community building, and producing events in the Swing Dance community all over the Eastern United States for 25 years. His current project (since 2023) is SupermurgaNati!, a partnership with Delaan Sumler based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He is a former Virginia State Open Jitterbug Champion and Southwestern Regional Lindy Hop Champion. He has served as Competition Coordinator and/or Head Judge for the American Lindy Hop Championships (Stamford, CT), Lindy Focus (Asheville, NC), and Beantown Dance Camp (Boston, MA) multiple times. Joel has taught classes at far too many events to name.
Joel is a founding and honorary lifetime member of the Piedmont Swing Dance Society in Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina and was a founding member and first president of the Atlanta Swing Era Dance Association. He has founded and directed three different Swing Dance Troupes: Bums and Bombshells (Greensboro, NC), Heavens to Murgatroid! (Atlanta, GA), and The Cinci SnapShots (Cincinnati, OH).
In Cincinnati, among other things Joel served as a co-producer of SwinGallery (Cincinnati’s longest running weekly swing dance event) from 2006-2016.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse