Edge Crew 2024
Line Dance | Country Swing | Two Step
Adia Nuno, CA
Adia specializes in teaching many different line dance genres as well as country swing and two step. Her 10+ years of coaching/teaching cheerleading and Zumba serve as a foundation to her line dance instruction. She has danced on the stagecoach Honky Tonk Dance team for 2 years.
Adia began creating line dance music videos as a fun way of honoring and celebrating artists and choreographers that continue to create beautiful songs and routines, as well as to highlight the love of dance that binds us all together.
Adia Nuno
Line Dance | Partner Dance
Jo Thompson-Szymanski, CAO
An internationally acclaimed dance instructor and choreographer, Jo Thompson Szymanski has made quite an impact on dance floors worldwide. Having taught line and couple’s dance for 30 years, Jo holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Dance. She was voted International Line Dance Instructor of the Year for five years in a row at the UK Crystal Boot Line Dance Awards and was honored with being of the first two people to be inducted into the Line Dance Hall of Fame. Jo, a former Miss Texas and top ten finalist at Miss America, hosted her own instructional television show, Dance Line on The Nashville Network (TNN).In addition to line dancing, Jo’s teaching and dancing experience spans the fields of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Country, Swing, Salsa, Ballroom, Square Dancing, Round Dancing, Clogging, and Latin. Demand for Jo’s teaching has taken her to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, The Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and all over the United States and Europe. In 2002 she retired from traveling to start a family.In November of 2004 Jo was diagnosed with a very rare bone marrow disease, Aplastic Anemia. The disease also affected her joints requiring total replacement surgeries on both hips and multiple surgeries on her knees and shoulders. Gladly, through wonderful doctors and lots of prayer, the disease is now in remission and Jo is able to get back to her love of dance! Jo resides in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with her husband, Tim, and their 4 1/2 year old daughter Anna.Jo Thompson Szymanski has choreographed 320 dances, of which 172 have been co-choreographed. Their first published stepsheet on CopperKnob is King Of The Road from October 2007, with their most recent stepsheet of Let's Have Some Fun (aka Christmas Fun) in December 2023.Additionally, Jo Thompson Szymanski had a CopperKnob no.1 dance in December 2023 with Un Poquito, and has recently had 6 other dances in the top 10.
Yana
West Coast Swing
Ben Morris
Aaron has been country dancing for 8 years. He first started teaching in 2017 while deployed with the army. There he also picked up latin dancing, and later, dabbled in west coast swing, which heavily influences his country style.
Pam started country dancing in 2019. Prior to that, she was teaching and competing in pole dancing. This couple teamed up and created Hardwood Hearts to help build and grow the dance community. Together, along with Hardwood Hearts, they teach at several universities and schools in the DFW area.
Brazilian Zouk | West Coast Swing
Alexis Chavez, CA
Originally from Brazil, Brunno started his partner dancing journey in 2001. In 2005, he dedicated his studies in Brazilian Latin Dances including Brazilian Zouk, Forró, and Samba de Gafieira to become a professional instructor. Brunno started his career as an instructor, choreographer, coach, and performer in partner dances in 2006. In 2011, Brunno expanded his dance repertoire and started training West Coast Swing. In 2014, he moved from Londrina, Brazil to Southern California where he played an integral role in establishing the San Diego Brazilian Zouk dance scene and also became a part of the West Coast Swing community. He has traveled across the U.S. teaching Brazilian Zouk as well as teaching and competing in West Coast Swing.
Brunno has and continues to train with world renowned instructors of Brazilian Zouk and West Coast Swing including Kadu and Larissa, William Teixeira, Renata Peçanha, Alex de Carvalho, Jaime Arôxa, Jordan and Tatiana, Maxence Martin, Michael Kiehm and Robert Royston. Brunno is recognized for his high quality instruction, connection, and unique style. He emphasizes the importance of fundamental technique and social dance ability to create well rounded dancers. Through the Global Professional Dance Instructor Association (GPDIA), Brunno has been a Certified Instructor for West Coast Swing, by Michael Kiehm, since 2014 and a Certified Brazilian Zouk Master Instructor since 2015.
Brunno is currently living in San Diego where he is an instructor, coach, choreographer, and performer with over 13 years of experience in partner dances, specialized in Brazilian Zouk and West Coast Swing.
Brunno Cezar Theodoro
Country Swing | Hip Hop
Gabriel Sebastain, AZ
Gabriel started dancing at the age of 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, with breakdancing being his primary dance till he was 21. Later found partner dancing years later in a country bar in Phoenix Arizona. He is now an instructor teaching around the US and advancing as competitor in both country swing and west coast swing. His desire is to teach creativity and freedom in moving with a partner in country swing and making the dance look smooth as a dance floor with baby powder on it.
Gabriel Sebastian
West Coast Swing | Two Step | Line Dance
Brigitte Campos, AZ
Brigette Campos has been dancing since she was 5 years old and has been professionally teaching since 2013! Brigette has been competing in the United Country Western Dance Council for the last 15 years and currently holds 19 World Titles in Line Dance, Couples, Teams, Pro Am and ProPro1!
Brigette Currently competes with her Talented Husband Robert in the Crown Couples Division and they lead 4 Dance Teams! They enjoy competing with their students of all ages in Pro Am as well!
Brigette teaches all Country dances & West Coast Swing her Husband Full Time in Tempe, Arizona! They are owners, choreographers and teachers for Red BootCountry and West Coast Swing Tribe!
Line Dance | Country Swing
Mackenzie Keister, CA
Kenzie has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She has been in the Country Dance world for 4 years. She has been teaching, traveling and competing in this world for the past year. Currently she holds the 2022 Worlds Showdown Line Dance Championship. Kenzie has competed and placed in many competitions within the bars, as well as organizations such as the UCDWC and WSDS. She love getting to meet people in this beautiful community and get to dance all over the U.S. learning new things. Her biggest passion is sharing her love for dance with others.
Mackenzie Keister
Admin | Line Dance | Country Swing
Stefanie Vasturo, FL
Stefanie began Line and Couples dancing in 2014 while attending a local performance at Round Up Country Western Nightclub in Davie, Fl. She dove in head first-going 3-5 nights a week, taking group lessons, line dance lessons, and privates. None of it came naturally to her. She had a hard time trying to learn line dances on the floor and letting go to allow someone to lead in a couples dance. She was hooked- and she loved it! Since then she has spent her time learning, practicing, and growing! She created Southern Soul with the intention of sharing her knowledge and growing her local dance community. You will find her on the dance floor or behind the scenes as an admin helping to ensure that members of the dance community have the best experience possible while attending events.
Christian Summerfruit
Line Dance | Emcee
Philip Victor Ongert, CA
Philip Victor is the calves behind the BootScootin' movement. This long-time emcee & performer from FL stumbled upon line dancing a few years back in SD, at a time when he didn't really care for country music and as it turns out, was pretty bad at figuring out line dancing (his words). But those humble beginnings didn't stop him from pursuing what is now one of his greatest joys (...the others being improv comedy & working with kids), and as it turns out: enjoying country music.
Philip is truly grateful for the many opportunities he has had across the US & Canada to teach tens of thousands of people how to line dance, incl many festivals, bars, workshops, corporate events, & Boardwalk dance sessions. His advice to beginners: "stick with it, don't be too hard on yourself, sing along while you dance, & don't forget some upper body choreo." He sends love out to his SD Dance Family, his good buddy, Keahi, all of the enthusiastic followers of the BootScootin channel, & every person who he has ordered/persuaded/dragged out onto the dance floor to try a dance. Yip Yip YEEHAW!!! #DanceIsLife
@_bootscootin * Philipopromos.com
Philip Victor Ongert
Country Swing
Joel Bartlett, AZ
Country Nomads is a veteran owned and operated business and just like in the military we are very dedicated and meticulous. The Country Nomads have created a simple and easy format to learn Country Swing called The Nomad Method. The Fundamentals we teach are Frame, Connection, and Control (FCC). FCC will not only allow you to dance safely, efficiently, and effectively but you will look stylish and smooth.
With our progressive learning approach you will always be learning something new building on your skills from the ground up. Every lesson builds on top of each other until you reach your desired goal. We are constantly learning to bring you the best of the best.
Throughout our travels we have learned different styles and how to utilize them within Country Swing. Our knowledge makes our style unique within the world of Country Swing. We hope that as a company we can continue to travel and bring everyone the happiness that Country Swing brings us.
Country Nomads
Line Dance
Aleigha Elston, CA
Aleigha got her start in dancing at the age of 15 and fell in love with hip hop dancing immediately. Her intro to country dancing came at an early age when she was traveling to High School Rodeos and experienced swing dancing for the first time! Line dancing came later when she was old enough to hit the country bars and she was mesmerized! Upon learning to line dance, she started teaching her friends and small groups how to line dance, and eventually became the Entertainment Director at The Barn in Ramona where she teaches every Thursday.
You can also find her teaching lessons on YouTube @breakawaydancing. She recently found her niche in choreography and has three new published dances, one of which won Best Choreography at YESSS 2022!
Aleigha is passionate about spreading the love of dance and helping beginners feel comfortable stepping onto the dance floor!
Line Dance | Partner
Cindi Massengale, CA
Line Dance Instructor Cindi Massengale enjoys helping others through positive motivation and encouragement, and is passionate about helping beginners get started. She feels the best part of her job is to see someone that is new to dancing get “hooked” into the Country-Western dance scene. Cindi also teaches Country Western partner dancing, including Two-step, Cowboy Cha Cha and many others. She has also been DJing for many private events as well as the Country Venues The Gaslamp and SeaSalt Beachside.
Cindi is a fun, out-going instructor, with a playful attitude and her motto is “Fake It ‘til You Make It”! “It’s all about having a fun time, enjoying time with friends or family, listening and dancing to great music, and learning to dance at your own pace!” As a country music enthusiast, you can find Cindi every Friday night teaching line dancing at Cowboy Country in Long Beach, Thursday nights at the Gaslamp in Long Beach, Monday night Community Center classes, as well as at many special events and private parties throughout Southern California. Her past major events include Stagecoach Music Festival, The ShipKicker Country Music Festival at the Queen Mary, the 4th of July Extravaganza on The Queen Mary, Coastal Country Jam in Huntington Beach and San Diego, Boots In the Park in San Bernardino, and Round Up at LA Live Entertainment Complex.
Cindi ’s love for music and dancing has transitioned into a fulfilling career, starting with Drill Team in High School, Cheerleading in college, and then finding Group Fitness classes once out of school. She began teaching line dancing in the early ‘90’s. Cindi holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (Movement of the Body), is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer. She has been teaching Group Fitness classes for over 30 years, Personal Training clients for 15 years, and teaching line dance for 10 years.
Cindi Massengale
West Coast Swing | Hip Hop
Travis Swartzlander, AZ
Hello Edge Dancers!
My name is Travis, I am a WSDC Advanced level dancer, I have been dancing West Coast Swing for 4 years and competing for 3 years. I've worked with various Champion West Coast Swing Dancers including Michael and Amber Cross, Sean McKeever, Thibault & Nicole Ramirez. I exclusively train full time under WSDC All Star Jung Won Choe. I am proud/blessed to be one of the Phoenix, AZ WCS community leaders as the Co-Owner/Creator of the White Rabbit Society.
My first partner dance was Country Swing. I picked up CS in the Country Bars of the Phoenix area, over a 3-year mainstay. Then one night I saw a couple dancing West Coast Swing, and the rest was history.
My first dance/love, and the one I've been doing for over 20+ years, is Hip Hop. I've done many different styles of Hip Hop including Freestyle, Club, Choreo, Crew, Battle, and Krump. My lifelong influences are Michael Jackson, Usher, Chris Brown, and Ceasare "Tight Eyez" Willis. I heavily infuse my past Hip Hop into my current West Coast Swing dance today. Additionally, I have been blessed to teach for: Nomads Winter Convention, YESSS, The Edge, Desert City Swing, Phoenix 4th of July WCS, GPSDC Club Nights, and of course The White Society. For more information, booking, private lessons, and my dance journey check out IG: @dance_ninja_dance & whiterabbit.wcs
Have a Blessed Day
~Travis
Travis Swartzlander
Country Swing
Juan Aguirre, CA
Juan is an Arizona based Dance Instructor/Competitor based in Phoenix, AZ. He has Competed in, Placed Top 3, and Won various CS Dance competitions nationwide including YESSS Dance Convention, The Edge Dance Event, NWC and many more with his partner, Kenzie Keister. Alongside his many Country Swing accomplishments, he has also quickly climbed the ranks as a West Coast Swing Competitor in less than a year. In order to expand his knowledge of dance he is constantly competing, teaching, and cross training in new dance styles! You can spot him anywhere on the dance floor due to his fun, unique style. Follow Juan’s dance journey by searching @Juanna_Dance on Instagram.
Juan Aguirre
DJ
Dustin "DJ Dvious" Valcalda, CA
Dustin was first introduced to Line Dancing in 2013, and just a few short years later started hosting dance nights as a new DJ and Dance Instructor in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area. Now, with over 6 years over experience, Dustin has grown to becoming one of the regions most prominent DJ’s and Dance Instructors. He loves to share his passion for dance with anyone willing to step out onto the dance floor. In 2022, Dustin was nominated in both ‘Best DJ’ and ‘Best Dance Instructor’ categories in the 2022 Reno News & Review Best of Northern Nevada. He was also picked in 2022 to be part of the award winning DJ team at Amplified Entertainment. In 2021, he ventured into the world of Line Dance Choreography, where he has since won numerous awards for his original dances at multiple events, including Vegas Dance Explosion, YESSS Dance Convention, and Heart of Texas. As a DJ for The Edge 2023, he hopes to continue sharing his passion with those around him, and help the event have its best year yet!
DJ Dustin
Two Step | Dips & Tricks
Russ Bradchulis, CA
Russ has competed in numerous two step, country, swing, and ballroom competitions across the country, earning World Championship titles in the United Country Western Dance Council’s Line and ProAm divisions, as well as winning finals in West Coast Swing and Country Two Step Tour competitions. Recently, Russ was honored to win the United States Line Dance Choreography Competition’s Phrased and Newcomer / Novice divisions at the Vegas Dance Explosion.
What He Teaches: Line Dance, Two Step.
Favorite places to dance: All over SoCal!
Russ Bradchulis
Lifts | West Coast Swing | Technique
Red Dirt Dancing, TX
Sarah's attention to detail and quick study combined with Chris's experience and energy makes for an unmatched team with unrivaled chemistry. They bring a unique dynamic and perspective with their roots in the Dancehalls and their technique from the studios. Chris and Sarah believe in continued education and currently study under several world renowned dancers and instructors from all over the United States. They frequent dance conventions, events, workshops, and take private lessons of their own. The duo also enjoys staying fit and practices acroyoga to help with those high-flying aerials! As a team, Chris and Sarah have mentored and helped build local dance communities, hosted and judged competitions, was featured in music videos, taught workshops and wedding parties, and choreographed movies and first dances. Red Dirt Dancing has taken on new heights and Chris and Sarah are excited to see where this crazy red dirt road will take them!
Red Dirt Dancing
Country Swing | Styling
Sarah Stokes, CA
As a dance instructor for almost 20 years, Sarah is passionate about helping people find their join in social dancing. She believes that having a fun, educational, & encouraging dancing experience should be accessible to everyone & not just top dancers. Sarah teaches a variety of different Styles of dance: Country (country swing, two step, line dance) and has a background in ballroom dancing from her time previously spent as an instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studios. She currently teaches out of her private studio located in Northern California.
Line Dance
Marie Kelly, CA
Marie Kelly is a line dance instructor in South Orange County! She fell in love with country music and line dancing when she was 17 years old.
Her favorite group to teach is beginners, bringing a welcoming, comfort, and ease in her teaching! She has taught at Harrah’s Casino Resort in Rincon, Pechanga Casino, Swallow’s Inn San Juan Capistrano, Goody’s Tavern San Clemente, Paddy’s Station San Juan Capistrano, MissionFest, Bad to the Bone BBQ, Heritage BBQ, Boots on the Beach, OC Tavern, The Cove, Jon Pardi concert, Coffey Anderson concert, Cam concert, Along with being featured on The Real Housewives of Orange County, KTLA, and had the amazing opportunity to teach 2 NFL stars!
In addition to her teaching she also has 6 kids and helps manage her husbands band The James Kelly Band! Marie not only brings a love for dance but truly enjoys making life long friendships along the way!
Marie Kelly
Line Dance
Candy Sherwin, CA
Candy is thrilled to return to The Edge for 2023. Candy has been dancing since she was 9 years old, and has been fortunate enough to make a living as a performer and a teacher. Her background in ballet, jazz and musical theatre provides a unique perspective to country dancing, allowing her to explain and break down steps in a detailed and easily understood fashion. Country dancing, both 2-step and Line, became an integral part of Candy’s life in 1991.
Some of her Line dance choreography includes Woman Amen, If You Want It, Switch It Up and Love a Party (For Ron). She has been blessed to share her passion in the greater LA area at many venues, private events, and 10 line dance cruises, and has no plans of slowing down. She has been the lead instructor at Borderline (BL Saloon) since 1995, and prior to that taught at InCahoots Glendale and Denim and Diamonds Woodland Hills.
Candy’s line dance channel, candysherwin.com, was developed as an online reference and support to the community she loves so dearly. She continues to teach and choreograph daily, and is ever so grateful to her wonderful husband, Joe Mika, for his constant love and support. See you on the Dance Floor!
Candy Sherwin
Two Step | West Coast Swing
Robert Campos Jr, AZ
Robert Campos has been teaching dance across Texas, California and Arizona for 30 years!
He currently teaches in Tempe Arizona with his wife Brigette.
He has taught many different dance styles over the years but specializes in West Coast Swing and Country.
His Company, West Coast Swing Tribe, hosts Tuesday Swing Takeover every week……The Largest Swing night in the Phoenix area with over 100 dancers!
He and his wife coach 2 West Coast Swing/Country Dance World Championship Dance Teams and currently compete as a couple in the Crown Division for the United Country Western Dance Council.
This is Robert& Brigette’s 3 year at the Winter Convention and they are thrilled to be back!
Robert Campos Jr
Line Dance | DJ
Jennifer Workman
My favorite thing about teaching and dancing is that I am touching peoples’ lives and making them happy. I have been teaching and dancing for almost 30 years now and have made so many lifelong friends. I have watched so many get married and so many have kids all because of dance. When I am performing, just getting one person to smile makes it all worthwhile.
-Jen Workman
Jennifer Workman
Event Admin
Mentor Coordinator
Jade
Stefanie began Line and Couples dancing in 2014 while attending a local performance at Round Up Country Western Nightclub in Davie, Fl. She dove in head first-going 3-5 nights a week, taking group lessons, line dance lessons, and privates. None of it came naturally to her. She had a hard time trying to learn line dances on the floor and letting go to allow someone to lead in a couples dance. She was hooked- and she loved it! Since then she has spent her time learning, practicing, and growing! She created Southern Soul with the intention of sharing her knowledge and growing her local dance community. You will find her on the dance floor or behind the scenes as an admin helping to ensure that members of the dance community have the best experience possible while attending events.
Stefanie Vasturo
Project Manager | Event Coordinator
Leslie Perez
My love for line dancing and the country community grows more and more with every 8 count! How it all began…..following Country Sole on facebook and youtube! You can see his passion for dancing in all his videos and it looked like soooo much fun and I definitely wanted to learn. I reached out to my now dear amazing super talented friend Bj (country Sole) and asked if he knew of any line dance lessons closer to home since his lessons where a short drive (San Diego).
I was opened with open arms by everyone, the “regulars” there are my now amazing friends that I not only dance with but I’ve made endless memories that I will cherish forever. I went from being intimidated to try something new that made me feel like I had to left feet, to having a sense of belonging and smiling all through the dance floor and having a right and left foot.
Line dancing not only keeps my girls and I active but it lets us be ourselves some place where we will never be judged, where we will be encouraged to follow our dreams and always be welcomed with open arms.
Leslie Perez
Event Coordinator
Ashley Bee
Michael got his start in dancing from the very beginning. At 4 years old he started dancing at a studio with his 3 older sisters. Learning and performing in several different styles of dance from Tap to Ballet. He took a break from dancing in high school to pursue other interests but never lost his love for dance. Always attending his sisters' and friends' recitals and competitions.
When Michael enlisted in the Marines he was stationed in California where he discovered line dancing! From 2017 onward he continued to learn as many line dances as he could, and in 2021 he started learning Country Swing. Since then, Michael has branched out into several other styles of dance. He also found a passion for competing and has competed at several Kickstart events. Now Michael has decided to start serving the dance community in as many ways as he can. He instructs for Country Swing and Line Dancing in California, but more importantly he will be on our staff for The Edge 2023!
Michael Griffith