Amanda Pincock (she/her)
Amanda is passionate about sharing her love of Shag and other swing dances with dancers of all levels. With years of teaching experience both inside and outside the classroom, she brings a thoughtful, insightful approach to instruction—balancing solid technique with playful self-expression and a deep love for the dance. Amanda regularly travels to teach and currently leads weekly Collegiate Shag classes at The Swing Syndicate in her home scene of Austin, Texas. She also heads up The Shag Hags, an all-female Collegiate Shag team known for their energy and style.
Zachary Lockett-Streiff (he/him)
Zach’s first encounter with partner dancing was overhearing his dad’s attempt to sign him up for lessons as a child. He promptly screamed in terror, and the studio never called back. He joined his college swing club in 2010 – much to his dad’s bewilderment – and the rest went downhill from there!
Sporting a bit of a rebellious streak, Zach likes to question convention through a respectful but pragmatic lens. The historical record is deeply important to swing dancing, but equally important is not forgetting the foundational African-American dance values in the process. In this spirit, Zach values authenticity and actively-engaged partnership. And dad jokes.
Zach is one of the leaders of the Texas Shag scene (which is very near and dear to him). He is especially invested in helping the Austin Shag community grow, and refining his skills and self to meet the challenge. Teaching and social dancing are his passions, and he can’t wait to share both of them with you! ahem with y’all.
(He also does Lindy and Balboa)
Patricio Garcés (he/him)
Patricio (he/him) is a versatile and dynamic swing dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Chile; Who knows how to lead and follow every main jazz/swing dances: Collegiate Shag, Lindy Hop, St. Louis Shag, Rock’n Roll/Boogie Woogie, Balboa/Bal-Swing, and even specific ones like Rockabilly Jive.
His main focus as a teacher is to develop social dancers with excellent technique. Respecting the original dancers, moves, and figures, to transmit the aesthetic of each dance while also being creative in the use of the content.
His journey started through the music of his childhood (Jazz, Funk, R&B, Soul, Electronic, and more), he developed his love for dancing. He started in 2011 with African Dance and Dancehall; but in 2014 he discovered Lindy Hop and fell in love with it; But it was really in 2016 that his passion for Swing Dance really took off: He started researching the other swing/jazz styles, and buying VHS/DVD’s lessons from Marcus & Bärbl to learn Boogie Woogie and more.
His passion led him to start his dance school “Groove That Swing”, which has been active since 2018, where each month he teaches regularly Collegiate Shag, Balboa, Rock’n Roll/Boogie Woogie, Lindy Hop, St. Louis Shag, Soul (Carolina Shag, Smooth/Soul Lindy), Rockabilly Jive, and Solo Jazz Dance/Charleston. To grow a scene of dancers as versatiles as he is (most of his students know more than one style).
At the same time (2018) he started traveling to many different events to learn more, bringing the new styles to Chile and adding them into their school’s repertoire. In the competition field he has obtained achievements and awards internationally in a few years, like: 1° in Open Strictly Lindy (ILHC World Finals), 1° Boogie Woogie M&M (México), 1° in Shag M&M (BCN Shag Festival), and more than 25 medals/trophies (mostly Shag) and countless “Finals” in different swing dances.
Fun fact: By not having a regular dance partner to teach or compete with, he has developed skills on both Lead/Follow dancing, becoming an expert in competing with no-regular-partner but also teaching on both roles by himself.
Having knowledge of African-American Vernacular Jazz Dance wider than just jazz-swing era dances (Street Dances like Locking, Waacking, Voguing, Popping) is a big plus to the understanding of quality of movement, expression, musicality, technique and the art of improvisation.
Desiree Roffers (she/her)
Desiree has loved dancing her whole life. At the age of four, she began learning Irish Dance. Soon after, she was competing around the country and started teaching dance in early middle school. Around 2002, Desiree switched her focus to swing dancing and began studying Lindy Hop, Blues, Collegiate Shag, and Balboa. Desiree continues to travel to swing dance events around the world to learn, teach, and compete. She has received swing dance awards from events across North America. Desiree has three graduate degrees in education and provides training for teachers in Chicago public schools. She is currently working on her PhD in Instructional Technology. In 2011, Desiree started Chitown Swing Dance, and she remains dedicated to growing the swing dance scene in Chicago and across the globe. As an instructor and swing dance organizer, Desiree values inclusive practices, trauma-informed approaches, and social justice.