Portland Swing Project Instructors
Gillian Davis
After attending her first swing dance in 2007 here in Portland, Gillian was hooked. She set out to learn as much as she could about the music and dances of the 1920s-40s, and traveled often to dance, learn and wear out dance shoes at an impressive rate. Since moving back home to Maine, she’s working to build a vibrant live music and dance community in Portland through weekly lessons, workshops and events. Her favorite things about dancing (in no particular order) include incredible music, connecting on the dance floor with people from all over the world, and the insatiable desire to learn more.
Gillian can also be found building useful and beautiful things in her woodshop, struggling to get into her winter wetsuit for a morning surf, chasing her 1-year-old Rosa, and absolutely loving life in Maine.
After attending her first swing dance in 2007 here in Portland, Gillian was hooked. She set out to learn as much as she could about the music and dances of the 1920s-40s, and traveled often to dance, learn and wear out dance shoes at an impressive rate. Since moving back home to Maine, she’s working to build a vibrant live music and dance community in Portland through weekly lessons, workshops and events. Her favorite things about dancing (in no particular order) include incredible music, connecting on the dance floor with people from all over the world, and the insatiable desire to learn more.
Gillian can also be found building useful and beautiful things in her woodshop, struggling to get into her winter wetsuit for a morning surf, chasing her 1-year-old Rosa, and absolutely loving life in Maine.
Jen Kain
Jen has been dancing since the age of 4, when she remembers being rewarded with popcorn for doing turns across the floor at dance class. Years of tap, ballet and jazz classes followed, topped off by teaching tap to college students for three years at Rutgers. After a decade-long hiatus, she triumphantly returned to dancing when she discovered Lindy Hop in NYC at Sandra Cameron Dance Center and Dance Manhattan. Instantly hooked, she's been learning and goofing off with her husband, Ray, at dance events ever since. She's excited to share the fun of this dance with you, and will still dance for food.
Jen has been dancing since the age of 4, when she remembers being rewarded with popcorn for doing turns across the floor at dance class. Years of tap, ballet and jazz classes followed, topped off by teaching tap to college students for three years at Rutgers. After a decade-long hiatus, she triumphantly returned to dancing when she discovered Lindy Hop in NYC at Sandra Cameron Dance Center and Dance Manhattan. Instantly hooked, she's been learning and goofing off with her husband, Ray, at dance events ever since. She's excited to share the fun of this dance with you, and will still dance for food.
Zane Baker
After receiving swing dance lessons as a Christmas gift, Zane reluctantly started taking classes with the Portland Swing Project in 2013. He quickly dove into the unknown territory of jazz music, rhythm and swing movement to become an excellent lead in Portland's swing dance scene. His intense desire to learn sent him to out-of-town workshop weekends and deep into the nuances of dance videos and jazz music to teach himself more. Zane's desire to learn is evident in his many skill sets: he can build you a house, identify every bird on a hike (and then produce a beautiful drawing of said bird) and save you in a dark ally with his mixed martial arts know-how. He also loves Sam Cooke.
After receiving swing dance lessons as a Christmas gift, Zane reluctantly started taking classes with the Portland Swing Project in 2013. He quickly dove into the unknown territory of jazz music, rhythm and swing movement to become an excellent lead in Portland's swing dance scene. His intense desire to learn sent him to out-of-town workshop weekends and deep into the nuances of dance videos and jazz music to teach himself more. Zane's desire to learn is evident in his many skill sets: he can build you a house, identify every bird on a hike (and then produce a beautiful drawing of said bird) and save you in a dark ally with his mixed martial arts know-how. He also loves Sam Cooke.
Portland Swing Project Guest Instructors
Stefan Durham and Bethany Powell
Stefan and Bethany first started swing dancing together in 2001, and have never since regretted it. Attracted by the aliveness and improvisational nature of swing—especially the original swing dance, known as "Lindy Hop"--they eventually became involved in the “scene,” both local and national, gaining skill as social dancers, choreographers, and performers. Over their 15 year dance career Stefan and Bethany have been invited to teach and perform at such events as the International Lindy Hop Championships in Washington, DC, Lindyfest in Houston, TX, Camp Jitterbug in Seattle, WA, the Frankie Manning Birthday Celebration in New York, NY, and Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden. They love how swing dancing brings people together to play with one another. They love seeing students reconnect to the joy of using their bodies in a creative, improvised, cooperative endeavor. They love how swing dancing offers challenges and rewards both for total beginners and for veteran dancers alike. And they love how it feels to be in a room filled with people enjoying dancing to great music!
Stefan and Bethany first started swing dancing together in 2001, and have never since regretted it. Attracted by the aliveness and improvisational nature of swing—especially the original swing dance, known as "Lindy Hop"--they eventually became involved in the “scene,” both local and national, gaining skill as social dancers, choreographers, and performers. Over their 15 year dance career Stefan and Bethany have been invited to teach and perform at such events as the International Lindy Hop Championships in Washington, DC, Lindyfest in Houston, TX, Camp Jitterbug in Seattle, WA, the Frankie Manning Birthday Celebration in New York, NY, and Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden. They love how swing dancing brings people together to play with one another. They love seeing students reconnect to the joy of using their bodies in a creative, improvised, cooperative endeavor. They love how swing dancing offers challenges and rewards both for total beginners and for veteran dancers alike. And they love how it feels to be in a room filled with people enjoying dancing to great music!