P. O. Box 97459, Phoenix, Arizona 85060, United States
Email: gpsdcwcs@gmail.com
Andrew Mitchell
Andrew "Drew" Mitchell is our current club President
Drew Mitchell has been a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer since 2010. He has an extensive background in partner dancing in Ballroom, Latin, Country Western, and of course West Coast Swing. In 2015 Drew decided to shift his main focus to West Coast Swing in his pursuit of becoming a champion. Drew strives to be a leader and role model in the local, and dance community as a whole.
Olivia Burnsed
Olivia Burnsed
Olivia recently relocated to Phoenix from Atlanta. We were lucky enough to have her come to the club to teach for us and become our dance director soon after her arrival. Olivia and her husband, Roger White, are both professors at Arizona State University.
Before moving here, she taught in Atlanta 2 to 3 times a week at their Swing Dancers Club and other places as well. Olivia has trained with the Swing Literacy Development Method under Myles and Tessa Monroe. Olivia is one of the organizers for the newcomer track for Atlanta Swing Classic.
She loves leading and following, but her true passion is teaching. She employs many of the same engineering strategies to break down difficult concepts in west coast swing as she does in teaching Biomedical Engineering at ASU (her day job). Olivia is excited to cheer you on and share her passion for teaching, dancing, and building our dance community!
Robert Campos Jr.
Robert is a 5 time Grand Champion in the U.C.W.D.C. Country circuit and has won many other dance competitions throughout his career. Robert has over 25 years of teaching experience which includes: West Coast Swing, Ballroom and Country.
If you are interested in private lessons with Robert contact him: RobertCampos11@gmail.com
West Coast Swing Academy
480-717-1187
Jesse Dickson & Lannie Sullivan
Jesse Dickson & Lannie Sullivan
Jesse Dickson and Lannie Sullivan are professional swing dancers based in Tucson, Arizona. In November of 2016 they debuted their first west coast swing routine "Goodbye My Lover" at The Open, finishing in 8th place. Since their debut they have traveled the country together, consistently placing and winning in the Classic Division as well as Jack and Jills and Strictly Swing events.
Jesse and Lannie are proud to share their combined experiences as artists and technicians of dance with audiences and students everywhere they go. As educators they aim to always share everything they know so that this fantastic dance can keep evolving.
Mona Brandt
Owner of Shall We Dance
Her company is dedicated to teach dance in a way that is fun and easy for everyone. We teach: West Coast Swing, Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Salsa, Country and Line Dance.
Mona has been dancing for most of her life, beginning with Ballet, Tap and Jazz as a child. While she was in college at the University of Maryland getting her BS in Electrical Engineering, she taught Ballet, Tap and Jazz to children and adults.
Mona continued her dance training in Country, Ballroom and Swing while she was in Houston, taking advantage of the many great instructors there. Mona won 2 Country Dance World Championships with her partner Chad Guidry, and 1 with her partner Sam Arvidson. Mona also began competing in Line Dance and won 2 World Championships in Line Dance. She began competing again in 2010, and in January of 2011, she won her 6th WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in Couples Open Showcase with her partner, Ross Pearce. Mona is now dancing with Tim Perez, who is also the co-director of the Arizona Dance Classic, Mona and Tim currently compete in the highest level of Country dance competition, the Masters level..
Mona has been fortunate to be able to train with some of the top dance professionals in the country and in the world, including Lynn and Randy Ferguson, Jim & Jenell Maranto, Carmen Goodman, Milana Pliner, Hunter and Maria Johnson, Corky Ballas, Michael Weinting, David Appel, Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine, Kasha Kozak, Maria Hansen and many others.
She has also been involved as a part of the United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC) as an event director and also as Secretary, Mona is the event director of the UCWDC Arizona Dance Classic, an annual 4-day dance competition (Ballroom, Country and Swing) which takes place the first weekend in August in Phoenix.
Mona moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she teaches dance full-time, coaches competitive dancers, competes with her students in pro-am, and travels around the world, teaching, judging competitions and coaching.
A few of Mona's Awards:
2011 UCWDC World Showcase Couples Grand Champion 2006 UCWDC World Showcase Line Grand Champion 2005 UCWDC World Line Grand Champion
2004 and 2006 Star Award Winner, Favorite Couple of the Year
Reach her for private lessons: Mona@ShallWeDancePhoenix.com
Hannah Meyer Coda
Entrepreneur, Dancer, Mentor and Competitor, Hannah competes at conventions across the country.
2018-2019 Phoenix 4th of July
2017-2nd Place Allstar J&J Swingtime in the Rockies CO
2017- 1st place J&J Jack & Jill O'Rama CA
2017- 1st place J&J SwingDiego CA
At age 15, Hannah began teaching creative movement classes to girls ages 2-14 in a room converted to a dance studio at her parents’ house. Her students have performed in multiple AZ State Fairs, Parades, and Recitals. For this feat at such a young age, Hannah won the 2015 National Federation of Independent Businesses Young Entrepreneur Award for Arizona.
This passion for dance brought Hannah to study West Coast Swing intensively. She competes in the Champions division, the NASDE Showcase division, and placed 6th place on the NASDE professional circuit in 2017. In addition, she works with youth dancers (Let's Swing AZ), building and teaching young dancers.
Hannah is known for her friendly, kind-hearted spirit to everyone. Her unique dance style is recognized by her technique, her footwork, and her ability to emphasize teamwork.
Rob "I"
Rob Ingenthron
Rob began line dancing in the early '90's. He soon decided to compete entering the UCWDC Country couples and line dancing competitions. He moved to the "Superstar" division winning a world championship in line dance choreography. One of his dances was selected for official UCWDC competition. The mid '90's found his focus shift to West Coast Swing gaining Champion status. Rob brings unusual styling to his WCS, an influence from hip hop days. Rob's mantra-It's just dancing and it should be fun!
Rob definitely makes it look fun. If you missed his 2nd place dance with Florie Adams at the Phoenix 4th of July 2018, you really missed something.
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Cassy Dunning-Olson
Cassandra Dunning-Olson
At the age of 15 years old, Cassy discovered her fierce love and passion for West Coast Swing Dancing. As a die hard “westie”, she has been dancing ever since. Competing nationally at the All-Star level, she prides herself on musicality and quality of movement.
Currently, as a full-time West Coast Swing Dance Instructor, she continues to share her passion and love of dance with all those interested in connecting with the music and creating a dance connection with others.
In addition to teaching for our club at Fatcat Ballroom, Cassy teaches at Scootin Boots in Mesa.