Medford Jazz Festival

View the 2011 dance schedule

Dance with the stars.

Dancing has always gone hand in hand — or foot to foot — at the Medford Jazz Festival, which has featured hopping dance floors at each venue, dance instructors and free professional lessons included with admission. This year dancing reaches new heights, leaps, bounds and swings with the spacious Kids Unlimited Gym serving as the exclusive dance site.

Drew & Catherina

Invited back for 2011, Drew and Catherina from Eugene Swing have been teaching together since shortly after they met in 2008. Catherina first started Lindy Hop in Eugene in 2000. Drew was first introduced to Lindy Hop in Seoul, South Korea, while teaching English in 2007. As partners, they contribute to the budding Lindy Hop scene in Eugene and they are known locally as the most energetic and active social Lindy Hop dancers in town.

Together they have studied Lindy Hop internationally at some of the world's premier Lindy Hop camps, including Herrang, a Sweden Dance Camp.

Drew and Catherina's teaching style focuses on partner connection and development of fundamental technique. Although their classes are known to be challenging, their sharp repartee maintains a light and fun atmosphere. These two are restless teachers who are often found giving advice on the social dance floor.

Learn more at www.EugeneSwing.com

Russ and Susan

Invited back are Russ Bruner and Susan Kane from Portland Oregon, a dancing duo that have performed at past Medford Jazz Festivals. They have been dance partners for the past five years, and Russ often refers to their partnership to be his most successful relationship he's ever had. Russ and Susan also offer professional lessons for the Balboa, Lindy Hop and Charleston.

As far as Russ knows they are the only couple from Portland or Vancouver who have successfully been lucky enough to win a national Balboa Competition. After winning the competition, they decided to stop competing and become featured performers in many circus, cabaret, vaudville and other variety shows.

The duo idolizes Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The two have studied the classic partner styles of the Art Deco Era and have enjoyed performing together near and far. They especially enjoy performing to the music of their favorite local swing band, the Stolen Sweets.

Russ founded Swing Time, a collaboration of everything in the realm of swing featuring live music events, swing dance instruction, performance and entertainment. and swing happenings.

 

Chris Burrow

 

Meet Chris Burrow, born in W. Virginia in the fifties and a son of a Naval Officers. Chris grew up all over the world living in places like Ethiopia, Africa, Naples, Italy, California, Norfolk, Virginia and across these great United States. Chris was sent to the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas at the ripe young age of 13 and graduated High School in Knoxville Tennessee, at Beardon H.S.

Chris joined the Navy in 1970 serving in the ship yards of Charleston S. Carolina as a Hull Technician for a year, then served aboard several Destroyers (Tin Cans), and completed an around-the-world "Show of Force Cruise" on the U.S.S. Sellers during the Vietnam War. After the war at the still young age of 25 Chris answered an ad in the Memphis Tennessee newspaper for Arthur Murray Dance Studios to "Learn to be a Dance Instructor". Chris has taught thousands of fine ladies and gentlemen to dance and will be 60 years old in December. Chris currently lives in Merlin, Oregon and travels to Evergreen Ballroom to Dance, Dance, Dance! Join Chris any Tuesday night for some dancing fun!!