The Track 002 - Nina Gilkenson

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Nina Gilkenson & Andy Reid at ILHC 2014

Nina Gilkenson & Andy Reid at ILHC 2014

In our second episode, I sit down with the hilarious and insightful Nina Gilkenson. Nina established herself as a well-known international instructor by the amazingly young age of 16. She is a co-founder of the International Lindy Hop Championships, now in it’s 8th year and one of the pre-eminant swing dance events in the world. She is also co-owner of Baltimore’s Mobtown Ballroom.

Nina and I talk about her experiences dancing and teaching at a very young age, our shared sense of awkwardness when the presence of dance legend Frankie Manning, the origins of ILHC, and touch upon navigating gender roles and their place in today's Lindy Hop scene.

The Track 001 - Peter Strom

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Peter Strom & Ramona Staffeld at Frankie95

In this inaugural episode of The Track, I sit down with international instructor, performer, emcee and soul man Peter Strom. He’s taught all over the world since winning the classic division at the American Lindy Hop Championships back in 2000 and has performed with Lindy Movement, Silver Shadows and Mad Dog at events such as Frankie 95 and the Savoy Ballroom 80th anniversary.

Peter runs Uptown Swing in his hometown of Minneapolis, MN, which is hosting its first weekend workshop in August, Uptown Swingout.

Peter also ran the Lindy Hoppers' Fund - a great charity organization which has now folded under the auspices of the Frankie Manning Foundation, specifically to raise money for youth programs at events where he's involved. He would love to let folks know they can donate to the Frankie Manning Foundation and earmark their donation for “Juniors” to help this great cause.