An instrumental star with legendary status in the swing dancing community, NYC-based pianist and bandleader Gordon Webster is among the most sought-after live musicians in the Lindy Hop world. His musicianship and passion, amplified by his fervent love of social dance, have proven an undeniable allure to swing dancers at countless events around the globe. Webster juxtaposes hot jazz and classic big band swing with jump blues and more contemporary sounds,drawing on influences as diverse as Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Count Basie,and Oscar Peterson to serve up a smorgasbord of styles unified by one characteristic: irresistible danceability.
DJs
Ryan Swift
Ryan has been swing dancing since 1998 and started DJing for dancers shortly thereafter. He is the co-organizer, music coordinator and house DJ for Frim Fram Jam, the longest-running weekly swing dance in NYC. He has had the privilege of DJing for numerous Lindy Hop exchanges, dance camps, weekend workshops, and competitions, including national events such as the International Lindy Hop Championships, Stompology, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown & Frankie100, and at NYC events like Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing. He has also served as head DJ at events like LindyFest & Lindy Focus. Ryan was a founding member of Rochester's Groove Juice Swing, is an accomplished photographer, and is the creator and host of the popular swing dance podcast The Track.
Artem Pugachev
Art began his Lindy Hop journey with RIT's Brick City Boppers. Shortly after joining the college swing dance club in 2016, he found a passion for DJing, and hasn't been able to stop dancing or nerding out about jazz since! He now DJs regularly at Rochester's local Groove Juice Swing events, and as of 2022, is Groove Juice's DJ Coordinator. His choice of tunes skews toward contemporary musicians, while honoring the classic jazz sound of the swing era.
Mike Thibault
Mike started dancing Lindy Hop in 1998, and was a founding member of the RIT Swing Dance Club (now Brick City Boppers). Since then he has traveled to dance all over the world, and taught in countless local and regional classes and workshops. He has also become a sought-after DJ at exchanges, workshops, and camps all over North America, including CCX, Beantown, Lindy Focus, Swing Out New Hampshire, and the legendary late nights at The Lindy Compound.