S1E6 THE Jenny Sowden (New York City) Instructor+DJ+Founder of Brooklyn Swings

Instructor Bio
“You are truth in motion when you dance, Ms S.” - Jason
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Jenny Sowden is an award winning, full-time, international dance instructor based in New York City where she is the founder and director of Brooklyn Swings. Jenny has been training in dance for over twenty-five years and teaching for over twenty, with a BA in Dance and Theater from San Diego State University. She has studied 34 different styles of movement including Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, West African, Capoeira, Aikido, Tango, Salsa, Lindy hop, Balboa, and Blues. Her background influences her teaching and general style through musicality, variety, expression and an understanding of body mechanics. Jenny believes the dance floor is a ‘World of Yes,’ where by constantly accepting and being inspired by what happens, creates an amazing place to be. We then take classes in a ‘World of Intention’ to expand our ‘World of Yes.’ Find out more at JennySowden.com. 

To book her or schedule a private lesson please Contact Jenny

DJ Bio
"I know when you DJ I'll go on a journey and be taken care of on the way" - Shira

Meet Jenny from the block, in NYC. She is an award winning international DJ and instructor who loves to create a party with music whether with Blues, Swing, Fusion, or just House Party Style incorporating vintage, 'classic' and modern eras. Enjoy the jams as she will be surprising and make you say 'what is that song?!" Get ready to be inspired to create in your next dance. More info at JennySowden.com

106: Jenny Sowden

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S1E5 Brendan Patrick McGlynn (New York City) Co-founder of The Pearl Dive

Brendan McGlynn grew up social dancing to Motown tunes at his family's house parties. During college, he toured with an international folk dance ensemble. Brendan learned the Lindy Hop hanging out with the legendary Frankie Manning, and later taught the dance at New York City's leading dance schools, including DanceSport and You Should Be Dancing. He has performed on numerous occasions, including at Radio City Music Hall with Tony Bennett, at the Rainbow Room with Nell Carter, and at the Mohegan Sun Casino with Ben Vereen. Brendan believes in the healing power of dance, and revels in sharing his love of the art form with all those around him.

The Pearling Principle

105: Brendan McGlynn

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S1E4 Arielle (New York City) Founder of The Pearl Dive

Arielle is a multifaceted artist whose inspiration constantly seeks its equilibrium among visual, sonic, and physical elements. An avid fusion dancer, her experience includes ballet, tap, modern, contact improv, Luigi jazz, modern/contemporary, salsa, tango, zouk, blues, swing, ballroom/latin, flamenco, and American square dancing. With multiple degrees from the Juilliard School (music) and Fashion Institute of Technology (fashion design, haute couture), Arielle explores the convergence and interdependence of many art forms - especially dance, music, and fashion/costume design - while striving to achieve fluidity and flow in every collaboration. Arielle is a 2021 recipient of the City Artists Corps Grant for her multidisciplinary work. For more info, on Arielle’s other pursuits, please visit www.arielleharp.com.

The Pearling Principle

104: Arielle

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S1E3 Kathleen Evans (New York City) Founder NYC house parties and Fusion Exchange Performer

Kathleen (DJ Katalyst) discovered fusion in 2012 after building a background in blues, salsa, contra, and bhangra. She got hooked at the Las Vegas Fusion Exchange and became a DJ to recreate the excitement of that incredible weekend. For the past 5 years she's honed her craft spinning at blues and fusion events in NYC, where she runs a monthly fusion house party. Kathleen enjoys exploring and cross-pollinating with other scenes, and she has played at events like DJX Fusion Weekend, Motley Hue, High-Fidelity Fusion, Mission Fusion, and DoubleShot. She enjoys creating a mood for dancers to play with – whether playful or intense, sexy or soulful. She loves discovering new artists, and she can never resist a good cover."

103: Kathleen Evans

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S1E2 Jesse O'Sullivan (San Diego) Founder of Necrodancers

Jesse O’Sullivan (they/he) is a nerd of feelings, bodies, bikes, and cities. When they’re not busy being a dad and a lawyer, you can find them dancing, writing, or staring wistfully into the distance. They started blues dancing in 2012 in Pittsburgh, and fell in love with the connection and collective creativity of dance. They started fusion dancing in 2013 when they moved to San Diego.

102: Jesse O'Sullivan

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S1E1 Alethia Espinal (San Diego) Founder of FirstFridayFusion

Alethia Espinal, a native of San Diego, CA, had always found solace in dancing, often indulging in it as a personal experience. It wasn't until her best friend of 18 years persuaded her to attend a Swing social dance event in 2015 that her dance journey took an exhilarating turn. From that point forward, she embraced a diverse range of dance styles, expanding her repertoire to include Blues, Fusion, West Coast Swing, Tango, and New Style Hustle. Following a brief medical hiatus in 2017, Alethia returned to the world of social dancing, only to realize that the Fusion dance form she had come to love was conspicuously absent from local social dance events. She took matters into her own hands and in November of 2017, she took the step of founding the first Fusion monthly in San Diego, aptly named "First Friday Fusion." Her vision is to have not only enrich the local dance scene but have also create a vibrant space for dancers to connect, express, and evolve.

101: Alethia Espinal

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