Weekly Blango Nuevo Instructors
Zoe Whittaker
Charlotte
Zoe Whittaker has been dancing, performing & instructing Blues & Savoy style Lindy Hop for over twelve years. She emphasizes strong social dance technique and is known for her connection based approach to teaching. Her classes teach solid partner communication that will make your dancing feel comfortable. Some of her professional experiences include teaching and performing blues dance at Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden, teaching connection classes at Lindy Focus III, working as a period dance consultant, choreographer & dancer on the set of George Clooney's movie Leatherheads and directing two years of Orton Academy's Swing & Jazz program (Asheville, NC).
She teaches weekly Blues & Lindy in Charlotte, NC & Tango in Knoxville, TN. Some of her more recent events have included teaching at Buenos Aires Blues, the Beyond Blues traveling series with Mihai Banulescu in Raleigh, Virginia Beach & York, Pennsylvania along with master classes in tango & blues at Charlotte's own Blango Nuevo yearly event.
Mike Eblen
Mike is now teaching in Portland CONGRATS!
Mike can best be described as a dance pirate. He starting teaching tango at the University of North Carolina, blues dancing at Westville Pub & with Asheville's Tango Gypsies most weeks. He has performed at Buenos Aires Blues & teaches blues/tango master classes with Blango Nuevo. When Mike isn't doing math he can be found teaching Tango in Knoxville, TN or most recently in Portland, OR. We are excited to have him teach over the holidays.
Chi Chinaka
Charlotte
Chi brings the body awareness & prowess of years in instructing martial arts. His experience with Afro-Brazilian fighting dances & lindy hop have schooled him well. He'll be teaching Juke Joint plus intermediate rhythm & blues with Zoe this year.
Edwin Cruz
of Charlotte
We are lucky to have Edwin leading the Ballroomin' (Upright) Blues classes this year in Charlotte. He is a tango aficionado & teaches with his wife Grace Cruz.