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The Track - E030 - Mikey Pedroza

The Track with Ryan Swift

Release Date: 11/28/2017

The Track - 054 - Helena Martins show art The Track - 054 - Helena Martins

The Track with Ryan Swift

Lindy Hop dancer and DJ Helena Martins sits down with host Ryan Swift to talk dance and music.

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The Track - E053 - Julia Loving show art The Track - E053 - Julia Loving

The Track with Ryan Swift

In this episode, I am joined by dancer, organizer, and educator Julia Loving. Julia has been a Teacher of Africana History and School Media Specialist in the New York City public schools for the past 27 years, and began Lindy Hopping in 2013. In addition to being a mainstay at social dances in her native New York City, she organizes dance events in Harlem as co-founder of , and is the creator of undergarments for dancers. Julia currently serves on the Boards of the and the . Julia joined me by video from her Bronx home to talk about growing up in the Bronx during the , memories of watching...

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The Track - E052 - Giselle Anguizola show art The Track - E052 - Giselle Anguizola

The Track with Ryan Swift

In this episode, I am joined by dancer, instructor, and musician, . Giselle has been swing dancing for over 20 years, and is founder of , an organization honoring women in swing music and dance through weekend festivals around the globe. Widely renowned for her as a performer and instructor, Giselle spends most of her days singing and dancing with in New Orleans and San Diego. Giselle joined me by video chat from her home in San Diego to talk about finding swing dancing thanks to a middle school music teacher, the importance of recognizing followers in their own right, and what it means when...

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The Track - E051 - Gordon Au show art The Track - E051 - Gordon Au

The Track with Ryan Swift

Trumpeter and bandleader Gordon Au joins host Ryan Swift

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The Track - E050 - For Frankie show art The Track - E050 - For Frankie

The Track with Ryan Swift

We celebrate this milestone 50th episode of The Track with a collection of stories from past episodes about the Ambassador of Lindy Hop, Frankie Manning.

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The Track - E049 - Evita Arce show art The Track - E049 - Evita Arce

The Track with Ryan Swift

Dancer and instructor Evita Arce joins host Ryan Swift.

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The Track - E048 - Caleb Teicher show art The Track - E048 - Caleb Teicher

The Track with Ryan Swift

Tap Dancer, Lindy Hopper, and choreographer Caleb Teicher joins host Ryan Swift

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The Track - E047 - Dr. Christi Jay Wells show art The Track - E047 - Dr. Christi Jay Wells

The Track with Ryan Swift

Swing dancer and musicologist Dr. Christi Jay Wells joins host Ryan Swift

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The Track - E046 - Marie N'diaye show art The Track - E046 - Marie N'diaye

The Track with Ryan Swift

Instructor, performer, and choreographer Marie N'diaye joins host Ryan Swift

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The Track - E045 - Felix Berghäll show art The Track - E045 - Felix Berghäll

The Track with Ryan Swift

Swedish instructor, performer, and choreographer Felix Berghäll joins host Ryan Swift

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My guest this month, Mikey Pedroza, is one of the most versatile dancers in the modern swing dance scene, having competed, performed, and taught Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, Blues, and Solo Jazz around the world. 

He is a fixture on the international swing dance scene and co-hosts the podcast “The Brightside with Mikey and Rachel.” Mikey and I sat down at ILHC 2017 to talk about his changing approach to choreography and competition, and his memories of dancing as a teenager in Southern California among old-timers like Maxie Dorf and Hal Takier.

We also discussed his personal experience with an event’s safe space policy, the injury that took him out of this year's competitions, and how these events brought him to reflect on what the dance means to him and his place in the swing dance community.