Melanie Mas & Albert Roca Vila
Melanie & Albert met each other on 2007, and started dancing ballroom and Salsa, before they focused on swing.
On 2014, they started teaching classes, becoming local teachers and traveling to festivals around the world to improve their dancing.
In the beginning of 2014 they discovered and fell in love with Blues, making it their main dance and excelling in this style by winning several international competitions.
Their quality in dancing, their playfulness with a high technique and their incredible personalities brought them to give classes at blues festivals all over the world.
They founded their own school, MOV/MENT in La Garriga (near Barcelona), where they teach regular classes and organize their own Blues Dance Festival, Low & Slow.
The community of blues dancers in the area “Garriga Power & Friends” and “Blues Dance Catalunya” are so friendly and welcoming, just like them!
Annette Kühnle
Annette lives in Heidelberg, Germany, and is one of Europe’s most prominent champions for blues dance.
As a teacher, dancer, DJ and organizer, she has been spreading her love for early Black American dances in general and blues dancing in particular for almost two decades, and is renowned Internationally for her expertise, dedication, energy, and kindliness.
Her infectious appreciation and passion for blues music, dancing and history shines in every step she takes and every lesson she teaches.
Check out her hand-curated calendar for all blues dance events in Europe!
EDMILSON BOtelho
Born and raised on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, Edmilson has always been immersed in music, drawing inspiration from the vibrant rhythms of African traditional dances such as Usôa, Puíta, Funaná, Cadence, Kizomba, Semba, Kuduro, and many other African styles, as well as POP dance.
His dance journey began at the age of 17 when he moved to Porto, Portugal, and discovered his passion for Lindy Hop and Blues Dance. His dedication to the art of dance eventually led him to become one of manging at Hop Dance Studio in Porto, where he shares his love for movement and rhythm with others As a passionate dancer and teacher, Edmilson embodies the spirit of dance, finding joy in every step and rhythm.
With his captivating energy and charismatic personality, he creates an atmosphere of fun and humility wherever he goes, inspiring others to feel the rhythm and express themselves through movement.
Elena Cancilla
Elena Cancilla is a dancer and facilitator from Italy, based in Belgium. With a background in theater, dance, and ethnomusicology, her work bridges artistic expression and cultural awareness.
Since 2022, she has been teaching Blues Dance at Apollo Swing, where she introduced the first dedicated courses. She has taught and performed at international festivals across Europe and Asia, known for her refined sense of musicality, connection, and presence.
Elena approaches blues with deep respect for its African American roots, embracing her role as a guest in the culture. Her teaching focuses on creating spaces where technique and emotion meet—where dancers can explore rhythm, partnership, and self-expression with authenticity and care.
Her classes invite curiosity, awareness, and freedom, celebrating the human and cultural depth that make blues dance a living, evolving art form.
Yasin Akay
Yasin lives in Izmir. A swing dance enthusiast for over 10 years, he teaches at his own school and at various festivals. He discovered the blues in 2017 and has been captivated by it ever since. He teaches blues classes in Izmir and strives to create a community where blues lovers can listen to music and dance.
Blues has been the rhythm that always draws him back. Teaching and learning have always been at the center of his life, and over the years he has had the joy of guiding many students while exploring the soulful, playful side of the music — its melancholy, its joy, and everything in between. He is excited to bring his passion and experience to Frankfurt in one of the taster classes.
Doro Fried & Chris Kearns
Doro lives in Wiesbaden where she plays an important role of the local blues dance scene by teaching solo blues workshops and DJing. Chris used to teach Blues and Lindy Hop in Sydney aND now lives in London where he likes to attend European Blues festivals and DJ. They both primarily dance blues but have danced lots of other styles as well. Their main focus is social dancing and bringing a sense of fun to every dance – so you can look forward to their Taster class!
Rita (aka DJ Cold Hand)
Rita’s roots are in 1960s R&B and soul. Almost ten years ago, she was already part of the Northern Soul subculture in Italy. She found swing in 2023 and has been dancing it for two years now, with blues following right after. She is a regular in the Frankfurt scene, organising events, DJing, and dancing as much as possible. Make sure not to miss her Taster class to expand your movement vocabulary!