Frankie Manning (in memoriam)
The Ambassador of Lindy Hop, Frankie travelled all over the world teaching jazz dance to Swing enthusiasts in Sweden, Singapore, Australia, England, Spain, as well as across the United States. We were fortunate and honored to have had him on our staff from 1987 to 2009. A Savoy Ballroom legend and the chief choreographer of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers and the Congaroos, two famous Harlem dance troupes of the 1930s-1950s, Frankie won a Tony Award for choreography for the musical Black and Blue. Frankie passed away on April 27, 2009, in New York City at the age of 94.
Al Minns (in memoriam)
A Savoy Ballroom great, Harvest Moon Ball winner, and member of the famed Harlem troupe Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, the late Al Minns established the Swing program in 1981. Persuaded out of dance retirement by the studio's business manager, Larry Schulz, Al spread his love and tremendous jazz dance knowledge to studio staff and students until his untimely passing in 1985. His imprint and memory remain with the program.
Sandra Cameron, Artistic Director
Sandra is the Founder and Director of the Sandra Cameron Dance Center, New York's most influential school of Ballroom dancing for 30 years. She is the winner of every major American Ballroom dance competition in International style.
1st Place, United States Professional Ballroom Championships, 1976, 1977, 1978: Foxtrot, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango, Quickstep
2nd Place Finalist, United States American Style Ballroom Championships
4th Place Finalist, United States Professional Latin Championship: Rhumba, Cha Cha, Paso Doble, Samba, Jive.
She is also the recipient of 1979's U.S. Terpsichore's Hall of Fame Award for services to American dancing.
Roberto Garcia
Roberto Garcia is a performer, teacher and choreographer with 30 years of professional experience in modern dance. Roberto began ballroom dancing in 1999 and in 2001 was invited to join the staff at the Sandra Cameron Dance Center. Since September 2002 he has taught the ballroom dance classes at the 92nd Street Y.
Stephanie Hakun
Stephanie (Shapiro) Hakun was practically born dancing. Although she began dancing ballet at the age of 5 years old in Parkridge, IL, she quickly traded in her ballerina slippers for dancing shoes where she danced all through school and in to her adult life. Stephanie's wide range of experience runs the gamut from her high school Drill Team to a traveling Folk Dance Troop in Israel, finally transplanting herself in NYC where she has excelled in Swing, Salsa, Hustle and Ballroom.
Bill Kline
Bill Kline began as a student at the Sandra Cameron Dance Center in 1990. He was trained as a teacher by the masters Frankie Manning and Paul Grecki. He started teaching swing in 1995. He was trained in social ballroom and latin by Sandra Cameron and Peter Difalco. He is also a specialist in authentic Brazilian Samba.
Larry Schulz
Larry Schulz is also a serious student of dance history. In 1979, he produced and directed the award winning documentary, Partners, on U.S. Ballroom champions Sandra Cameron and Bill Davies. In 1982, he coaxed the great Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hopper, Al Minns, to come out of retirement and teach at the Sandra Cameron Dance Center. Larry also produced a critically acclaimed swing revue, "A Night at the Savoy," at the Village Gate in 1984, featuring Harold Nicholas, Jon Hendricks, Norma Miller, Frankie Manning and others.
