014 - Yoko Kunimasa

Welcome to Shanghai! Come hang with Simone, Marvin, Denise, and Jose as they chat about Balboa, chagee, dancing in China, and more... Simone Wu is a pessimist about verbal communication, but an optimist on the dance floor. Skeptical of words, she found real conversation through partner dance: in just a few songs, people touch fragments of each other’s true selves—proof that human interactions are infinitely fascinating and surprising.Driven by relentless curiosity, Simone jumped into teaching and organizing Balboa early in her journey, eventually founding her own swing dance club. Aside from a drastic drop in income, it’s her dream job: dancing freely, tackling terrifyingly addictive competitions, teaching internationally, bringing global concepts to China, and meeting wonderful, kindred humans. Her students’ endless questions keep her experimenting and refining her craft.Marvin Pan fell in love with jazz long before swing dancing, but from the first handhold to an Ella Fitzgerald tune, he was hooked. He came for the music and stayed for the connection. Social dancing remains the heartbeat of his dance journey and where he finds the most joy. In class, Marvin blends deep musicality and solid technique with a playful sense of humor, encouraging dancers to listen closely and find their voice within the partnership.Over the years, Marvin has consistently made finals and earned titles at major competitions across the United States, Europe, and Asia, including Cal Bal, Camp Hollywood, Bal Week, Bal Love, Snowball, KBW, and SBW. But for all the competitions and spotlights, few things make him happier than a cozy Pure Balboa dance.

Jenn + Jose meet up with Andrew Wilson! Yes, that Andrew Wilson!Andrew is a Balboa and Lindy Hop dancer based in Durham, North Carolina. A passionate teacher, competitor, and social dancer, Andrew is drawn to the aspects of dance he finds most rewarding: connection, movement, technique, and musicality. As a teacher Andrew particularly enjoys helping dancers discover how strong fundamentals can bring them into greater connection with both the music and their partners. He takes a clear and thoughtful approach to breaking down concepts, helping dancers build confidence, deepen their understanding, and develop into the kind of dancer they want to be.Over the years, Andrew has been a finalist at events including Lindy Focus, The Snowball, Hot Rhythm Holiday, and The California Balboa Classic. Whether in competition, in class, or on the social floor, he strives to create an engaging and supportive environment where dancers can grow, explore, and have fun.

From the archives: Jose visits Soochan Lee (and Young!) in their beautiful home in Seoul, Korea. A pioneer of the Korean swing dance scene, Soochan transitioned from a street dance background to become a globally recognized instructor, performer, and judge. His skill set includes Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, and Solo Jazz. Since launching his professional career, he has spent decades promoting the art form across five continents, and earning top honors at prestigious events which include first place finishes at the Korea Swing Festival, the Korea lindy hop championships, and Frankie 100’s Hellzapoppin competition. As the first Korean instructor hired at Herrang Dance Camp, and the founder of Seoul’s Triple Crown Dance Academy, Soochan continues to be a driving force in the growth of the community, dedicating his life to teaching and elevating Swing dance on a world stage.

Sam Chan enters the chat. And gets boba with Jenn & Jose! Strap yourselves in for a ridiculous episode.Sam has been swing dancing since 2003 and trained under original dancers like Dean Raftery, and old timers like Marge Takier. He took 1st at the Balorado 2025 Invitational and 1st in the Wildcard at The California Balboa Classic in 2025. He has placed in Invitational contests at Hot Rhythm Holiday, Great Lakes Balboa Escape, and Balorado. He teachers with a focus on breaking technique down clearly, and he is usually one of the last people on the floor at the end of the night.

Bienvenidos a Conversations in Closed! Jose y Estela charlan con Neus Castells...Neus descubrió el swing por casualidad en 2007 en el Parque de la Ciutadella de Barcelona. Comenzó formándose en Lindy Hop y Solo Jazz, y hacia 2009 se sumergió en el Balboa. Desde entonces ha vivido la escena al máximo: practicando, enseñando, compitiendo, haciendo de DJ y actuando.Desde 2015 entrena e imparte clases regulares e internacionales de Balboa junto a Albert Ferran, con quien comparte el proyecto Balanced Dancing. Este proyecto busca profundizar en los diferentes aspectos del baile en pareja que permitan potenciar una comunicación más fluida y dinámica y la expresividad de ambos bailarines, respetando siempre los fundamentos del Balboa original. Todo ello con un enfoque centrado en el baile social, la improvisación y los aspectos filosóficos y humanos, que nos invitan a cuestionarnos constantemente.

Denise chats with Miyabi Hong from Taiwan! Listen to them talk about the crossover between Taiwan's street dance scene, follower's voice, and of course we couldn't have Miyabi on without asking her about all her different hair colors. If you have ever watched Miyabi on the dance floor, she is incredibly playful, and she has a unique way of approaching the dance. Miyabi's passion for street dance began during her school days. Her background in street dance and understanding of body movement helped her blend seamlessly into Swing dancing. In 2016, she founded Balboa Taipei and has been an active presence in the local dance scene.

Larissa & Heiko Heckendorn hang out with Jose. Join us as we talk about dance/romantic partnerships, ELEF, the life of traveling dance teachers, and more.Larissa and Heiko's story began 22 years ago at a high school ball, when a friend gave Heiko a well-timed shove in Larissa's direction. They've been dancing through life together ever since. It was Larissa who pulled Heiko onto the dance floor, from ballroom and Latin all the way to Lindy Hop, Shag and Balboa. He swears he loved it from the very first moment, and since he never left, we're inclined to believe him.Before swing took over their lives, Larissa taught high school math and physics, so no classroom in the world fazes her. Heiko spent years travelling the globe, making complicated technical products sound simple. As it turns out, those are precisely the skills teaching dance and running a dance school require: clear explanations, endless patience, and a talent for keeping a room full of people happily engaged.Today they run their school, Basel Jitterbugs, where every class teaches both roles: everyone leads, everyone follows. Inspired by the original dancers and by eye-opening trips to Los Angeles and Orange County, they live by the spirit of all swing dances sharing one floor, and they host three international festivals in Basel: Jitterbugs Delight, Balboa Delight and Shag Delight. 

Jenn & Jose catch up with Jennifer Barnett. Known for bringing a little math and science into the ballroom, Jen began tap dancing in pre-school and continued learning and teaching tap through high school. After putting aside dance to focus on chemistry in college, she was happy to return to dancing after graduation. This time to the partnered danced of Balboa and Slow Balboa. Now residing in New York City, Jen has spent over two decades teaching swing dance across five continents. She has placed in Strictly and Mix & Match divisions at prestigious events such as, The California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, Stardust, and has performed at New York City's Lincoln Center and The Museum of Natural History. As a teacher, Jen blends a straightforward, technical presentation for both leads and follows, with plenty of humor and support, creating a multilevel classroom environment where everyone is challenged to push their creative boundaries.

Jose interviews two talented Seattle dancers: Etsuko & Yoshi Uemura! We talk about Pure Balboa, how their partnership came to be, hopes for the Balboa community, and more.Etsuko and Yoshi are Seattle-based Balboa dancers and instructors originally from Japan. Dancing together since 2015, they are best known for their Pure Balboa. Through teaching, competing, and social dancing, they love to share the joy of Pure Balboa with dancers around the world.

Jose travels to Niigata, Japan to interview one of the hardest working community organizers in the Swing scene: Yoko Kunimasa!Listen to Yoko talk about her experience as an event/community organizer, teaching young people how to dance, and starting a dance scene from scratch.