Conversations in Closed

Down Hold Entertainment

Join Jose, Denise, and Jennifer as they interview friends in the Balboa community, and learn more about their stories, ideas, and the experiences that have shaped them.

Hosts: Jose Tello, Denise Lwin, Jennifer Wang

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20 episodes
Updated July 27

Episodes20

Newest first

July 27 · 1 hr 10 min
016 - Jennifer Barnett
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.
July 13 · 56 min
015 - Etsuko & Yoshi Uemura
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.
June 22 · 44 min
014 - Yoko Kunimasa
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.
June 8 · 57 min
013 - Albert Ferran
Jose and Estela (guest interviewer) chat with Albert Ferran about how he first found Balboa, his thoughts on a healthy partnership, and his love for philosophy. Albert has been Swing dancing since 2001 and has taught Balboa in Barcelona, Spain since 2005. In 2011, he began teaching internationally. Despite achieving numerous competition wins and top placements in Balboa contests and championships, he continues to believe that social dancing is at the heart of it all; that “nothing makes sense unless you feel passion for what you do.” Passing on his knowledge in the classroom and dancing on the social floor are what bring him joy.
May 18 · 1 hr 18 min
012 - Gio "Balboa"
Jennifer and Denise sit down with Gio! Listen to them chat about musicality, humor in dance, pets and plants, and Gio's experience as a queer man in the Balboa scene. Gio started dancing at the age of 10, and he never stopped. He traveled from the very beginning for Boogie Woogie competitoins. Later on he discovered Balboa, which is now his great passion. He is currently based in Stockholm, Sweden where he teaches regular classes. He enjoys experimenting with new moves and stretching the borders of the dance; both in his leading and following. Gio is an avid competitor and a few of his notable placements include titles at All Balboa Weekend, Balboa on the Promenade, and The Snowball. In the classroom he is precise and pedagogical. He is more of a coach than a teacher. Ask him for some feedback!
May 11 · 30 min
Vintage Fashion (with Chloe Hong)
Let's talk vintage fashion. Denise & Jose visit Chloe Hong in Seoul, Korea to talk about vintage attire, how she and her partner Rico Lim started their business, and the challenges of producing attire for dancers.
April 28 · 1 hr 20 min
011 - Theresa Manney
Listen to Grace Babbes interview Theresa Manney about her journey as a triple threat dancer! Theresa Manney has been passionate about dance for as long as she can remember — but nothing captures her heart quite like jazz music and swing dancing. With an early background in ballet, she developed a strong appreciation for training, musicality, and thoughtful movement — foundations that have supported her competitive journey, including finalist and top placements at California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, Hot Rhythm Holiday, and The Snowball. While she enjoys the challenge of competition, what matters most to Theresa is social dancing and sharing the joy of jazz-style dances with others. She’s passionate about helping people build confidence, find their own voice in the music, and fall in love with the dance for themselves.
March 25 · 1 hr 15 min
010 - Olga Marina
Denise and Jose hang with Olga Marina. Hear Olga talk about her experience learning Balboa, starting out as a teacher, and her life outside of dancing. Olga was born into a family of teachers, and has been an energetic live wire since childhood, diving into martial arts, gymnastics, and athletics. She found her passion for dance in 2007 through Lindy hop, and soon after began traveling the globe to dance, learn, compete, and eventually teach. Today she is an international Balboa instructor sharing her love for both solo and partnered Balboa worldwide. In her classes, Olga keeps students engaged with fun challenging tasks, that sharpen technique and musicality while deepening their love of dance. She is also the owner and creator of isolobalboa, and continues to encourage her students to tap into their creative spark.
March 16 · 1 hr
RP Scoring (with Scott Angelius)
Welcome to our first video episode! Jose speaks with Scott Angelius, creator of the widely-used application RP Scoring. Listen to Scott as he talks about competition judging and how to read scoresheets!
March 4 · 1 hr
009 - Fancy Dougherty
Join Jose & our guest interviewer, Jennifer, as they talk to Fancy Dougherty! Hear Fancy talk to us about her experience dancing in SoCal, what she looks for in a dance partner, and her thoughts on pedagogy. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Fancy fell in love Lindy and shag in 2008, with Balboa trailing not far behind. She’s been hooked ever since, constantly endeavoring to improve her technique on a never-ending quest for connection, improvisational freedom in social dancing, and the true jitterbug spirit. She has performed, competed in, and taught Lindy, Balboa, and shag all over the world, and is a five time winner of the national jitterbug championships in the shag division. She loves to dance with new people and beginners, so be sure to ask her to dance!
February 23 · 26 min
008 - Ray Huffman
In this episode, we interview a *very* special guest. Ray Huffman was born in the 1930s and grew up dancing Balboa in Southern California, where he got to listen and dance to bands such as Tommy Dorsey, Nat King Cole, and Count Basie! Featuring Guest Interviewer: Cory Von Korff Links: Ray's favorite modern balboa video
February 9 · 1 hr 51 min
007 - Natasha Shevchenko & Michael Tan
Jose & Denise spend time with Natasha Shevchenko & Michael Tan! One of Balboa's power couples and innovators in the scene. Natasha's accomplishments in the swing dance world include prestigious wins at the California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, BalLove, The Snowball, Valencia Balboa Festival and BalWeek NYC, along with notable placements at the International Lindy Hop Championships and Hot Rhythm Holiday. She has also appeared on prominent television platforms such as Dancing with the Stars and PBS’s America’s Ballroom Challenge. Additionally, Natasha has performed on stage with SW!NG OUT on tour and in A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday during its 2024 and 2025 showings at the Joyce Theater. Michael fell in love with swing dancing in 2016, captivated by the magic of two strangers seamlessly connecting through movement. Specializing in balboa, Michael shares his passion for partner dancing, focusing on the art of melding two individuals and the interplay of lead-and-follow. Michael has won major titles at The Snowball, Bal Love, BalWeek NYC, Valencia Balboa Festival, and the California Balboa Classic, with notable appearances at ILHC, Camp Hollywood, and more. Beyond dance, his third-degree black belt in Taekwondo informs his unique teaching approach, blending principles across different movement backgrounds. Links: World Famous Swing Dancer Goes Undercover Balboa: The Movie Essay: The Out and In Experiment
January 29 · 5 min
Practice Tips & Resources (with Bobby White)
In this Bite Size episode, we listen in on Denise's chat with Bobby White at Bal-Love 2025. Bobby talks practice tips, and Balboa history & resources.
January 20 · 1 hr 10 min
Queer(ing) Balboa (with Emily Schuhmann, Jona Venzor, and Chuyu Liang)
In this episode of Pulse, Jose & Denise interview a panel of dancers from the queer community! Listen to Emily Schuhmann, Jona Venzor, and Chuyu Liang share their diverse experiences as queer folks moving through dance spaces. Special thanks to Balorado (Denver, CO) for supplying promo material.
January 7 · 50 min
006 - Taiga Miyajima
Denise & Jose hang out with Taiga Miyajima at Snowball 2025! Taiga found Swing dancing in 2016 and since then has been relentlessly traveling and competing across the world. In 2023, he embarked on a dynamic six-month worldwide dance adventure, making 23 stops across 17 countries and immersing himself in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. Along the way, he earned placements in both national and international competitions across all three styles. Today, Taiga continues his journey, not just as a dancer but as an organizer in Japan. Inspired by the people he met around the world, he has started a new adventure to create welcoming spaces for dancers from all corners of the globe, fostering the same sense of connection and community that has been so central to his own experience.
Dec 17, 2025 · 29 min
Competition Injuries & Etiquette (with Karen Tong)
Our season finale! Welcome to the first of a new episode format titled Pulse, where we interview everyday dancers from the Swing community at large. Our guest is Karen Tong, from Hong Kong, China. In this episode, Karen talks to us about her injury she obtained during a competition and the discussions that have arisen in the aftermath on competition etiquette and safety.
Dec 10, 2025 · 56 min
005 - Jennifer Lee
Jose meets with international dance instructor, Jennifer Lee. Jenn is an internationally recognized swing dancer and Balboa instructor with a long list of competition titles, but some of her most important victories happened far from the dance floor.She earned her first blue ribbon at age eight by winning the 4-H Food Festival, an achievement made possible entirely by her mother’s cooking. In high school, she won first place in state debate, proving she can out-argue nearly anyone. She later became a board-certified physician, despite receiving a strongly worded letter from her medical school dean after she convinced half her class to dance on top of a bar. In the dance world, Jenn has picked up numerous awards across Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. She is especially proud of placing second in the Hot Wings Showdown at the California Balboa Classic, losing only to the legendary Andrea Gordon. Jenn is known for her musicality, her humor, and her dedication to helping dancers find their voice on the social floor. Music: Deja Vu by Greg Ruby.
Dec 2, 2025 · 8 min
Now & Next (with Desiree Roffers)
The tables are turned! Guest host Desiree Roffers interviews Jose Tello and Denise Lwin about how they got started with this podcast and what we can expect in the future. Listen for a preview of the next interview with Jennifer Lee!
Nov 20, 2025 · 51 min
004 - Andreas Olsson
Denise & Jose sit and chat with Andreas Olsson. Andreas grew up immersed in both wrestling and violin, early experiences that helped shape the creative, musical, and unpredictable style he brings to swing dancing. Trained in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Solo Jazz, he built an accomplished career in performance, competition, and international teaching, earning top placements at events such as Camp Hollywood, the International Lindy Hop Championships, All Balboa Weekend, and more. He is deeply involved in scene building, co-organizing events like Bal-Love, Slow Bal-Love, and Slow Flow, serving for years as competition and DJ coordinator at the Snowball, and acting as artistic director for Breezy Balboa Camp and Weekend in Bangkok. Known for his musicality, creativity, and technical precision, Andreas brings a warm, approachable teaching style that inspires dancers to grow and stay curious in the ever-evolving world of swing dance.
Nov 5, 2025 · 47 min
003 - Jeremy Otth
Jose and Denise visit Jeremy Otth to hear his stories on how he found dancing and his experiences with the old timers. Jeremy has amassed a great amount of knowledge on the historic essence of vintage swing dances from many of the original jitterbugs. His expertise lies in Lindy Hop, Collegiate Shag, Balboa, and Solo Jazz. He holds championship titles in competitions such as The International Lindy Hop Championships, National Jitterbug Championships, and the American Classic Balboa Championships, to name a few. He has also been inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. Music: Deja Vu by Greg Ruby.