WHO'S WHO IN SW!NG OUT THE BRAINTRUST EVITA ARCE (Braintrust), an internationally renowned Lindy Hop dancer and teacher, began her jazz journey in Austin, Texas (1998). A few career highlights include competing on So You Think You Can Dance (2007), Let Freedom Swing with Jazz at Lincoln Center at The Kennedy Center (2009), performing in SWING! the musical (2008-2009), and her Broadway debut beside Caleb Teicher for Regina Spektor’s run at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater (2019). Evita was also featured in the Swing documentary Alive and Kicking (2016) which follows her path in the international Lindy Hop community. Co-directing with Michael Jagger, Syncopated City, debuted as the first Lindy Hop dance company to present at Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Stage (2012-2013). Evita danced for Caleb Teicher & Company having performed in Meet Ella and More Forever. Over the course of the pandemic Evita has continued to teach Lindy Hop, Charleston and solo Jazz online at syncopatedcity. com. She graduated from UT Austin with a double Bachelor’s degree in Theater & Dance and Film Production. Thanks to her family, especially her husband Simon, her mentors Ryan Francois & Jenny Thomas, the Vanaver Caravan’s training, Mirra & Richard Brockman’s support, Jacky Li for the shoes, and Elena Iannucci & Teddy Kern of Dance Manhattan for providing an artistic home for ten years. And of course huge love to the extraordinary dream team of SW!NG OUT. Multi-Bessie award winner LATASHA BARNES (Braintrust, Dancer) is an internationally recognized and celebrated dance artist, insightful educator and Tradition-Bearer of Black American Social Dance. Currently operating between New York and Phoenix, Barnes’ expansive artistic, competitive, and performative skills have made her a frequent collaborator to arts organizations around the world including The Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts, Dorrance Dance, Summer Dance Forever (NL) and many others. She is honored to serve as the visionary creator and Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed intergenerational and intercommunal Black cultural arts experience The Jazz Continuum. Her "Continuum" based research serves as a guidepost in her efforts as Associate Prof. Of Dance & Cultural Anthropology on the highly innovative faculty of Arizona State University School of Music, Dance & Theater. Across all communities and positions LaTasha's purpose is to inspire artivism through an authentic sense of self and unapologetic joy. Visit www.latashabarnes.com to learn more about her journey, achievements and ways to support her cultural efforts. NATHAN BUGH (Braintrust, Dancer) is one of the world's leading exponents of Lindy Hop and vernacular jazz dance. His on-stage performances include: Carnegie Hall (Swing Swing Swing w/ New York Pops), The Apollo Theater (Swingin’ Frankie’s Way), and Jacob’s Pillow (Earthbeat!, More Forever, SW!NG OUT). His on-screen appearances include My Fair Wedding, Making Money, Rebel In The Rye, and The Weepies Be My Honeypie. He cochoreographed Joyce Theater Productions’ SW!NG OUT and the Gibney commission, Meet Ella, both under the direction of Caleb Teicher. An avid social dancer since the late 1990’s, Nathan has won many swing contests, with first-place titles for Lindy Hop, Team, Solo, Invitational, Slow Dance, Video Showcase, and Mix/Match divisions of the International Lindy Hop Championships et al. He has taught the Columbia University Swing Club since 2006 and is on the dance faculty at Marymount Manhattan College.
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