2008 IAGLCWDC Annual Convention

Instructor Biographies

Scott Schrank ~ Junior Willis ~ Solomon Singer ~ AT Kinson ~ Guyton Mundy ~ Shawn Swaithes
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Scott Schrank
I started line dancing about 9 years ago. I remember the first dance I ever tried to learn was Jo Thompson's "Midnight Waltz". I was so intrigued by the movement. Believe it or not, it took me 4 sessions to learn that dance. Things have changed dramatically in the short time I have been dancing. I find that the dances are much more demanding in precision and complexity. No more of just "Slap Dem Boots!" and "Kick up your heels". I like the more complex workings in the new line dances. I also like the fact that line dances are done to such a vast variety of music genres. They are a good way for students to learn Cha-Cha, Waltz, Swing or Two-Step...all without a dance partner. And most dances can be mastered in the privacy of your own living room.
I have written some dances that I think are good...others may be just "A Work in Progress". People say my dances are "Challenging." I am not sure if that is a good thing, but I will take it as a compliment. I have entered a few choreography competitions. Recently, my dance, "Soul Violins," took first place in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Another dance, "Just Imagine," took second place in the Phrased Country Category.
This year has been a very good one for me. I just came back from Las Vegas from the Vegas Dance Explosion. My two newest dances, "Global Warming" and "Working It," both took 1st place. The exciting part about it is I get to teach next year in Vegas. I want you all there! Start saving those pennies up. I promise to have at least one new dance ready by then.
For more information about Scott and his dances visit http://scottschrank.com/.

Junior Willis
Junior is from Bean Station, Tennessee. He has been line dancing for over 11 years and has been teaching workshops on the line dance circuit for 5 years. His first dance experience was as a clogger at the age of 8. He competed and performed with several clogging teams for over 19 years and won many team, duo, and individual events. His highest award earned was 5th in the world, in individuals.
Clogging eventually led Junior into line dancing. Some of his best known line dances include: Dancer's Night Out (The Butt Dance), Junkie, Boogie Fever, and Free. He teaches a regular weekly class in Morristown, Tennessee at the Talley Ward Building. His group, known as the "Fire and Ice" Linedancers, perform at local events and nursing homes. They have also appeared on TNN's Club Dance several times performing spotlight dance routines.
Junior is an assistant coach for a competition cheerleading squad in Morristown, Tennessee, the Hurricane All-Stars. He enjoys working with young people and encouraging them to dance!
For more information please visit http://www.juniorwillis.com/

Solomon Singer
Solomon Singer is a co-director of the 5-Boro Dance Challenge (www.5borodance.com), a same-sex dance event in New York City , which he produces with his partner Richard McMurrich. Together, they were the 2006 Gold Medalists in Advanced Country Western Partner Dancing at the Gay Games in Chicago . They are also the 2005 United States Rising Star Same-Sex Latin Dance Champions.
Solomon has been competing in Country Western Partner Dance for almost nine years, and has been teaching partner dancing all over the United States since 2001. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and the New York State Theater in Lincoln Center. He can be seen in the Julia Roberts Film Mona Lisa Smile, the documentary Mad Hot Ballroom, and the upcoming Disney Film, Enchanted.
For more information about Solomon visit www.solomonsinger.com.

AT Kinson
A.T. Kinson is a UCWDC certified journeyman judge. He travels throughout the U.S. coaching, teaching, judging, choreographing, and demonstrating for many venues. He will be available for private lessons at the hoedown—couples, line dance, groups and individuals.
"Thanks for your support and good luck to all." ~ A.T.

Guyton Mundy
Guyton Mundy started his dance career when he auditioned for the entertainment department at Walt Disney World in 1993.
While doing live shows, parades and television filming at Disney, Guyton found himself with a group of young Hip-Hop dancers. Shortly after they were being called upon to do shows, television and choreography.
Guyton later found that his talent extended into line dancing as well. He began his line dance career when he was invited to Manchester England to do an event with Pedro Machado. After returning to the U.S. he attended the 2002 Orange Blossom Dance Festival in Orlando FL, where he won his first Choreography competition.
At the 2003 Worlds in Nashville, Guyton became the first person to compete in all five line dance choreography events and place in the top five in all. He also became the first person to take two First place World Championships in the same year.
Guyton says he has become a better dancer since getting into line dancing and believes dancing is not something you do, it's something you live and feel.
Guyton's website is http://funk-n-line.com/

Shawn Swaithes

Shawn Swaithes began his competitive dance career in 1996 in the mainstream dance environment.
Shawn and his partner Donna Bonham Steinfeld progressed rapidly through the ranks and in 1999 captured a World Championship in the professional division of the UCWDC. Shawn's professional background in training and development make him a very popular instructor, coach and choreographer in many dance environments. Along with being a fulltime instructor, Shawn and Donna are also Event Directors of the Orange Blossom Dance Festival (www.orangeblossomdance.com).

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