MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS !

Maxime Zzaoui

Maxime started dancing at the age of 5 in Lyon, France. He studied contemporary at the Conservatory for 6 years before starting his career in the West Coast Swing community. He is now one of the top male professionals, and was the first European to place in the top 5 of the Classic division at the US Open 2012. 

Torri Smith

Torri began dancing when she was 3 years old in California, USA. She has studied other dances, but has always been a part of the West Coast Swing community; she has won the Young America/Young Adult divisions a total of 6 times at the US Open. Torri was the first and only person to win both the Classic and Showcase division in the same year at the 2010 US Open, and continued to win the Showcase division for the next 4 years. 

Maxime and Torri recently decided to build a partnership and travel the world teaching together. They love the fun and social atmosphere of West Coast Swing, and always want to make their classes informative yet enjoyable for everyone. 

web site: https://maximeandtorri.com/

Natively from Czech Republic & Reunion Island, Jakub and Em took their first steps into the dance world at the age of 16 and 12, both starting with Ballroom Dancing (Latin, Standard & line-dancing). They were both hooked since they discovered West Coast Swing, and were especially drawn to the creativity, musicality, and freedom within the dance.

Their dance world is shaped around multiple influences such as urban dances, contemporary, modern, zouk or contact improvisation; both being eager to learn and assimilate new tools from other dance forms to expand their library of movement, expression and ways to connect.

J’Em story began in June 2016, as they were hired together by pure chance in a styling workshop run by Adam Balasy and Rita Jori in Budapest. They have been traveling the world together ever since, flying from country to country to share their passion for dancing.

They are renowned West Coast Swing Champions, having placed within Top 3 in the Classic Division for 2 consecutive years at the Open Swing Dance Championships.

website : https://www.jemwcs.com/