Bio info coming soon

   Bio info coming soon

Rick Dominguez is a line dance instructor and choreographer, and professional DJ from Southern California. Known for dances like Crossing the Border, Girl Crushin’, Loosen Up My Buttons, Tic Toc, and Everybody Have A Good Time, Rick has been teaching line dance (and also been the resident DJ at Oil Can Harry’s in Studio City) for over 25 years and counting. Rick also DJ’s and teaches line dances throughout the country with various organizations and charities like IAGLCWDC, GLAAD and the Trevor Project. He has taught at LA Music Center’s Dance Downtown Summer Festival for 9 years running, bringing in thousands of new dancers every summer to experience country dance! Rick is the creator of WWLA (Wrangler Weekend Los Angeles) a local country western dance convention now in it’s 7th year! He is also the founder of the LA Wranglers, the award winning country western dance troop that provides entertainment for rodeos, festivals and private events. He is excited to be part of the DC Out team and is looking forward to making wonderful memories! See you on the dance floor!

Erica Smith is a versatile dancer from Beltsville, MD with extensive backgrounds in ballet, hustle, salsa and west coast swing. In 2007, TV Guide Magazine coined Erica the “Disco-Dancing Lawyer” after appearing on “So You Think You Can Dance.” In 2008, Erica won a US Open Swing Dance title in the Strictly Hand Dance division. In 2010, Erica pioneered and co-choreographed the first ever Hustle Flash Mob and in 2015, Erica was inducted into the Hustle Hall of Fame.

Erica is a World Professional Triple Threat Champion (WCS, Salsa and Hustle), Professional Just Hustle Champion, US Open Hand Dance Champion and an accomplished All-Star/Professional west coast swing competitor. In addition to competing, Erica is very passionate about sharing her love of dance with her students. Erica is a 13 time Top Teacher recipient. Erica is a brilliant dancer who guarantees to leave an impression on her audiences and her students.

John, a Champion level dancer, embodies a true swing style that is the essence of origin of swing dancing – he learned swing dancing from his parents who are also avid dancers. His smooth and pure West Coast Swing is polished by Festa’s former ballet training.In the mid-1990s, John originated the most prominent West Coast Swing scene that New York City has ever seen, the North River Bar. His music, ambiance, and dancing put New York City on the West Coast Swing “map”.As a judge, he is particular to the technical details of connection and musicality. As a dancer, he perhaps one of the most elegant. And, as a DJ he his remarkable. There is a reason why people will always talk about John Festa when they talk about West Coast Swing music, he has captured the essence of swing.

John is an indispensible figure at international, national and local West Coast Swing Dance events. Not only does he wow the crowds with his exciting and high octane competitive dancing, he also teaches, judges, coaches, choreographs, and is one of the top DJs on the international scene.John is the co-founder and owner of Liberty Swing Dance Championships, one of the top events in the country. You can learn more about him at www.johnlindo.com. He is a proud homeowner in Santa Rosa, CA, and, in addition to his national and international travels, spends part of each month teaching in the Greater New York City area.

Katia found social partner dancing in college. She dived into Salsa, leading the local club and launching a Salsa team. After also trying ballroom and Argentine Tango, she found West Coast Swing and never looked back. When she moved to Billings, Montana, she founded the West Coast Swing community there, launched a team, and taught weekly classes. More recently, she’s been a member and coach of dcRolePlay. During the last two years, Katia has been choreographing and performing with Triversity, a trio of women who lead and follow. Recently, Katia switched to primarily leading in competitions, progressing from Novice to Advanced in about a year. She has also been leading in and choreographing Rising Star routines, mostly recently with her partner, Julia Smith. Katia is passionate about advocating for dancers to be able to choose their role, without regard to gender. Along with a small group of role-based dancing advocates, she recently `launched the Choose Your Role website as a resource for dancers and community leaders.

Nelson found his footing on the Country Line Dance floor at the early age of 11 in the Ottowa/ Cornwall area. Being the youngest dancer on the floor, he drew people’s attention and his love of dance and performing blossomed! While traveling to national and international Line Dance events he discovered West Coast Swing in 2005. He made his way through the competition ranks and has been at the All-Star level since 2014. Nelson now teaches regular local WCS classes (with partner Kyle Fitzgerald) in the Toronto area, as well as at WCS weekend events in Canada and the US. Nelson likes to challenge his students to work hard with humour and fun. Nelson is dedicated to growing the WCS community and elevating the dance level wherever he teaches!

Growing up watching music videos in the 90’s, Phoenix’s early interest in dance culminated in him teaching himself the choreography to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and then training his friends to dance alongside him in a high school talent show. In 2010, Phoenix discovered West Coast Swing, and a new life passion in partner dancing. He then began his professional dance training by exploring every style he could get his hands on: Ballroom, Salsa, Blues, Argentine Tango…. but Swing remains his first and greatest love. Phoenix knew early on that he enjoys following even more than leading, which has spurred him to train and excel in both roles. His passion for following lead him to create the Facebook group “Degendering West Coast Swing”, a community of dancers that promotes the acceptance and encouragement of role-based dancing in mainstream WCS. The community’s collective efforts resulted in the competition rules changing to allow nontraditional dancers to both dance and be recognized in mainstream WCS’s primary competitive format. Since the rule change, Phoenix has been among the first in the world to achieve a dual “All-Star” competitive ranking both as a lead and as a follow. Phoenix’s advocacy for role-based dancing is still going strong, and he is proud to see how much progress has come from the last few years. He now spends 1-2 weekends a month traveling, teaching, competing, DJing, and judging. Dancing is his light in life and he’s eager to share that light with the world.

Samantha began dancing at the age of 7 under the guidance of her mother Kelly Buckwalter Casanova. Her competitive dance career began in 2001 which led her to do her first Juniors routine at the US Open with Ben Morris in 2002 and the following year with Rickey Andrade in 2003. Samantha worked diligently to earn her points in every division up from the Junior, Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and AllStar divisions to her current position competing with the top Champion dancers around the world.

Starting in 2007, Samantha was fortunate to study under Mario Robau Jr. She assisted him in workshops and intensives both in the US and abroad which she credits to her confident teaching foundation. During 2009-2010 Samantha was presented a once in a life time opportunity to re-locate to London. It was there that she taught weekly classes, workshops, and events all over the UK and Europe in an effort to help the Swing community grow. Samantha now resides in Southern California and continues to travel all over the world competing, coaching, and teaching with her partner Matt Richey.