Ballroom Dancing Weekend

Gene Eagle teaches social ballroom dance and DJ’s in Manhattan, and has been dancing ballroom and swing for over 25 years. He has performed at venues including the Waldorf Astoria and the 92nd Street Y, where he was the host and DJ for the 92nd Street Y Ballroom Dance parties. He has DJ’d Lincoln Center’s “MidSummer Night Swing” and “Summer for the City” Ballroom evenings as well as dance studios and private functions in NYC, and continues to host social dance parties as GE Dance, LLC. His eclectic music library includes both traditional ballroom dance music and contemporary pieces ideal for all styles of ballroom dancing.

Laurie Shayler has been dancing her entire life and started teaching children at an early age. Before falling in love with Ballroom Dancing and forming her company Dance Connection, she received a B.A. in Dance from SUNY Brockport. After moving to New York, she worked as a professional modern dancer with many choreographers performing and teaching in New York City, and touring across the U.S., Europe and Asia. She created the innovative Dance as a Second Language Course (DSL), merging the studies of English and Social Dancing at Baruch and LaGuardia Community Colleges. Now settled in Brooklyn, her passion for dance and teaching continues with her company Dance Connection offering group and private classes in Swing, Latin & Ballroom styles and specializing in Wedding Choreography.

Jeni Breen is the owner and Artistic Director of Jeni Breen Tango Academy in Manhattan. She was Director of the Tango and Salsa Programs at the Sandra Cameron Dance Center in NYC for many years, and prior to that was a member of the legendary modern dance company Donald Byrd/The Group

Candace Woodward-Clough has been teaching ballroom dance for four decades. While living in NYC, she danced in and choreographed Off-Broadway, summer stock, movies, soap operas and videos, and founded Ballroom Dance at the New York Health & Racquet Club. After marrying and moving to central New Jersey, she has been teaching ballroom dance at Princeton University, Mercer Country Community College, a number of retirement communities, and The Peddie School (where she has also choreographed musicals and ran summer theatre camp for 25 years), while continuing to teach private lessons in her own studio.

Danny Lipsitz is one of the top established bandleaders, musicians, and entertainers on the scene today in New York City. He leads his swing, jump blues, klezmer, and early rock ‘n’ roll band, The Brass Tacks, in captivating, feel-good music for people from all walks of life, performed by some of the top musical talent in the world. In 2021, they signed on with Midori and Friends to present in six public schools around NYC a new curriculum about the saxophone in rock ‘n’ roll music. In 2022, they headlined the inaugural Swing On the Sound swing dance weekend at Sound View Greenport. In the fall of 2022, they headlined four sold out events on their first Asian tour. Danny has performed in over 15 countries and worked with artists like Julian Lennon, Bernie Williams, Harry Nilsson, Ronnie Spector, Jon Batiste, Dr. Demento, Mark Hudson, Denny Laine, Brian Ray, Carmine Appice, The Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Billy Vera, Alphonso Horne, Maria Muldaur, The Avalon Jazz Band, The Hot Sardines, Brian Newman, Murray Hill, Lucky Chops Brass Band, The Losers Lounge, The Gordon Webster Swing Band, and many, many more.