New Orleans

Benjamin Ricard is the founder and owner of Portoswing, a dance studio dedicated to swing dancing and its various forms.  He has been performing with the Hop Swing & A Jump dance team since 2002. Genevieve has been a circus artist and acrobat for the last 9 years. Benjamin and Genevieve have been partners since 2003.

Their list of accomplishments is extensive. It includes Showcase winners at the 2005 World Lindy Hop Championships, 2006 and 2007 National Jitterbug Champions and 2007 World Swing Dance Champions. Their awe-inspiring performances have taken them onto many TV shows and  live performances at corporate events. We are lucky to have them perform at the USO DANCE of the Dance Renaissance Festival.

Besides being great performers and dancers, they are wonderful and caring teachers. They have been teaching worldwide for the last few years and the success of Portoswing dance studios where they both teach is a reflection of their dedicated work.

Marty and Jen have been dancing since  the neo-swing days of 1998 when Marty made his own zoot suits and Jen had an overzealous love of polka dots. They began their official dancing partnership together in 2002 with their win of the All Balboa Weekend's first American Classic Balboa Championships.

Over the past nine years they have performed, taught, judged, and competed both nationally and internationally. Marty and Jen love to share their passion for dance, whether it is in a class full of hundreds of people or in a small corner of the floor with anyone who wants to chat or dance. They continually focus on the basic fundamentals of Lindy Hop and Balboa/Bal-Swing both on the social floor and in their classes.

As teachers, they are well known for their ability to break down everything they teach to the smallest, most basic elements. They emphasize understanding how those basics work and allowing natural energy and rhythm to guide all movements. Their chemistry together combined with a light-hearted yet thorough approach make their workshops engaging and fun. Either that or it could be Marty's scatting... “Chewy-chewy-chomp, chewy-chewy-chocolate, boomp-boppa-do.”

Some of Marty & Jen's favorite moments in dance have been co-founding and dancing with the rowdy crew Mad Dog, performing for an audience of over 200,000 at the dedication of the WWII Memorial in Washington DC, and having the pleasure of learning Balboa/Bal-Swing from Willie Desatoff – a true inspiration. Their favorite competitive moment was winning the blue ribbon at the Elizabethtown State Fair on a dirt dance floor right before the big tractor pull.

Joel has been teaching in Florida for over 8 years now.  Based in Daytona Beach, he and Lenka teach swing, salsa and argentine tango classes and monthly workshops throughout Florida. They have become a driving force in the development of their local dance scene. 
Joel & Lenka have built up quite a reputation. Known for their fun and lighthearted approach, they make learning to dance easy and fun while still including great technique. Consequently, they are sought-after nationwide and abroad. Their awards include 2004 National Jitterbug Champion, four times Swing Dance USA Champions, twice ALHC Gulf Regional Champions, 2005 Swingin' New England Champions.

Nathalie is originally from France. She lived in New York City for eleven years and has recently made New Orleans her home. She is a World Swing Dance Champion and has repeatedly won every major U.S. swing dance title. Known for her gravity-defying aerials, Nathalie has taught and performed in more than 26 countries. Her vibrant performances have earned Nathalie many stage, film, and television appearances. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She was a featured dancer in the 2003 Julia Roberts film Mona Lisa Smile and was a model for the dancing elves in Robert Zemeckis’ 2004 animated feature The Polar Express with Tom Hanks.

Nathalie’s other notable credits include choreography and performances for Will Smith’s Willennium CD-release party, and a performance for President Bill Clinton at American’s Millennium New Year’s Eve Party, produced by Quincy Jones and Stephen Spielberg.

Although her performances are awe-inspiring, Nathalie’s true love is teaching and coaching. Hop, Swing and a Jump, which she founded in 1998, is dedicated to sharing the joy of swing dancing, primarily as a social activity but also as a competitive endeavor that breeds self-confidence, teamwork and communication. Many of Nathalie’s students have gone on to win championships of their own and to spread the joy of swing dance in their own communities.

Nathalie recently started a social dance program for 5th Graders at the request of Martin Marino, President of the Board of the Jefferson Parish Public School System. Classes are being offered in 17 Elementary Schools and 2 High Schools. 

Known for his smooth and seductive style, Ector's dance experience includes a broad variety from Latin to jazz. At Dance Renaissance, Ector will teach our argentine tango classes.

Ector studied tango in Argentina and the United States with the world’s greatest tango masters.Through his studies and teaching experience, Ector has developed a deep understanding of the movement and connection of tango, perhaps the most difficult dance in the world to master. One of his gifts is his unique ability to impart this knowledge to students.

Gutierrez is based in New Orleans where he has been teaching and performing for the past eight years. His dancing and teaching talents have taken him around the region and across the globe, including workshops as far away as Beijing and Hong Kong.

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Micaela has thirty years of professional dance experience as a dancer, choreographer and director.

Micaela has served, as a juror for the Junior Philharmonic Dance Auditions, was commissioned to choreograph for Renverse Ballet Company and has taught numerous flamenco workshops for children and adults. Other professional dance credits include five years as company member of Alianza Flamenca, company coach and lead soloist for Teresa Torkanowsky's "Ole Flamenco Ole" and company coach/soloist for Ballet Del Arte Espanol. She also spent 13 years as soloist and choreographer with, with New Orleans premier character company,Komenka Ethnic Dance and Music Ensemble, with which she toured internationally.

Micaela has been contracted for numerous commercials and movies including Interview with a Vampire. Micaela has also performed locally with Ballet Hysell, Loyola Ballet, Jefferson Ballet, and the Jefferson Performing Arts Society. She has appeared at venues throughout New Orleans, including the Contemporary Arts Center, the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts and the Saenger Performing Arts Center.

During Micaela’s extensive career, she has studied and performed with some of the most important names in dance on both coasts, including Merce Cunningham and Donald Byrd. She has showcased her own choreography and direction through company and solo performance work in Los Angeles at venues such as the Barnsdall Theater, California University at Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Institute of the Arts.

A New Orleans native, with over fourteen years of experience, Tammy holds Certification in Ballroom, Latin and Social Dance. She has won many rising star competitions as well as consistently placing in finals at events nationwide.

Tammy has taught and trained people from coast to coast in places like New York, Florida and Texas. With an endearment for her hometown, she has also established long-standing dance programs for Tulane University. Though she currently resides in New Orleans where she teaches private and group classes, she still travels extensively to perform, coach and choreograph for amateurs and professionals in Ballroom, Latin and West Coast Swing .

At Dance Renaissance Tammy will cover the salsa classes with her partner Guillermo Gonzalez.