GET TO KNOW THE PROS
We are very excited to offer a total of FIVE local New England pros at One Night Swing!
Saya Suzaki & Roberto Corporan
Based in Boston, MA
Roberto began dancing at age 8 and has been dancing many dance forms such as hip hop, line dancing, and ballroom. He fell in love with West Coast Swing almost 15 years ago. He is highly regarded for his smoothness, musicality, and isolations. Roberto loves being able to create with his partners and incorporate his solo dancing background.
Saya began dancing at age 4 – in many dance forms starting from ballet, modern jazz, musical theater. She found her love for Hip-Hop when she was 11 and then Ballroom (American smooth/rhythm) later on. She discovered West Coast Swing in 2013. Born in Tokyo, moved to Munich at age 11, and to the U.S. at age 19. She fell in love with WCS because of the uniqueness of being able to combine partner dancing and solo dancing.
Kristen Shaw
Based in Orange, CT
Kristen has been dancing since she was three years old in jazz, tap, ballet and pointe. She took up lindy hop in college which led to west coast swing in 2008. Based in Connecticut she runs the local Wednesday dance, 'Connection Dance', and deejays, teaches, judges and videos nationally. She currently competes in the All Star level and runs two West Cost Swing events: Countdown Swing Boston and Summer Hummer.
Renee Wasko & Chris Wasko
Based in Orange, CT
Renee is a playful and energetic West Coast Swing teacher, and competitor based in Connecticut. She grew up splitting her time between the Irish step dance studio and the martial arts dojo, which resulted in her love for highly rhythmic athletic dancing and a fascination with partnered movement. She fell head over heels for Lindy hop during her senior year at UCONN. Renee has traveled extensively to train in both West Coast Swing and Lindy Hop and in 2019, she teamed up with Kristen Shaw in Orange, CT to help launch her local west coast swing community, Connection Dance. Today, you can find Renee social dancing, competing, teaching, and performing across the country, trying to convince westies to try Lindy hop and visa versa!
Chris Wasko has been dancing West Coast Swing for 9 years, and competes in the All Star division. Chris teaches music at the high school level while pursuing his doctorate in music education at Teachers College. He has been a guest speaker on Robert Royston's Sunday Science subscriber series, presenting on how to mindfully listen to music and use it to inform decisions in West Coast Swing.
Fun fact: Renee and Chris are siblings!
ONS SCHEDULE
3:30pm: Doors open, registration
4:00pm: Workshop A: Kristen Shaw
5:00pm: Workshop B: Two Workshops at the same time: Follows taught by Kristen Shaw & Saya Suzaki, Leads taught by Roberto Corporan & Chris Wasko
6:00pm: Dinner Break (full meal is provided)
6:45pm: Workshop C: Kristen Shaw, Saya Suzaki & Roberto Corporan PLUS Newcomer Workshop taught by Chris Wasko & Renee Wasko.
8:00pm to Midnight: Social dancing, pro spotlights and more fun!