GET TO KNOW THE PROS
We are very excited to welcome local New England pros to One Night Swing!
Matt Davis & Desirae Vasquez
Based near Boston, MA
As a dance partnership, Matt & Desirae are most passionate about being encouragers and innovators within their social and competitive dance community, while never sacrificing the defining essences of the dance. They work alongside others in the community who are adamant about growing their dance each and every day, dance by dance, drill by drill, raising the bar through inclusivity and inspiration.
Matt Davis & Desirae Vasquez grew up with music all around them. A jazz trumpeter, Matt was raised by parents who were likewise musicians, actors, and dancers. When Matt met Desirae, he quickly learned that she had been singing her entire life and wasn’t stopping anytime soon, including their 10-hour road trip to MADJam 2014!
Music and the diverse expression of music drew both Matt and Desirae to dance, and in particular, improvisational West Coast Swing dance. They met on the dance floor and discovered that, while neither had any formal dance training prior to adulthood, they each had intense drive to improve themselves in West Coast Swing musically, athletically, and as motivators for one another. Matt stringently coached Desirae in all of her basics before they began competing together in September 2014. Desirae emphasized solo work, drills, and mirror work to raise the level of both in the partnership, neither of them would let the other forget a musical accent.
Kristen Shaw
Based in Boston, MA
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 New England, Kristen deejays, teaches, judges, and videos nationally. She currently competes at the All Star level and runs two West Coast Swing events: Countdown Swing Boston and Summer Hummer.
Chris Wasko
Based in Orange, CT
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.
ONS SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5TH
3:30pm: Doors open for The Works
4:00pm: The Works Workshop A: Matt Davis & Desirae Vasquez
5:00pm: The Works Workshop B: Matt Davis & Desirae Vasquez
6:00pm: Dinner Break (dinner provided for The Works)
6:30pm: The Works Workshop C: Matt Davis & Chris Wasko, Desirae Vasquez & Kristen Shaw, plus Newcomer Workshop
7:30pm: Workshops End & Practice Floor Open
8:00pm to Midnight: Social dancing, pro spotlights, not-so-serious Jack’n’Jill & more!