Conversations in Closed

Jose Tello + Denise Lwin
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  • VISUAL ARTS

Join Jose and Denise as they interview friends in the Balboa community, and learn more about their stories, ideas, and the experiences that have shaped them. Hosts: Jose Tello and Denise Lwin

  1. Pulse: Scott Angelius & RP Scoring

    2 DAYS AGO

    Pulse: Scott Angelius & RP Scoring

    Welcome to our first video episode! Jose speaks with Scott Angelius, creator of the widely-used application RP Scoring. Listen to Scott as he talks about competition judging and how to read scoresheets!

    1h 1m
  2. 009 - Fancy Dougherty

    4 MAR

    009 - Fancy Dougherty

    Join Jose & our guest interviewer, Jennifer, as they talk to Fancy Dougherty! Hear Fancy talk to us about her experience dancing in SoCal, what she looks for in a dance partner, and her thoughts on pedagogy. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Fancy fell in love Lindy and shag in 2008, with Balboa trailing not far behind. She’s been hooked ever since, constantly endeavoring to improve her technique on a never-ending quest for connection, improvisational freedom in social dancing, and the true jitterbug spirit.  She has performed, competed in, and taught Lindy, Balboa, and shag all over the world, and is a five time winner of the national jitterbug championships in the shag division. She loves to dance with new people and beginners, so be sure to ask her to dance!

    1 hr
  3. 008 - Ray Huffman

    23 FEB

    008 - Ray Huffman

    In this episode, we interview a *very* special guest. Ray Huffman was born in the 1930s and grew up dancing Balboa in Southern California, where he got to listen and dance to bands such as Tommy Dorsey, Nat King Cole, and Count Basie! Featuring Guest Interviewer: Cory Von Korff Links: Ray's favorite modern balboa video

    26 min
  4. 007 - Natasha Shevchenko & Michael Tan

    9 FEB

    007 - Natasha Shevchenko & Michael Tan

    Jose & Denise spend time with Natasha Shevchenko & Michael Tan! One of Balboa's power couples and innovators in the scene. Natasha's accomplishments in the swing dance world include prestigious wins at the California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, BalLove, The Snowball, Valencia Balboa Festival and BalWeek NYC, along with notable placements at the International Lindy Hop Championships and Hot Rhythm Holiday. She has also appeared on prominent television platforms such as Dancing with the Stars and PBS’s America’s Ballroom Challenge. Additionally, Natasha has performed on stage with SW!NG OUT on tour and in A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday during its 2024 and 2025 showings at the Joyce Theater. Michael fell in love with swing dancing in 2016, captivated by the magic of two strangers seamlessly connecting through movement. Specializing in balboa, Michael shares his passion for partner dancing, focusing on the art of melding two individuals and the interplay of lead-and-follow. Michael has won major titles at The Snowball, Bal Love, BalWeek NYC, Valencia Balboa Festival, and the California Balboa Classic, with notable appearances at ILHC, Camp Hollywood, and more. Beyond dance, his third-degree black belt in Taekwondo informs his unique teaching approach, blending principles across different movement backgrounds. Links: World Famous Swing Dancer Goes UndercoverBalboa: The MovieEssay: The Out and In Experiment

    1h 51m
  5. Bite Size: Practice Tips & Resources (with Bobby White)

    29 JAN

    Bite Size: Practice Tips & Resources (with Bobby White)

    In this Bite Size episode, we listen in on Denise's chat with Bobby White at Bal-Love 2025. Bobby talks practice tips, and Balboa history & resources.

    5 min
  6. Pulse: Queer(ing) Balboa (with Emily Schuhmann, Jona Venzor, and Chuyu Liang)

    20 JAN

    Pulse: Queer(ing) Balboa (with Emily Schuhmann, Jona Venzor, and Chuyu Liang)

    In this episode of Pulse, Jose & Denise interview a panel of dancers from the queer community! Listen to Emily Schuhmann, Jona Venzor, and Chuyu Liang share their diverse experiences as queer folks moving through dance spaces. Special thanks to Balorado (Denver, CO) for supplying promo material.

    1h 11m
  7. 006 - Taiga Miyajima

    7 JAN

    006 - Taiga Miyajima

    Denise & Jose hang out with Taiga Miyajima at Snowball 2025! Taiga found Swing dancing in 2016 and since then has been relentlessly traveling and competing across the world. In 2023, he embarked on a dynamic six-month worldwide dance adventure, making 23 stops across 17 countries and immersing himself in Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. Along the way, he earned placements in both national and international competitions across all three styles. Today, Taiga continues his journey, not just as a dancer but as an organizer in Japan. Inspired by the people he met around the world, he has started a new adventure to create welcoming spaces for dancers from all corners of the globe, fostering the same sense of connection and community that has been so central to his own experience.

    50 min
  8. Pulse: Competition Injuries & Etiquette (with Karen Tong)

    17/12/2025

    Pulse: Competition Injuries & Etiquette (with Karen Tong)

    Our season finale! Welcome to the first of a new episode format titled Pulse, where we interview everyday dancers from the Swing community at large. Our guest is Karen Tong, from Hong Kong, China. In this episode, Karen talks to us about her injury she obtained during a competition and the discussions that have arisen in the aftermath on competition etiquette and safety.

    29 min
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About

Join Jose and Denise as they interview friends in the Balboa community, and learn more about their stories, ideas, and the experiences that have shaped them. Hosts: Jose Tello and Denise Lwin

Information

  • Creator
    Jose Tello + Denise Lwin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jose Tello + Denise Lwin
  • Show Website
    Conversations in Closed

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