Conversations in Closed

Jose Tello + Denise Lwin
  • 5.0 (5)
  • VISUAL ARTS

Join Jose, Denise, and Jennifer 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, Denise Lwin, Jennifer Wang

  1. Pulse: Vintage Fashion (with Chloe Hong)

    2D AGO

    Pulse: Vintage Fashion (with Chloe Hong)

    Let's talk vintage fashion. Denise & Jose visit Chloe Hong in Seoul, Korea to talk about vintage attire, how she her partner Rico Lim started their business, and the challenges of producing attire for dancers.

    31 min
  2. 011 - Theresa Manney

    APR 28

    011 - Theresa Manney

    Listen to Grace Babbes interview Theresa Manney about her journey as a triple threat dancer! Theresa Manney has been passionate about dance for as long as she can remember — but nothing captures her heart quite like jazz music and swing dancing. With an early background in ballet, she developed a strong appreciation for training, musicality, and thoughtful movement — foundations that have supported her competitive journey, including finalist and top placements at California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, Hot Rhythm Holiday, and The Snowball. While she enjoys the challenge of competition, what matters most to Theresa is social dancing and sharing the joy of jazz-style dances with others. She’s passionate about helping people build confidence, find their own voice in the music, and fall in love with the dance for themselves.

    1h 20m
  3. 010 - Olga Marina

    MAR 25

    010 - Olga Marina

    Denise and Jose hang with Olga Marina. Hear Olga talk about her experience learning Balboa, starting out as a teacher, and her life outside of dancing. Olga was born into a family of teachers, and has been an energetic live wire since childhood, diving into martial arts, gymnastics, and athletics. She found her passion for dance in 2007 through Lindy hop, and soon after began traveling the globe to dance, learn, compete, and eventually teach. Today she is an international Balboa instructor sharing her love for both solo and partnered Balboa worldwide. In her classes, Olga keeps students engaged with fun challenging tasks, that sharpen technique and musicality while deepening their love of dance. She is also the owner and creator of isolobalboa, and continues to encourage her students to tap into their creative spark.

    1h 16m
  4. Pulse: Scott Angelius & RP Scoring

    MAR 16

    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
  5. 009 - Fancy Dougherty

    MAR 4

    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
  6. 008 - Ray Huffman

    FEB 23

    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
  7. 007 - Natasha Shevchenko & Michael Tan

    FEB 9

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

    JAN 29

    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
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Join Jose, Denise, and Jennifer 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, Denise Lwin, Jennifer Wang

Information

  • Creator
    Jose Tello + Denise Lwin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jose Tello + Denise Lwin
  • Show Website
    Conversations in Closed

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