Meet the Safari Swing team
At Safari Swing, we are passionate about creating a dance experience that exceeds every aspect of your expectations, and that extends to the Safari Swing team, handpicked to ensure that you get the most out of this incredible event. As you will see below, our team includes some of the most well know and respected professionals in the west coast swing community, all of whom are committed to ensuring that this is a trip you will not forget.
Our teacher line up consists of dance champions with years of experience, teaching and performing all over the world. This is one of the few events in the west coast swing calendar where you will not only learn from the world's top west coast swing dancers in unusually small classes, but will also enjoy unparalleled access to them during the trip. With just 56 guests in such an intimate setting, you will eat together, socialise together and even enjoy game drives in the African bush together, as you immerse yourself in the majesty of nature. It really is a truly unique experience.
As well as an incredible teacher line up, we will also have our media team, known throughout the west coast swing world for the quality of their pictures and video, on hand to capture the fondest moments of your trip, ensuring you take home a lifetime of memories from this unforgettable experience.
We are sure you will not be disappointed when you see who we have lined up and, I can assure you, they are equally as excited to be joining us.
THE TEACHERS
Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollmann
Our first couple needs absolutely no introduction. They are two of the most celebrated figures in the west coast swing community and together they form an iconic partnership that has reshaped the landscape of our dance world. Renowned for their impeccable musicality, innovative choreography, and powerful, emotive performances, they bring an unmatched depth of musical interpretation and connection to the dance floor.
Winning an incredible 11 US Open Classic division titles together, they have captivated audiences around the world for over 20 years. Their dedication to the dance community has inspired a generation of dancers, as they share their knowledge and passion with students in all corners of the globe. There is, however, one place they have not yet been and we are delighted to be taking them there for the first time. Joining us as your Safari Swing pros, on their maiden visit to South Africa, we could not be more excited to welcome Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollmann to the Safari Swing team.
Thibault and Nicole Ramirez
Also stepping onto the Safari Swing stage, we have an electrifying dance partnership encapsulating passion, precision, and poise.
At just 26 years old, having spent her whole life in dance shoes, Nicole was already a US Open icon, winning the Showcase division four years in a row. 6,000 miles away from Nicole's California home, a young Thibault started dancing from the moment he could walk, growing up in his parent's dance studio in the picturesque village of Olioulles, in the South of France. As a Boogie Woogie Champion dancer, his experience in swing dancing propelled him quickly to the highest levels of west coast swing.
In 2019, they exploded onto the scene at the US Open in their first competitive performance as a couple, blowing us away as they won the Showcase division with a spine tinglingly, sassy blues performance, and cementing Thibault's place in west coast swing history as the first European to win an Opus title at the US Open.
Marrying in 2020, they have gone from strength to strength, amazing audiences with their gymnastic showcase performances, as they travel the world, teaching, performing and inspiring. One of the most exciting and in demand partnerships in the west coast swing world, with a teaching style that will help take your dancing to the next level, we are absolutely delighted to welcome Thibault and Nicole Ramirez to the Safari Swing team.
MEDIA TEAM
Bradford Whelan
If you haven't seen him parading around the dance floor at a dance event, camera in hand, you will almost certainly have seen his work all over social media. He is the creative force behind the camera at some of biggest and most prestigious swing dance events, with a renowned talent for capturing the essence of movement and emotion through his lens.
Beyond the camera lens, Brad is a very talented West Coast Swing dancer. Often found competing in Champions' Jack and Jill competitions with the world's top dancers, he sits at number one in the all time list of All Star Jack and Jill wins, and he can't wait to step onto the Safari Swing dance floor with you!
We are absolutely delighted to welcome Bradford Whelan to the Safari Swing team, joining us on this magical trip to Africa as our official event photographer. Safari Swing will create memories to last a lifetime and Brad will be there to capture them for you.
Harold Baker
Harold first came across West Coast Swing while browsing through YouTube and was immediately hooked! So much so that, after learning to dance, he created 'Affinity Swing' to help grow his local community. Starting in Bath, UK, Harold opened his first weekly class night and used videos on TikTok to advertise locally. Things, however, grew exponentially and his videos were soon being watched by millions of people around the world. Now, approaching two million followers on TikTok, and almost a billion views, Harold spends his time travelling to dance events to film new content and advertise West Coast Swing around the world. His favourite thing is meeting people who started dancing after watching his videos.
With his talent for creating content, and his passion for West Coast Swing, we are delighted that Harold is now part of the Safari Swing media team and will be joining us in South Africa to help document the beauty of this sensational event.