Alice is excited to return for a fifth year of dancing fun choreographies while wearing spiffy costumes. She first got lured into the world of dance by the movie "Swing Kids", but upon taking several of Richard Powers' classes, was completely waylaid by the elegance and exhilaration of the waltz.  Previous to joining Danse Libre and performing in Stanford's Viennese Ball Opening Committee in 2004 and 2005, she enjoyed working backstage in theaters and hopes that being a dancer is different enough from being an actor that she is still allowed to call herself a techie (the first tenet of techie-hood being, "No actors!").  When not dancing, Alice works at Stanford University attempting to figure out how to farm fish without destroying the environment.  She also loves to cook, ride horses, enjoy nature, and sleep, although she never seems to get enough of the latter. Alice is a Managing Co-Director with Jeremy.

David looks much better in tails than he does in regular clothes.  He's thrilled to be a member of Danse Libre.

Edoardo discovered social dancing in the spring of 1997 and joined the Academy of Danse Libre in the fall of the same year, at the beginning of its second season. Little did he know that dance would play such a pivotal role in his life: the elegance of Victorian dances and the energy of those from the early 20th century immediately captured him and haven't let go since. As his passion for dancing grew at a very fast pace, he joined the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and eventually other dance groups on and off-campus, like the Knotts Dance Company, decadance, and SF Bounce. Edoardo choreographed the opening dances for the Stanford Viennese Ball in 2000 as well as a few pieces for the Academy of Danse Libre. He became Artistic Director in 2000 and held that role until 2006, when he passed on the flame thrower to Julie, with whom he co-directed through the 2010-2011 season. He will do anything (within legality) for a serving or two of good fries.

Irvin’s passion for performance dance stems from being introduced as a child to classical music and opera.  He played piano competitively for many years, but discovered a new mode of musical expression at Stanford: social dance.  After taking a number of classes under Richard Powers, he joined the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and also performed with the Viennese Ball Opening Committee.  He missed dance so much during the three years he attended law school at Michigan that he immediately joined Danse Libre from 2002-05 upon his return to the Bay Area.  Irvin has also performed with the Knotts Dance Company and decadance.  He has taught historical period dance in New York as part of the Spacial Dynamics program and choreographed first dances for weddings.  In early 2011, he directed a Viennese program in collaboration with the Peninsula Symphony, which included a world premiere Strauss Viennese waltz choreographed by him and Kimber set to On the Blue Danube.  In his spare time, he is learning Argentine tango and attending milongas.

Jason grew up in San Diego before moving to the Bay Area to attend Stanford University, where he earned his BS and MS in Computer Science. Before being introduced to Social Dance through the classes of Richard Powers, Jason was a Second Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Jason has been a member of Danse Libre since 2005, and still tries to remember that unlike the martial arts, while dancing he is supposed to do lifts and not take-downs, and to instill pleasure instead of inflict pain on his partner. Jason can often be found out dancing at Friday Night Waltz, Jammix, and Gaskell's Ball, and also DJing social dance events such as Friday Night Waltz. Jason co-choreographed his first piece for Danse Libre in 2008. He was the co-choreographor for the 2009 Stanford Viennese Ball Opening Committee.

Jeff has always been interested in dance and is quite honored to be a member of Danse Libre for his sixth season. During the 1980s, he was involved with all aspects of professional theatre with a focus on musical theatre in Connecticut and Boston. His partner dance experience didn't come until much later in life: a chance class with Richard Powers. It then became a full-time passion. Since the fall of 2005, Jeff has been out social partner dancing most days of each week, taking classes wherever he can and dancing as much as possible. Every form of dance interests him: waltz, foxtrot, swing, mazurka, tango, hustle, blues, salsa, club two-step, samba, etc. He finds dance venues to attend everywhere he travels. He studied dance privately with Anna Botelho and takes ballet classes at Western Ballet. You'll often find him dancing at Friday Night Waltz, Lindy Central, Wednesday Night Hop, and blues venues. When he's not dancing or composing music, he's building a new venture to aid chronic health patients. He also performs with the Boulder/Denver troupe Watch Your Step!.

Jennifer grew up in San Diego and moved to the Bay Area to attend Stanford University. After graduating with a B.A. in Psychology, she earned her Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) degree in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Children and Families. She is a licensed psychologist and currently works as a Mental Health Clinical Supervisor at a community mental health agency. Jennifer enjoys many different types of dancing and has participated in folk dance performance groups and a hustle formation team. She is especially fond of vintage ballroom dance and has been a member of The Academy of Danse Libre for eight years. When not dancing, Jennifer enjoys traveling, learning about financial planning, writing, cooking and spending time with friends.

Jeremy has only recently begun his journey into the wide world of social dance. In freshman year, he barely let his friends drag him to social dance events. In sophomore year, he took his first class with the legendary Richard Powers. Now, he dances at every chance that he gets, and has particular fun dancing with and beside the awesome members of Danse Libre. He is a Managing Co-Director with Alice.

Jerry still needs to write his bio.

JT's first experience with social dance was at the 1994 Viennese Ball...and he hated it. Fortunately for him, he had the opportunity to try it out again a couple of weeks later at Gaskell's Ball, and not only did muscle memory finally serve its purpose, but he became hooked. A couple of Richard Powers's dance classes later, he found himself auditioning for the 1995 Viennese Ball's Opening Committee, and having against all odds successfully joined and performed at that event, wound up in the middle of a snowball that carried him to the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble. Things continued rolling; he found himself also dancing with the Swing Cats Rhythm Revue, Danse Libre, and even a modern dance piece. In spite of his new found addiction, life forced him to take a 10 year hiatus from the performance scene, until a couple of members of Danse Libre dragged him out of retirement to perform a set of dances with the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra. Having realized what was missing in his life, he has now returned to the fold and repented his sins.

Julie has the honor of being the Artistic Director for the 2006-7, 2007-8, 2008-9, 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12 seasons. A native New Yorker she came out west for undergraduate school and never left. As a founding member she took a hiatus for 3 years for physician assistant school before returning in 2003. Her previous performing experiences include founding member of the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and the Swing Cats Rhythm Revue, Stanford Viennese Ball Opening Committee member and choreographer, and member of the Knotts Dance Company. When not dancing with Danse Libre, she may be found dancing lindy at local venues, wandering through bookstores, or reading - oh yes, and working at a community clinic.

Kimber is a California native who spent her formative years learning to be coordinated while cold (synchronized swimming) and pained (ballet). She discovered vintage dance while at Stanford University and decided that, not only was it better than being cold, it was great fun. She spent the rest of her time at Stanford performing in Richard Powers' Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and the Viennese Ball Opening Committee. After graduating with a B.A. in history and an M.A. in humanities, Kimber did some musical theater and cofounded Decadance, a social dance performance group. She returns to the Bay Area after a hiatus in Los Angeles, where she studied ballroom dance and lindy hop in between learning about the Constitution, and Arizona, where she experienced some very hot weather. When not driving to rehearsals, Kimber does dog agility with her dog Sara.

Laura is honored and excited to return to Danse Libre this season. A year after transplanting from the midwest to California, Laura was introduced to social and ballroom dance in the mid-1990s, at which point she quickly realized she had discovered a life-long passion for these forms of dance. The synergistic partnership formed on the dance floor, and the meditative yet energizing movement created in unison with the music are nothing less than exhilarating. Laura performed with Danse Libre from 1998 through 2003, also serving as the Managing Director 1999-2002. Additionally, Laura was a performing member of the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble 1996-1998, and the Stanford Viennse Ball Opening Committee 1994-1999 culminating as co-choroegrapher for the 1999 Opening Ceremony. She has performed in venues throughout California, as well as internationally in Prague, St. Petersburg, and most recently at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy. When not on the dance floor Laura also enjoys cycling, yoga, travel, and keeping up her with day job at a Bay Area hospital.

Laura's first foray into social dance was at Stanford in 2004, when she enrolled in Richard Powers' Social Dance I on a whim and a dare.  Within the first month of class she was hooked:  from salsa and swing to waltz and one-step, Laura wanted to try it all.  After participating in numerous social dance classes and performing with Stanford's Viennese Ball Opening Committee, Laura decided there was something missing from her dance experience: more petticoats. Laura joined Danse Libre in 2006 to fill this void, and the group's Victorian choreographies will always have a special place in her heart.  When she escapes from her corset and spaniel curls, Laura enjoys hiking, cooking, jewelry making, and chocolate. Especially chocolate.

Lee started dancing the Shag and Swing summers at Myrtle Beach while on vacation from Duke. To survive the Viennese Ball, he woke up early to sign-up for Duke's most popular class: Mrs. Trout's Social Dance I. Later he found the one ballroom dance class in Allentown Pennsylvania. In 1999 he moved to the Bay Area and was amazed by the dance scene. He joined DL in 2005. Outside of dance, Lee loves games of all sorts and works as a software engineer for Apple working on OS X. He also likes cheese.

Lily learned to dance in college, where she was dragged to a Jammix and experienced for the first time the (then nausea-inducing) waltz and the bouncy schottische. She began taking social dance classes anywhere she could find them, and over the years she joined several dance groups including Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble, Stanford Viennese Ball Opening Committee, Knotts Dance Company, and of course, the Academy of Danse Libre. Waltz no longer makes her dizzy and is in fact one of her favorite dance forms. Lily is an Artistic Director with Julie.

Mike learned long ago that words are a poor substitute for the language of dance. When he dances, people listen.

Nelly is honored and thrilled to be joining Danse Libre this season! She first discovered the wonderful world of partner dancing through Richard Powers' Social Dance series while in grad school and has been hooked ever since. When she isn't donning petticoats & corsets & other pretty period costuming, you can find her still dancing with Decadance (a fusion social dance troupe), with whom she's performed for the past 5+ years.

Rebecca comes from a family of avid dancers and performers. She began folk dancing with her parents and grandparents when she was very young. Throughout high school, she performed Balkan songs and dances in regional costume with the South Hills Junior Tamburitzans. While working at Stanford University she began taking social dance classes with Richard Powers, and discovered frame. In addition to the lovely 19th and 20th century dances performed by Danse Libre, Rebecca enjoys lindy hop, balboa, bellydance, and the Madison. When not dancing, Rebecca rollerblades, skis, knits, and tries to keep up with her extroverted son.

Rollie has been dancing ever since being dragged to the Dickens Fair, kicking and screaming, in 2000. The next year he was seen escorting ladies onto the dance floor, and he's never looked back. He joined Danse Libre in 2005 and assumed the role of managing director from 2006-2009. He looks forward to many years of dancing with his daughter Elora in addition to the many lovely ladies in the Academy of Danse Libre.

Sasha is thrilled to be returning to Danse Libre for the coming year! She discovered her passion for dancing at the age of 8, soon after coming to the Bay Area from St. Petersburg, Russia. She is trained in classical ballet, with most of her education coming from the UC Irvine Dance Department and Western Ballet. Sasha's love for social dance began in a high school swing class, and she is excited to finally incorporate it back into her life amidst graduate school and work.

Tina's been dancing most of her life. While trained in classical ballet, she's also dabbled in several other styles. When not frolicking about in corsets and petticoats, she can be found lindy hopping, board gaming, or failing to grow a garden.

Trevor made his way from the Tarheel State to the Golden State in 1993. Two years after that, he discovered the wonders of social dance while attending Stanford University. After being versed in the basic for about 15 different dances through classes at Stanford and DeAnza, he was introduced to Lindy Hop in 1999 and began performing with the Swing Cats Rhythm Revue in 2001. When he's out dancing, you can find him gettin' his groove on to old school R&B, salsa, waltz, Argentine tango, and dancing, teaching, and deejaying Lindy Hop at Wednesday Night Hop. When he's not dancing, you can find him playing sports, dabbling in video production work, collecting music, building websites, and just enjoying life.

Valerie has been dancing all her life.  Born into a family of big band jazz musicians, she trained in ballet and modern dance from an early age, receiving her BFA from California Institute of the Arts.  After a career of artistic dance and choreography, she developed the movement and vintage ballroom program at San Francisco Waldorf School for many years.  Now in private practice as a movement coach, therapist, and writer, she is a Spacial Dynamics practitioner, an affiliate of the Fourfold Healing Clinic using movement  to heal the emotional and physical body, and a licensed Lebed Method - Focus on Healing instructor, helping those recovering from breast and other cancers heal and thrive through movement and dance.  More about Valerie and San Francisco Movement For Health And Healing can be found at www.sfmovement.com.

Yan Yan dances in the rain, has impeccable taste in men, and likes shoes. She hopes to apply two of those three traits to her time in Danse Libre.