Swing and Ballroom Dance Club Officers and Staff, 2024 - 2025 School Year

President: Nathan Hull
Practice Meeting Coordinator: Lucy Marx
Social Media Coordinator:  Julia Hernandez
Member-At-Large (undergrad): Syrus Rillamas
Member-At-Large (undergrad): Open
Member-At-Large (grad): Open
​Club Advisor and Performance Group Coordinator: Steve Carlan (contact: scarlan@ucsb.edu)

Ex-Club Advisor/Fundraiser Emeritus: Anna Hernandez
Ex-Club Advisor/Treasurer Emeritus: Juanita Hernandez
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Officers Emeritus (honors): Austin Goodheart,  Quinn Magpie, Samantha Togno, Nollaig O'Donoghue, Mia Hermida​.

Steve Carlan, Club Advisor

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Steve Carlan
I never knew anything about Swing or Ballroom Dancing until I tried my first beginning Swing Dance class with Jonathan and Sylvia in 1989. After my first 6-weeks session, I participated in the SB Summer Solstice parade in June 1989, Swing Dancing up State Street in costume with 100 other dancers. From that point on, I was hooked!! I studied Swing Dancing, Lindy Hop, and the Balboa intensely with three different instructors at the same time in SB. I also learned to master the Lindy Hop from my Mentor and friend, Frankie Manning, the (Late) Ambassador of the Lindy Hop. In addition, for about 6 years in the mid 1990’s I was fortunate enough to study Ballroom Dancing from Patricia Ryan, a semi-retired Ballroom expert here in SB. I studied Swing Dancing locally with Jonathan and Sylvia, Dennis and Denise, and Rob Van Haaren.. I also spend seven summers in Sweden, attending the World Famous Herrang Lindy Hop Dance Camp sponsored by the Swedish Swing Society and the Rhythm Hot Shots.

I became involved with the initial Ballroom Dance Club at UCSB in about 1996, and joined soon after that as a club officer. I became the club President in 1997, shortly after the club changed advisors and changed the name to the Swing and Ballroom Dance Club.

I currently teach the Jitterbug Swing Dance Class for the UCSB Recreation Department, through the Gaucho Rec (Leisure Review) program, with my current teaching partner, Juanita Hernandez, and my previous teaching partner, Anna Hernandez.

Swing Dancing has been my life’s passion for these many years. I have traveled around the world in order to dance and learn from the best! Most of my longest and closest friends are dancers.

Juanita Hernandez,
Ex-Club Advisor/Treasurer Emeritus

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I am a (retired) staff member at UCSB Davidson Library.  My love of dancing began with a ballroom dance class in the Winter of 1989 at UCSB.  Years later I joined the SBDC as a club officer and then became the Club Advisor and Treasurer.  I began taking swing lessons of East Coast and Lindy Hop at UCSB taught by Steve Carlan and Anna Hernandez.  Their teaching inspired me to continue taking lessons from other swing teachers to add various styles and techniques of swing.  They motivated me to take dance lessons in East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Swing Line Dancing and Swing Dance Performing.  I've had the opportunity and privilege to attend countless dance workshops taught by top Lindy Hop instructors:  The King of Swing-Frankie Manning, The Rhythm Hot Shots, Rob and Diane Van Haaren, Chester Whitmore, Erin and Tami Stevens, Jonathan & Sylvia and many others.

I've attended many U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships to see dance competitors compete from all over the world. 

One of my highlights in swing dancing was cruising to the Carribean twice with Frankie Manning to celebrate his 89th and 90th birthday along with many top dance instructors and swing dancers from all over the world, it was an awesome time!

Anna Hernandez, Ex-Club Advisor/Fundraiser Emeritus

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Anna Hernandez
 I am a staff member at the UCSB Women’s Center and have been teaching Swing and Ballroom for 15 years and dancing for over 22 years. 

I became an officer of the SBDC in 1997 and held the Dance Events Coordinator position.  My very first ballroom class was in a Leisure Review Class with Mr. Ota during Winter Quarter 1989.  I was instantly hooked and have taken dozens of classes from world renowned dance instructors since. My specialty is East Coast Swing, Lindy and 1920’s Charleston.  I’m proud to have had the opportunity to learn from dance masters such as: Frankie Manning, The Rhythm Hot Shots, Ryan and Jenny François, Jonathan and Sylvia, Sing Lim, Charlie and Jackie, Rob Van Haaren, Simon Selmon, Norma Miller, Dennis and Denise, Patricia Ryan, Fay and Brian, Lisa Kay and David Alverez plus many more.  Over the years I have held many officer positions such as Dance Events, Performance Team, and Workshop Coordinator. 

I have been teaching the SBDC basic classes for at least 15 years and I also teach a Swing, Latin and Ballroom Basics Class through the Leisure Review Classes with my dance partner Steve Carlan.  Many past SBDC members have gone on to become dance performers and instructors.  If you see me around the dance floor, ask me to dance cuz I can lead and follow!
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JUST IN: Austin wins BEST SBDC AUSTIN Award!!
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JUST IN: Juanita wins BEST SBDC CLUB ADVISOR Award!!
Swing and Ballroom Dance Club Calendar

WINTER QUARTER 2025 Calendar of the Swing and Ballroom Dance Club
Winter Quarter 2025 Activities
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JANUARY 2025 Activities
Monday, January 13 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Robertson Gym Room 1410 SBDC WQ Week #1.
Monday, January 20 NO MEETING NO MEETING SBDC WQ Week #2. NO MEETING UCSB HOLIDAY. (MLK Day)
Monday, January 27 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Robertson Gym Room 1410 SBDC WQ Week #3.
February 2025 Activities
Monday, February 3 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Robertson Gym Room 1410 SBDC FQ Week #4.
Monday, February 10 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Robertson Gym Room 1410 SBDC FQ Week #5.
Monday, February 17 NO MEETING NO MEETING SBDC WQ Week #6. NO MEETING UCSB HOLIDAY. (President's Day).
Friday, February 21 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm ROAD TRIP: Third Friday Swing Dance in Santa Barbara Carrillo Recreation Center Ballroom.
Monday, February 24 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Robertson Gym Room 1410 SBDC FQ Week #7.
March 2025 Activities
Monday, March 1 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm The HUB at UCSB SBDC Major Dance Event, FREE "SPRING INTO SWING"
Monday, March 3 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Robertson Gym Room 1410 SBDC FQ Week #8.
Monday, March 10 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Robertson Gym Room 1410 SBDC FQ Week #9.WQ2025 Dead Week
Friday, March 14 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm ROAD TRIP: Third Friday Swing Dance in Santa Barbara Carrillo Recreation Center Ballroom.
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Monday, March 17 No Meeting WQ2024 FINALS WEEK.
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Monday, March 24 No Meeting . . . NO MEETING, UCSB SPRING Break.
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Note: This schedule is subject to change.

For questions about any of the above activities, or for any other information about the club, please contact Steve Carlan (club advisor).

This page was updated by Steve Carlan on 1.6.2025.