Instructors
Doug Bae & Val Kutchko
Meet Val:
Val (they/she) has been dancing since 2015 and has made a vibrant impact in every scene they’ve been part of - Kansas, Michigan, and now Pittsburgh - as an organizer, teacher, and DJ. Val delights in both following and leading, and as an instructor emphasizes communication and comfort.
Meet Doug:
Doug (he/him) stumbled into Lindy Hop in 2016, and it quickly became an enormous part of his life, taking him on a journey across the country to learn, teach, and dance. Now a key organizer for PittStop and Pittsburgh’s scene, Doug loves nothing more than to share the joy he experiences while dancing. As a teacher, he enjoys focusing on connection, responding to your partner, and delving into mechanics.
We asked Doug and Val a couple questions about BHAII, and here’s what they had to say:
Why did you want to be involved in BHAII?
Val: "Weekend dance events can feel fleeting yet intense. BHAII is trying to create a weekend that dedicates time to building collaborative and supportive community - something that requires intentionality to build. I think that's dreamy!"
Doug: "I want to see more events arise in the scene and thrive, and I think it is important for those to have their own identity and goal. I really appreciate BHAII having a clear vision, and hope that I can help reflect some of it!"
What are you most looking forward to?
Val: "Sharing with and learning from dancers in other scenes! One of my favorite things about traveling is being able to bring back ideas and skills to my home scene and see what we do with them."
Doug: "To see the challenge of building a weekend focused around community come to fruition and experience how that affects the experience (and dancing) of the attendees!"
We’re so excited to have these two incredible humans on board. Their passion for inclusion, intentional teaching, and community building perfectly aligns with our mission: Create a space where everyone feels welcome, valued, and inspired to learn and connect.
Shannon Varner & Mark Calkins
Meet Mark:
Mark Calkins hails from the Buckeye state and is a recognized dancer in the Midwest region. He is known for his musicality, technique, and methodological approach to partner dancing. As a competitor, Mark holds various contest awards from dance events like Beantown Dance Camp, Nevermore Jazz Ball, Lindy Focus and advanced to semifinals in the World’s Largest draw contest at Frankie Manning’s 95th Birthday celebration in New York City. With Shannon Varner, he co-founded the award-winning competitive dance troupe Team SwingColumbus serving as a core choreographer for over a decade, engaging the community through camaraderie and artistic expression.
Meet Shannon:
Shannon loves sharing Lindy Hop and believes it is a wonderful way to connect history and humanity with all generations. Over the years, she’s been honored to perform and earn awards at events like the Nevermore Jazz Ball, American Lindy Hop Championships, and on PBS’ Swingin’ with the Duke alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Shannon is passionate about teaching the skills that allow dancers to connect to the music, and to each other, to create a beautiful, fleeting dance in the moment. She truly believes dance is for everyone and wants more folks to dance with - so don’t hesitate to ask her to dance!
Why did you want to be involved in BHAII? What are you most looking forward to?
Shannon: "I'm excited to be part of BHAII because it reflects many of the values of this dance - building real connections, supporting each other through shared growth, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen and welcome. I’m especially inspired by its focus on strengthening ties across the Midwest and helping us all build more connected local scenes."
We’re thrilled to have these two phenomenal instructors on the team! Their dedication to inclusive, thoughtful teaching and community-focused dancing beautifully reflects our mission.
Ronne Stone
With over 30 years of professional dance experience, Ronne Stone began her journey in African dance in 1993. She has trained with masters of West African dance and performed with Kuumba and Adefua Dance Companies. A passionate educator and community builder, Ronne has led a long-running community dance class for 24 years and worked extensively with youth through Iibada Dance Company and Arts For Learning. Her choreography has been featured at Butler University and the Phoenix Theatre. Ronne currently teaches at Butler University and local high schools, continuing her mission to connect and uplift communities through dance and art.
Naptown Stomp Instructors
We’re honored to have three incredible instructors from Indianapolis’s own Naptown Stomp joining us for the pre-dance lessons Friday & Saturday from 7-8 PM.
Andres Casanas
Andres first stumbled into lindy hop watching dancers swing out in the music video for Jump, Jive, and Wail while trying to learn the song on clarinet. One thought hit him immediately: “That looks awesome! I want to do that!” From that moment forward dancing became a central part of Andres’ life. He became involved in his college swing dancing community, traveled across the country learning lindy hop, and expanded into other forms of dancing such as Argentine Tango and Contemporary Dance. His curiosity for different styles and love for movement have shaped him into a dancer who values not just technique but the magic of connection—between partners, music, and the moment itself. In 2024, Andres brought his passion to Naptown Stomp in Indianapolis, where he helps students focus on how dance feels. For him, it’s not just about steps, it’s about communication, creativity, and finding joy in movement.
Amanda Guieb
Amanda Guieb is a lover of dance and has been her whole life, specifically she’s been swing dancing for more than a decade. She loves to teach and share her joy for dance movement. From Lindy Hop to Blues and across all ranges of tempos, her goal for her dances is to make them feel like fun conversations. She thrives on live music but anything with a great beat will do!
Yara Hairston-Barge
Yara Hairston-Barge is an Indy native born and raised. She began training in dance with Tap and jazz as a preteen and branched into other styles. She joined the Lindy hop community in 2010 in college and upon moving back home joined Naptown in 2013 becoming an instructor in 2015. Her passions apart from dance and music, are performing arts, history, and education. You can find her teaching all ages in a variety of spaces around the Indianapolis area.