Instructors
Matt Davis
Matt discovered West Coast Swing after his High School Calculus teacher taught the dance to Matt's class after their AP test and then encouraged them to go to the local dance hall for the lessons and social dance. Matt quickly discovered both his talent and passion for the dance and soon found himself dancing every night of the week. From early on, Matt knew he wanted to teach and help spread his passion and knowledge of the dance. An avid believer that good teachers never stop learning, Matt travels all around the United States as well as internationally to compete at the All Star level and attend workshops. Matt and Desirae together offer a unique instructional approach that helps dancers at any skill level to improve and develop good practice habits and self-critique methods.
Intensives taken:
February 2014 - Arjay Centeno - 2 hours
June 2014 - Robert Royston - 4 hours
July 2014 - Arjay Centeno - 2 hours
July 2014 - Jerome & Bonnie Subey - Intermediate Master Class
November 2014 - Jennifer DeLuca - 3 hours
April 2015 - Marcus Schwarz - 2 hours
June 2015 - Brandi Tobias - 3 hours
July 2015 - PJ Turner 1st Ever Intensive - 3 hours
September 2015 - Benji Schwimmer - 3 hours
November 2015 - Robert Royston - 3 hours
January 2016 - Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollmann - 6 hours
January 2016 - ESS Camp - 9 hours Level 3 - 3 hours Level 2 - 2 hours Leader/Follower Styling
March 2016 - Patty Vo Advanced Intensive - 2 hours
April 2016 - Angel Figueroa Judging and Dancing to Blues Intensive - 3 hours
May 2016 - Jennifer DeLuca Advanced Intensive - 3 hours
June 2016 - Robert Royston - 8 hours
November 2016 - PJ & Tashina Adv/All Star Intensive - 3 hours
February 2017 - Patty Vo - 3 hours
March 2017 - Benji Schwimmer Adv/All Star Performance Intensive - 3 hours
May 2017 - ESS Camp Level 4 - 9 hours
April 2018 - ESS Camp Level 4 - 9 hours
November 2018 - Jeff Mumford Movement - 2 hours
November 2018 - John Lindo & Robert Royston - 2 hours
November 2018 - Deborah Szekely - 2 hours
December 2018 - Benji Schwimmer - 2 hours
January 2019 - Gregory Scott & Lemery Rollins - 2 hours
December 2019 - Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake Advanced/All Star Intensive - 3 hours
Awards:
2nd Place - Newcomer J&J - New Year's Dance Extravaganza 2013-2014
2nd Place - Novice Strictly - Swingin' Into Spring 2014
1st Place - Novice Strictly - New England Dance Festival 2014
5th Place - Novice J&J - Summer Hummer 2014
3rd Place - Novice Strictly - Philly Swing Classic 2014
1st Place, Gold w/ Honors - Novice ProAm - Philly Swing Classic 2014
5th Place - Novice Strictly - Swingin' New England 2014
2nd Place - Novice J&J - New Year's Dance Extravaganza 2014-2015
1st Place, Gold w/ Honors - Intermediate ProAm - Freedom Swing 2015
5th Place - Intermediate Strictly - Swing Fling 2015
3rd Place - Intermediate Strictly - New England Dance Festival 2015
5th Place - Intermediate J&J - Summer Hummer 2015
3rd Place - Novice/Intermediate Strictly - Vermont Swing Dance Championships 2015
3rd Place - Intermediate Strictly - Philly Swing Classic 2015
1st Place - Intermediate J&J - Philly Swing Classic 2015
5th Place - Intermediate Strictly - Montreal Westie Fest 2015
1st Place - Intermediate J&J - Montreal Westie Fest 2015
4th Place - Intermediate J&J - Swing City Chicago 2015
5th Place - Intermediate J&J - Swingin' New England 2015
3rd Place - Advanced/All Star J&J - Freedom Swing 2016
3rd Place - Advanced/All Star J&J - Swingin' Into Spring 2016
2nd & 3rd Place - Advanced J&J - Big Apple Country Dance Festival 2016
3rd Place - Advanced J&J - Summer Hummer 2016
5th Place - Advanced J&J - Upstate Dance Challenge 2016
3rd Place - Advanced J&J - Philly Swing Classic 2016
4th Place - Advanced J&J - Montreal Westie Fest 2016
4th Place - Advanced J&J - Swingin' New England 2016
3rd Place - Bookends Routine - Swingin' New England 2016
4th Place - Advanced J&J - US Open 2016
3rd Place - Advanced J&J - Freedom Swing 2017
3rd Place - Advanced J&J - Big Apple Country Dance Festival 2017
3rd Place - Advanced J&J - New England Dance Festival 2017
4th Place - Upstate Dance Challenge J&J - Upstate Dance Challenge 2017
4th Place - Swing 16 Qualifier - Upstate Dance Challenge 2017
1st Place - All Star J&J - Swustilicious 2017
4th Place - All Star J&J - Swingin' New England 2017
1st Place - All Star J&J - New Year's Dance Extravaganza 2017-2018
5th Place - All Star J&J - Freedom Swing 2018
3rd Place - All Star J&J - Swingin' Into Spring 2018
4th Place - All Star J&J - Upstate Dance Challenge 2018
5th Place - All Star J&J - Swingin' Into Spring 2019
3rd Place - Swing 16 Qualifier - Trilogy WCS 2019
3rd Place - All American J&J - Philly Swing Classic 2019
1st Place - All Star Strictly - Montreal Westie Fest 2019
1st Place - Upstate Dance Challenge J&J - Upstate Dance Challenge 2019
3rd Place - All Star Strictly - Countdown Swing Boston 2019/2020
Continuing Education:
Swing Literacy Development Method Trained Graduate - July 2015
The Global Professional Dance Instructors Association (GPDIA) Judges Certification Program - Pre- Certification Complete - July 2015
ESS Teacher's Training - January 2016
GPDIA Intermediate Level Instructor - Certification Complete - March 2016
ESS Teacher's Training - May 2017
Judging Intensive - Dawn Garrish - November 2018
Desirae Vasquez
A love of life and expression of art brought Desirae to west coast swing dance in her adult years. Without any substantial prior dance training, Desirae relies on diligent practice, respect for her skilled instructors, and unrelenting drive in order to excel in the dance. She currently competes at the Advanced level, attends dance conventions throughout the United States and internationally, and supports the programs of other Boston-area dance studios. An outspoken proponent that effective instruction in west coast swing dance is its own craft, Desirae participates in Boston-area training groups for west coast swing dance improvement and is an active member in Teachers' United, a Boston-founded group dedicated to sharing and growing best practice among west coast swing dance teaching professionals.
Intensives taken:
July 2014 - Jerome & Bonnie Subey - Intermediate Master Class
November 2014 - Jennifer DeLuca - 3 hours
April 2015 - Marcus Schwarz - 2 hours
June 2015 - Brandi Tobias - 3 hours
July 2015 - PJ Turner 1st Ever Intensive - 3 hours
September 2015 - Benji Schwimmer - 3 hours
November 2015 - Robert Royston - 3 hours
January 2016 - Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollmann - 6 hours
January 2016 - ESS Camp Levels 1 and 2 - 10 hours
March 2016 - Patty Vo Advanced Intensive - 2 hours
April 2016 - Angel Figueroa Judging and Dancing to Blues Intensive - 3 hours
May 2016 - Jennifer DeLuca Advanced Intensive - 3 hours
February 2017 - Patty Vo - 3 hours
May 2017 - ESS Camp Levels 2 and 3 - 10 hours
February 2018 - Arjay Centeno - 3 hours
April 2018 - Robert Royston - 3 hours
April 2018 - ESS Camp Level 4 - 9 hours
June 2018 - Robert Royston - 3 hours
November 2018 - John Lindo & Robert Royston - 2 hours
November 2018 - Deborah Szekely - 2 hours
December 2018 - Benji Schwimmer - 2 hours
January 2019 - Gregory Scott & Lemery Rollins - 2 hours
December 2019 - Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake Advanced/All Star Intensive - 3 hours
Awards:
4th Place - Newcomer J&J - Swingin' Into Spring 2014
3rd Place - Novice Strictly - Philly Swing Classic 2014
5th Place - Novice J&J - Swingin' Into Spring 2015
3rd Place - Novice J&J - Canadian Swing Dance Championships 2015
2nd Place - Novice J&J - Big Apple Country Dance Festival 2015
5th Place - Intermediate Strictly - Swing Fling 2015
3rd Place - Intermediate Strictly - New England Dance Festival 2015
3rd Place - Novice/Intermediate Strictly - Vermont Swing Dance Championships 2015
3rd Place - Intermediate Strictly - Philly Swing Classic 2015
5th Place - Intermediate Strictly - Montreal Westie Fest 2015
5th Place - Intermediate J&J - Montreal Westie Fest 2015
4th Place - Intermediate Strictly - Freedom Swing 2016
5th Place - Intermediate J&J - Mid Atlantic Dance Classic 2016
5th Place - Intermediate J&J - Swingin' Into Spring 2016
1st Place - Intermediate J&J - Big Apple Country Dance Festival 2016
5th Place - Intermediate J&J - New England Dance Festival 2016
1st Place - Intermediate J&J - River City Swing 2016
3rd Place - Intermediate J&J - Big Apple Country Dance Festival 2017
4th Place - Advanced J&J - Freedom Swing 2018
4th Place - Advanced/All Star J&J - Big Apple Country Dance Festival 2018
5th Place - Advanced/All Star J&J - Upstate Dance Challenge 2019
Continuing Education:
Ladies Styling Teachers Training - Lisa D'Amico - January 2015
Swing Literacy Development Method Trained Graduate - July 2015
The Global Professional Dance Instructors Association (GPDIA) Judges Certification Program - Pre- Certification Complete - July 2015
ESS Teacher's Training - January 2016
GPDIA Intermediate Level Instructor - Course Complete - March 2016
ESS Teacher's Training - May 2017
Judging Intensive - Dawn Garrish - November 2018
