Meet Our Team

Meet our team of passionate teachers and staff, who teach our courses, drop-in classes, run our bands, events and taster classes. This diverse group of people has one thing in common… their passion for Lindy Hop!

Martyn Nelson

Plasterer come Professional Lindy Hopper Martyn founded The Swing Era to bring Lindy Hop to the masses through it's Dance School and Events. He hopes you too will find the joys of Lindy Hop and it's loving Dance Community.

Martyn Nelson

Founder
Suzanne Grubham

Suzanne has over 20 years experience performing and teaching dance, she discovered Lindy Hop when Martyn Nelson attended one of her tap dance classes. They decided to do a skills swap, Tap for Lindy, and her love for Lindy Hop began. Now, almost 8 years later she teaches Lindy Hop and Solo jazz for The Swing Era and also runs The Suzy Qs performance group. She loves sharing the joy of music and dance from the swing era with new dancers and especially enjoys helping higher level dancers to develop their skills.

Suzanne Grubham

Teacher
Jorine Beck

Drama Therapist and avid Lindy Hopper Jorine loves to teach Lindy Hop seeking out ways to teach any age and ability and make it fun for all!

Jorine Beck

Teacher
Jack Smith

"Nothing bad comes from dance" Jack has been dancing, learning, teaching and competing since his first taster class in 2015. "It's my favourite thing in the world. The people I've met, the places I've been, the opportunities it's given me, I love being able to share it with more people and grow the dance community."

Jack Smith

Teacher
Tanya Rose

Tanya-Louise is a Birmingham based swing dancer and has been teaching since 2017. She loves to share her passion for jazz music and lindy hop dancing, performing, and competing both nationally and internationally. “Lindy hop dancing is one of the best things I have ever done, it completely changed my life. I was hooked from the very first dance."

Tanya Rose

Teacher
Tom Moore

Tom is a full time double bassist who started dancing in 2017, discovering the dance through playing for Swing Era events. "I love Lindy Hop because it brings people together, like music and food. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from."

Tom Moore

Teacher and Band Leader
Chloe Derry

Digital Marketer by day, swing dancer by night, Chloe began dancing back in 2015 and enjoyed experiencing scenes across the UK before joining our team. She loves getting to share the joy of dance with the community. “I don’t know anything quite like swing dancing - it sets my heart alight. Some of my fondest memories were made on the dance floor.”

Chloe Derry

Teacher
Suky Chopra

I started my dance journey by chance really when I was shoehorned into accompanying a friend to a dance class. Eight years later this art form called swing dancing is now part of my life. I’ve had so many amazing experiences, attended festivals throughout Europe and more importantly met so many amazing people along the way.

Suky Chopra

Teacher
James Hickman

James started swing dancing in 2013 at the University of Sheffield and quickly fell in love. His favourite thing about dance is sharing joyful moments with a partner and creating something new every time. James really enjoys teaching absolute beginners.

James Hickman

Teacher
Millie Taylor-Brown

From dancing down a salt mine in Poland to appearing on BBC news during a Peaky Blinders event, Millie has made plenty of memories with The Swing Era! “What I love most about Lindy Hop is how fun it can be! Whether it’s a flash mob in Grand Central, dressing up for our annual Halloween ‘Spookeasy’, or doing a cheeky aerial during a performance, this is a dance that brings me joy!” When she’s not dancing, she teaches history of medicine, collects antique books, and enjoys long walks with her rescue beagle, Peggy. Fun fact: Millie has a mild form of ‘face blindness’, so if you see her at a social event or taster class, don’t forget to come and say hello!

Millie Taylor-Brown

Teacher
David Taylor-Pirie

Growing up playing in a brass band, music has always been a big part of David’s life. He’s never happier than when he hits that stop in the music just right. He loves a good swing-out and is a patient teacher who knows how to help dancers have fun with the music! When he’s not dancing you’ll find him treating patients in his dental surgery or playing boardgames. “The best part of lindy hop for me is the amazing and supportive community that The Swing Era has built. Many of our dancers have become life long friends.”

David Taylor-Pirie

Teacher
Alex Astbury

Alex is a trumpet player based in the wonderful city of Birmingham where he has been involved in the jazz scene for 8 years. He got involved with the swing dance scene after he graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Jazz music is deep rooted in this style of dancing and Alex and his band always ensures that the music is as authentic as possible.

Alex Astbury

Band Leader
Ruth West

Ruth is new to Swing Dance but has always been fascinated by the Charlston, the Lindy Hop and everything to do with the 1920s! She is delighted to be involved with bringing this era to the people of Birmingham and beyond!

Ruth West

Events Manager and Admin

 

Martyn Nelson – Founder

“If everyone danced the world would be a better place, everybody should experience the gift of dance at least once in their lives.”

Martyn Nelson is a multi-talented dancer, musician, deejay and event organiser from Birmingham, who started the Swing Era in 2014 to share his passion for lindy hop dancing with people across his hometown Birmingham. Martyn’s love for music has been evident from an early age. After playing lots of different instruments in his childhood and early teens, Martyn decided to study Performing Arts and Music. He professionally taught guitar for over six years, before securing a big record deal with his band King Adora. Two successful albums and numerous international gigs later, Martyn decided to take time away from making music. Then Martyn discovered Lindy Hop! Hearing the vintage swing music and being able to dance to it ignited Martyn’s passion for everything that breathes the authentic ‘swing era’. Martyn quickly grew as a dancer, teacher and performer. He has taught and performed at Glastonbury Festival, Twinwood, and events in Belfast, Glasgow, Sheffield, Exeter and more. Martyn always likes to take every opportunity to learn from the top-notch dancers in the international swing dance scene, and has had numerous private lessons with dancers such as Markus Rosendal, Pontus Persson, Issabella Gregorio, Angela Andrews, Pamela Gaizutyte, Bobby White, Kate Hedin, Ben Cook and Moe Sakan.

Over the years Martyn developed his teaching skills to a high level, and he trained with many talented teachers like Ali Taghavi and Katja Uckermann (Teaching Swing Summit – Swing Step) and Trisha Sewell (Savoy Hop). Martyn has been teaching Lindy Hop and jazz at big festivals like Glastonbury (2015) and Twinwood (2016), and across different UK dance scenes like Exeter, Glasgow and Belfast. As DJ ColoNel Swing his taste for fine authentic tunes brought him to deejay at Herrang Dance Camp (Sweden), Cork Jazz festival (Ireland), The Mooche (Ireland), London Swing Festival, Bristol Swing Festival and Manchester Lindy. Martyn has recently started the new swing band Martyn Nelson and the Rhythm remedies. Martyn is passionate about bringing more live music to the swing dance community by bringing together the best jazz musicians from Birmingham to play specifically for swing dancers.

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