• KATJA ZAVRŠNIK (SI)
• FLORIAN ZBINDEN (CH)
• JENNA APPLEGARTH (US-AT) 
• TIMOTHY CHRISTOPHER (US)
• MOE SAKAN (JP-UK)
• MARKUS ROSENDAL (SE)
• BOGLARKA BULYAKI (HU)
• AKOS BULYAKI (HU)

One of the reasons why you should definately come to LISA 2026 are our excellent teachers!
Let us present them one by one!

KATJA ZAVRŠNIK (SI)

Katja Završnik is a renowned professional dancer, swing dance instructor, and choreographer. With a passion for dance ignited at the age of five, Katja has dedicated her life to the art ofmovement.
In 2010, she transitioned from a career in video and film editing to pursue dance full-time, a decision that has seenher travel the world teaching, performing, and inspiring others.

Katja’s dance education spans various disciplines learned throughout her childhood in multiple dance schools. She has honed her skills by attending international workshops specializing in swing dances.
Her extensive training includes acrobatic rock and roll, ballet, modern jazz, gymnastics, modern dance, and ballroom dances. Since 2005, she has focused primarily
on partner and solo dances from the jazz age and swing era, mastering styles such as Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, St. Louis Shag, authentic (vernacular) jazz dance,and ragtime dances.

Known for her versatility and expertise, Katja is celebrated as one of the top followers in the swing dance scene. Her deep understanding of reactivity and connection sets her apart, making her a sought-after instructor and performer.
Since 2010, she has been a fixture at swing dance festivals and special events worldwide, sharing her knowledge and passion with a global audience.

In addition to her dance career, Katja is a certified pregnancy and postpartum exercise specialist, and Organizer of Wellness sevices (a graduate of Wellness programe studies, through which she gained a basic understanding of psychology,
mental health, nutrition, movement and physical activity). Her life is a testament to her love for dance and her dedication to enriching the lives of others through movement and connection.

 

FLORIAN ZBINDEN (CH)

Florian Zbinden is a performer, fierce competitor, – in his own words – “mediocre choreographer”, and passionate organiser. But foremost he is a social dancer. He finds a lot of joy in social dancing, thriving on connecting and moving with others.
He focuses on good rhythm and full-body movement, energizing the dance floor. His passion extends to performing and competing, where he aims to inspire others to embrace Lindy Hop
as a celebration of culture, connection, and self-expression. His journey in Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz is enriched by his appreciation for Afro-American culture, driving him to continuously learn and understand more about Jazz and black culture.
As a white individual, Florian always tries to approach Lindy Hop with respect for its origins and the communities that nurtured it, always recognizing there is more to learn.
Beyond the dance floor, Florian founded Ella’s Fellas dance school in Zürich and co-organizes the event Leapin’ Lindy in Bern, fostering inclusivity and diversity.
He strives to create a safe space for the LGBTQ community, promote female empowerment, advocate for genderless dance roles, and amplify appreciation for black culture within the Lindy Hop scene.

 

JENNA APPLEGARTH (USA – AT)

Welcoming back Jenna, she will not only be teaching you new ideas, she will also be our official MC of LISA 2026!

She has attended, coordinated, and taught various workshops and exchanges all across the globe. Above all else she believes that learning to dance should be fun, and rooted in the music and history.

 

TIMOTHY CHRISTOPHER (US)

Timothy Christopher was first a musician! His journey with jazz starts with self taught piano from and old recordings. He stumbled into dance years later while looking for a jazz jam when got back to his home town from college!
He found himself in a room full of people moving there bodies around to swing music, but there was one couple that was dancing! The next day he found himself in the couples house learning this lovely dance called the lindy hop!
Clearly he got obsessed with this dance and the culture surrounding the dance and now he is competing, dancing, and teaching internationally! He was in the most recent installment of the Swing out Show in New York 2023,
has performed at the Lincoln center in New York and maintains good working relationships with most other instructors in the Lindy hop scene.

 

MOE SAKAN (JP-UK)

 

Born and raised in Osaka, Japan.
Moe Sakan has had professional training in many types of dance from an early age.
In 1999 Moe fell in love with the world of Swing dance, since then this has been her dance of choice.
Moe moved to London in 2000, bringing a sparkle to the local swing dancing scene, becoming the UK’s top female swing dancer while also representing her origin.
An active social and competition dancer, she is proud to have won numerous competition titles internationally, including the world’s biggest Jack ‘n Jill competition at Frankie 95 (2009).
In 2017, she had the honour of being inducted into the Camp Hollywood Hall Of Fame.
She has also enjoyed performing for several productions, including in theatre, television and films.
Moe is a co-founder and proud member of London based “The Five Non-Blondes”. An award winning, all female, ethnically diverse authentic Jazz dance troupe.
Moe is also is one half of a choreographing duo called “MoeTine-vation” with fellow Non-Blonde, Christine “Tine Machine” Gatchalian.
Moe travels the world sharing her passion extensively both for performing and teaching Lindy Hop, Balboa and Shag.
Well known as a vintage enthusiast, Moe is passionate about the music and fashion of the Swing era. Her dedication to the culture is also reflected in her attitude towards the dance,
as she constantly endeavours to recreate an authentic style, and her passion certainly reflects the spirit of the dance as it was back in the day.

 

MARKUS ROSENDAL (SWE)

Markus Rosendal is a professional dance teacher, performer and DJ.
A well regarded specialist in dances from the 1920 ́s – 1950 ́s, Markus now teaches Lindy Hop, Boogie Woogie, Vernacular Jazz and an introduction to Rhythm Tap.
Markus started his dance career in 1999 when he was a competition dancer for the Swedish National Team, he continued to compete for the team until 2010.
From 2006 alongside competing Markus has been travelling around the globe teaching at various events,
from Herräng Dance Camp which is located in the home country of Sweden to Osaka, Japan and everywhere in between.

 

BOGLARKA BULYAKI (H)

When Bogi was four years old, she decided she wanted to be like the dancers she saw on TV. The very next day, she began learning Hungarian folk dance.
Her dance journey has since led her to explore many different styles.
When she finally discovered swing dancing and its rich cultural milieu, she knew she had found what she had been searching for.
What captivated Bogi most was the depth and improvisational spirit of jazz. She devoted all her free time to training in Lindy Hop and Balboa. She even admits to skipping university exams in favor of dance practice!
Together with her partner Ákos, she co-founded the Simply Swing Studio in Budapest – a place that reflects her belief in the power of community, care, and shared joy.
While Bogi once pursued a career as a veterinarian, she chose a different path, one where she could fully embrace her passion for dance and build something meaningful with others.
For Bogi, teaching dance is about much more than steps and technique. She encourages her students to connect with their bodies – not to force movement, but to express the music naturally,
using technique as a foundation for passion, creativity, and authenticity.