Known for his exciting and inspirational classes, Joseph is currently one of the UK’s leading swing dance teachers, choreographers, performers and avid social dancers of authentic swing dances, with a big passion for Lindy Hop.
His dance journey began with jazz funk, dub in the 70’s, popping and break dancing in the early 80s, before he started to teach in 1996. His main focus has been the Lindy Hop, Blues, Jive, 1920’s Charleston, Cake Walk, Snake Hips and Vernacular Jazz touring across the UK, USA, Europe, Africa and more, offering unique dance techniques, musicality and styling for dancers.
Responsible for developing one of the youngest and most talented swing dance scenes in the UK, Joseph has trained a group of raw students, to teach and perform, where some have now gone on to perform, compete and teach internationally.
Joseph’s specialism is making the average student dance and feel like a champion. So whether you’re an advanced dancer or absolute nervous beginner, you’ll leave his classes motivated, like you’ve just seen a kung fu movie!
Having been inspired by old 1930’s classic clips with dancers such as Frankie Manning, Leon James and Al Minns et al, he was fortunate enough to learn from and work alongside Frankie Manning, Norma Miller and other teachers who were key during the ‘revival’ of the Lindy Hop. Joseph’s class material focuses on the JiveSwing STAR philosophy (Style, Techniques And Rhythm), which he created, plus musicality, body awareness, improvisation, with original and creative moves that can be used on the social dance floor.
In addition to a number of TV projects, he has performed at the world famous Royal Albert Hall ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZutETo9SEo ), plus London’s most prestigious banking capital Canary Wharf, performed for President Macron at the Grand Palais, Paris, for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, has choreographed and featured in a number of music videos, such ‘Yolanda Be Cool’ (The guys that did Americano) music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg9-GMUl89Y , Jive Aces’ Bring Me Sunshine and Joe Stilgoe’s When We Kiss. Taking swing dance to the radio, Joseph featured in BBC Radio 2’s documentary, Swingin at the Savoy, with Norma Miller, Chazz Young and Duke Ellington’s grandson, teaching BBC’s Strictly Star, Len Goodman how to Lindy Hop. Most recently he has choreographed for a Dreamboats & Petticoats and the world famous Grand National TV advert.
Some of Joseph’s major TV projects was choreographing and performing in the hit BBC TV documentaries such as Back In Time for Dinner and Wartime Farm http://youtu.be/NoNuAFcuQxA, where he also featured as the main dancer. Rumour has it, that show is a favourite of Prince Harry!
Joseph has taught and performed all over the UK and Europe to over 20 countries such as the USA, Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Norway, Turkey, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Amsterdam, Israel, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Ireland, Austria, etc, but wherever you find him, he’s generally the last person to leave the social dance floor.
If that’s not enough, Joseph’s mum highly recommends him!
