BOARD MEMBERS

Kati is a piano teacher and classical musician who has expanded her repertoire to include jazz on soprano saxophone. With a lifelong passion for dance that began with Finnish folk dances at the age of 3, she discovered swing dancing shortly after relocating to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2007.

In Herräng, she took lessons from Frankie Manning, who was the lead choreographer for Whitey's Lindy Hoppers as well as participated workshops in England, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, France, USA, Iceland and Spain. In 2011 Kati began teaching and performing in a range of styles, including Lindy Hop, Balboa, 1920s Charleston, and Vernacular Jazz. Kati taught at Swing Shoes and well as Ministry of Balboa associations in Denmark before she moved to Atlanta 6 years ago. She has taught internationally workshops and taster classes in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Finland.

Kati's approach to teaching dance centers on musicality at all levels, recognizing that the best dances occur when movements are closely tied to the music. To learn more about her, click here.

Kasey Buharie's passion for swing dancing was ignited by her grandmother's dancing days in the 1940s in Southern California at places like Rendezvous Ballroom on Balboa Island and The Hollywood Palladium. Her first class was taken at Memories Ballroom in Anaheim, CA in 1997, and later she joined a dance troupe with her stepsister, Angel Griffin-Jenkins. With time, Kasey became part of a competitive performance team.

During 2008-2010, Kasey shared a cubicle alongside the renowned Balboa dancer, Lila Desatoff. After work, they often went out dancing together. In the mid-2000s, Kasey captured videos of legendary swing dancers, including Frankie Manning at PBDA and Hal & Marge Takier and others at Bobby McGee's. These valuable recordings are now used by dance historians to study and appreciate the art of swing dancing.

Kishore is a Lindy Hop enthusiast known for his dynamic personality and infectious energy. With a contagious sense of humor and unstoppable drive, he inspires and uplifts those around him.

Penny is extremely passionate about dancing, primarily in Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, Latin Ballroom, Hip Hop and Modern Dancing. Growing up in a family of dancers, she began her professional dance career at the age of nine in Laotian Classical Dancing, where she and her mother and six sisters formed a dance troupe and performed throughout California. The dance troupe was accompanied by a live band, led by her father. From 1998-2005, she studied International Standard and International Latin ballroom dancing at San Diego's premier ballroom dance academy, Champion Ballroom Academy, and had the honor to learn from Mary Murphy, a renowned American choreographer and judge for the 'So You Think You Can Dance' TV show.

In 1999, she discovered and fell in love with Lindy Hop while social dancing in the Southern California swing dancing scenes. She often jokes that Lindy Hop was her 'first love'. In 2005, Penny launched her own dance studio and taught 6-count and 8-count swing at Mind, Body & Soul studio in San Diego, CA. For over two decades, through philanthropy work, she and her family helped advance dance education and help provide access to dancing for all ages. She is a big champion of diversity, equity and inclusion and children dance sport and dance education.

Hank is a valuable member of the TSS board, bringing his expertise in paperwork and administrative matters. Additionally, his cabin at the Marietta Campground has become known as the site of many post-dance feasts filled with laughter and good company.