Abram and Genette Dahlby
Dance is what brought them together.
Abram started his dancing in high school at a local dance academy in Illinois learning to ballroom. He started going to Lynchburg Salsa in 2014 where he met Genette on the dance floor and also where he asked her out on their first date.
Genette took ballet when she was younger and started at Lynchburg Salsa in 2010 and jumped into the instructor role soon after. Meeting Abram on the dance floor and being asked out while in the middle of a bachata is the story that she loves to tell.
You can find Abram and Genette mostly dancing together in the kitchen with their two girls and showing them the steps.
Genette also works with couples who are preparing for their first dance under her business Genette Dahlby Weddings & Dance.
Abram (co-founder) and Genette (owner and co-founder) are excited to bring dance to the Lynchburg Commuinty. You will catch them teaching on the dance floor, learning new steps from other instructors, cooking in the kitchen and behind the bar greeting all the dancers.
Lindsay Michie, Angela Harvey, and Micky Ferguson
Mickey, Angie, and Lindsay are members of the Hill City Sliders. The Hill City Sliders are a group of talented, smart professional Lynchburg women who love to line dance. Founded in 2011 by their president Micky Ferguson, the Sliders’ repertoire includes mostly R&B and Soul line dances, but they also enjoy dancing to Caribbean, Latin, and Country music. They have performed in many places and at events and workshops in and around the city of Lynchburg, including Get Downtown, the International Festival, Juneteenth Celebration, the Legacy Museum, Diamond Hill Community Care Day, University of Lynchburg, and Relay for Life. They also teach classes for Lynchburg Parks and Recreation on Monday and Tuesday nights at Diamond Hill Community Center and at the Templeton Center.
Jason Donahoo
Jason has been dancing since middle school in various styles and once he found West Coast Swing, he fell in love. With a vast knowledge of psychology and physiology, he specializes in the body mechanics of WCS, bringing healthy mindsets to the dance, and having a “conversation” with your dance partner. As the community organizer in Lynchburg, VA for the past 8 years, Jason has a wealth of knowledge in teaching West Coast Swing, DJing, and has a passion for teaching people to teach. He has taught up and down the East Coast solo and with champion West Coast Swing dancers, teaches weekly in Lynchburg, but is enthusiastic when it comes to teaching private lessons.
Tommy Anthony
Tommy, a native Texan, has been dancing for 8 years and teaching for almost as long. He discovered his passion for dance in college by dabbling in swing, country, and ballroom while acting as a TA for his university social dance class. He learned to Two Step while frequenting Country Bars in Austin and honed his skills by instructing teenagers at a summer camp. Tommy has taught classes for Lynchburg Parks & Recreation and is currently an instructor for Lynchburg Lindy Hop, a local swing dance community. He loves working with beginners and brings a fun, lighthearted attitude to his teaching.
Brianna Shelton
Brianna learned to dance in college and has been teaching for three years. "Dancing offers a unique blend of creativity and playfulness, allowing one to interact with music in an amazing way. Rather than just singing or playing instruments, dancing lets your body become the instrument, accentuating different parts of the music as it flows through you." She believes that everyone should have the chance to experience this incredible feeling.
Genette Dahlby, Maddie Cusack and Chelsea Barnwell
The Lynchburg Salsa team bring out the best of the Latin dancers that we offer in house. Maddie, David and Chelsea all started as dancers coming to learn how to do Latin dancing and have grown into our instructors and friends. They love teaching people and dancing with all of the dancers who come out. Ask them to dance the next time you are at an event.
Mark and Karen Hemmerlein
Mark and Karen have been social dancing for more than 20 years in the Lynchburg community. They dance ballroom smooth and Latin. The styles are American Bronze, American Silver and some International. Some of the specific smooth dances are Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango and Quick Step. Latin dances include Rumba, Cha Cha and Bolero. Mark and Karen have also been guest performers for Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and Jefferson Coral Society fundraising events. They are members of the Lynchburg Area Shag Club and dance shag and other night club dances.