Photos
Videos
The Next Act Routine
Original Choreography, January 2016
Named after our favourite local pub, “The Next Act”, Sydney Alessandrini and I choreographed a unique number that is chill, very rhythmic, and reminiscent of vintage jazz movements & styling. The song is D.B. Blues (1945) by Lester Young. This routine was first performed at Sugar Swing’s Tea Time Cabaret on January 23, 2016.
Sugar Swing Teacher’s Performance
New Year’s Eve, December 31 2015
I choreographed the team parts, with assistance from Sydney and my fantastic staff. As we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare, we merely had three one-and-a-half hour rehearsals to put it together in 4 days. Not bad for three rehearsals, I must say!
Partnered “Keep Punchin” Big Apple Contest
Original Choreography, October 2015
Sydney and I put this routine together in just over a week! We took the Big Apple Contest that Lindyhoppers know and love, and made it into a partnered routine. A month later we performed it at Edmonton’s annual Lindy Harvest, 2015. This work was probably the most difficult to date; the Big Apple is tricky enough as-is, and then to make it into a partnered routine while preserving those rhythms is even harder. Choreo credit also goes to Hanna and Mattias Lundmark (Sweden) for developing about 1/4 of this routine.
Lindybout “So You Think You Can Lindybout”
Contest Finals, April 2015 (Champions)
Krystal and I won the “So You Think You Can Lindybout” contest at Lindybout in April 2015. This contest tested our skills in four distinct dances – Charleston, Balboa, Slow Drags, and Lindy Hop. This was a trying contest, but quite fun!
Maple Leaf Syncopation Nation
Frankie Manning Tribute, April and May 2014
I was proud to be part of a 12-person all-Canadian dancers routine in 2014 at both Lindybout (Vancouver) and later at Canadian Swing Championships (Montreal) in 2014. It was a fun project! We literally had to put together the formations within 2 hours.
Lindybout “Old Timey Dancing”
Contest Finals, April 2014 (Finalists)
Krystal and I were pleased to be make the finals of this tricky contest involving predominantly pre-swing dancing (Slow Drags, Charleston, Cakewalk).
Bio
I first started swing dancing (Lindy Hop) in the fall of 2002 when the swing dance scene had just begun. I founded Sugar Swing in 2005, and dancing became my full-time career since 2009. Sugar Swing is one of Canada’s larger swing dance schools and one of only a few companies that has a facility dedicated to swing dancing.
Birkley has a strong work ethic and relentless passion for jazz music and swing dance. He has gained years of experience in a variety of roles through swing dance; dancer, instructor, team coach, deejay, choreographer, performer, music coordinator, events organizer, and studio owner. His specialties predominantly relate to Lindy Hop and solo jazz dance, and in more current years Tap and Balboa.
A son of teacher/farmer parents, he grew up on a farm in rural Alberta with siblings Amy, Evan, and Ben before moving to Edmonton to complete a degree in Electrical Engineering. After working this career for a few years, he felt this career was not for him, and instead pursued his thriving business in Lindy Hop instead. He met his spouse Jenna in 2006 and precious cat Nova in 2020. His side projects include owning/operating a few rental suites, refinishing hardwood floors, home renos & construction, and computer things.
Career Highlights:
- Show producer/director/choreographer, Swing Showcase, Edmonton Fringe Festival (2018, 2019)
- Staff deejaying at Herrang Dance Camp, Sweden (2012 to 2017)
- Workshop instructor, Winnipeg (2013), Saskatoon (2014, 2017), and St. John’s, NL (2016)
- Competition DJ, Lindybout, Vancouver (2011 to 2013)
- Choreographer/performer for featured numbers at the Winspear Centre for Music with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (2012-2019)
- Lindybout champion (2015)
- Dance and band coordination for the Royal Alberta Museum’s closing party (2015)
- Founder and Director of two annual dance weekends: Lindy Harvest (2009-present), and Summer Solstice Swing Dance Festival (2013-present).
Above all else, Birkley is very proud of his role in building Edmonton’s thriving swing dance community. He simply wants to see rhythmic art grow and thrive in Edmonton, with more and more people getting into vernacular jazz, swing music, and dancing!
A little side story…
Truth be told, Birkley actually tried out Lindy Hop for the first time in winter 2001 for a semester at the University of Alberta and in fact attended the first Lindy Hop classes the ‘scene’ had ever run. He didn’t fall in love with it right away, and after a few months, abandoned the dance entirely for 16 months. Later, after walking past a promo booth, his old instructor Carl recognized him, called him out, and convinced Birkley to try it again — promising a fruitful extracurricular activity that involved girls. It took Birkley yet another two semesters to actually get hooked. A road trip to a major swing dance event called Camp Jitterbug in Seattle, Washington in May 2003 sealed the deal: after that, he was hooked and never looked back.
Event organizers:
A condensed version of this bio can be found on the CV page.
Blog
Coming Soon!
Studio
I am the owner and director of a prominent swing dance studio in Canada, Sugar Swing Ballroom, which was founded in 2005. In 2017 I co-founded the non-profit entity Sugar Swing Community of Jazz. These organizations are my primary focus, and find myself at Sugar Swing most nights of the week. My usual weekly activities include teaching several classes, coaching our two performance teams, deejaying. On the management side of things, I am coordinating staff, instructors, and bands. There are a few annual events I spearhead as well; Lindy Harvest, Summer Solstice, and our New Year’s Eve party. Last but not least, I am the producer of Swing Showcase, a 1hr show for the Edmonton Fringe Festival. All said, it is a very busy lifestyle, but it’s also quite exciting.
Sugar Swing gets people together for engaging classes, fun parties, and captivating shows with music, dancing, and sweet moves. We value good music, a supportive community, and helpful, skilled instructors to further our ambitions. Dancing is fun, and we are inclusive regardless of age, gender, identity, colour, and appearance.
Sugar Swing offers weekly dance socials with drop-in lessons on Fridays and Saturdays. We run 20-some classes a week, and involve a dozen instructors plus 7-8 regular deejays. Sugar Swing’s main dance form is Lindy Hop, but more broadly we are into “rhythmic dance arts”; this includes dance programs in Tap, Solo Jazz, House, West African, Caribbean, Balboa, among others.
A brief story…
I started Sugar Swing in 2005 with the simple desire of getting people together to swing dance in Edmonton. At the time, there was only a handful of us interested in Lindy Hop here. Although tiny, I connected to both the community-minded aspect of Lindy Hop, as well as the vibrant self expression and rhythmic language of this amazing dance. Perhaps growing up in a close-knit farming community while being exposed to folk dancing and taking piano lessons had something to do with it. So, I really wanted more people to dance with, and I wanted to share this dance with people. At the time, I didn’t desire or believe that this could ever be something popular here or personally self-sustaining. To me, that was for bigger and prettier cities like Montreal or Vancouver. Boy, was I ever wrong, and I’m very glad I was!
Private Instructor
My goal is to give you the tools and understanding of dance fundamentals that will make you a better dancer! I employ a variety of approaches to teaching a private lesson, depending on your needs. Much of the time, I will focus on specific technical instruction in order to give you an area of focus for practicing. Every student has different ways of learning, and each student has different strengths, weaknesses, and skill levels. Thus, my teaching process and ‘style’ will vastly change from student to student.
Some students simply need exposure to different movements and styling in order for them to have inspiring things to play with. In other situations, students need focus and review of specific moves and fundamentals that they’ve already learned. Still others need fewer specifics and more concepts, philosophy to reflect on. Many times, a combination of two or more various approaches get mixed into a private lesson.
A couple notes about private lessons:
- Lessons are typically 60 minutes
- It is your time, so ask for whatever you wish, and Birkley will do his best to provide it
- Birkley typically likes to do a bit of a warm-up, see you dance, and direct the lesson based on what he believes you need the most
- Think of a private lesson as a two-way conversation: you always have a voice throughout the lesson. If you don’t understand something, want to practice more, don’t feel comfortable, an old injury is flaring up, want to move on, etc. — then don’t hesitate to speak up!
Contact
Birkley Wisniewski
Edmonton, Canada
birkley@sugarswing.com
1-780-604-7572
Resume/CV
Expertise In
Vintage Partnered Swing Dances (Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa)
Solo Jazz Dances (Solo Charleston, Authentic Solo Jazz)
Swing-Era Jazz Music – Deejay and Historian (1910’s to 1940’s era)
Workshop Instruction
The following weekend workshops typically involved 8 hours of instruction by Birkley with a partner, plus social dance deejaying, over the course of a weekend.
Lindy On The Rocks, St. John’s NL – March 4-6, 2016
Saskatoon Lindy Hop – May 2014
Spring Fling, Edmonton – May 2014
Swing Dance Winnipeg – November 2013
Swing Dance Winnipeg – November 2011
Toon Town Swing, Saskatoon – October 2011
Alberta Inspiration Weekend, Calgary – February 2008, 2014
Deejay Experience
Herrang Dance Camp, Sweden – Staff Deejay, July 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
‘Round Midnight Lindy Exchange, Calgary – August 2015
Lindybout, Vancouver – Event Deejay, April 2010, 2015
Canadian Swing Dance Championships (CSC), Montreal – Event Deejay, May 2014
Lindybout, Vancouver – Competition Deejay, April 2011, 2012, 2013
Wedding Deejay, Old Timer’s Cabin, Edmonton – April 2013
Choreography Highlights
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Winspear Centre, Edmonton
December 20-21, 2015: Performance and original choreography to “A Charleston Christmas”
January 7, 2012: Performance and original choreography for the ESO’s “Symphony For Kids” concert
Sep. 24-27, 2014: Performance and original choreography to “Carioca”, Artie Shaw
Mayor’s Awards, Winspear Centre, Edmonton
July 2014: Performance and original choreography to St James Infirmary and Christopher Columbus
Dance Fusion, Sherwood Park
January 2012: Choreography contract for an original work for their most experienced group to “It Don’t Mean a Thing”
Victoria School for the Arts, Edmonton
April 2011: Choreography contract for their Grades 4’s and Grade 6’s for two original pieces
U of A International Students Association, Edmonton
January to March, 2008: Six lessons for the International Students Association, including choreography for 2 performances. Students performed at SUB Stage and Horowitz Theatre at the University of Alberta campus
Entertainment & Performing Highlights
Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton
December 4, 2015: Performances, event management, and instruction
Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton
December 18, 2015: Ambience setting; social dancing and performances at a 1920’s themed corporate Christmas party
Edmonton City Hall, Swing ‘n’ Skate
January – February, 2012-2016 (Sundays): Performances and Instruction
Feats Festival, Edmonton
July 1, 2009-2014: Dance presentation and performance at Fort Edmonton Park for Canada Day (with Mad Cat Swing)
CKUA Grand Opening, Edmonton
May 2013: Performance of Swing and Balboa, and Instruction (with Mad Cat Swing)
Alberta Legislature, Edmonton
July 1, 2012: Performances and Instruction at Alberta Legislature for Canada Day celebrations (with Mad Cat Swing)
Barrhead Street Performers Festival, Barrhead
June 5, 2010: A one hour featured show in downtown Barrhead, including performances, demonstrations, and audience participation (with Mad Cat Swing)
Global TV, Edmonton
April 29, 2010: Performance and interview on Global TV for International Dance Day (Birkley Wisniewski, featuring his students)
Festival Place, Sherwood Park, AB
November 11, 2008: Performance for Remembrance Day Concert and Show with the River City Big Band (with Mad Cat Swing)
Teaching Highlights
Steam Punk Ball, Edmonton – November 2015
Party entertainment; group lesson and performing
Wagner High School, Edmonton – December 2014
Performance and instruction to students, with high school big band
YMCA Children’s Day Camp, Edmonton – July & August, 2010-2014
Instruction and performance
Lansdowne Child Care, Edmonton – March & April 2012
Weekly dance program for after school care students
Strathcona High School, Edmonton, February 2012
Full day dance program for grades 10 through 12
Dance Alberta Summer Intensives, Edmonton – August 16, 2010
Surprise Guest Instruction, 2 classes
Competition Credits
Lindy Bout 2015
- Champion, So You Think You Can Lindybout, featuring Balboa, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Drags, and Solo Jazz
- Judge, various contests
Lindy Bout 2014 – Finalist, Old Timey Dancing
Balboa Bash 2013 – Finalist, Partnered Balboa
Lindy Bout 2010 – Finalist, Flyweight Division
Lindy Bout 2009
- Finalist, Partnered Blues
- Judge, Title Jack & Jill Competition
Training & Travel
Herrang Dance Camp, Herrang, Sweden – July 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
The Balboa Experiment, Corolla, North Carolina, USA – April 2013, 2014
Camp Jitterbug – May 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Lindy Harvest, Edmonton Alberta – October 2009-2015
Seattle Lindy Exchange, Seattle, WA, USA – August 2013
International Lindy Hop Championships (ILHC), Washington, DC – August 2012
Sweet Bal Jam Weekend, Edmonton – July 2012, 2014
Century Masters, Seattle, WA, USA – August 2008
Various Edmonton & Calgary Workshops – 2003 to present
Education
B. Sc. Electrical Engineering, University of Alberta, 2004 Graduate
Biography
Birkley Wisniewski has been an avid student of swing and jazz dance for over 13 years. His dedication has made him one of the most skilled dancers in Western Canada. Since 2008, Birkley has made swing dancing his primary occupation and performs this art form on a professional level. He is the director of Mad Cat Swing, a dance team that has performed for The Winspear Centre, Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton City Hall, the Alberta Legislature and a variety of non-profit and corporate clients. In relation to his dance activities, Birkley is also a marquee swing dance deejay and has professionally deejayed both nationally and internationally at events in Sweden, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Birkley’s greatest achievement has been creating a local, vibrant swing dance community through teaching and hosting social events. Building this thriving population of dancers from the ground up, Birkley has inspired thousands of adult Albertans to actively seek out dancing each year. Birkley teaches and performs swing at every kind of venue imaginable, from large festivals and concerts to schools and assisted living homes. His passion for dance springs from one core belief: everyone can enjoy dancing, regardless of partner, age, gender, physique, or appearance.
Performer
The stage is the performer’s place to share and express their love for the art, to give the audience a worthy experience. In Vernacular Jazz (Lindy Hop, Solo Jazz) there is so much excitement, energy, and joy that must be seen! I’m no stranger to that stage, and after 10 years of performing, I’ve had the honour to entertain thousands of people over the course of a hundred different engagements. Notable local engagements have included performing at the Winspear Centre, the Alberta Legislature, Royal Alberta Museum, Fort Edmonton Park, and at Edmonton City Hall.
Check out the latest videos of Birkley performing.
Performing Partners
Krystal Moss is Birkley’s long time friend and colleague in the swing world; they dance and perform extremely well together, and they often pair together for engagements that require professional, experienced performers. Their highly skilled expertise in Solo Jazz, Balboa, Lindy Hop, 20’s Charleston, and Slow Drags makes them a true force on stage. Recently, at the Lindybout competitions in Vancouver, Birkley and Krystal together won a prestigious contest that highlighted all five of these different dance styles.
Event Organizer
Lindy Harvest, Royal Alberta Museum’s “HelloGoodbye” Party, Summer Solstice Swing Dance Festival, Sweet Bal Jam, and Sugar Swing’s New Year’s Eve are some examples of major events that Birkley has created and organized from start to finish. With an attention to detail, Birkley seeks out the best artists available, given his budget, to deliver a quality experience to the event’s guests so that they want to stay for the entire event, and then come back next time!
An event will be successful if the organizers places the utmost value on a fun, engaging experience for the participants. Event organizing experience, along with strong social connections, always guarantees success for an event organizer because they are always able to project accurately the participation numbers, facility and entertainment costs, and ensure their marketing campaigns are a success.
Birkley believes in three life mottos when organizing events: “learn to do by doing” (the 4H motto), “many hands make like work”, and “fit the right person for the job”. With strong critical thinking and problem solving skills (he used to be an engineer, after all), good connections in the arts communities (especially musicians, performers, and dancers), and well over a decade of event organizing experience, Birkley has consistently stayed in the black while also creating fantastic events that people clamour to come back for.
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