Ben Cook

One of Swing Patrol's professional Lindy Hoppers and the current UK Lindy Hop Champion, Ben originally started to dance in 2006 back in Melbourne where Swing Patrol was born. Although having never trained in ballet, tap or jazz, Ben began to quickly realise he was a Swing Addict and went to several classes a week and took any chance to do more dancing! Competing in Up & Comers competitions, and joining the dance troupe 'Brat Pack' simply fed the craving to get better and also gave an opportunity to bring the swing to the masses.

In 2008 Ben was accepted into 'Harlem Shout', a swing troupe performing for corporate audiences around Melbourne, and has enjoyed performing ever since.  Today you can see Ben performing regularly at high profile venues around London for Swingcopation, his professional swing dance performance company (www.swingcopation.co.uk).

Seizing the chance to help launch Swing Patrol in London at the start of 2009, Ben jumped on a plane with Scott and Tanya and headed to Ol' Blighty for an adventure! Teaching several nights a week, performing the others, and with opportunities to teach internationally starting to appear, it was clear that being a full-time dancer and teacher was finally possible... so he took the plunge and quit his boring admin job in favour of the greater swing world in 2010.

Ben is proud to have been there from day one of Swing Patrol London, and continues to love the energy and absolute fun that he finds from his classes.

Some recent competition results:

-1st Place - Strictly Lindy - London Jitterbug Championships 2010
-1st Place - Slow Swing - London Jitterbug Championships 2010
-1st Place - Jack & Jill - London Jitterbug Championships 2010
-2nd Place - Fast & Furious - London Jitterbug Championships 2010
-1st Place - Jack & Jill - Swing Brother Swing (Italy) 2010
-3rd Place - Couples Showcase - Swing Brother Swing (Italy) 2010
-1st Place - Open Lindy Hop - Swing Storm (Scotland) 2010
-2nd Place - Solo Charleston - Swing Storm (Scotland) 2010
-3rd Place - Jack & Jill - Swing Storm (Scotland) 2010
-1st Place - Jack & Jill - Swing Brother Swing (Italy) 2009
-3rd Place - Showcase - Swing Brother Swing (Italy) 2009
-2nd Place - Swing for the Crown (London) 2009 
-2nd Place - The World Dance Battle Championship - Swing Crash (Italy) 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuC6Z-SnOfU)
-2nd Place - Open Jack & Jill - Australian Jitterbug Championships 2008
-3rd Place - Fast Foot - Australian Jitterbug Championships 2008 (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=AOYzJwuWfF4)
-3rd Place - Showcase - Sydney Jitterbug Championships 2007
-1st Place - Swing Rookie - Melbourne Lindy Battle 2007
-1st Place - Up & Comers - Sydney Jitterbug Championships 2006
-1st Place - Like a Virgin - Sydney Jitterbug Championships 2006