Michele Shaw

Michele Shaw is an inspiring dancer and teacher who people just love to watch. Full of self expression, passion and creativeness, Michele has teaching experience from her days in Chicago and we are now thrilled that Michele will be anchoring Swing Patrol Soho on Wednesday nights with Scottie.
 
Michele has been doing some form of dance most of her life and as a child did tap and modern.  Pompons and theatre ruled her world in high school and she did a lot of dance choreography for her team as well as running pompon/dance clinics for young girls. At Unversity Michele made it onto the pompon/dance team for one of the Big 10 largest universities in the United States.
 
Swing dancing came into her life by storm 10 years ago when she first saw a swing band called The Mighty Blue Kings perform at a summer festival in Madison, Wisconsin.  For the next few years she was completely hooked on the dance, the music and the vintage clothes!!  Michele danced and travelled as often as she could to workshops in California, New York, and around the Midwest.
 
Michele says she "fell in love with the music of the 30’s and 40’s but my favourites are still the sounds of the amazing female vocalists. Ella Fitzgerald, Dina Washington, Nina Simone, Billy Holiday, Peggy Lee and the current Diana Krall."
 
Around that time we all had nicknames for each other and everyone called her Moxie which she loved!!   Today, the kids call her mommy, being an uber cool mother to two young children, girl and a boy.
 
When we first met Michele she commented,
 
"I love the social aspect of dancing and meeting new people.  It connects you to so many people you would have never met.  Some of my dearest friends today are those I met through swing dancing. For me swing dancing is my playground and my theater.  A place to be free, feel the music, connect with my partner, and create something joyful!!!  I believe you should never be afraid of messing up or improvising a bit.  It’s ok to look a little foolish sometimes . . you might create something new or learn to laugh at yourself in the process.  I try not to take myself or my dancing too seriously.  I actually dance better that way.  Think less. . . . dance more. Finding Swing Patrol’s classes in London was like finding a long lost friend and a part of myself I thought I had said goodbye to. Teaching is such a privilege for me because I am so inspired by the joy and excitment  of new dancers.  An encourager by nature, I hope to help people improve their dancing in a fun and friendly way."

 
After a long 7 year break to start a family, it is soooo exciting to see Michele back dancing and the Swing Patrol team are honoured to have Michele as part of our team.