Doug Silton began dancing in 1992 and since 1999, he has been
teaching, competing, and performing internationally. Doug is a
three-time American Lindy Hop Champion (2001 Strictly Division, 2002
Classic Division, 2006 Blues Division), a 2-Time World Swing Dance
Champion, and is a top competitor on the Lindy Hop circuit, NASDE West
Coast Swing tour, and in CSA Carolina Shag competitions. Doug is the
only competitor to ever be a finalist in Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing,
and Carolina Shag in the same year at the US Open Swing Dance
Championships (2002).
In the salsa world, Doug has been competing
in Jack & Jills for the past few years, placing in the top 5 at the
Advanced/Pro Level. He is the 2007 World Swing Dance Championships
Salsa Champion and the 2007 Reno Dance Sensation Salsa Champion. In May
of 2008, he competed with Espie Hernandez at the 2008 Mayan Pro Salsa
Competition, the second largest street Salsa competition in the world,
coming in 8th Place.
Doug teaches group and private lessons daily in Los Angeles, and has a line of own instructional videos for sale. He is the proud producer of Champion's Instructional Videos (group instructor videos) for both West Coast Swing and for Lindy Hop.
Doug is the co-founder of LindyGroove in Pasadena, CA, currently the nation's largest weekly Swing/Lindy Hop dance venue, teaching his popular (and free) Connection & Musicality class most Thursdays.
In his teaching, Doug focuses on connection, centering, and musicality, footwork, and lead/follow techniques, incorporating various aspects of his favorite dances: Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Carolina Shag, Salsa, Hip-Hop, Blues, Bachata, Breakdancing, and Balboa.
