* * * 2PlySwing VIDEO FOOTAGE * * *
2PLY - double the 'HEP'
PLYS - that's Joel Plys
SWING - dances from the 1920s to the 1950s
2PlySwing - High Quality, High Energy dance
instruction & events
Go to the ACCOMPLISHMENTS page
JOEL
PLYS began his swing dance
career in the summer of 1998 on a date in Chicago.
He learned very quickly from countless workshops and non-stop dancing and
brought his skills to Cleveland, OH.
Joel taught swing
full-time out in Cleveland, OH for 4 years (1999-2002) and started Get Hep
Swing, LTD
He co-created the very first All Balboa Weekend with Valerie
Salstrom (June 2001)
He moved to San Diego in 2002 and taught all over the world with Alison Scola.
Joel continues to travel the globe sharing his love of Swing dancing teaching
with many amazing partners.
Joel has a high quality, energetic approach to the dance that makes every lesson
with him and any partner a blast!
As a regular teacher at major events all over the world, his down to earth,
enthusiastic attitude is contagious.
He has taught all over
the US (28
states and counting) as well
as Australia, Canada,
England, France, Germany,
Hungary, Scotland and Sweden.
He has a full knowledge of various styles from years of study that he shares in
his instruction of Balboa,
Lindy, Charleston, Collegiate Shag, Jazz Movement, and Pre-Swing dances (Texas
Tommy, One Step, etc)
To 'preserve' a dance, you must understand the technique and characteristic
fundamentals of that dance.
For a dance to 'evolve', you must be open to everyone adding creative elements
to that dance.
Joel encourages students to study and be open to
differences so that they can make the dance their own.
He embodies these qualities in
his instruction and dancing
while remembering the true reason we dance - for FUN!
Besides teaching all over the world, Joel also has a passion for
organizing amazing dance events, including:
* Swing Camp OZ (held each January in
Australia)
* Balboa Rendezvous (held each April in San Diego)
* Catalina Jazz Dance Festival (held each
November on
Catalina Island)
* Steven & Virginie in Chicago (held each
year in his
hometown of Chicago, IL)
* Swingin' the New Year (San Diego's laid back lindy
exchange and New Year's Eve celebration)
Joel is a big supporter of communities and promoters working together to help
each scene prosper and grow.
After 10 years of running weekend workshops, he knows what it takes on all sides for a successful event.
Joel has a unique employment history, and draws on these skills to provide exceptional instruction & events:
* Traveling educator for Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity - 1993
* Business process consultant for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) - 1994 to 1999
* Part-time COMPUSA computer class instruction - 2001 to 2003
* Part-time Barnes Tennis Center summer camp instruction for kids - 2003 to 2005
Joel has a number of teaching partners, including:
HEIDI SALERNO (Glendale, CA) - www.balboaswing.com
CRISTA SEIPP (Washington, DC)
EVITA ARCE (New York, NY) - www.myspace.com/evitaarce
NICOLLE WOOD (Chicago, IL) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhPUQoxhBz4
GINA HELFRICH (Boston, MA) - www.dancewithgina.com
JESSICA LENNARTSON (Stockholm, Sweden)
JENNY THOMAS (London, England)
VALERIE SALSTROM (Cleveland, OH) - www.gethepswing.com
DOMINIQUE BLOUIN (Montreal, Canada) http://www.myspace.com/dominiqueblouin
Photos by Richard Springs: www.acapturedimage.com
CHELSEA MAIN (Charlottesville, VA) www.swingcville.com
Joel is also willing to teach with assisting local dancers and anyone else recommended for events.
