Gina Helfrich loves swing dancing and jazz music. She currently lives in Austin, Texas, where she performs with the Hot Damn Damsels, DJs at the Fed, and collaborates with our wonderful community of full-time jazz musicians.
Gina began dancing the Lindy Hop in 1999 with the Boston College Swing Kids. She proudly wore skants and clapped on the 1 and the 3, proving that with passion and effort, anyone can improve over time.
Gina is a skilled teacher, competitor, and performer. In addition to her extensive teaching experience, Gina has taken top prizes in a wide variety of competitions. Over the years, she has explored many swing-era dances including Balboa, Charleston, and vernacular jazz. She was fortunate to learn from and dance with the legendary Frankie Manning (1914-2009) before his passing. Gina’s teaching style focuses on the social dance floor and empowering her students to really “own” their dancing. She is especially committed to helping followers find their voice and confidence in the dance.
Gina’s skill at breaking down difficult concepts into easy-to-grasp pieces makes her a popular instructor, but most people come to her classes because of the awesome jokes.
Dance with Gina 