Spotlight Instructor - Shannon
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2025 ECH Instructors |
Alison Cockrill (she/her) - Seattle / Century Ballroom
Alison began formal dance training at age 4, and a professional performing career in 1987. She has performed works by and toured internationally with modern dance choreographers Wade Madsen and Pat Graney. She fell in love with salsa after a trip to Guatemala in the mid-nineties and has been teaching it since 1999. One of her favorite parts of teaching is when beginning students get hooked and say what she said her first time in a salsa club, “I can’t believe this was here all this time.” | Barb (she/her) – Seattle / RCDA / Century Ballroom
Barb’s first dancing love was folk dancing starting at age 9. She started teaching folk dancing to family and friends and as a professor in a local college. Barb caught the line dance bug at the Timberline. She has performed with Cascade Cloggers and Women Who Clogg Too Much. Barb has been teaching Country Western Two Step, Waltz, West Coast Swing, and Line Dancing for the past 10 years. Barb loves the excitement she sees in others when they can use their instrument, their bodies, and be part of a line dancing group as it moves and stomps. |
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Ever is the Co-Director of Programming for Emerald City Hoedown 2025 and is thrilled to be supporting the event this year. They are excited to be gathering with a diverse and inspiring group of instructors from all over the country this year.
Ever holds a BFA in Dance Pedagogy, Composition, and Performance from Ohio University and has over 15 years of professional teaching experience, working for organizations such as The Yard, Velocity Dance Center, ImpulsTanz, Dublin International Dance Festival, and New York Live Arts. With a long list of varying instruction lineage, they are thrilled that this now includes Line Dancing and Two Step after finding their way to a Rain Country event at The Cuff in early 2022. Since their extensive performance career in NYC and Europe, Ever now joyfully teaches for Rain Country Dance Association, Century Ballroom, Emerald City Hoedown, and other events in Seattle. They co-spawned The Reverse Cowboys (@the_reverse_cowboys) in June 2024 and organize parties, lessons, and choreograph their own line dances and performances for the group. |
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Flynn Bickley (they/them) – Seattle / RCDA
| Forest (they/them) – Seattle / RCDA Forest started dancing classical ballet at 5 years old and has been teaching dance since middle school. After high school, they discovered Lindy Hop and fell in love with partner dancing. They have also been a yoga instructor since 2006.
Forest began line dancing in 2019 and now teaches regularly with Rain Country Dance Association. They love creating and being in a space where gays and queers can be in their bodies, moving together in joy and expression.
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Gabby Cabangon (she/her) is a proud queer line dance instructor, choreographer, and DJ based in Houston, TX. She embraces dance as a form of self-expression and strives to create joyful dance communities that are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to anyone. Since beginning her dance journey 4 years ago, she has gone on to compete on the UCWDC circuit and qualified for the Worlds Competition in line dancing her first year. In 2023, she was honored to receive her first choreography award for "Like Whiskey", which she co-choreographed with her dear friend and dance teammate, Mark Evans. In addition to instructing at varied events, she serves her Houston community through her role as an officer for the Mavericks Dance Foundation, whom she performs with nationally. In her free time, she enjoys reading, discovering local coffee shops, and playing chess. She's excited to welcome y'all into her class! Let's get saucy! Instagram:@gabbythelinedancer | Hallie Kuperman (she/her) – Century Ballroom Hallie Kuperman is the owner of Century Ballroom and The Tin Table restaurant in Seattle, Washington. Since 1991 she has taught pretty much every form of social dance with the exception of Argentine Tango (for which you have to have prettier legs!). Currently she teaches Salsa and Waltz. She produces, co-choreographs and performs in Century’s cabaret shows. Since 2005 she has been the co-instructor for NW School’s Social Dance Program. Since 2010 she has helped produce the “Dancing With The Stars”-style fundraiser, “Seattle Dances,” for Plymouth Housing Group. She has taught at Google, Microsoft, Team Survivor Northwest, EMP, University of WA, Cornish College of the Arts, Folklife and more schools and private lessons than she can remember. Her passion is Century Ballroom, her students, clients of the Ballroom and The Tin Table and creating a community that people will never forget. |
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James (he/him) – Seattle / TQPiD | Janaye (they/them) – Bay Area
Janaye is a passionate line dancer with two years of experience, bringing rhythm, energy, and community spirit to the dance floor. They have taught at dance events around the Bay Area over the last year, sharing their love of movement and making line dancing accessible and fun for all. For Janaye, line dancing is more than just steps—it’s a way to foster joy, connection, and celebration within the queer community. Grateful for the opportunity to teach at Emerald City Hoedown, they can’t wait to hit the dance floor with you! |
Jim (he/him) – Seattle / RCDA | Léo (he/they) – Seattle / TQPiD / Century Ballroom / RCDA
Léo (he/they) is a queer, Filipinx, neurospicy dance instructor and the Co-Director of Programming for Emerald City Hoedown 2024 & 2025. They taught and performed professionally in Ballroom dance from 2019 to 2023 before shifting their focus to queer- and trans-centered instruction. In 2024, Léo began teaching Queer Bachata and OutDancing at Century Ballroom, while also co-organizing Baila Latinx. Their teaching extends across Seattle’s dance community, including events like Weekly Thursday Fusion, Queerchata Seattle, and supporting OutCountry. Inspired by the inclusive spirit of OutDancing and OutCountry, they founded Trans Queer Partners in Dance (TQPiD) to expand queer and trans visibility and access within partner dancing. For Léo, dance is more than movement—it’s a joyful act of community care, connection, and growth, ensuring that dance remains accessible and inclusive for all. |
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| Maggie Yale (they/them) Seattle / RCDA / Reverse Cowboys
Maggie (they/them) has been dancing since 2013. They started with tango and began queer country western dancing in 2017. Maggie is a favorite lead of the RCDA community, loves a teacup turn and making sure their follow has a great time when they're dancing. They're a true switch, so don't be scared to lead them around a bit! |
Mara (she/her) – Albuquerque / The Outlaws
| Maya Dawson (she/her/they/them) – Seattle Maya Dawson is a multifaceted dancer and DJ who specializes in Lindy Hop and jazz. As a queer, black woman, Maya strives to create dance spaces that are fun, engaging and accessible for everyone in the room. Her unique workshops are a celebration of diversity and inclusion, highlighting both the rich history of the dances we do today and the creative potential for tomorrow. Maya uses music and movement to foster spaces for everyone to express who they are with pride. |
Nico (they/them or he/him) – Austin / Country Fried DanceNico (they/them or he/him) is a transgender nonbinary dance lover, turned accidental instructor and founder of Country Fried Dance (CFD). Like many great things, CFD started as a joke, but became so much more. Since its founding in July 2023, CFD has grown into a vibrant and supportive country dance community that’s been putting line dancing back on the map in Austin, Texas. In addition to teaching popular dances, Nico enjoys choreographing original pieces and has a penchant for song swapping. Nico is a former gifted kid and competition dancer, who invites all dancers to heal their inner perfectionist at their joy-focused, technique optional events. | Rémy (they/them) – Seattle / Weekly Thursday Fusion
For over 20 years, Rémy has danced a multitude of different dance styles in the exploration of movement and connection. Focusing on fusion for the past 15 years, they've found so much joy and inspiration through dance and music in their journey. |
Rob Ollander-Krane (he/him) - Dance Ranch Palm Springs
Rob grew up hating country music until one day, he walked into a gay bar and saw a group of men doing the two-step. Country music and two-stepping have been his obsession ever since… and he has the cowboy drag to prove it. Rob joins us from Palm Springs where he is the Director of and teaches at Dance Ranch Palm Springs. He also teaches at Sundance Saloon in San Francisco and has taught here at the Emerald City Hoedown for many years. | Sarah (she/her) Chicaga/SCCDA Sarah is a choreographer, instructor, and dancer in Chicago, Illinois. She is the current Chair of the International Association for Gay/Lesbian Country Western Dance Clubs and President of the Second City Country Dance Association. She has over a decade of teaching experience and believes line dancing should feel fabulous and have plenty of room for embellishments and modifications. Sarah is particularly committed to elevating trans and lesbian instruction and community-based country dance spaces. |
Sye (he/him) Oregon / Landline
| Val Pinillos (they/she) Seattle / RCDA / Reverse Cowboys Val (they/she) has been dancing all their life, starting with latin partner dance with their family. They are relatively new to two step and line dancing and have thoroughly enjoyed diving in. Val loves to switch and integrate their favorite parts of latin partner dance into country dancing - come spin them around. |
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2025 ECH DJs |
Jae Cripe, aka DJ Virgo Cowboy (he/him, Oakland/Atlanta, Stud Country/The HeartStompers), is a Bay Area-based DJ and dance enthusiast with deep roots in the south. While he doesn't have any formal dance training, he has always been obsessed with cowboy boots and leather. His passion for country music and dance was sparked many years ago in Atlanta at the Three Legged Cowboy and Log Jam at Mary's. Jae is a resident DJ at Stud Country, and you can catch him dancing as often as possible at places like Sundance Saloon & Starlight Strut in the Bay Area, or DanceOut in Atlanta. He is also a proud member of the HeartStompers and has recently started learning to clog with Mussel Rock and Barbary Coast Cloggers. Jae is thrilled to share his love for historical dances & tradition and of course, having a gay old time with ECH!
| DJ Laurie DJ Mickey
With 15 years of experience, I teach, mentor, and create spaces where dancers connect and grow. As an organizer of Starlight Strut and Hotline SF, I am dedicated to fostering inclusive communities through movement, music, and collaboration. If you have a question or want a dance, I’m your Cowboy on Call.
DJ Shana |
Mickey Carfora 
2025 ECH Performers
We went through a diligent and thorough process with our performers and the RCDA Board. This year we're excited to present the following groups who will continue to inspire with their character, expression and musicality.
The Heartstompers The Heartstompers are a brand new queer country western dance group from the Bay Area. We love to dance with our friends and are thrilled to be debuting at Emerald City Hoedown 2025! Follow us @the.heartstompers. Tumble Town It all started with a butt slap. It was a Tuesday night – all the country queers (both rural and urban) were lining up to stomp their boots. Legend has it, Johnathon complimented Ander’s booty rolls and one thing led to another… which is to say, they soon discovered their shared affinity for partner dancing, platonically. Well things got rowdy, as they often do on the dance floor, and that’s when Jenny and Sarah stole the spotlight with their raucous repertoire. It was only a matter of time before the four of them linked up. And that folks, is how Tumble Town came into creation, its not a place on a map, or somewhere over yonder. I’ll tell you what, Tumble Town is throwing your friend in the air and gettin flipped upside down just for the hell of it. Hope you enjoy the show" | The Reverse Cowboys
The Reverse Cowboys host parties and lessons and envision their events not as a form of escapism from the realities of oppression, but as part of the long history of queer nightlife as a place to build resilience and power. They believe that gathering and dancing together for fun, pleasure, and joy as queer and trans people is a revolutionary act and invite their communities to move this energy towards dreaming, organizing, interruption and connection. The Reverse Cowboys are very excited for their first performance at Emerald City Hoedown 2025! You can follow them on Instagram @the_reverse_cowboys. |
