INSTRUCTORS
Meredith Stead
Tenaya Kelleher
Spencer Pond + Michael Azcarraga
Emily Singer
Tybalt Ulrich
Emily Kessler + Mackenzie Katz
+ mini classes throughout the day!
Instructor Bios
Michael Azcarraga
Michael Azcarraga started his movement journey 14 years ago at Jazzercise; later becoming an instructor. He branched out into social dance through line and progressive two-step becoming a regular at Hoedowns across the US and dancing at local bars/ clubs in Portland, Las Vegas, and now The Big Apple Ranch in NYC. Through the power of country dance, Michael overcame a broken foot, and met the love of his life. Since 2022, Wanting to help build technique, non-verbal communication, and welcome new dancers, Michael has been featured teaching at Hoedown in the Dunes, Stud Country/SCUFF, and 2StepNYC.
Tenaya Kelleher
Tenaya Kelleher is an NYC based choreographer, teacher, and founder of UEVR Line (est. Jan 2022). She has choreographed dances such as Escapade, Better Be Tough and Autonomy, among many others. Her class encourages dancers to push themselves to try, to trust their feet and to not be afraid to make mistakes! She focuses on bringing off-the-beaten-path dances to the room, and tapping into that particular flow state that only line can offer.
Spencer Pond
Spencer Pond has been country dance crazy since 2019 when he first stepped boot at the Big Apple Ranch. He has had the pleasure of teaching line dance & country partner dance styles (Two Step, Shadow, Waltz) for Stud NY, Scuff Western, & 2StepNYC. With a passion for social dance, Spencer has found a home in the Lindy Hop Scene, winning competitions on both the East & West Coast (as both a lead and follow, and the nuance that lies between), teaching for LGBTQ+ organizations such as Queer Swing Seattle and Queer Swing NYC, and performing everywhere from nightclubs to Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Spencer is a co-founder of New York City Round-Up
Meredith Stead
Meredith Stead (New York), with husband John Knapp, ran a dance studio for years, and won titles in Lindy Hop, Cabaret, Team, and Country-Western. She has a BFA in modern dance from CalArts. She has choreography and consulting credits for Broadway shows, television and film and has judged, taught, and emceed at mainstream and LGBT competitions and dance weekends. She has competed on the same-sex dance circuit with partners Simone Assboeck, Sara Wilbrich, Suzanne Lewis-Mosley, and Daphna Locker, and in reverse-role with partner Ernesto Palma. She and Daphna took silver in Standard Ballroom in their age category at the 2014 Gay Games and were the 2015 United States Same-Sex Champions in Women's Standard. She is a proud member of the Manhattan Prairie Dogs.
Mackenzie Katz
I showed up to Tenaya's class in 2023 curious about line dancing. Turns out it became my lifeline when everything else was falling apart. Now I'm completely obsessed and thankful to be able to choreograph with Emily Kessler under Live Laugh Line Dance.
What drives me is helping people find that same joy I discovered when I desperately needed it. It’s a pleasure to boot scoot with y'all sexy angels.
Emily Kessler
Emily Kessler (she/her) is a choreographer and dance-based artist living in Brooklyn, NY. She has been obsessed with the community and freedom that queer line dancing has given her since a friend brought her to dance in a small room behind a Ukrainian restaurant in early 2023. She regularly taught line for Stud Country and now for SCUFF, and has guest taught for places such as UEVR Line, Buck Wild, 90mil, and the Emerald City Hoedown among others. She choreographs lines under Live Laugh Line Dance with Mackenzie Katz.
Emily is a co-founder of New York City Round-Up
Emily Singer
Despite not having any prior dance experience, I fell fast and deep into obsession with line dance from the moment I witnessed Four On The Floor (typical Aries sun, Virgo rising, eldest child behavior). I'm drawn to Catalan dances because they satisfy the cardio-intensive cravings I have as a former competitive distance runner, and because learning them feels like solving a puzzle.
When not line dancing, you can find me wrangling my dog, Eggo, or ranting about Gowanus Canal infrastructure, sometimes simultaneously.
Tybaldt Ulrich
Tybaldt Ulrich started Two Stepping in Houston in the 80’s, teaching Swing in Dallas in the 90’s, taught Stepping Out’s ‘Outdancing’ LGBTQ+ Two Step classes in the 00’s, and became a champion in WCS and Hustle. Currently teaching Country dancing for 2StepNYC, performing with the Key West International Dance Company, and traveling various partner dance circuits. Tybaldt brings a deep knowledge of partnering skills and wants to help you become a freer, kinder, and more creative dancer.