Yvonne Conybeare, transitional Executive Director (merger with ILHC coming soon)
Yvonne is a theater director with non-profit development experience, and is the founder of Vernacular Productions. She's helmed over 20 productions in NYC Independent theaters and has 25 years experience as a performing arts instructor in elementary, middle school, high school and college. She joined Adam Browzowski to further develop Harlem Swings in 2014. Since then, she has dedicated herself to swing culture, promoting lindy hop for all ages, and promoting Harlem culture in the contemporary landscape.
Yvonne developed her passion for swing while young. Her father swing-danced in Harlem ballrooms as a teen in the late 40's and early 50's, and taught young Yvonne her first swing steps at home in the early 60's while listening to his jazz 78's. Decades later in the fall of 2010, Yvonne convinced her husband Roland Conybeare to take lindy hop classes with her. By April 2011, their 2 pre-teens Leith and Sebastian joined in, and Norma Miller dubbed the Conybeares "The Swinging Family."
Yvonne developed her passion for swing while young. Her father swing-danced in Harlem ballrooms as a teen in the late 40's and early 50's, and taught young Yvonne her first swing steps at home in the early 60's while listening to his jazz 78's. Decades later in the fall of 2010, Yvonne convinced her husband Roland Conybeare to take lindy hop classes with her. By April 2011, their 2 pre-teens Leith and Sebastian joined in, and Norma Miller dubbed the Conybeares "The Swinging Family."
Board Members:
Our creative associates over the years:
Adam Brozowski founded Harlem Swings! In 2013 by traveling to schools in Harlem with a sound system and a lot of hope. Since moving back to the west coast in 2015, Adam is delighted to see the project live on and continues to celebrate and support its continued impact.
Based in Cleveland, Valerie has been instrumental in helping young people connect with Swing Dance through her project The Cleveland Junior Jitterbugs. A group of outstanding students from Denison Elementary School in Cleveland, Ohio. The Junior Jitterbugs success inspired Adam to start Harlem Swings! and has brought many young people into the positive benefits of joining the social dance community. A lauded balboa and swing champion, you can keep up with Valerie at: www.gethepswing.com
Sugar was a member of the Original Jazz Dancers, a distinguished group of Lindy Hoppers and Hoofers. Sugar has been a performer, choreographer, teacher, and professional dancer since the age of nine. Her dazzling career includes being featured with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, Cab Calloway’s Hi-De-Ho Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, and Panama Francis and his Savoy Sultans and was a Harvest Moon Ball champion. Sugar learned to dance at home and started Tap dancing at the age of three. She was instructed in Tap by Buster Brown of the Copasetics at age seven. Sugar toured the United States and Canada for fifteen years with Sonny Allen and the Rockets (Song and Dance Revue).
Barbara was Sonny Allen’s partner after winning the famed New York City Harvest Moon Ball in 1958. An original member of “Sonny Allen and the Rockets” a dance review which grew out of Harlem’s famed Savoy Ballroom. Barbara represents a link to the golden age of Swing dance in Harlem. Since returning to the Lindy Hop community after many years away, Barbara regularly finds herself as a guest teacher, speaker or special guest at swing dance events all around the world.
