Our biographies
Patrick Szmidt
discovers SWING. In 2004, he decides to take the plunge into teaching Swing full time. After participating in founding a Swing scene in his hometown Paris, he moves to Israel to repeat the experience there.In 2006, Patrick moves to Montreal to teach at Studio 88-SWING and join the Swinging Air Force (S.A.F.). It's around this time that his partnership with Natasha Ouimet is born. Together they have won many titles including 1st places in the Invitational Strictly Lindy - Swinging New England 2009; the Advanced Lindy Jack & Jill - Boston Tea Party 2010; and the Underground Lindy Focus Championship - Lindy Focus VIII. Their talent and reputation as dancers and teachers was noticed by the Cirque du Soleil, who hired them in 2009 to train artists of their show "Banana Shpeel" in the art of Swing aerials.
In Montreal, Patrick teaches Lindy Hop, Shag, Balboa, Charleston and West Coast Swing. He also coaches the S.A.F. "Bootcamp" team.
Enthusiastic and full of humour, Patrick shares his passion for Swing Dance in class with his clear and detailed instruction.
Natasha Ouimet
Having danced in a variety of styles since a very young age, Natasha Ouimet has been a performing and competing member of the Swinging Air Force, a Montreal based Swing Dance team, since 2005. She teaches Lindy Hop, Charleston, West Coast Swing, Shag, Solo Blues, Tap and more at Studio 88-SWING in Montreal. Natasha coaches 3 of the Swinging Air Force teams; a Lindy team, a Solo Blues team and a West Coast Swing team. With her partner Patrick Szmidt, she has also coached artists of the Cirque du Soleil show Banana Shpeel.
The impressive list of titles she has won since 2006, includes most recently, a 1st place in the 2010 Boston Tea Party Advanced Jack&Jill, 1st place in the ULFC division at Lindy Focus VIII, as well as 1st place in the Swinging New England Invitational Strictly. She also holds, with Patrick, the title of the 2009 Canadian Swing Vice Champions.
She has appeared in several Canadian television shows; La Vie est un Cirque, La Culture pour ou Contre, Ben et Jarrod, Relève en Folie, and L'heure de Gloire. She has even found herself replicated hundreds of times for a Sam Roberts video clip ''Them kids''.
When teaching, Natasha is known for her friendly smile, her adaptability to her students and her clear and detailed teaching methods./p>