Kyiv born, Barcelona based, alina sokulska is a choreographer, dance & performance artist, Doctor of Philosophy (“cum laude”) with a research on contemprary choreography.
alina’s long-time research in social dances of the African diaspora, formation in contemporary dance, as well as experience of choreographing live with contemporary jazz and improvisational music has shaped her movement language and pushed her to develop her approach to dance improvisation and spontaneous composition. her performances are a deep reflection of her diverse influences and innovative spirit.
alina will bring her vision to this Bluesila, proposing the creative ways of how we can reflect about and relate to the blues dance and music from the contemporary perspectives of our individual and collective stories.
Alina and Nicolas are united by a long story, tested by time and distance.
Having met each other in Minsk back in 2015, they instantly felt their duet to be harmonious and easy going. The classes with them, marked by a fascinating mix of French charm and eastern austerity, are friendly meetings where everyone laughs, shares thoughts aloud, listens to the stories of the sensei, gets silent and flows into the dance…
As each of them has their own independent dance background and experience, their dancing style is rich in different techniques. Tango, hip-hop, classical, contemporary dance and later lindy hop and blues – all these different families of dance now help them in understanding mechanics and aesthetics of the body and the way of moving according to the traditions of different dances. Relying on feelings and self-expression, virtuously combining their experience in dance, with every dance they build their unique universe of blues.
Nicolas and Alina are based in Rennes (France), where they are organizing numerous events and teaching in a school called “Dance Addict”, established by Nicolas in 2014. They have already taught together in their native France, Belarus, and beyond, took prizes in competitions separately and in a couple. And the common passion for travel and sharing each time inspires them for new projects – they love traveling and inspiring smaller communities helping them to grow.Their passion in blues doesn’t stop at dancing only. The hunger for knowledge of history and blues culture pushed them to make regular research that finally turned into the idea of creating an unusual festival, called “Blues Spirit”, dedicated to discovering Blues Ethos.
Jean-Charles aka JoYsS is well known for his multi-artistic experience.
He originally comes from Hip-hop Culture, where the mission of every dancer is to build up your own style and respect all inspirations without taking away any nature of it. He is an artist who shared a long history with the art of dance before becoming an actor today.
His purpose is not to dance swing with “modern moves”… He just brings his own experience, challenges himself and tries to level up exactly like the old school dancers did in the golden age, as if they never stopped dancing until now.
Through his numerous teaching and training courses all over the world, his famous performances like the “Drunk dance on Take Five”, his win of the 1st place solo Charleston at ILHC 2015 in Washington DC and many other notable endeavors he is one of the most accomplished French figures in the international swing scene today.
Another interesting thing is athat besides previosuly mentioned this, JoYsS has his own signature move in the video game Fortnite by Epic Games. During his career he has also worked for artists like Rita Mitsuko, Mika, La Femme, and even prestigious brands like Hermès and Tommy Hilfiger. Now he performs at Caravane Palace concerts and music videos, and is part of the cast of the Fashion Freak Show by Jean-Paul Gauthier.
Gas and Alba are internationally renowned blues dance teachers, deeply respected for their experience, knowledge, and passion for the dance. With years of dedication to blues and jazz culture, they have taught thousands of hours across the world, sharing their expertise with dancers of all levels.
Gas brings a dynamic and powerful presence to the dance floor. His background in gymnastics adds explosiveness and precision, while his deep understanding of tango enhances his ability to create sensitive and connected movement. His lifelong commitment to studying and evolving as a dancer makes him an inspiring and engaging teacher.
Alba is a master of communication, both in dance and teaching. With an analytical approach and a strong foundation in jazz culture, she guides students toward authentic self-expression and deep musicality. Her passion lies in social dancing, helping students unlock their movement and connection through improvisation and rhythm.
Together, Gas and Alba bring a teaching philosophy that is alive, evolving, and deeply rooted in the music. They focus on natural movement, musical understanding, and true connection between partners. Their classes are immersive, challenging, and always filled with the joy and authenticity of blues dance.
With their extensive experience and dedication to sharing the essence of blues, Gas and Alba continue to inspire dancers worldwide, encouraging them to explore their own expression while honoring the traditions of the dance.
Arja and Isabelle have kept bumping into each other in Mix&Match competition finales over the years, and always share musical and playful dances on the social floor. Regardless of who leads and who follows in a particular dance, they enjoy creating the dance together and building upon each other’s ideas. As teachers, they are passionate about encouraging their students to prioritize being dancers first, while treating leading and following as distinct skills to be developed.
Arja discovered rock’n’swing dances in 2012 and became a cornerstone of Helsinki’s blues dance community after moving there in 2014. Since then, she has been actively building the local scene as an organizer and DJ and teaching regularly since 2015. Arja also choreographs and coaches a performing blues dance troupe. Arja is experienced in teaching partnered blues in both leader and follower roles, as well as solo blues. As a teacher, she loves to focus on blues dance aesthetics, comfortable partner connection and fostering creativity that respects the dance’s cultural roots. As a teacher she has been described as encouraging, inspiring and genuine. Additionally, she is very intrigued by the wellbeing benefits of social dancing that extend beyond the dance floor.
Isabelle has been dancing since she was a toddler. She discovered Blues dancing in late 2012 after moving to the UK. The variety of Blues music styles, tempos and rhythms as well as the various forms of connections have kept her on the dance floor ever since. Isabelle loves those moments when you can really sink your teeth (or feet?!) into a song, be in the moment and enjoy this ultimate form of self-expression because the music moves you. She has travelled to countless Blues events around the world for the last 12 years and taught locally, nationally and at various events across Europe. If not dancing, she will be found learning more about Blues and Black American history as well as organising dance events in her local Oxford scene.
