Featuring...
Chester & Evita
February 17th - 20th 2017

We are so fortunate to be welcoming Chester and Evita to Seattle for Jitterbug Weekend to celebrate 20 years of the Century Ballroom.  This will be a very special weekend with two amazing dancers/performers/instructors that you won't want to miss!

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Chester Whitmore
Los Angeles, CA

Dancing since 1974, Chester Whitmore originally studied to be a cinematographer. An encounter with famed tap dancer Fayard Nicholas (of The Nicholas Brothers) changed his life. Eventually, Mr. Nicholas became his teacher and mentor.

Mr. Whitmore has been jumping ever since.  Lately, he has been travelling around the world on tour as dancer, teacher, choreographer, director and entertainer. He and his dance company, Black Ballet Jazz, have performed with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington, the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Frank Foster and the great Miles Davis.

The summer of 1999 sent him touring through Canada and Europe with the Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra in a tribute to Duke Ellington.

Chester Whitmore’s choreography can be seen in music videos by Weird Al Yankovic, Tina Marie, Boys 2 Men, and most recently, Sugar Ray.

The NAACP Image Awards (1989-1994), Soul of American Music, and Stellar Awards (Gospel Music Awards) show Mr. Whitmore’s versatility in choreographing for diverse groups, such as the Nicholas Brothers with Savion Glover, M.C. Hammer, Lavert, Bebe and Cece Winans, Vickie Winans and dance tributes to Dick Clark and The Artist (formerly known as Prince).

Teaching assignments included Herrang (Sweden), and dance performances, Salzburg (Austria), the San Francisco Jazz Festival (1997), the Monterey Jazz Festival (1996), performing with veteran jazz greats Jon Hendricks and Joe Williams.

Mr. Whitmore is actively involved in projects reaching young people through Los Angeles Cultural Affairs events as performer or as teacher for the Parks and Recreation Division, African Marketplace, and in schools and universities throughout the U.S.

Chester Whitmore has taught almost everyone who has made a name in the swing scene.

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Evita Arce
New York City, NY

Known for her magical energy, high-flying aerials and dynamic movement, Evita Arce is a specialist in the Lindy Hop, The Charleston, and other Swing era dances. Evita performed the featured Lindy Hop role with partner, Michael Jagger, in the Broadway show SWING for the 2008 Japan tour, The Sacramento Music Circus, and the Benedum Theater in Pittsburgh. Additionally, Evita performed in "Let Freedom Swing", a Celebration of America, sponsored by Jazz at Lincoln Center and held at the Kennedy Center. It was part of the Martin Luther King day and 2009 Inaugural Festivities.

Evita's choreography and partnerwork have earned her 1st and 2nd place in numerous national contests. In October 2007 at the American Lindy Hop Championships she won 1st place in Blues and Cabaret. Evita was recognized for her solo-Charleston dancing with 1st and 2nd place standings. More recently she took 1st place in the Jazz dance competitions, both solo and partner (with partner Nathan Bugh), at ILHC 2012!

Evita has taught at Camp Jitterbug, Camp Savoy (UK), Swing Out North West, Swing Out New Hampshire, Lindy Focus, Sving du Nord, Boogie Baeren (Germany), Tokyo Swing Dance Society, Camp Oz (Australia), many other regional workshops, and the world famous Swedish Lindy Hop dance camp in Herrangue.

Syncopated City, an off-shoot of Swing FX, is now managed by Evita and partner Michael Jagger in NYC and was featured in the Edinburough, Scotland Jazz Festival, and annually performs at the Cabarets of Camp Savoy, as well as venues around the city and the country!