About Marcus & Bärbl




"We are very happy that people all over the world like our teaching so much. It is our aim to share the great fun of swing dancing and give everybody the opportunity to learn it. So we hope to see you on the dance floor soon."

Marcus and Bärbl originally from Munich, Germany, have danced together since 1991. They both started with ballroom dancing in 1984 before they lost their hearts to Boogie Woogie and Swing. Marcus was also deeply involved in building up the Boogie Woogie in the German Rock ’n’ Roll- and Boogie Woogie-Federation in his function as a sports manager. For 13 years Marcus and Bärbl also have been part of the organization committee of the famous Boogie-Bären Witsun camp. Traveling and teaching all over the World they brought Boogie Woogie and Swing to many corners of the globe.

The depth and breadth of swing knowledge Marcus and Bärbl share of various styles of swing comes from long hours studying dance scenes from the original Hollywood movies frame-by-frame and by working personally with the dance masters themselves including: Frankie Manning (“Hellzapoppin’”), Gil Bradey (“Don’t Knock The Rock”), Jean Veloz (“Swing Fever”, “Groovie Movie”), Freda Angela (“Rock Around The Clock”, “Don’t Knock The Rock”), John and Anne Mills (our Balboa mother), Willie Desatoff (Balboa master), Hal Takier (“Twice Blessed”), and Bob Hefner (“In The Swing”).

Their performing and teaching skills include Boogie Woogie, Hollywood Style Lindy Hop, Savoy Style Lindy Hop, 1930s-50s Jazz, Shim Sham, Charleston, Collegiate Shag, Balboa, Jitterbug Stroll, Big Apple, Swing Rueda. One specialty of Marcus and Bärbl is improvisation and music interpretation.

Marcus and Bärbl’s knowledge of Boogie Woogie, Lindy Hop and Hollywood Style enabled them to preserve the heritage of these great dances and produce a fun-filled, high-energy style all their own. Marcus and Bärbl know a lot about dance, but it is their obvious joy of dance and enormous energy that inspires students and thrills audiences worldwide.



Some of their merits are:

Awards

  • Feather Award 1996 (Dancers’ Choice) for „The Most Outstanding Global Swing Dancer“
  • Feather Award 1997 (Dancers’ Choice) for „The Best Swing Dancers Outside The USA!“
  • ADTV Dance Award 2002
  • Camp Hollywood Hall of Fame Inductee (2009)

Competitions

  • 3rd place Pro Balboa/Bal-Swing National Jitterbug Championships 2008
  • 4th place International Balboa Championships 2006
  • 4th place Pro Balboa/Bal-Swing National Jitterbug Championships 2006
  • 2nd place International Balboa Championships 2005, 2007
  • 3rd place Cabaret Swing Fling 2005
  • 1st place Pro Lindy - National Jitterbug Championships 2003, 2004
  • 1st place Shag at National Jitterbug Championship 2004
  • 2nd place Balboa at National Jitterbug Championship 2004
  • 2nd place Pro Jack & Jill Leads at National Jitterbug Championship 2004
  • 1st place Strictly Lindy - US Open Swing Dance Championships 2002
  • World Champion in Boogie Woogie 1993
  • World Vice Champion in Boogie Woogie 1995, 1997, 1998
  • 3rd place Lindy Hop World Championship 1999, 2000
  • Finalist Lindy Hop World Championship 1996
  • Six times German Champions in Boogie Woogie (1992-1996, 1998)
  • Austrian Champion in Boogie Woogie 1991
  • 2nd place California Bal-Swing Championship 2002
  • 3rd place California Balboa Championship 2002
  • 5th place Balboa at National Jitterbug Championship 2002, 2003
  • 3rd place Shag at National Jitterbug Championship 2002, 2003, 2009
  • 4th place Shag National Jitterbug Championships 2008
  • 2nd place Golden Loafers Balboa Contest 2003
  • Marcus: 1st place World's Largest Jack'n'Jill Contest 2009 (USA) with Moe Sakan
  • Marcus: 2nd place Advanced Jack and Jill - Camp Hollywood 2011
  • Marcus: 2nd place Advanced Jack and Jill - Camp Hollywood 2010
  • Marcus: 3rd place Intergenerational Jitterbug Contest together with Freda Angela at Camp Hollywood 2003
  • Marcus: 1st place California Charleston Challenge 2002
  • Marcus: 1st place Advanced Jack and Jill competition Jitterbug Jam 2001
  • Marcus: 1st place Advanced Jack and Jill competition ALHC 2000
  • Bärbl: 1st place Intergenerational Contest with Nicolas (9 years) - Camp Hollywood 2010
  • Bärbl: 2nd place Invitational Pro Jack'n'Jill Balboa Contest with Marty Klempner - Balboa On The Promenade 2006
  • Bärbl: 2nd place Instructors Jack'n'Jill with Dave Frutos - Camp Hollywood 2007
  • A lot of other national 1st places
  • Winner of the Rock ‘n’ Socks Marathon competition 1998


Performances/Choreographies

  • Appearance in the TV series „Regina auf den Stufen“
  • Featured dancers and co-choreographer in the swing production "Swing On Ice" in Hong Kong 1999
  • Larry King Award
  • Tribute to Les Brown
  • Movie Makers Guild Awards
  • Disney Millennium Party
  • Swing It! International Swing and Jazz Festival
  • Bravo Special Documentary "Swing"
  • PBS Special "Swing"
  • Appearance in Musical Joseph
  • Satin Ballroom
  • CMA Swing Tour
  • TV Show Musikantenstadl
  • TV SWF Sport News
  • TV Munich
  • Corporate and private parties
  • Performances with top American and European Bands:
    Bill Elliott Orchestra, Swing Session, Pete Jacobs Wartime Radio Revue, Les Brown, Lionel Hampton, Indigo Swing, Rosemary Clooney, Big Kahuna, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tom Cunningham Orchestra, Blues Jumpers, Erik Ekstrand Orchestra, Peter Kraus, Wencke Myhre, Martin Schmitt, Joja Wendt, Odeon Dance Orchestra, Bill Ramsey, Hugo Strasser Orchestra, Swing Dance Orchestra, The Bel Airs, Cagey Strings, etc.


Teaching

  • Choreographing and training formation teams in Boogie Woogie
  • Training Finish National Team Boogie Woogie
  • Teaching and choreographing for top international Latin (Ballroom) couples
  • Teaching and performing at the International Dance Teachers Congress 1996/1997/2001/2002-2005/2008
  • Teaching all over the World:
    Herräng Dance Camp/Sweden (1992-2008,2010+2011), Camp Hollywood/Los Angeles (2000-2011), Swing Crash Festival (2006-2010), Balboa Rendezvous (2005-2011), Summer Jamboree (2006-2009), Boogie-Bergen Dance Camp/Norway (1996-2003), Crazy Shakers Trainings Weekend/Zurich (1987-1995), Boogie and Swing Camp Toulouse/France (1999-2003), Boogie Night Tampere/Finland (2000-2006), barSWINGona, Bären Whitsun Camp/Munich (1987-2000), Groovie Movie Reunion, Catalina Dance Camp, Virginia State Open, Buffalo Gap, Swing Master's Jam in London, American Lindy Hop Championship, Vintage Week in Cincinnati, Houston Camp
    Camps and Workshops in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, England, Australia, Hong Kong, Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Tunisia, Spain, USA, Canada, etc.