ABOUT US

In 1998, Michelle Stoupe founded Jitterbugs New Zealand upon her return from Europe where she learned to swing dance. With several years of ballet, teaching Ceroc through to advanced level as well as managing the performance team, setting up a swing dancing school was the next logical step. The first class was held at the end of March 1998 at the Ceroc Dance Studio with a handful of students keen to give this dance a go.

Slowly but surely a small group of regulars was formed and would often be seen out dressed in swing gear dancing to the various big bands at the RSAs. People were curious about this dance they had never seen before and absolutely loved to watch it! Back then, there was no swing scene to speak of and no one had even heard of lindy hop!

Eventually, Michelle realised that if the scene was the grow, she would have to train up some teachers. So in 2000, the first group of Jitterbugs teachers were trained and starting taking over some of the teaching load. The news of swing dancing was also spreading as Jitterbugs was invited to teach regular workshops in both Christchurch and Wellington. These groups eventually grew to the current communities in these centres.

In 2002 Jitterbugs ran the first lindy exchange in New Zealand which brought dancers from around the country and the world to Auckland for a weekend of workshops, dancing and socialising. The event has now evolved into a residential camp and runs annually continuing with the aim of improving and increasing the swing community in New Zealand.

Jitterbugs continues to promote swing dancing and swing music in Auckland and around New Zealand enjoying close relationships with the swing dance schools in New Zealand and Australia. We have been involved in the media (TV, newspaper, magazine, movie) and continue to perform and spread the swing word throughout the community.

Jitterbugs has been involved in:

movie
"The Other Side of Heaven" (Disney)

tv
BroMasters (2008), "So You Think You Can Dance" (2006), "Dancing With The Stars" (2009), ICE TV (2002), TVONE News (2000)

stage
"She Stoops to Conquer" (2009)

performances
Starship Supernova Swing (2009) Fight for Life (2005) Art Deco Weekend (1999 - 2009) Parachute Music Festival (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005), Melbourne Lindy Exchange (2001), 100% Pure Swing (2004, 2005), NZX (2007-2009)