Naomi Uyama

Naomi didn't realize swing dancing still existed until one night in late 1997, she attended a dance in her hometown of Washington DC, witnessed her first jam, and was instantly hooked. Over the past eight years she has studied vernacular jazz dance as an historic treasure while pursuing it as a living art form. She has taught workshops around the world, and performed for dance and music legends alike. She is also one of the co-founders of the Jam Cellar, one of the most popular swing dance venues in Washington, DC.
As a competitor, Naomi recently took an unprecedented sweep of first place titles at the 2005 American Lindy Hop Championships, US Open Swing Dance Championships, and all three separate tempo divisions at the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown. She was also a member of the Silver Shadows, winners of the ULHS team division in 2005. Naomi’s expertise in subtle musicality and focus on following skills are points she loves sharing with the dedicated dancers.