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Professores
Teachers
ENG Margarida Martins is a Portuguese singer, songwriter and guitarist. Since he started speaking, he has shown an interest in music and the singing voice. He studied classical guitar at the orfeão in Covilhã, studied lyrical singing at the National Conservatory and jazz voice at the Escola do Hot Clube Portugal and at the University of Évora. For her, music is something visceral, something that can be felt in the soul and body, which is why dancing has always been something very natural and which also emerged in childhood as a means of expressing her musicality. She is currently part of some musical projects such as Stomping at Six, Soul Gospel Project, Dwop, collaborates as a chorister, back vocals, guitarist, composer and arranger with several national and international entities and artists from several different styles of music and is currently a conductor and arranger for the Choir of the Senior University of Lisbon.

Margarida Martins

ENG Bruno started dancing in 2015 thanks to his wife and, against his expectations, he completely surrendered in the first Lindy Hop class. Later that year he also started in Balboa and naturally followed with Blues, Solo Jazz, Slow Balboa and many adventures in international festivals where he took classes with many teachers from all over the world. Today he can't live without dancing and the experience made this professional software programmer finally come to like people more than computers. Invited by Carla in times of a pandemic, he accepted the new challenge of teaching and sharing the joy of these dances.

Bruno Assunção

ENG Carla started to dance and jump as soon as she could! One of her favorite games as a child was to listen to music and dance, while she lived out great adventures in her imagination. She started taking Lindy Hop classes in 2009 with Abeth Farag, with the aim of building an acrobatic dance number for one of the shows by the Companhia de Teatro Circo Trupilariante. This goal turned out to change her life, she fell in love with the world of vintage African-American dances, changed her professional life and never stopped. Her passion is dancing Blues for the wide variety of styles and emotions that this music and dance provides, and Balboa and Slow Balboa for the relaxation and being in the moment.

Carla Frade

ENG José Andrade, born in Vila Velha de Rodão, is a Portuguese musician and saxophonist. He began his training very early in the county's music schools, playing guitar, piano and any instrument he came across. He attended the piano course at the Castelo Branco Regional Conservatory to consolidate his classical training. At the age of 18 he moved to Lisbon, his curiosity for music and different instruments led him to jazz and the saxophone, which is now his main instrument. He completed the jazz course at the Hot Club de Portugal school and the Jazz Music Course at the University of Évora. He teaches piano, guitar and saxophone at several music schools in the capital. He is part of several musical projects with some influence on dance and usually performs at festivals, events, bars and parties across the country. Some of the projects that stand out most from his career: Founder and saxophonist of the Hot club student orchestra while he attended school. Saxophonist of the Évora Jazz Orchestra; Founder and saxophonist of "Stomping at Six" Saxophonist on "Daisy" Saxophonist in "Suzie and the boys" Saxophonist in "Candonga" Pianist in "Swing da Má Sorte" Workshop with Seamus Blake. Improvisation course with Gary Burton (e learning) Guitar course with Jorge Pires. Workshop with Carlos Bica Trio (Frank Möbus and Jim Black)

José Andrade

ENG Dance has been an important part of her life for a long time. Inspired by music, she started Balboa classes in 2019 and later couldn't resist dancing to the Blues. She fell in love and couldn't stop anymore! She is always ready to dance, likes to learn and dedicates herself body and soul. Carla's invitation to be part of this project was accepted with great joy and enthusiasm. She would like to be able to help students find what is magical and unique about this dances so that each one, in their own way, can be a little happier.

Susana Afonso

ENG Gonçalo Mendonça was born in Lisbon in 1984. He began studying guitar with professor Paulo Valente at the Academia de Amadores de Música. In 2008 he switched to jazz guitar at Hot Clube de Jazz in Lisbon where he took classes with guitar teachers Bruno Santos, Sérgio Pelágio and André Fernandes. In 2012 he joined the Jazz course at the University of Évora where he took guitar lessons with professor Mário Delgado. Since 2015, Gonçalo Mendonça has adopted Jazz Manouche as his main stylistic reference. He took classes in Paris with Romain Vuillemin, Mathieu Chatelain, Adrien Marco, Hugo Guezbar, Adrien Tarraga, Daniel John-Martin and Philippe Baudoin. Gonçalo Mendonça plays in several national projects such as Swing na Guelra, Tributo a Django Reinhardt, Manouche Station and Pompadelic Orchestra, and leads his group Gonçalo Mendonça Manouche Station. Internationally, he plays in the project of Galician guitarist David Regueiro where he had the opportunity to record the album “Perfect Match” with violinist Alexandre Cavaliere. This album was awarded in 2023 as the best Jazz and Improvised Music album from Galicia, Martin Codax awards. Since 2018, he has organized weekly Jazz Manouche jam sessions in Lisbon and since 2022 he has organized the Jazz Manouche Festival in Almada, which has already had three editions and where he had the opportunity to play live alongside big names like Romane, Daniel John Martin and Julien Cattiaux. In the current year of 2024, Gonçalo Mendonça was selected with the artistic mobility scholarship granted by Creative Moves Europe and the Goethe-Institute. Find out more at www.goncalomendonca.pt

Gonçalo Mendonça

ENG In September 2015, through a friend who needed a partner to get off the waiting list and have direct access to classes, he got to know American vintage dances at Swing Station, where he started in the first few months to learn Lindy Hop, Balboa and Solo Vintage Jazz . Dance came to change his perspective on life and on his own body and movement, it brought new sensations and challenges that he wishes will never stop.

Rodrigo Caxaria

Começámos a nossa aventura em  2020, adoramos ensinar e espalhar o amor pela dança  e música Blues e Swing e ver os nossos alunos a interagir uns com os outros e com a música.As nossas aulas são cheias de boa energia e cumplicidade! Acreditamos num ambiente inclusivo e divertido para aprender a dançar e, como dizemos nas aulas -  Dançar faz bem à saúde, mexe o corpo e arrebita a alma.

We started our adventure in 2020, we love teaching and spreading the love of Blues and Swing dance and music and seeing our students interact with each other and with music.
Our classes are full of good energy and complicity! We believe in an inclusive and fun environment to learn to dance and, as we say in classes - Dancing is good for your health, moves the body and uplifts the soul.

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