We are happy to announce this year’s Team of a great International known Instructors.
Please, meet our Team!
JOËLLE & BRET NAVARRE (FRA/USA)
Originating from opposite sides of the world (USA/France), Joëlle and Bret found each other through dance, and quickly realized they belonged together. Ever since, they have been traveling the world as WCS Instructors, Coaches, Performers, Judges and Chief Judge for Joëlle, Choreograpers and more to spread West Coast Swing.
Joëlle and Bret brings their own style to the dance floor, coming from a fusion of Bret’s background in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Latin, and Ballroom, mixed with Joëlle’s skills from Hip Hop, Belly Dance, Salsa, and Afro-Caribbean Dances. They are partners since 2014, and between the both of them they combine over 40 years of experience dancing and teaching. They are also Event Organizers and have been running Med in Swing for 12 years, that recently became a WSDC Registry Event.
They are mostly recognized for their pedagogy, focusing on making their students understand the techniques and mechanisms involved in West Coast Swing, while maintaining a fun and welcoming learning atmosphere! They are constantly training to improve their dancing, judging and teaching and believe that with a dance that is constantly evolving like West Coast Swing, staying current as a professional is a must!
VANESSA & THOMAS BACHMANN (GER)
Vanessa started as a hip-hop dancer before discovering her true passion for West Coast Swing in 2017. She quickly rose through the international scene, competing worldwide. Alongside teaching, she focuses on coaching dancers in goal-setting, growth, and balancing dance with everyday life.
Thomas has been immersed in Swing dance since his youth, exploring styles from Boogie and Lindy Hop to Jazz and Ballet. Teaching since 2005, he brings deep knowledge of technique and Swing history. As the founder of Hep Cat Club in Augsburg, he shares his passion with dancers around the world.
Together, they combine modern creativity with strong fundamentals, offering inspiring and well-rounded teaching for dancers of all levels.
ANASTASIA & DARIC LION (RUS/CH)
Daric’s road into dance was anything but typical. Born and raised in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, he studied physics and nanotechnology at one of Switzerland’s top polytechnical schools. Dance only entered his life because of a girlfriend… and when asked to choose between her or dance, the answer changed everything. A few months later, a friend challenged him to a Discofox competition in just 3 weeks. With no teacher, he learned alone — and never stopped evolving. Mixing technical precision with deep feeling, he built his own unique approach to Discofox, inspired by Latin but shaped by science and structure. From 1995 to 2006, he won every Swiss Championship he entered and became Vice European and World Champion.
Today, Daric travels worldwide sharing his vision of dance: technique as a tool to create connection, emotion, surprise, and life between leader, follower, and couple.
Nastia was born in Moscow and first trained in gymnastics, building flexibility, discipline, and determination. She started ballroom dancing at 12 and later discovered Hustle/Discofox — the dance that became her passion. She developed her own style, co-owned two major dance schools in Moscow, and helped grow the modern Discofox community internationally.
Alongside Discofox, she fell in love with West Coast Swing and is now an All-Star dancer and judge. She also teaches her own Lady Styling intensives, helping dancers express themselves both in partner and solo dancing.
Together, Daric & Nastia combine technique, musicality, connection, and emotion to inspire dancers all over Europe and beyond.
