artists
Meet our great team of Snowdown Swing artists - teachers, bands and DJs
TEACHERS
Helena Kanini Kiiru & Tyedric Hill
Helena Kanini Kiiru (CRO), is a young dancer and teacher born in Zagreb, Croatia. Her talent for music and dance have been evident since her childhood. Having Kenyan roots in her family, Kanini has always been exposed to African music, which stimulated her sensibility for the rhythm. After 8 years of exploring Hip Hop and Dancehall, she fell in love with Jazz. Kanini sees Jazz as an evolving contemporary artform which shares values and qualities with many African diasporic dance styles of today. She draws inspiration from OG’s as much as contemporary dance world, which makes her style unique and fresh.
Tyedric Hill (USA) is a traveling artist deeply rooted in Black cultural and social dance traditions. He explores their evolution and interconnections. Inspired by his ancestors, who found solace in rhythm and movement, Tyedric carries their legacy through dance, honoring the cornerstones of Black art: personal authenticity, community, hope, and dignity. Having trained under Sugar Sullivan, Ryan Francois, Chester Whitmore, and Latasha Barnes, he consistently draws back to authentic jazz as the foundation of modern Black social dance. He is proficient in various styles, from authentic jazz and Lindy Hop to hip-hop and house, with a focus on preserving cultural lineage and personal style. Tyedric’s dedication to embodying the soulfulness of Black history is evident in his commitment to passing on the legacy of his mentors and ancestors to future generations. He is a powerful voice in the world, using his platform to honor the past while shaping the future of the global community.
TEACHERS
Majda Stanojević & Srđan Budić
Majda Stanojević and Srđan Budić (SRB) are swing dancers from Belgrade, Serbia, and the founders of Hoppin’ Swing dance school. Srđan has been dancing since 2014, and Majda joined the scene in 2017. They are known for their dynamic style, which emphasizes improvisation, playfulness, and a smooth, natural flow on the dance floor. In addition to developing the swing dance scene in Belgrade, they travel, dance, and compete across Europe.
TASTER TEACHER
SUZANA SUZ
Suzana Suz (CRO) has been in love with hip-hop since elementary school. She founded her dance studio, “School of Street Styles – SOSS,” in 2012, teaching hip-hop, house dance, and afro. She guides her dance with a blend of feeling and strong technique. This old-school soul believes that freestyle is the key style.
TASTER TEACHER
Melanie Acorlor
Melanie Acorlor (CRO), a creative being & dancer of life, started her dance journey long before she could walk. Through life, she found inspiration and experience in other forms of dance, such as, Contemporary, Hip-hop and Experimental dance, Afrobeats is also one of those dances that open the heart and connect you straight to the roots. It is about the feeling, the need to share the energies of music, movement, emotions and connecting with each other in that spirit. Afrobeats is about love and freedom above all!
BAND
SHARP 6
Get to know our six talented musicians that will be the main ingredients needed for the best party in town on Saturday! Sharp 6 (CRO) is a collective of passionate musicans hailing from three continents. Under the expert guidance of Professor Franz, they will send you straight to the golden era of swing music, and later – to a foot massage!
Sharp 6 are: Franjo Stojaković (clarinet), Mate Picukarić (trumpet), Oleg Dudchenko (tenor sax), Diego Ortiz (piano), Jakov Gojmerac (double bass), and Antun Profeta (drums).
BAND
SILVER LINING
Let’s meet our next amazing band, who will open the second edition of the Snowdown Swing Festival and perform for us on Friday! Silver Lining (CRO) is a talented jazz collective from Zagreb, blending tradition with the energy of street performances. With years of experience at concerts and festivals, they bring vibrant, live jazz to every stage.
Meet the band: Mirko Prišilin (guitar), Mario Jamnić (double bass), Ivan Marinović (drums), Franjo Stojaković (saxophone), and Luka Goletić (vocals).