Emily Dunstan
Emily discovered Big Band Swing music after her musical taste worked its way backwards from the 80s through each decade, before coming to a halt in the 30s and 20s. After dabbling in Rock ‘N’ Roll, Street Latin and high school classes of funk and jazz, Emily finally discovered swing dancing at university open days and the Queenscliff Music Festival. However it was another two years before she took the plunge and attended her first swing classes at CBD and Geelong, in 2003. Under the watchful eyes of ‘Papa’ John Tenaglia and ‘Mama’ Shaz Callaghan, Emily grew as a lindy hopper and performed in her first lindy routine, Basie’s “One O’Clock Jump”, with her fellow cadets, Kim McLaren and Tessa Plueckhahn.
Since then, she’s been performing at every opportunity – joining Brat Pack in 2005 certainly helped with the performance addiction! Throughout the past few years, Emily became besotted with solo jazz and Charleston, blues, aerials and, of course, Kim McLaren. Moving up into Scat Pack in 2007 has proved to be another challenge Emily is determined to face with a grin (“if somewhat strained at times”). This year, she also has embarked on the swing teaching journey, joining the Ringwood crew on Monday nights.
During the week, Emily can usually be found in the vicinity of animals, having just completed her honours in Zoology (“I’m a self confessed nerd”). She now works casually as an educator at both a local zoo and a children’s farm, although she reports that the meerkats are still failing to appreciate her Charleston.
Swing dancing highlights include:
- Proud member of the Rugcutters: performing at MLB, 2006 and 2007
- 1st Up and Comers and 3rd Like a Virgin at Australian Jitterbug Championships, 2005
- Learning from Shaz and Cam at CBD and St Kilda
- Having a swing dancing lesson at her 21st bday party & getting her friends and family ‘swinging’ for at least an hour!
- Early morning weather gigs for Ch 9
- Spiegeltent gigs and Melbourne Zoo gigs in 2006
- Bendigo Military Tattoo, 2006
- Fitzroy Gardens
- Finally getting to dance with Mattias at Moomba, 2007
- Disco dancing at MLB, 2007
- Annual post-AJC soccer match, 2006 and 2007
Since then, she’s been performing at every opportunity – joining Brat Pack in 2005 certainly helped with the performance addiction! Throughout the past few years, Emily became besotted with solo jazz and Charleston, blues, aerials and, of course, Kim McLaren. Moving up into Scat Pack in 2007 has proved to be another challenge Emily is determined to face with a grin (“if somewhat strained at times”). This year, she also has embarked on the swing teaching journey, joining the Ringwood crew on Monday nights.
During the week, Emily can usually be found in the vicinity of animals, having just completed her honours in Zoology (“I’m a self confessed nerd”). She now works casually as an educator at both a local zoo and a children’s farm, although she reports that the meerkats are still failing to appreciate her Charleston.
Swing dancing highlights include:
- Proud member of the Rugcutters: performing at MLB, 2006 and 2007
- 1st Up and Comers and 3rd Like a Virgin at Australian Jitterbug Championships, 2005
- Learning from Shaz and Cam at CBD and St Kilda
- Having a swing dancing lesson at her 21st bday party & getting her friends and family ‘swinging’ for at least an hour!
- Early morning weather gigs for Ch 9
- Spiegeltent gigs and Melbourne Zoo gigs in 2006
- Bendigo Military Tattoo, 2006
- Fitzroy Gardens
- Finally getting to dance with Mattias at Moomba, 2007
- Disco dancing at MLB, 2007
- Annual post-AJC soccer match, 2006 and 2007
