Shani hails from sunny southern California. She is best known for her fast, syncopated Balboa footwork, tight swing style and soft connection—which has been said to feel like a ‘warm hug’. As an instructor, she strives to make dancing effortless, combining foundational basics with the soft skills of connection and personal body awareness to develop one’s smooth flow and style.
For 25 years, Shani has dedicated herself to learning, preserving and sharing her love for Balboa and other social dances. She began swing dancing in 1998 before moving to Orange County, where she discovered a vibrant vintage swing community well connected to its local original dancers. She was immediately attracted to Balboa’s smooth, rhythmic footwork and began frequenting first-generation dancers’ dance floors.
Shani is honored to have honed her social dance skills and footwork under the guidance of legendary dancers Willie Desatoff, Hal and Marge Takier, Bart Bartolo, Jack Carey and many others. Although she has competed, placed and won several major competitions, she mainly enjoys social dancing and inspiring others to love Balboa and swing.