Jon Tigert

Jon Tigert is a dancer, musician, choreographer and educator specializing in social dances and music of the early 20th Century, particularly the Jazz music and Dance that thrived in Harlem in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. He teaches, judges, and performs at Swing Dance Festivals around the world, including The International Lindy Hop Championships, The Chinese Swing Dance Championships, the Canadian Swing Dance Championships, The Great Southwest Lindyfest, Lindy Focus and many more. He acts as the co-music coordinator for Herrang Dance Camp, the longest running Swing camp in the world. In Baltimore, Jon works with The Mobtown Ballroom and Guardian Baltimore, and leads the band Corner Pocket Jazz Band. He plays drums and sings with various other groups, including Posey Royal, Michael Gamble and the Rhythm Serenaders, and Gretchen Midgley and the Sidecar Six. He has been a featured performer with the Indianapolis and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras. In every aspect of his work, Jon believes in unity between musicians and dancers, and the shared language they have. Tigert feels it irresponsible when acknowledging his career not to pay tribute to the elders of this dance and music, without whose kindness, time, knowledge, and power, he would not be enjoying such a creative life.

jpntigert.com

This bio/description was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2020. For more current information, please refer to the award recipient's website (if provided).