Teaching Staff
We’re proud to have a talented and diverse team of instructors who are passionate about helping you grow as a dancer. Our staff is committed to creating a fun, engaging, and informative learning environment, where dancers of all levels can feel supported and challenged. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, our instructors bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to every class. Join us, and let our dedicated team guide you on your dance journey!
Austin Kois
Head of Education, Instructor
San Francisco, CA
Austin Kois is a Champion-level West Coast Swing dancer and instructor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His journey into dance began in 2012 when his mother convinced him to try a dance class. That first experience sparked a passion that would shape his future teaching and dance career.
Austin started teaching professionally in 2017. Since then, he has taught at competitive events and workshop weekends across the country and around the world. In 2022, Austin joined the Mission City Swing team as Head of Education, where he also became part of the MCS leadership team. In 2023, he was honored with an induction into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.
Having been involved with Mission City Swing from its early days, Austin is now thrilled to contribute even more in his role as Head of Education. Austin is also Director of Groovy Tuesdays WCS, another weekly West Coast Swing dance in San Jose, CA.
Estelle Bonnaire
Instructor
Berkeley, CA
Estelle Bonnaire’s dance journey began at 13 with Lindy Hop, quickly evolving into a passion for swing dancing. At 18, she traveled the world to deepen her knowledge, eventually discovering her love for West Coast Swing, which blends smoothness, grace, and technique.
In 2011, Estelle moved to Montreal to train professionally, refining her skills as both a dancer and teacher while competing internationally. She became the first French All-Star dancer and placed 6th in the Classic division at The Open in 2018, collaborating with top dancers and coaches.
Now, Estelle travels globally, sharing her passion through teaching. Her warm, approachable style and ability to simplify complex concepts make her a beloved instructor, leaving students more confident and skilled. She is excited to bring her energy and expertise to Mission City Swing, where she looks forward to inspiring and learning from the vibrant local community.
Kathleen Sun
Instructor
San Francisco, CA
Kathleen began her dance journey as a toddler, dancing ballet and swiveling her way across the ice as a figure skater. She translated those swivels onto the dance floor when she started dancing Lindy Hop in 2012. When Kathleen moved to San Francisco in 2016, she frequented Mission City Swing every week and fell in love with the smooth aesthetic and versatility of West Coast Swing. She currently is an avid West Coast Swing dancer, instructor, choreographer, & DJ, spinning tunes at local and international events.
As a community leader, Kathleen devotes her time towards helping run Mission City Swing on Wednesdays in San Francisco – teaching, DJ’ing, and managing operations. She has been a part of Mission City Swing’s leadership team and teaching staff since 2019. In June 2023, she founded Moonlit Moves in San Francisco to give students another venue to learn and dance on (most) Fridays! The community she has contributed to and built is felt across the Bay.
Kathleen brings an infectious energy (and laughter) to the dance floor and is so excited to be able to spread her love for movement and dance to all communities!
Cameron Crook
Instructor
Berkeley, CA
Cameron Crook lives in Berkeley, CA and is an instructor at Mission City Swing.
Janelle Guido
Instructor
Santa Rosa, CA
To be updated.
David Mulford
Instructor
San Francisco, CA
David Mulford’s dance journey began in 1999, when he took his first social dance class as a shy college sophomore, unaware that dance would soon become a life-changing passion. Over the years, he explored various styles, but it was West Coast Swing that truly captivated him. He appreciates the unique blend of connection, communication, and musical creativity the dance offers, especially through its slower tempos. David taught at Stanford West Coast Swing from 2012 to 2016 and has been competing on the convention circuit since 2014. Now, he’s thrilled to return to teaching and share his love for West Coast Swing with others.
Paul Nunez
Instructor
San Francisco, CA
TBD
Savannah Harris-Read
Instructor
San Francisco, CA
TBD
Jacob Albritton
Instructor
San Francisco, CA
To be updated.
Melissa Mueller
Instructor
San Francisco, CA
Melissa has been in SF since 2010, she loves The Giants, The conservatory of flowers, the view from Twin Peaks, and live music at any bar! In 2016 a friend invited her to MCS- before that she had never heard of West Coast Swing, let alone danced it. She’s been here ever since!
Her favorite things about the dance are 1. That you can dance it at every wedding and Bar Mitzvah. 2. That’s it’s accessible to people of all shapes, sizes and athletic ability. 3. That feeling of being really connected to another person and creating something on the spot together. Melissa loves teaching fundamentals because she get to watch people discover and fall in love with the dance over and over again!
Jodie Tarpo
Instructor
San Francisco, CA
Jodie began attending Mission City Swing in 2017, shortly after moving to the Bay Area from Santa Barbara, CA. She began dancing through her ballroom dance club in college, where she competed in Latin, Standard, and the various “Nightclub” dances, which included salsa, bachata, hustle, Lindy Hop, and West Coast Swing. Ask her to see a video of what her West Coast Swing looked like back in those days, if you’re in the mood for comedy.
Jodie loves the fun, playful personality of West Coast Swing as well as the versatility of styles within the dance itself. She has received so much support through the MCS community throughout the years, and is excited for the opportunity to give back to the community by sharing knowledge and encouragement.
Alaina Yee
Instructor
San Francisco, CA
“Alaina Yee something something gymnastics and ballroom something something lindy and balboa something something Next Gen and Boogie.”
Alaina Yee is a seasoned swing dancer with a rich background in various styles, including West Coast Swing (WCS), Lindy Hop, and Balboa. She began her dance journey in Sacramento at Spotlight Ballroom, where she was first introduced to the 1990s style of WCS. However, it wasn’t until 2007, under the guidance of Martin Casillas, that she truly delved into the world of authentic WCS. Despite Martin’s persistent encouragement, Alaina didn’t fully immerse herself in the WCS community until 2009.
Her Lindy Hop experience started at Spotlight Ballroom as well, but it wasn’t until 2009 that she took formal classes in the style. Over the years, her focus shifted away from Lindy, though she maintained a curiosity for it. In recent years, Alaina has developed a growing passion for Balboa, which she first explored before the pandemic.
With her diverse background and ongoing dedication to learning, Alaina brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her teaching, inspiring her students to grow and discover the joy of all forms of swing dance.
Mission City Swing 