Joel Schwarz

Joel Schwarz resides in New Westminster, BC, where he studies and teaches jazz dance with his wife Louise Schwarz. When he started dancing he immediately became drawn to studying the history of Jazz Dance and Music.  Drawing on his other passion as a professional film maker and overall film enthusiast, Joel began collecting and archiving film clips containing Jazz dance and music.  He is also very privileged to be able to learn and study Jazz in film from a few of the world's top film archivists.  Joel's main mentor in film history is the great archivist Dave Dixon and Joel would like to thank him for all his help and patience over the years.  (Joel would also like to thank his great friend Dr. Jeni LeGon for introducing him to Dave.)  Joel and Louise enjoy spreading their love of classic jazz dance and have taught and performed at events and Classic Jazz festivals around North America.  They also perform regularly with Canadian Swing legend Dal Richards.

When Joel is not studying the history of Jazz, he is promoting live classic Jazz. Joel and Louise have put together numerous events including the "Funky Butt Jazz Gathering" that focuses on bringing dancers and live music together.  Joel and Louise were also the last organizers of live music at Vancouver' historical "Hot Jazz Club" before it closed in 2006.  Joel is currently a director of the Vancouver Dixieland Society and will be starting a new monthly dance in October with the society that will spotlight Vancouver's amazing lineup of Jazz musicians.