OUR TEAM
Meet the skilled Instructors and passionate dancers who make Lindy Hop MKE extraordinary.
Paté Nassalang
Founder of Lindy Hop MKE
Paté is a professional Afro-Jazz (Swing/Lindy Hop) and traditional African dance educator and researcher. Born and raised in Senegal (West Africa), Paté was surrounded by the joy of rhythm and dancing from birth. He shares his deep love for dance with over 3 decades of teaching experience, and continues to preserve the history of Lindy Hop through dynamic and engaging lessons.
Paté started dancing and choreographing traditional and international dances at a national level back in Senegal in 1995, before moving to the USA in 1997. He has danced with some of the biggest African dance companies in the world, outside of Africa. Today he competes, teaches and performs Vernacular Jazz dances internationally. From USA (ILHC, Lindy Focus, Uptown Swing) to Dubai, Canada, and Africa. His current passion is researching Black American lineages and uncovering the connections between Vernacular Jazz dances and the Authentic Traditional African Dances, that have been around for thousands of years.
Nominated as a top 10 influencer instructor in 2024 (ilindy), on social media in the USA, Paté currently works with schools nationwide from Kindergarten to College to educate and bring the history of Lindy Hop to life. Swing dancing and Lindy Hop started in the United States but the movements and rhythm originated in Africa. Founding Lindy Hop MKE was the perfect way to preserve this connection that was rooted in vernacular jazz dance connection.
Lisa Black
Instructor and Performer
Lisa is an active member in the dance community, currently living in Brookfield, where she started dancing at the age of three. In 2022, she was given the opportunity to learn East Coast/Lindy Hop and fell in love. Her passion for Lindy Hop and early Jazz dance goes beyond the studio. She is dedicated to the history and preservation of Lindy Hop by educating school groups, competing, and performing for the community. Most recently, she has performed at Turner Hall, Al. Ringling Theater, Milwaukee Athletic Club, Kelch Aviation Museum, and Door County’s Fall Fest.
As an instructor, Lisa fosters connections and ensures every dancer feels welcome in the Lindy Hop MKE community. She also continues her own education from World-Class Instructors at Lindy Hop workshops and dance camps nationwide, including the World Finals at the International Lindy Hop Championships (ILHC) in NYC. When she is not dancing, Lisa spends her time volunteering for Girl Scouts, playing tennis or hitting the gym.