Rafal Pustelny is a vibrant young dancer and instructor who is passionate about traditional dances from all around the world! Rafal moved to NYC in 2010 and there studied American Jazz dance forms, including Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa. He quickly established himself as one of the top dancers in NYC, and has since earned acclaim in the international swing dance community. His wide knowledge and skill in various styles has helped him win top placements in international competitions and has created opportunities for him to teach around the world. Rafal’s expertise and passion for dance shine in the classroom; he uses his technical prowess, upbeat sense of humor, and innate ability to connect with people to distill high-level content into accessible pieces that elevate multiple aspects of his students’ dancing. Rafal continues his own dance education by studying Tap, Clogging, Hungarian folk dances, and Polish folk dances. As a performer, he works with several regional groups, including “Polish American Folk Dance Company,” “The Vanaver Caravan,” “Project Connect”, “Harvest Moon Hoppers”, “Swung Furies”, and “Wild Rhythm”, as well as community events and corporate parties. A Frankie Manning Foundation Ambassador, he teaches and performs locally with “You Should Be Dancing” studios and The Harlem Swing Dance Society. You can also find him at international events where he works with dance communities across the globe.