Ken Kreshtool
Associate Artistic Director
“The best instructor I’ve ever had in ANYTHING!” — Harvard University students' comments, 6 years in a row, for his on-campus dance classes.
Ever since hearing Allan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” Ken has wanted to be a camp counselor. Ah, the good life: wearing a whistle, carrying a clipboard, and booming out “Attention, Campers!” over the PA system. His position as TIPDI’s Associate Artistic Director is a dream (almost) come true.
After graduating from college, Ken drove slowly across America and back again in a 1930 Model A Ford — counterclockwise, of course, because that’s Line of Dance direction. After getting a look at the real world, Ken dove back into school, and now holds 3 advanced degrees: a law degree cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, a Master’s degree in psychology from Harvard University, and a Master’s degree in Education Policy from Columbia University. Ken earned his way through all three programs by teaching large dance classes in Swing (Jitterbug / Lindy Hop), Salsa (on 1), and Ballroom dancing. Starting early in college, Ken has now taken dance classes from over 200 teachers, has stolen all their best teaching ideas, and has invented some even better ones.
As mentioned: Six years in a row, Ken was student-commented as “the best instructor I’ve ever had in ANYTHING!” by Harvard University students, for his on-campus dance classes. Ken also taught the largest, most popular dance classes in the Boston area for many years off campus.
Ken is currently writing 2 books that address how to teach partner dance classes better. One book is designed for in-service teachers, and is written as a series of quick, easy, super-effective tips first, followed by a discussion of the core principles and educational philosophies out of which all the tips grow. This approach helps practicing teachers migrate at their own pace towards better teaching. The second book is designed for pre-service teachers, and starts with core principles first, then shows how those core principles automatically create super-effective teaching practices — practices that are essentially the same as the quick, super-effective tips of the first book. Ken is also developing live workshops to teach these Tips. The workshop program was piloted with dance teachers at the Liberty Swing Dance Championships in 2010–2013, and at You Should Be Dancing studios in Manhattan in 2019.
Ken was an avid Lindy Hop dancer for many years, then the music changed. Now he primarily dances West Coast Swing and is an internationally ranked competitor. He currently teaches West Coast Swing classes and workshops, usually with dance partner Paula Wilson, and (pre-pandemic) co-managed and co-hosted "Westie Cafe" – New York's largest, best, friendliest, and only weekly West Coast Swing dance party, held at You Should Be Dancing studios in Manhattan.
Ever since hearing Allan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” Ken has wanted to be a camp counselor. Ah, the good life: wearing a whistle, carrying a clipboard, and booming out “Attention, Campers!” over the PA system. His position as TIPDI’s Associate Artistic Director is a dream (almost) come true.
After graduating from college, Ken drove slowly across America and back again in a 1930 Model A Ford — counterclockwise, of course, because that’s Line of Dance direction. After getting a look at the real world, Ken dove back into school, and now holds 3 advanced degrees: a law degree cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, a Master’s degree in psychology from Harvard University, and a Master’s degree in Education Policy from Columbia University. Ken earned his way through all three programs by teaching large dance classes in Swing (Jitterbug / Lindy Hop), Salsa (on 1), and Ballroom dancing. Starting early in college, Ken has now taken dance classes from over 200 teachers, has stolen all their best teaching ideas, and has invented some even better ones.
As mentioned: Six years in a row, Ken was student-commented as “the best instructor I’ve ever had in ANYTHING!” by Harvard University students, for his on-campus dance classes. Ken also taught the largest, most popular dance classes in the Boston area for many years off campus.
Ken is currently writing 2 books that address how to teach partner dance classes better. One book is designed for in-service teachers, and is written as a series of quick, easy, super-effective tips first, followed by a discussion of the core principles and educational philosophies out of which all the tips grow. This approach helps practicing teachers migrate at their own pace towards better teaching. The second book is designed for pre-service teachers, and starts with core principles first, then shows how those core principles automatically create super-effective teaching practices — practices that are essentially the same as the quick, super-effective tips of the first book. Ken is also developing live workshops to teach these Tips. The workshop program was piloted with dance teachers at the Liberty Swing Dance Championships in 2010–2013, and at You Should Be Dancing studios in Manhattan in 2019.
Ken was an avid Lindy Hop dancer for many years, then the music changed. Now he primarily dances West Coast Swing and is an internationally ranked competitor. He currently teaches West Coast Swing classes and workshops, usually with dance partner Paula Wilson, and (pre-pandemic) co-managed and co-hosted "Westie Cafe" – New York's largest, best, friendliest, and only weekly West Coast Swing dance party, held at You Should Be Dancing studios in Manhattan.