Burness Gipson
ActorBurness Myrle Gipson III:
Sexy 1920's to 1950's looking clasically quirky handsome guy!
Grew up in San Diego, worked for GreenPeace and PhotoMat. Moved to Olympia, Wa for Liberal Arts School in Journalism and LGBT Studies. Traveled back and forth and eventually moved to Washington DC (acted in Pelican Brief) to get heart broken. Moved to Portland to drown sorrows. Settled in San Francisco; Performed as a featured dancer and Extra; Worked at Stormy Leather; Worked as a Photo Editor; Finally found his pasion in dance to become a professional teacher & champion dancer creating Contests and Festival's to inspire others to dance! Lost more hearing; But, gained more American Sign Language (ASL) and a beautiful Deaf community member.
Background performer (extra), Dancer; Choreographer; Judge; Teacher; Tabulator; Vintage Pin Up & Documentary Photographer and Journalist. Proficiant in Ballroom American Style, International Style, Salsa, Country 2 Step, Rusian Dances, Swing Line Dances, and Authentic Vintage Swing dances: 1920's-1930's Charleston, Lindy Hop, Balboa Swing, Collegiate Shag, Carolina Shag, Saint Louis Shag, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing and Early American Jazz Vernacular steps and Animal Dances!
Screen Apperances:
2008 Choreographer & Dancer, Maggots and Men
2007 Robot Bartender, 48 hour film project
2006 Featured Dancer, Swing the Movie
2005 Featured Dancer, Stompy Jones Music Video
1993 Back ground talent-ACT UP, Pelican Brief
Current Professional titles:
Director & Main Teacher Swing U School & Queer Ballroom Dance Studio, QueerBallroom.com
Founder & Director, San Francisco Balboa Swing Festival, BalboaBattle.com
Founder & Director, Lindypendance Weekend in association with Fillmore Jazz Festival
Director, North American Swing Championships, SwingChampionships.com
Director & Head Judge, Nor Cal Swing Championships, SwingChampionships.com
Troupes:
Troupe director, Choreographer and Dancer, QueerJitterbugs & Balboa Bunch
Dance Team Member, Oaktown Alligators
Dance Team Member, SF Jitterbugs
Championship titles & Teaching Experience:
2009 Teacher, Swingn with the Stars, Phoenix, AZ
2009 Teacher & Head Judge, in Buenos Aires, Argentina (LHIAF)
2009 Guest Teacher & Jazz Step Teacher, Lindy in the Park
2007-2009 Tabulator, Inernational Balboa Championships, Balboa Rendevous
2000-2009 Director & Teacher, Swing, Salsa & Ballroom; Studio @ Live Art Gallery.
2000-2009 Choreographer, in house Troupes.
2008 Committee Member, San Francisco Lindy Exchange
2008 Teacher, Istanbul to Ankara, Turkey @ Vintage Swing Workshops with Burnie.
2008 1st to compete, in International Lindy Champonships (ILHC) w/same gender partner.
2008 California Same Sex Lindy Hop Champion.
2008 Guest Lindy Teaching, University of California San Francisco.
2008 Troupe class teacher, Tuesday Night Jump Verdi Club.
2008 Teacher, Swing'n with the Stars, Phoenix, AZ.
2007 Teacher & Head Judge, (1st North American to teach Balboa in South America)
Buenos Aires, Argentina at Lindy Hop International Argentine Festival (LHIAF).
2007 American Same Sex Swing Champion.
2007 Swing Performer, Sutter Health.
2006 Swing Performer, Sutter Health.
2006 Nor Cal Same Sex Balboa Champion.
2005 California Same Sex Swing Champion.
2005 Judge, Team Challenge Swing Central, Redwood City
2002-2005 Various California Same Sex Dance Champion titles...
2002 Guest Teacher, Balboa & Shag Metronome Ballroom (Cheryl Burke Studio)
Education:
2001 Dance Teacher Training College Metronome Ballroom.(Cheryl Burke Studio)
2007 Teacher & trainee, Vima Dance Ballroom, San Francisco.
1995 BA, Journalism, The Evergreen State College