Eyal Vilner is one of the leading voices in the New York and global big band swing scene. Born in Tel Aviv, saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist, composer and bandleader, Eyal moved to NYC in 2007 and started his big band the following year. The Eyal Vilner Big Band has been performing widely in NYC’s landmarks such as Lincoln Center, the Guggenheim, Birdland, Dizzy’s Club, Smalls, The Joyce Theater, Minton’s Playhouse, Harlem Jazzmobile and Central Park SummerStage.
Internationally, Eyal has performed at the Red Sea Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv Museum, Jerusalem Theater; Ghent Festival, Belgium; Teatro Alameda, Spain; Théâtre Plaza, Montreal, as well as the historical La Bellevilloise, Le Duc des Lombards, and Caveau de la Huchette in Paris, to name a few.
Eyal’s interest in the exchange between sound and movement within the jazz idiom inspired his musical journey and yielded collaborations with acclaimed dancers and choreographers. Among these projects are theater productions, dance festivals and competitions such as the International Lindy Hop Championships, The Xperience, Midsummer Night’s Swing, and the celebrated SW!NG OUT show at the Joyce Theater (co-creator and musical director). This show, which the New York Times has called “Groundbreaking,” has toured throughout the US, in venues such as the Jacob’s Pillow and the LA Music Center.
The big band performs Eyal’s original compositions as well as his new arrangements of jazz classics. Their music, which derives from the tradition of jazz, swing and the blues, strives to bring a unique voice to this beautiful art form. Their first seven albums: Introducing the Eyal Vilner Big Band, Almost Sunrise, Hanukkah, Swing Out!, Live in Washington Square Park!, The Jam!, and Swingin’ Uptown, received rave reviews and made it to the Top Jazz Radio Charts of the US and Canada. Their new album Big Apple Stomp will be released in Spring of 2026.
Mayo Alanen is an expert in all forms of partner dancing and his greatest passion is the American Smooth style (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, and Viennese Waltz).
Mayo has made numerous TV appearances on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, PBS’s American Ballroom Challenge, and TLC’s Ballroom Blitz, as well as starring in the Off Broadway hit “Champions of the Dance.”
He is a National Rising Star Champion, 4-time National Professional Smooth Finalist, 4-time World Professional Smooth Finalist, World Professional Smooth Vice Champion, Blackpool Champion, European Champion, French Open Champion, Chinese Showdance and American Smooth Champion and was awarded Top Teacher at the Manhattan Dancesport Championships.
Despite his numerous titles, Mayo is proudest of his students. He has helped his students achieve world champion status in both the closed and open divisions in every age category and across a range of ability levels. Teaching dance is his calling and he pours himself into every lesson.
Mayo has donated countless hours as a volunteer teacher, charity co-founder, artistic director, and board member for a variety of 501c3s. Most recently, he was given the Humanitarian Award by Dancing Classrooms and the Community Service Award by the National Dance Council of America.
Mayo believes that dancing is for everyone and within it lies a true potential for joy and growth.
Located in New York City, Mayo travels extensively to teach and perform.
James Repetti began dancing when he was 10 years old in the Dancing Classrooms program. Since then, he has never stopped dancing and has made it his full time career. He currently competes in and teaches Latin, Rhythm, Standard, and Smooth. James is a certified teacher through the AIDA (formerly known as USISTD) and is a registered professional through the NDCA.
While James teaches collegiate dancers full time, he also actively competes both locally and internationally.
James’ most notable competitive successes include being a 9-time World Champion, 7-time Blackpool Open Worlds Champion, a 9-time Gay Games Gold Medalist, a 13-time North American Champion, a 5-time Euro Games Gold Medalist, and a 5-time US National Champion. He has won these titles while competing in Equality Ballroom Dancing competitions alongside his dance partner, Justin Miller. They have won these titled events in all four styles (Standard, Smooth, Latin, and Rhythm), the combined 9-Dance and 10-Dance divisions, Showdance, and Argentine Tango.
This year James celebrates his 20 years of teaching ballroom dancing, including his many years of involvement within the collegiate ballroom circuit. James has served as the coach for Collegiate Teams across the East Coast and privately coaches individual couples from across the country. He currently serves as the coach for both the Stony Brook and Hofstra University Ballroom Dance Teams. His students have gone on to compete professionally, as well as to become national, international, and world champions in their respective styles and levels.
Yash Gupta is a Managing Director on H.I.G.’s GP Solutions team. He is based in the firm’s New York office, and leads all aspects of the investment lifecycle, including sourcing, transaction structuring, deal execution, and portfolio management.
Prior to joining H.I.G., Yash was a Managing Director, Partner, and Investment Committee member of Morgan Stanley’s Ashbridge secondaries team. With over 13 years of experience in the secondaries market, Yash has been recognized as a thought leader in GP-led transactions and continuation vehicle structuring. His earlier career includes roles at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Credit Suisse.
Yash holds an MSc in Financial Economics from the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, and a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics. He is also a CFA charterholder.
Founded in 1995 at 92NY’s Harkness Dance Center, the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) is a nationally recognized professional learning program dedicated to placing art at the heart of teaching.
Through courses, curriculum, customized partnerships, free resources, and its year-long DEL Institute Teacher Training Program, DEL has equipped thousands of educators with the tools and confidence to bring creative, inclusive, and culturally responsive dance learning to students of all ages.