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Muse Team
GENEVIEVE SENECHAL
Core Committee, Marketing
Genevieve stumbled into blues dancing in 2012 at Oberlin College and can't seem to stop. She was invited to start organizing with Yale Swing, Fusion, and Blues in 2015 and has now fully committed to the Organizer Life with Powerhouse Blues in Philly. You can find Genevieve teaching, announcing, dj-ing, promoting, organizing, and dancing with a level of joy she hopes is infectious. Her true loves include re-tellings of fairy tales, macaroni and cheese, and making art.
She is overjoyed to continue her role on the Blues Muse team this year as a core committee member and website builder, and has even taken on PR coordination. She loves her team and can't wait to dance with everyone in October!
NICK JONES
Core Committee, Treasurer
Nick started blues dancing in 2015 and has been found smiling uncontrollably on the dance floor since then. He now teaches and organizes in the local Philly dance scene, and strives to make sure every newcomer receives the same warm welcome that he once did. Nick is excited to return for the second year on the organizing team for Blues Muse, bringing his love for tasty spreadsheets to his role as the event treasurer.
AMARA BENSON
Safer Spaces
Amara (Uh-MAIR-rah) wants to live in a world filled with music and dancing! Music has been a part of her life since she was little. Her dad, who was a wedding DJ, got her into music and singing. She discovered Blues Dancing in the summer of 2015, from a high school friend and it changed her life!
As a Martial Artist and Criminal Justice Major, she aspires to protect and help people when they don't know where else to go and is one of Philadelphia's Powerhouse Blues Safer Spaces Coordinators. Having a safe environment where everyone can dance and enjoy themselves is her ultimate goal!
When she’s not dancing in Philly, you can find her hanging out with her family, playing Table Top Games or Recording her Podcasts. ASK HER TO DANCE! She tries to dance with everyone, but there isn't enough time in the day!
Fen Kennedy
Safer Spaces
Fen Kennedy has been Blues dancing for over a decade, and has held staff roles at Mezzjelly Blues, Express Track Blues, The Blues Experiment, Big Damn Blues Jam, Blues Muse and more. They are thrilled to be returning to Muse for their first event post-pandemic, and can't wait to dance.
KATE DONOHUE
Safer Spaces
Kate has been partner dancing since 2009, starting with the Argentine tango (which she has performed for Pope Francis!). She is passionate about dance as an art form and social dance, with its creativity, connection, musicality and community. Kate was led into blues dance 2+ years ago by one of her daughters and is now solidly grounded in the Philadelphia blues dance community as a Safer Spaces Coordinator for Powerhouse Blues and for Blues Muse. She’s committed to maintaining safe and welcoming dance space at Blues Muse and asks everyone to: become familiar with the Blues Muse Safe Space Policy, to have a blast at Blues Muse and to save her dance!
KYLE PATTERSON
Competition Coordinator
The Man.
The Myth.
The Mustache.
After these long years of Quarantine, much has changed for him, as it has for us all... After nearly a decade in the #MidwestIsBest brigade, he now finds himself in Oakland, CA where he can be found enjoying long walks on the beach, sunsets over the bay, getting a little sunburnt, and cheering #WestCoastBestCoast at every opportunity. Instilled with a passion for [healthy] competition from a young age, he's excited to make the leap from Competitor to Coordinator!
MARIE RUSARD
Venue Coordinator
Marie first encountered Philly's thriving dance community in 2013, and eagerly tried out lindy, WCS, balboa, and tango before finding a home base in blues. As an architect (and Blues Muse venue coordinator since 2016) she delights in coordinating beautiful spaces for dancing in, as well as geeking out about sprung wood floors and classical ornamentation. Ask her about Philadelphia's architectural history!
MARJORIE BARTELL
Housing and Band Coordinator
Marjorie Bartell (she/they) has been social dancing Blues, Lindy Hop, and Balboa since 2016, and started DJing in 2019. She is passionate about dance and music history, and super into finding you a place to stay while you enjoy our city. You’ll often find her arguing with people on the internet, or nerding out about music or dance.
MARC LONGHENRY
Volunteer Coordinator
Marc Longhenry is a long time dancer, organizer, and volunteer! This year he'll be the Volunteer Coordinator for Blues Muse, ensuring we have the right people in the right places to make sure the weekend goes smoothly. Volunteering is a foundation of many dance events and organizations, so please be patient and courteous with volunteers as they facilitate the weekend, and ask them to dance!
MIRYAM COPPERSMITH
Master of Ceremonies
Known for her bold musicality and playful riffing, Miryam was introduced to blues at an Oberlin College late night and fell in love. She has taught blues in Oberlin, New York, Virginia, and Philadelphia. Miryam has organized for Powerhouse Blues and Blues Muse and has competed at Steel City Blues, BluesGeek, and Nocturne Blues. She loves to hype up a crowd and is so jazzed to fulfill a lifelong dream of being Emcee MC for Blues Muse this year! When not blues dancing, Miryam might be... also dancing contemporary/contact improvisation/lindy hop/fusion, making performance work, writing for thINKingDANCE.net, teaching teens, or doing something else. miryamcoppersmith.com
MORGAN DOYLE
VIP Coordinator
Morgan fell in love with blues dancing back in college when she walked into the blues room at DCLX 2011. A native to the Philly area, she officially moved into the city in February 2018 and dove right in to the local blues scene. Off the dance floor, Morgan has spent as much non-pandemic time as possible getting to know the nooks, crannies, bars and restaurants of Philadelphia's many neighborhoods. She’s thrilled to be returning to the Blues Muse team as VIP Coordinator. Don't be afraid to stop her on the dance floor for local restaurant recommendations!
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