Margot Toppen is a dance educator who directs Dancing with Class™ (www.dancingwithclass.org), a youth outreach organization that teaches swing, ballroom and Latin dance to Chicago-area elementary kids. In her classes, it is common for the girls to be taller than the boys. She t.... more
Margot Toppen is a dance educator who directs Dancing with Class™ (www.dancingwithclass.org), a youth outreach organization that teaches swing, ballroom and Latin dance to Chicago-area elementary kids. In her classes, it is common for the girls to be taller than the boys. She tells the story of real-life 1930s Lindy Hop dancers George Snowden ("Shorty George") and Beatrice Gay ("Big Bea") as a way of coaching students through this awkwardness. Her frequent telling of how George and Bea used their height difference to advantage to win contests is what inspired this children's story. She is excited to share the story of George and Bea with children everywhere.
Margot Toppen's Projects
Jitterbugs!
Be-Bop, A-Doo-Wop, A Wobble-Dee, POP! From the moment children first hear the recurring scat-rhythm ... more