Expertise In
Vintage Partnered Swing Dances (Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa)
Solo Jazz Dances (Solo Charleston, Authentic Solo Jazz)
Swing-Era Jazz Music – Deejay and Historian (1910’s to 1940’s era)
Workshop Instruction
The following weekend workshops typically involved 8 hours of instruction by Birkley with a partner, plus social dance deejaying, over the course of a weekend.
Lindy On The Rocks, St. John’s NL – March 4-6, 2016
Saskatoon Lindy Hop – May 2014
Spring Fling, Edmonton – May 2014
Swing Dance Winnipeg – November 2013
Swing Dance Winnipeg – November 2011
Toon Town Swing, Saskatoon – October 2011
Alberta Inspiration Weekend, Calgary – February 2008, 2014
Deejay Experience
Herrang Dance Camp, Sweden – Staff Deejay, July 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
‘Round Midnight Lindy Exchange, Calgary – August 2015
Lindybout, Vancouver – Event Deejay, April 2010, 2015
Canadian Swing Dance Championships (CSC), Montreal – Event Deejay, May 2014
Lindybout, Vancouver – Competition Deejay, April 2011, 2012, 2013
Wedding Deejay, Old Timer’s Cabin, Edmonton – April 2013
Choreography Highlights
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Winspear Centre, Edmonton
December 20-21, 2015: Performance and original choreography to “A Charleston Christmas”
January 7, 2012: Performance and original choreography for the ESO’s “Symphony For Kids” concert
Sep. 24-27, 2014: Performance and original choreography to “Carioca”, Artie Shaw
Mayor’s Awards, Winspear Centre, Edmonton
July 2014: Performance and original choreography to St James Infirmary and Christopher Columbus
Dance Fusion, Sherwood Park
January 2012: Choreography contract for an original work for their most experienced group to “It Don’t Mean a Thing”
Victoria School for the Arts, Edmonton
April 2011: Choreography contract for their Grades 4’s and Grade 6’s for two original pieces
U of A International Students Association, Edmonton
January to March, 2008: Six lessons for the International Students Association, including choreography for 2 performances. Students performed at SUB Stage and Horowitz Theatre at the University of Alberta campus
Entertainment & Performing Highlights
Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton
December 4, 2015: Performances, event management, and instruction
Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton
December 18, 2015: Ambience setting; social dancing and performances at a 1920’s themed corporate Christmas party
Edmonton City Hall, Swing ‘n’ Skate
January – February, 2012-2016 (Sundays): Performances and Instruction
Feats Festival, Edmonton
July 1, 2009-2014: Dance presentation and performance at Fort Edmonton Park for Canada Day (with Mad Cat Swing)
CKUA Grand Opening, Edmonton
May 2013: Performance of Swing and Balboa, and Instruction (with Mad Cat Swing)
Alberta Legislature, Edmonton
July 1, 2012: Performances and Instruction at Alberta Legislature for Canada Day celebrations (with Mad Cat Swing)
Barrhead Street Performers Festival, Barrhead
June 5, 2010: A one hour featured show in downtown Barrhead, including performances, demonstrations, and audience participation (with Mad Cat Swing)
Global TV, Edmonton
April 29, 2010: Performance and interview on Global TV for International Dance Day (Birkley Wisniewski, featuring his students)
Festival Place, Sherwood Park, AB
November 11, 2008: Performance for Remembrance Day Concert and Show with the River City Big Band (with Mad Cat Swing)
Teaching Highlights
Steam Punk Ball, Edmonton – November 2015
Party entertainment; group lesson and performing
Wagner High School, Edmonton – December 2014
Performance and instruction to students, with high school big band
YMCA Children’s Day Camp, Edmonton – July & August, 2010-2014
Instruction and performance
Lansdowne Child Care, Edmonton – March & April 2012
Weekly dance program for after school care students
Strathcona High School, Edmonton, February 2012
Full day dance program for grades 10 through 12
Dance Alberta Summer Intensives, Edmonton – August 16, 2010
Surprise Guest Instruction, 2 classes
Competition Credits
Lindy Bout 2015
- Champion, So You Think You Can Lindybout, featuring Balboa, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Drags, and Solo Jazz
- Judge, various contests
Lindy Bout 2014 – Finalist, Old Timey Dancing
Balboa Bash 2013 – Finalist, Partnered Balboa
Lindy Bout 2010 – Finalist, Flyweight Division
Lindy Bout 2009
- Finalist, Partnered Blues
- Judge, Title Jack & Jill Competition
Training & Travel
Herrang Dance Camp, Herrang, Sweden – July 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
The Balboa Experiment, Corolla, North Carolina, USA – April 2013, 2014
Camp Jitterbug – May 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Lindy Harvest, Edmonton Alberta – October 2009-2015
Seattle Lindy Exchange, Seattle, WA, USA – August 2013
International Lindy Hop Championships (ILHC), Washington, DC – August 2012
Sweet Bal Jam Weekend, Edmonton – July 2012, 2014
Century Masters, Seattle, WA, USA – August 2008
Various Edmonton & Calgary Workshops – 2003 to present
Education
B. Sc. Electrical Engineering, University of Alberta, 2004 Graduate
Biography
Birkley Wisniewski has been an avid student of swing and jazz dance for over 13 years. His dedication has made him one of the most skilled dancers in Western Canada. Since 2008, Birkley has made swing dancing his primary occupation and performs this art form on a professional level. He is the director of Mad Cat Swing, a dance team that has performed for The Winspear Centre, Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton City Hall, the Alberta Legislature and a variety of non-profit and corporate clients. In relation to his dance activities, Birkley is also a marquee swing dance deejay and has professionally deejayed both nationally and internationally at events in Sweden, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Birkley’s greatest achievement has been creating a local, vibrant swing dance community through teaching and hosting social events. Building this thriving population of dancers from the ground up, Birkley has inspired thousands of adult Albertans to actively seek out dancing each year. Birkley teaches and performs swing at every kind of venue imaginable, from large festivals and concerts to schools and assisted living homes. His passion for dance springs from one core belief: everyone can enjoy dancing, regardless of partner, age, gender, physique, or appearance.