Swing Aus Organizers & Weekend Staff

Board Members

Melanie Jackson - President & Treasurer

I was dragged to my first swing lesson by my sister in 2009 so she didn’t have to go alone. I was hooked. I then started teaching in 2011, DJing in the early-2010s, organizing Swing Aus since its inception in 2016, and also joined the Lancaster Swing Dance board around 2017 (give or take — but who's counting?). Due to various factors, I haven’t been dancing much, if at all, anymore (if you know, you know). My recent contributions have primarily been a little more behind the scenes in administrative and business capacities, including incorporating Lancaster Swing Dance as a non-profit organization in 2024.

This will be my last year organizing Swing Aus and I’ll be stepping off the board at the end of the year. I plan to spend more time in my “retirement” with my husband and 3 cats. Ask me for cat pics!!

I'm incredibly grateful for the community I've found in dance and for everyone I've had the chance to meet, dance with, and learn from over the years. Thank you for being a part of the journey.

Dear dancers,

While Melanie has not been able to spend time on the dance floor for the past few years, she has remained the devoted mastermind behind registration, housing, and volunteer coordination. She makes our website pizazz zazzle and wrangles our budget to both keep us in-venue year round and make Swing Aus a reality. If you love attending Swing Aus or regularly enjoy attending our biweekly Lancaster Swing Dance events, stop by and give this beautiful human a huge thank you!!

Love,
The rest of the Swing Aus Organizing Team

Jan yanello - Secretary

Hi, I’m Jan, part of the Lancaster Swing Dance board and the Swing Aus organizing team. I first fell in love with social dancing almost a decade ago, and haven’t looked back since (though mothering a toddler and moving away from Lancaster City has meant far less time moving and grooving on the local dance floor).

I am passionate about community and love facilitating spaces for humans to connect and create together. You can find me at or around the front desk all weekend long, helping with registrations and doling out useful information. Feel free to ask me to dance!

Hanna Yanello - Venue, Music, Instructors & Social Media

Hey, I’m Hanna! I first dipped my toes into Lindy Hop here at Lancaster Swing Dance in 2018.  Someone let me on the Lancaster Swing Dance board a few years ago and has somehow tolerated me this long. I wear many hats in the community, including organizer, instructor, and dancer so you will often find me running around like a crazy woman trying to do all three at 110%. I love to travel but consistently maintain deep deep roots in my local community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

At Swing Aus, you will find me enthusiastically running around doing a bazillion things. Ask me about our local scene, ask me questions about competing, ask me about where to find good food for lunch, or feel free to bring me a coffee because I will be running on pure caffeine and vibes over the weekend.

Volunteers / Key Staff