Rob Van Haaren started swing dancing in 1984. He was one of the only young dancers seriously interested in the original Swing forms. The legendary swing dancers of the 30’s and 40’s era all wanted to take him under their wings: Anne and John Mills, Jean Veloz, Irene Thomas, Venna Archer, Freda Wycoff, Natalie Gomez, Mary Collins (Dean Collins wife), Hal and Marge Takier, Maxie Dorf, Bart Bartola and others would say “Don’t do it like him (or her), do it like this”. This way he learned steps in different ways. It was an amazing and exciting time as it was a direct connection to the Swing Era and the original Swing Dances and styles, learned directly from the masters at the Lion’s Den!
Rob Van Haaren has a broad understanding of the dances from Charleston, Collegiate Shag, Balboa, Dean Collins Style Lindy Hop, Boogie Woogie (Vernacular Jazz) and Traditional Lindy Hop. As teachers, producers, and performers Rob, along with partner Diane Van Haaren, have taught over 200,000 people in over 20 counties for over 3 decades worldwide with a sense of fun, ease of teaching and a smile. Having learned and worked with the Masters of the 1930’s from the East to the West Coast. The “Dean Collins” style Swing was the first style. Rob started swing in 1984 with Jonathan and Sylvia in Santa Barbara California (who were personal students of Dean Collins). Rob spent many Sundays with the original Los Angeles Swing Dancer (Masters) and got lots of personal tips on men’s and ladies styling but most of it, he got a feel for the social part of the dance. Rob was fortunate to meet Jean Veloz in the 80’s dancing in Los Angeles and ended up teaching with her in the late 90’s. He introduced Jean to Marcus Koch in Germany after which she started to come out to inspire a new generation of dancers in Europe.