About Us

Hank Hauffe is an experienced swing dancer who has taught many classes for the Houston Swing Dance Society (HSDS), Rice Social Dance Society (RSDS), and Second Cup Swing. Hank loves the dance and teaching what he feels to be the heart of the dance - its energy through frame and counterbalance, and connection with the moment, the music and each other.
Hank started the swing dance night and lessons at Taft Street Coffee along with Amber Thomas in October 2004. In July 2006 these lessons and very successful monthly dance were rechristened Second Cup Swing, and he's delighted that he's had the opportunity to work with Jenn and so many other wonderful teaching partners!

Jen Ngo Mohtashami started swing dancing in 1995, and was a charter member of Rice University’s Night Owl Swing Gang, a swing and Lindy Hop performance group. She has taught Swing and Lindy Hop with the Rice Social Dance Society (RSDS), Houston Swing Dance Society (HSDS), and Second Cup Swing, and has a passion for sharing swing with others. Jen is especially committed to helping both new and experienced dancers reach a clear understanding of the ever-so-important fundamentals of connection and energy
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Beginning in October 2004 as a dance and lessons by Amber Thomas and Hank Hauffe, we were known simply as the Taft Street Swing Dance and Lessons. Well into our first year Amber had to move away for school and was ably replaced by Susana Martinez until she regretfully (by me at least) returned to her home in Spain, and then briefly but superbly by Julie Wood.

In October 2005 Hank was joined by Jennifer Ngo Mohtashami (just "Jenn" to him) and they've both been delighted to be working and dancing together ever since. :-)
In November '07 Jenn took leave to have her first beautiful son, a natural dancer no doubt, Bennett (see her fantastic blog about it all at http://writesoftly.blogspot.com). Hailey Hinson, who had already been a fantastic substitute teacher on occasion and contributed key insights to the lesson contents, has since filled in wonderfully along with Maricarmen Cabral who seems a natural teacher as she works in front of the class as well as one-on-one.

In July '06 the Taft St. Dance & Lessons were re-christened Second Cup Swing.
In an effort to express the spirit behind the name change, the introduction of Second Cup Swing was done in an email that said:

"The dance and lessons that have been hosted at Taft St. Coffee have been rechristened. They’ll still be hosted at the same great place but now when you get an announcement about the dance at Taft, it’ll be announcing the Second Cup Swing Dance.
So please come and stay awhile, hear the music, take a partner and dance. In swing, as in life, we enjoy it more, and do it better, when we let it pull us into the moment.
Take your time with that second cup, go where the music takes you. Feel the connection, feel the energy... savour the dance.
~hank:)"

Ken Heil has joined us to be of invaluable help at key times, along with Leon Choi in particular, in producing the monthly dances.

Many thanks are due to all of them and many others, especially our great Houston D.J.s, who have helped in large and small ways through the life of Second Cup Swing.

We're interested in any comments or questions you may have.