TONI CARROLL

Deejay

Toni met her husband 27 years ago while dancing, and together they fell in love with west coast swing. A few years later, the President of the local swing club asked Toni to DJ and, with his mentoring, she fell in love with playing music. Today, she DJs for two local WCS clubs in Columbus, Ohio and at JasonandSophy dance in Cincinnati, Ohio. She also plays for numerous local events and competitive events in the Midwest including; Swing City Chicago, Derby City Swing, Cincy Westie Bash, Ft. Wayne Dance for All, Swing Dance America, Michigan Classic, Indy Dance Explosion, Toronto Open Swing & Hustle Competition (TOSHC), Jammin’ in July, Chicagoland Dance Festival, Swingin’ Dance Party, Swing Pittsburgh, CASH Bash, Spotlight New Years Celebration, Meet me in St. Louis, Atlanta Swing Classic, Social Dance Mania Swustlicious.

Her goal as a DJ is to play music for all dancers. There is such a wide variety of tastes and she wants to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves, whether it is in a social or a competitive setting. Toni is a member of the Professional Swing DJ’s group. The goal is to share great music for the dance community.

Robert Royston

Robert Royston’s professional career began on the competitive couples dance circuit in 1989. Quickly ascending the ranks, Robert successfully secured:

Eight (8) “U.S. Open Swing Dance Championship Titles” in 5 divisions
Six (6) “World Country Dance Championship Titles” in 2 division
Three (3) “USA Grand National Championships Titles” in 2 divisons
Numerous national titles in Hustle, Salsa, and Cabaret
Inducted into the “California Swing Dance Hall of Fame”
Became the youngest person inducted to the “UCWDC Country Dance Hall of Fame” in 2007
Inducted into National Boppers Hall of Fame 2014
US Open Walk of Legend inductee
Inductions into the “World Swing Dance Hall of Fame” and the “Living Legends of Dance Society” in 2011
This make him the only dancer ever inducted into all of these organizations.

Robert’s exciting, high energy original choreography gained the attention of producers of the Broadway musical, “Swing!” This led to:

Principle dancer performing his own choreography in the seven (7) time Tony nominated musical as a principle dancer
Became the assistant choreographer for the first National Tour of the production
Highlighted work in the production of “Gypsy of the Year on Broadway” at New York’s Palace Theatre and “Destination Groove,” a Choreographer’s Showcase
His choreography and performance garnered more attention in the New York workshop production of “Urban Cowboy.”
Royston co-created and produced the critically acclaimed show “SWANGO: The Musical” in 2002. The show ran in New York as a cabaret, leading to a full show with performances in NYC. Four (4) time Tony Award winner, Rupert Holmes, joined the creative team to write the script for the productions.

Other stage shows in which Royston performed or choreographed include:

Neil Bergs’ “100 years of Broadway”
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
“Cheer, The Musical” (workshop)
“Fashion the Musical”
The RDC production of “StreetSwing”
Royston’s show, “One Ride,” which he choreographed and co-directed to critical acclaim in NYC.

Royston’s professional journey led him into the music video world as a choreographer. Some of the highlights:

Taylor Swift’s “Love Story,” won the 2009 CMA and CMT Videos of the Year
Midland “Mr Lonely”
Steel Magnolia’s “Last Night Again,” nominee for 2011 CMT Best Video
Gloriana’s “Wanna Take You Home”
The Band Perry’s “Hip To My Heart”
The Mavericks’ “Born to be Blue”
Waterloo Revival “Backwood Bump”
The Bellamy Brothers’ “Shine Them Buckles”
Roger Brown’s “Swing City”

Following the success of “Love Story” and choreographing Taylor Swift’s sold out, record breaking 2009 “Fearless” Tour, Royston’s career as performance coach, live tour director, and choreographer skyrocketed. Some of his tour work and staging for award shows include:

Taylor Swift 2009-2010 “Fearless” tour
Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2013 “This Kiss” tour
Brad Paisley (ACM’s)
Carrie Underwood (ACM’s)
Sugarland (CMA’s)
Miranda Lambert (ACM’s)
John Fogerty (ACM’s)
Brooks and Dunn (ACM’s)
Rascal Flatts (ACM’s) and their World Tour presentation of “Dance Y’all”
Steel Magnolia (ACA’s) plus live tour
Charlie Daniels (ACM’s)
Kellie Pickler (CMA)
Corey Kent (performance coach)
George Birge (performance coach)
Meghan Linsey (performance coach)
Hudson Moore (performance coach)
Rachel Wammack (performance Coach)
Taylor Felt “Live at the Bijou”

Royston’s work as a Choreographer and dancer has also been seen in many feature films:

Million Dollar Arm (Choreographer)
Love’n Dancing (Producer, Choreographer, Actor)
Gamer (Choreographer)
Crank, High Voltage (Choreographer)
Ask me to Dance (Choreographer)
Dance With Me (Dancer)

Additional Achievements:

Coached Ice Dance Champions and Olympians,
Produced the World Championships of Country Dance on GAC Network.
Bachelor Degree of Dance
Professional Dance Instructor Association Master certification
Longstanding member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science

An internationally recognized emcee and the voice of the US Open for over 20 years, Royston created the Social Networking “Shout Out” for online viewers, making the world feel part of the event. At the USA Grand Nationals his emceeing twice earned him the People’s Choice Award “Entertainer of the Year”. With his current schedule, Royston acts as emcee at over 25 events worldwide.

Royston also teaches his Intensives on Dance Physics and Musicality all over the world in addition to judging and teaching many different styles of couples dancing while also running his own Production Company, Royston Method, in NYC. Above all, he is most proud of his children and feels being a Dad is his greatest journey.