About Nicholas Tapia
Nicholas Tapia is a dancer and teacher based in Vilnius, Lithuania, originally from California. He teaches Collegiate Shag, Balboa, Lindy Hop, and Argentine Tango, in English and Spanish.
He has taught dance professionally since 2009, at studios, workshops, and festivals across the United States, Europe, and Asia. He works with What A Jazz in Vilnius and travels to teach and compete.
His competition record runs across tango and swing. He won the 2014 USA Tango Championship and has placed in shag, balboa, and lindy hop contests at festivals in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, Stockholm, and Barcelona. The full log is below.
Accomplishments, Teaching & Performances
Under construction, a lot of the pre swing stuff hasn't been added yet!
Balboa Beginners Series
With Egle N. Day 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCh6TgoJ6j/ Day 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaNtUwro5Id/ Day 3: https://www.instagram.com/p/DapeYdFImTl/ Day 4: https://www.instagram.com/p/Da4wMLeIbfP/
Who Hit John Outdoors
Gig: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZi1PxbI_UR/
Music Video Gig
Gig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwFW7uCV1eU
Beat and Blues Tango Taster
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZLBcYWo3Lz/
Valencia
Mix and matches Pure Bal and Strictly with Sheiva
Uptown Rhythm
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYQkJ0Bo9TK/ Lindy Hop Mix and Match finalist
What A Jazz - Spring 2026 Season
January 2026 - June 2026 Beginning Lindy Hop instructor weekly lesson with Justa and regular sub for shag, balboa, and advanced Lindy.
Shag Snack in Warsaw, Poland
by Michał Oblaciński https://linktr.ee/michal.oblacinski https://shagsnack.pl/
Snowball in Stockholm
- Shag finalist with Theresa
- advanced prelims videos:
- strictly with Sofia https://www.instagram.com/p/DTJOwUjjsed/
- MM with Denise https://www.instagram.com/p/DTkZ8jdiEUc/
- MM with Juanita https://www.instagram.com/p/DS4ZGfojBT8/
2025 Balboa Workshop with Hannah at What A Jazz
2025 Vilnius Shag Fest
- "Pure" Shag judge
- Instructor with Ada Gori and Hannah Manning
- Advanced MM Finalist
- Strictly Shag Finalist with Teresa
2025 Nov Group Classes at WAJ
- Nov 13: Lindy ELEF
- Nov 18: Shag and Lindy
- Nov 25: Shag and Lindy
2025 Camp Hollywood, Los Angeles
- Finalist - Shag Mix and Match
- all skate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRAQtjsA9Ks
- 1st spotlight https://youtu.be/DylJNRfsMlQ?si=splYJgec6Aevrn-l
- 2nd spotlight https://youtu.be/DylJNRfsMlQ?si=suxx1Am32G08irOH&t=325
- 4th - Am Balboa Strictly
- 1st spotlight https://youtu.be/qJb342FsBR4?si=0KtM5ThgZC8MR1cA&t=222
- 2nd spotlight https://youtu.be/qJb342FsBR4?si=L9hlM07xMccTuBFG&t=438
- 4th - Am Classic Lindy
- 1st spotlight https://youtu.be/ryXfuidpMj4?si=v2V3z8KSycg7uAwD&t=324
- 2nd spotlight https://youtu.be/ryXfuidpMj4?si=f44_FY3NOlZ7ttDG&t=542
Balboa with Bianca
Some Photos
2025 August Teaching
2025 Northwest Balboa Fest
2025 Berlin Visit
- Advanced shag class - recap
2025 Vilnius Shag Classes
- 1 week intensive
- regular class sub - recap
2025 Swing Paradise
- 2nd - Trinity Mix and Match
2025 Valencia Balboa Festival
- Mix and Match Open - 1st Alternate
- 2nd - Shag Underground Mix and Match
Underground Shag Mix and Match with Hannah
2025 Mood For Swing, Tokyo
- 1st - Open Lindy Hop Mix and Match
- 1st - One Minute Showcase
2025 Asian Balboa Exchange
- Open Mix and Match 1st Alternate
- Open Mix and Match B-side Finalist (4th place)
7 Week Tango Series in Tokyo
TapiaRui2025Japan7WeekSeries
Special Training Series at Triple Crown
- Special Triple Crown Shag Workshop - February 18th 2025
- Special Triple Crown Shag Workshop - February 25th 2025
- Special Triple Crown Shag Workshop - March 4th 2025
They had me back! An absolute honor to teach at the legendary @Triple Crown studio again!
2025 Calbal
- 1st place Shag Underground Mix and Match
2024 Dublin
Practice and social dancing with the legendary @Rebecca O'Laoire
Special Shag Class at biz_What a Jazz with @Egle Shag Master Nemickaitė
02 Dance/08 Teaching and Sharing/Classes Given or Prepped/Tapia2024ThinkingAboutTheFutureofSocialShag
2024 Vilnius Shag Fest
- Advanced Mix and Match - Finalist
Special Lecture
Balboa Lecture - My Life with the Balboa Dancers - One Leaders Guide to Joining the Scene - Nov 18th 2024
2024 BCN Shag
In loc_Barcelona finalist for advanced mix and match and 4th in strictly
- Advanced Mix and Match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edthUm6ApiY
- Strictly
- all skate 1: https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNvbkOcvCm7pb23UrMp95lPhqOZeXzLbe_zqzaR
- spotlights and all skate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsqopGBEr5Y
Special Special Triple Crown Shag Workshop - Sept 10th 2024
An absolute honor to teach at the legendary @Triple Crown studio.
2024 Bal Hop
In loc_Seoul finalist for bal hop cup, 3rd in shag strictly, 2nd balboa am m&m, 1st in shag mix and match
- balhop cup
- qualifiers:
- finals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnI2ysbhu-M
- shag strictly
- qualifiers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgNfjqdJBqg
- finals and spotlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyi6XUS7jdY
- balboa am mix and match
- qualifiers:
- finals and spotlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVIS_kWWXIw
- shag mix and match
- qualifiers
- heat 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa4KYXSK48U
- heat 2:
- finals and spotlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3iRcCBe048
- qualifiers
Shag Strictly with Cherry
Mix and Match Lindy Prelims with Jihee!
Seoul Performance
Swing performance at Pie Milonga in loc_Seoul
2024 Swinging by the Sound
Second in advanced shag mix and match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWCBz7WGyCg
Special Tokyo Workshop
Special Tokyo Workshop - moving into each others space - June 2024
2024 Portland Lindy Society Instructor
Regular instructor of shag at weekly event.
2023 Hot Jazz Jamboree
Second in shag strictly. Second in open mix and match shag. Third in mix and match balboa. Performance with LollyShaggers.
- Shag strictly 2nd place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTZNoGHxdA4
- Shag mix and match 2nd place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tdnjhile0U
- LollyShaggers video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ArEkkFx6lk
- Balboa mix and match Finals 3rd place: https://youtu.be/eKj4BTFvnck?si=y3Bs5OupyIGjrv26&t=363
Portland State Faire 2023
Backup Dancer for biz_Rhythm Wrecker Dance Band
2023 Swingin by the Sound
Second in advanced shag mix and match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27qjg-onJj4
2023 Hot Rhythm Holiday
Mix and match advanced shag finalist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktszlk174rk
2020 Camp Hollywood
Second in shag strictly. See results page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3Z6twJ5p9Y&t=510s
2019 Camp Hollywood
- First place team results page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUTQNzSbiNk
- 5th place student team coach.
2018 Swing Devils Competition
First at the University Swing Club in Phoenix
2017 Mundial de Tango - Tango World Championship
56th (of 800ish) - with Stephanie
2014 USA Tango Championships
1st - with Stephanie
2013 USA Tango Championships
5th - with Stephanie
2012 USA Tango Championships
3rd - with Amar
2011 USA Tango Championships
5rd - with Rebecca