Polina

Polina Zotova – Follow/Switch

Polina discovered Lindy Hop at the University of York, where she went on to become president of the university’s swing dance society. From there, she quickly established herself as both a dancer and an organiser, putting together events including WhipMaWhopMaHop, charity fundraisers, and London Throwdown – building community infrastructure as well as her own dancing.

A switch dancer comfortable in both lead and follow roles, Polina’s favourite part of the dance is the social floor. She describes social dancing as a three-minute connection with a stranger – and that warmth and playfulness define her approach to both dancing and teaching. She plays with the feeling of movement and expression to create partnerships that are joyful, responsive, and genuinely musical.

Before joining Sugar Hill Hop, Polina taught with Swing Patrol, contributing to some of their larger and most successful classes in London. She has danced extensively across the UK and internationally, and her experience organising events at every scale – from university socials to city-wide festivals – gives her a deep understanding of what makes a dance community thrive beyond the classroom.