I like learning.

I like stories.

My professional experience comes from working for cultural and academic institutions such as The Catholic University of America, The National Museum of the American Indian, and the Library of Congress where I've earned a number of awards for exemplary customer service and getting things done when circumstances conspire to not help.

I have an undergraduate degree in History, plus additional training in event planning and management, project management, marketing, intercultural communication, and conflict resolution.

I also like to dance. Swing dancing. Lindy Hop to be more specific. I walked into my first class in 1999 and dove down a rabbit hole that has led me to teach, DJ, organize events, and write extensively about this street dance that came from Harlem in the 1920's and now spans the world.

I started my blog Wandering & Pondering to tell stories about all these things and much more. Most recently, I am also experimenting with communicating ideas through photography and videography.

The common link through my interests is people, and how they relate to each other. I'm a firm believer in the idea that everyone is the hero of their own narrative. My continuing story is to help people tell theirs.

Sincerely,

Jerry S. Almonte

Media Appearances and Features

Since I have been an active participant in the Lindy Hop community and have done a bit of research into its development as a modern creative scene, I am often asked to be a guest on different swing dance media to comment on various aspects of the community.

Swing Nation #003: Wandering Jerry Almonte. September 18, 2012. Featured Guest. Interview segment discussing the relative placement scoring system at The International Lindy Hop Championships, and updates on various personal projects.
SwingNation #64: Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Almonte. November 5, 2014. Feature subject. Feature segment about being inducted into the Mobtown Ballroom Hall of Fame.
A Conversation on Creating Safe Swing Dance Spaces hosted by Yehoodi. January 27, 2015. Panelist. Discussion about sexual assault and harassment in the swing dance scene and possible steps to address these issues.
The Track Podcast-Episode 13. April 26, 2016. Featured guest. 100 minute interview discussing my background and the world of Lindy Hop.
From the Top by IG HOP-Video and swing dance. May 8, 2016. Interviewee. Discussion about the development and impact of online video technology on the Lindy Hop community.
The Brightside with Mikey & Rachel #019 - 2016 Review with Jerry Almonte. January 1, 2017. Featured guest. Conversation about the highlights in Lindy Hop from 2016.
From the Top by IG HOP-The economy of swing dance. April 25, 2017. Interviewee. Episode exploring the various economic aspects of local and international dance scenes.