Ryan Martin’s love of jazz music initially inspired him to start swing dancing in 1996.  Since that time, the music and dance of the swing era have become the primary preoccupations in his life.  He has been dancing and teaching various swing dances off-and-on for the last twenty-plus years.  Ryan has travelled around the country collecting interviews with dancers from the original swing era and has completed a documentary called "The Rebirth of Shag", which focuses on Collegiate Shag.  He was one of the original co-founders of the Hot Rhythm Foundation and was, for the first eight years, involved with running the organization's main event, Hot Rhythm Holiday.  Today Ryan travels to teach and compete in Collegiate Shag, both domestically and abroad.  He currently holds regular dance classes in Dallas as well as other major cities in Texas.