Matt Auclair has been in the dance community for 36 years. He began his dance career at the age of 8 as a junior dancer, who was taught for free by Eman and Nitz Alderman (who taught any young dancer that wanted to learn every Sunday at a bowling alley), and supported by South Side Imperial Swing Dance Club in St. Louis.

Matt has always tried to pay that forward by running junior programs for his local swing dance clubs for at least 10 years, with no compensation. He currently has 14 Juniors that he works with at his home every week.

Matt’s favorite achievement is that dancing is his side gig, as he is an Elementary teacher and is going on his 19th year as an educator (either 3rd or 4th grade). He finds ways to incorporate dance to give his students ‘brain breaks’ and to allow them chances to move. He believes this is partially the reason that he has been recognized twice for Teacher of the year (one as a District award, and the other as a national award)!

Matt is well-known both in St. Louis and around the world, for teaching and competing at the highest levels in both west coast swing and east coast swing; and for bringing positive energy and love into the room and event. The fun, excitement and pure love of dance he has shines through with every partner.

He is a 6-time US Open Swing Dance Champion and a 6-time USA Grand Nationals Champion. In addition to being the youngest dancer ever inducted into the Dallas Dance Hall of Fame, he was a 1995 Feather Award winner for “Best Dancer Under 18”. He was inducted into the Living Legends Hall of Fame in 2024. He is a recipient of over 30 ‘Top Teacher” awards at various events.

He toured for a year with the Broadway tour, “Swing Dance America” as a choreographer and performer.

For 11 years, he taught for a local community college; and has also taught for various local pubs and fitness centers for an additional 14 years.

Matt has a large number of students who participate in Pro-Am Routines, so he consistently has multiple Pro-Am Routines (that he choregraphed and performs), at various events around the country. These students, from various major cities, come to him for his expertise and knowledge.