CO PRESIDENT + EVENTS CHAIR

They/Them, 4th year PHD student in Agricultural + Biological Engineering

I started dancing at my university’s swing club in 2013 when I was an undergrad at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Two weeks later, I danced for 15 hours at my first exchange, SLOx! 

This year, I’m looking forward to building relationships with the greater midwest swing community to bring up-and-coming instructors to teach at UIUC!

CO PRESIDENT

She/Her, Junior, Social Work Major, Music Minor

 I first started in the ballroom with my little sister where I first learned about ballroom swing. I then came here in spring 2024 and fell in love with swing through this club and the people, and by doing it with my friends Anika and Claire!

This year, I’m looking forward to getting better at dancing lead and follow, and having fun events that connect people to our scene!

VICE PRESIDENT

She/Her, Junior, Integrative Biology Major

I started dancing Spring of 2024 when I attended my first swing lesson at Channing Murray with the Illini Swing Society.

This year, I’m looking forward to getting more involved with Swing and hopefully attending more events outside of our weekly lessons!

TREASURER

She/Her, Sophomore, Molecular and Cellular Biology Major

I had been training in classical ballet and contemporary for five years and thought I would give swing dance a try when I started school here and got hooked! 

This year, I’m looking forward to being more involved in ISS and becoming a better dancer!

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

She/Her, Junior, Psychology Major, Legal Studies Minor

My friend Anna, who is serving as co-president, convinced me to do Swing with her and Claire in Spring of 2024 with her! It was really fun!!

This year, I am really looking forward to forming social opportunities for members to enjoy and get to know each other within and even past dancing. I am also excited to continue putting out or newsletter!

SECRETARY

Sophomore, Psychology Major

 I came to the Swing Society’s kick off dance and it convinced me to sign up for lessons!

This year, I’m looking forward to becoming a better dancer while connecting with new and old friends.

PR Chair, Webmaster

She/Her, Sophomore, Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Major

I started dancing this year thanks to Illini Swing Society! I’ve always been enthralled by swing and took it upon myself to hunt down a club– I searched up UIUC swing online and was hooked since then!

 This year I’m looking forward to working on my skills and dancing with new people!

Co-Webmaster

She/Her, 2nd Year PhD Student in Chemistry

I’ve played the saxophone in various jazz and swing bands since I was in middle school where I fell in love with the music. I found the Illini Swing Society when I was researching graduate schools, decided to give it a shot at the fall ‘24 kick off, and loved it!

This year, I’m looking forward to learning new moves, mastering old ones, and dancing with as many different dancers as possible!

LESSONS CHAIR

He/Him, Sophomore, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences

My friends and I went to the 2025 spring semester kick-off dance, and we couldn’t stay away!

This year, I’m looking forward to improving my ability to follow, as well as becoming more comfortable on the dance floor.

Travel (Scene Coordinator)

He/Him

I’d seen a lot of swing dancing at weddings and thought it looked like fun, and I’d had Illini Swing events on my calendar for months as something I might maybe do some day. Then one Sunday when I had nothing else going on, I made a last-minute decision to go to Hamilton Walker’s and check it out. A few people showed me some basic footwork and turns, and I was hooked!

I’ve enjoyed being events chair the past two years, but I’m excited to focus more on travel since going to big events in other scenes is what made me fall in love with swing!

Musical Chair

He/Him

2nd year PhD student in Musicology

 I started playing jazz in middle school and continued to play in big bands through finishing undergrad. I heard about the ISS through an announcement for the fall ‘24 kick off and decided I had spent long enough playing swing that I should learn how to dance to it. I had a blast at the kick off and have stuck with it since.

This year, I’m looking forward to leveraging my jazz experience to help others engage more deeply with swing music. I’m also looking forward to getting better at dancing and keeping the fun going.

Co-Community Liaison

She/Her, Bachelor’s in Music Education (UIUC, 2003)

I started dancing when Professor Paul Kwiat and I became a couple – we met at the Willard airport which is a totally different story, lol. My first dancing experience was to a local band at the Illinois State Fair. Paul and I really love teaching together at the Urbana Park District and dancing out in the community, which we started doing to bring dancing to more community members and try to get them more involved. 

This year, I’m looking forward to improving my dancing as a lead this year, it’s a fun adventure! I am looking forward to our dance community continuing to grow and create spaces where everyone is welcome and everyone dances with everyone!

Co-Community Liaison

She/Her, Psychology

I started dancing in 2019 with my best friend when we saw an ad in the Urbana Park District program Guide.  We took one class with Paul and Sarah and were hooked.

This year I am looking forward to getting more involved with teaching. I am also always excited to get to know people and improve my own dance skills.