Emcee

She/they
Champaign, IL

Nicole Frydman has been swing dancing longer than probably most of the Illini Swing’s participants have been alive - 28 years! But even before that, she’s been a fan of swingin’ jazz music since an early age. Her father loved it and played it around the house so when the swing “fad” of the mid-90’s came her way while she was at school in NYC, it was a natural match. Over the years, she’s taught, she’s competed, she’s won some stuff, she’s judged some stuff and even head judged for a few of those big events, she was in a movie because of her dancing, and she’s gotten to travel the world teaching and performing. In addition to the dance, she was the lead singer of 3 swing bands, including her own. She’s seen and done a lot, and still loves it. But she especially loves the chance to bring this beautiful art form to new folks and watch them fall in love just like she did.