Staff

Maurice Fields III

They/them

DJ/Judge

Twin Cities, MN

Maurice is a DJ/Instructor from the Twin Cities in MN. They have been dancing Lindy Hop, Blues and other Vernacular Jazz dances since 2017. Maurice has a goofy, yet clear, communication style and unique voice that they love to share through DJing, laughs, and care for the dances they are so gracious to teach. They are also an alum of UIUC and they are excited to be back on campus! Ask them for a deep cut song, and they'll throw you one.

Shelby Johnson

He/him

DJ/Judge

Columbus, OH

Shelby Johnson is a self-proclaimed music snob, who fell in love with jazz at an early age listening to the sounds of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. He really fell in love with swing music in the 6th grade thanks to a music appreciation class, and later started playing jazz in the 8th grade after 3 years in a band as a drummer and percussionist. In high school, Shelby started playing the vibraphone and would transpose his parts for most pieces, as many pieces didn't provide written music. This developed Shelby's ear for music that was a huge catalyst for him catching the swing dance bug in 2011 in Orlando, Florida. And BOI, what kind of journey that has started! 2 years later, Shelby became one of the premier DJs in the Southeast, being featured at exchanges in Florida and South Carolina. In 2013 Shelby moved to Dallas, TX, where he continues to deliver awesome syncopated tunes for Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa and Collegiate Shag. Shelby's passion for social dancing, teaching and competing landed him the 2016 Frankie Manning Ambassador Scholarship to Herrang Dance Camp where he expanded his knowledge on Jazz Dance and Music History. Now Shelby is in Columbus, OH and continues bringing people groovy and rhythmic tunes to dance their best.

Alina Lusebrink

They/them or hu/hus

Competition DJ

Champaign, IL

Alina has been listening to jazz since before they can remember, but only started dancing in 2013 when they joined the swing dance club at Cal Poly, SLO. They spent their undergrad years playing in a jazz combo anywhere they could, from the 24-hour doughnut shop to the classy Italian restaurant students could only afford when their parents were in town. Alina has spent the last 12 years organizing in the Lindy hop and Blues communities, from running SLOx, to co-founding Rags2Rhythm in Sacramento, CA, and finally serving as President of The Illini Swing Society. Their favorite part of the dance community is sharing their love of music with others, finding new (to them) tunes, and playing hits so good you can’t stay off the dance floor. Their favorite songs to DJ are slowwwww tunes that feature playful piano and a strong beat.

Armon Cunningham, AKA DJ TRU BLAKK

Late Night DJ

Champaign, IL

Armon Cunningham (aka DJ TRUBLAKK) is a Danville born, Champaign-based DJ. A lifelong music lover since age five, raised in a family of musicians, singers, and dancers, with 15+ years behind the decks, spinning a soulful, groove-first blend of soul, southern soul, blues,neo-soul, R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and house. From weddings and anniversaries to birthday parties and club nights, I bring warm, live-feel mixing and crowd-ready energy.  

Ann Sychterz

She/her

DJ/Judge

Champaign, IL

Ann began swing dancing in 2008 in Waterloo, Canada (not far from Toronto) and now lives in the US. Since getting her first songs, she has DJed in her home scenes including the one she founded in Switzerland called Swingtime Lausanne. She has had the fortune of playing swing jazz including head and competition DJ for events around the world. Digging through old stuff and new (soft spot for the original stuff), small group to big band to Newport, North American and European, she aims to create an atmosphere worthy of creativity and playing around with the dance.

Trenadee Johnson

She/her

Drop-in Instructor/Judge

Chicago, IL

Trenadee Johnson is a dancer, instructor, and lifelong learner from Purdue University. A proud member of the Al Minns Next Generation program, she’s performed, spoken, and danced at events across the globe. Mentored by legends like Sugar Sullivan, Barbara Billups, and Chester Whitmore, she’s passionate about carrying their wisdom forward and keeping the dance’s lineage alive. Lindy Hop has transformed her life, and she hopes to bring that same joy, energy, and magic to every class she leads.

Dante Bruno

He/him

Drop-in Instructor

West Lafayette, IN

Dante Bruno is a dancer and occasional instructor from Chicago currently in graduate school at Purdue University. He primarily dances Lindy but loves learning new styles (most recently Salsa) when he can! When he’s not dancing you can find Dante reading or training for his next marathon. I lead and follow - ask me to dance!

Angelique Taylor

Line Dance Instructor

Champaign, IL

I am a mother of 5 (blended family). I have been married to my husband for 7 years. I have lived in Champaign-Urbana most of my life and am originally from Danville, IL. I have had a love and passion for dance and music all my life. My extended family, aunts and cousins, love to dance. We particularly love to line dance. I have always seen my family dancing as a child and as I got older I joined in. Recently I have taught a few line dancing classes at Neil St. Blues. I’m not a professional dancer but there isn’t a line dance that I can’t learn!

Nicole Frydman

She/they

Head Judge

Champaign, IL

Nicole Frydman has been swing dancing longer than probably most of the Illini Swings 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.

Sammi Kunz-Herdegen

She/they

Photographer

Grand Rapids, MI

Sammi is a photographer that proudly hails from Grand Rapids, MI. They founded and run the local dance school Rapid Rhythms alongside some of their best friends.

Sammi is a highly-regarded dance photographer, having captured images at a wide variety and scale of dance events.  Through some local support of the arts and Rapids Rhythms, her love of dance photography began at home, and she’s been blessed to be able to capture movement and moments across the Midwest and beyond.

Events she’s been honored to photograph include: Lindy Focus, ILHC, Nevermore Jazz Ball, Dayton Swing Smackdown, Whistlestop, Summer Games Done Quick, Great Lakes Balboa Escape, River City Mess Around, KISSME in Ann Arbor, SASS, MUDE Swings, Blues at the Bean, and Jumpin’ at the Westside, as well as some of her closest friend’s weddings.

Sammi’s work behind the lens is guided by a simple philosophy: making people feel confident and comfortable in themselves and their movement, with a commitment to authenticity, community, and the beauty of human connection.