The Dancing Illini is a registered student organization at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. You may contact our officers collectively via email to dancing@illinois.edu. Learn about becoming an officer or review the list of positions.
Instructors
Janice Vidovic
It is my mission to create a fun, healthy, social, and empowering environment for students of all ages to learn some great moves and techniques as an instructor and the Teaching Chair for the Dancing Illini. I’ve taught ballroom dance courses part-time for the Dancing Illini, Dance Club, Loyola University, The High School of St. Thomas More, and well as dance workshops for hundreds of students in several public schools throughout central Illinois. Additionally, I’ve choreographed ballroom dance scenes for theater groups in Champaign and Urbana, including the Champaign-Urbana Theater Company (CUTC), and several area high schools, and I’ve helped many wedding couples to amaze their friends and family for their “first dance”. My B.S. and M.ED. degrees from the University of Illinois are in the field of Education. Currently, I am a full-time real estate broker and Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, where I help even more people by empowering them with knowledge and resources to realize their goals.
Ron Carbonari
2019-2020 Officers
President
Joseph Lubars
Helena Beikircher
Advertising
Hi, I am a graduate student in ECE from India. I never did social dancing before coming to graduate school. One day, thanks to my roommate, I came to know about Dancing Illini. Since then, I liked it so much that I dance almost twice every week now. Swing and Charleston are among my favorites. 🙂
Music
Alessandro Gandolo
Space Request Manager
Sophie Kish
Social Chair
Edzna Garcia
Webmaster
Whitney Welsh
Open Position
Social Media
Puoya Tabaghi
Faculty/Staff Advisor
Pam Lowrey
I volunteer to be the Faculty/Staff Advisor. It’s not an “official” position, but an important one. [Marina’s input and Brenda seconds: YES, we need Pam because you all probably don’t know how much work she has put in recently with space requests, helping to buy decorations, etc. We definitely need a faculty advisor. ;)] I joined the Dancing Illini because I love music & wanted to meet new people & learn salsa, swing, waltz & other social dances. Plus I needed to get off my butt & move (trust me – it’s more difficult the older you get). My favorite dance so far is swing. I’m also the crazy dog lady of the group.