Our staff members are not only incredible dancers, knowledgeable instructors, certified judges and skilled contest staff…they are enthusiastic professionals who will do their part to make your experience at the Chicagoland Dance Festival one you will not forget! Many of our staff members are available for private instruction. Take advantage of this abundance of talent!
We’re still pulling together the 2026 staff, but here’s a list of who was here in 2025. Updates to follow as commitments are finalized.
2025 Professional Staff
Eric Nava & Rachel Mercedes
Gary McIntyre
Susan Kirklin
Glenn Ball
John Lindo
David Appel
Satu Ketellapper
Shawn Swaithes & Donna Bonham-Steinfeld
Sam & Christine Wetzel
Clive Eaton-Stevens
Brittney Valdez
Bernadette Carmichael
Sloane Hansen
Emily Drinkall Bouchonville & Zhenya Klukin
Michael Kielbasa
PJ Turner
Jason Miklic & Sophy Kdep
Julie Auclair
Derek Leyva & Jennifer Norris
Earl Strom
Beth Emerson
Penny Lalonde
Chad Guidry
Sherry Reynolds
Keith Armbruster
Vanessa Thomson
Bill Robinson
Amanda Clark
Justin Kaiser
Harrison Ramsey
Nino DiGiuilo & Dawn Lara
Ryan Dobbins
Becky Larson
DJs
Mona Broussard
Toni Carroll
Stan Wojciechowski
Tim Johnson
April Prince
MCs
Jennifer Jeffries
Glenn Ball
Michael Eads
Albert Tailleur
Country Contest Coordinator
Dave Getty
Swing Chief Judge
John Lindo
Registration and Scoring
Country Dance Director: Kelly Strouse and Ed von Adelung
Randy Jeffries
Mary Hannah
Helen Matthews
Noelle Linch
Chad Graber
Crystal Thompson
Stacy Marcotte
Ballroom Facilitator
Eric Marcotte
Travis Herman
Event Videographer: You have options!
You are welcome to use your own camera to record competitions and workshops – at no charge. Please, be courteous of other spectators and don’t interfere with their view of the dance floor.
Event Photographer
Nicole Wardell: www.icaughtyoudancing.com
Sound, Lights and Such
Tim Johnson, Dance Fanatics
We Couldn’t Do it Without…
The Chicago dance community! We enjoy so much support from studios, independent teachers, dinosaurs and newbies. We live in Indiana, but our dance home is Chicago. #loveyourdancefamily