Judges
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Dani Kanziani - Staff Judge
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Dani started dancing and competing 25 years ago in the Country-Western dance circuit. She competed in both Couples and Team divisions, with her team winning every possible award available at the time (from costume to choreography). One night while out dancing, Dani saw a couple doing West Coast Swing, and from that moment, Dani knew she was hooked. WCS became Dani’s passion. She went to southern California on a regular basis to work with instructors and learn WCS from the best. Dani has been teaching and competing in WCS since the 90's. She has also choreographed routines and coached couples who've competed and and placed at the US Open. She has competed at the US Open two times with the award-winning Swing team, River City Rhythm. Currently, Dani travels and judges at many West Coast Swing and Country events across the US. Dani is a Board Member of The World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) and is a representative on the Board of the National Association of Swing Dance Events (NASDE). She has also been the Convention Chair for the Capital Swing Dancers' Presidents’ Day Convention for 13 years. Dani currently lives in Reno, NV, and can be reached at: danirae@earthlink.net. |
Tyoni Martin - Staff Judge
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Tyoni has been dancing since 1986 and started in Country dancing. She has competed, performed and taught dancing for many years. Most recently, within the past 15 years, Tyoni has been very active in dance event management, producing and/or owning several events. Since 2000, Tyoni and her husband Ron have owned and directed the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships, one of the largest and grandest events on the NASDE tour today. Tyoni and Ron Martin are also founders of GlobalDance.tv, an internet television site that produces live broadcasts of West Coast Swing and Ballroom dance conventions. |
Yvonne Antonacci - Staff Judge
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Yvonne has been dancing, teaching and judging since the 1990s. Although Yvonne was originally involved in jitterbug dancing, she quickly got involved with WCS when she saw it for the first time at the Phoenix dance convention. She was so inspired by WCS that she started the first WCS club here in Chicago, and that club, the Chicago Rebels Swing Dance Club, still operates today. In addition to starting the club, Yvonne was also the heart and spirit behind bringing the first WCS dance convention to Chicago and that event was the original Chicago Classic, which was one of the original national events to join NASDE. Yvonne, together with Barry Jones, were instrumental in bringing the “Rising Star” event from Dallas to Chicago, providing newer competitors with the opportunity to compete against their peers. Yvonne has served as a Judge at many events on the NASDE circuit and continues to stay active here in the Chicago dance community. |
Nino DiGiulio - Staff Judge
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Nino DiGiulio has been a professional dance instructor for over 12 years, and has taught over 10,000 lessons, workshops, and seminars. He's a featured faculty member at numerous national and world dance events including the Stardust Dance Production Weekends held in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Nino balances his travels in the US with plenty of time locally to share his expertise & teaching talents. Concentrating primarily on the social purpose of dance, he is an expert on Salsa, West Coast Swing, Hustle and all the traditional ballroom dances. Nino trains and coaches students and professionals for competitions. His students consistently win or place at the top of their divisions. Nino also competes and has won several championships in West Coast Swing, Hustle, and Salsa, and remains active on the competitive and professional circuit in these dances. In order to keep current and remain on the cutting edge of what's new and hot, Nino travels to other cities which are trend-setters for the different social dances. Nino is known as a thorough technician and true expert of dance, body mechanics, connection, and musical interpretation. As well as being a Master Instructor, Nino is the Executive Director of May I Have This Dance™ Inc. and operates a studio on Chicago’s North Side. Nino can be reached at: Info@mayihavethisdance.com or 773-635-3000. |
 Erica Berg - Staff Judge |
Erica is a national level West Coast Swing competitor, instructor, and judge. A 6-time US Open Classic division finalist and US Open Team division Champion, she has of late taken a hiatus from routine competition to complete her Masters degree in Business. Although her partnership has come to an end with Jason Barnes, (as he’s enjoying family life with new baby April in North Carolina - plus a lot less travel!), Erica is still traveling nationally and overseas teaching workshop weekends on her own, or working as a judge at major swing events. www.EricaBergSwing.com |
 Carmen Passi - Staff Judge |
Carmen is one of the founding members of the Chicago Rebels Swing Dance Club, the first and oldest West Coast Swing club in Chicago. Although Carmen is no longer involved with the day to day operations of the club, he continues to be a strong supporter of WCS in Chicago. He and his wife Rosa are out dancing regularly and are often seen helping new dancers learn the basics and encouraging them to get involved. Carmen and Rosa also travel to other conventions throughout the US, dancing, judging and competing. |
| Jimmy Mulligan - Staff Judge |
Jimmy is a certified Ballroom Instructor working with Arthur Murray Studios located in downtown Chicago. Jimmy has been dancing since 1994 and has many titles to his name in both the Country and West Coast Swing world. Some of his most notable achievements include: U.S. Open Strictly Swing Champion (2002); USA Grand Nationals Champion; and two-time, Michigan Swing Champion. Jimmy is also a competitive ballroom dancer traveling to various competitions throughout the United States with his dance partner, Amy Novatni. Jimmy can be reached at the Arthur Murray Studio at 312-644-7554 or email at dancewithjimmy@yahoo.com. |
Andy Bouman - Staff Judge
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Andy grew up in Chicago but has lived in the San Francisco Bay area most of his adult life. He started ballroom dancing as a student at UC Berkeley in the late 1980’s, but after discovering West Coast Swing in 1990, he’s never looked back. Andy is a former president (1996-1998) of The Next Generation Swing Dance Club in San Francisco and also was the Competition Director, Emcee and Chief Judge at Next Gen dances for 11 years (1997-2008). Since 1999, Andy has been the Co-Event Director and Competition Director of Next Gen’s annual convention, Boogie By The Bay, a NASDE event, as well as Judge at other events across the country. But, Andy’s first love is social dancing. Andy enjoys all forms of Swing dancing, including Lindy Hop, and loves dancing to live music. He is honored to have received the first Social Dancer Award at Swingalicious, an annual dance event in San Francisco. |
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04.25.2012
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The Chicago Classic
P.O. Box 87555
Carol Stream, IL 60188
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