Meet our instructors, who teach our weekly lessons.
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Henry Johnson
Beginner Standard Henry graduated from the UW-Madison in 2025 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Prior to that, he served as the captain of the Badger Ballroom for two years. He was introduced to ballroom dance through the Ballroom Association of Madison (BAM), Badger Ballroom's sister organization. Pictured with Henry is his former dance partner, Anna Baeb.
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Shanti Astra
Beginner Latin Shanti (she/her) started ballroom dancing in 2020, right in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Her first competition was a mini-comp including only local team members, with every level split into three divisions – solo leads, solo follows, and couples who live together and therefore are allowed to dance together.
Shanti joined ballroom as part of the Binghamton Ballroom Dance Association in college and immediately sought out and joined Badger Ballroom upon starting her PhD in Psychology at UW in 2024. Shortly after Googling whether Madison had a ballroom dance team, she even met a few team members at MIT in person.
Shanti met Savannah her first semester in Badger Ballroom and they have stuck together since, working their way through the entire Latin and Rhythm syllabus to pick and learn the funnest new figures. Shanti loves dancing because it’s a unique combination of good music, great company, and exercise. It’s also fun to pick and choose which gendered stereotypes to abide by as a female lead. When not dancing, Shanti is probably studying or curled up with a good book.
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Pictured with Shanti is Savannah Olson, another one of our instructors!
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Savannah Olson
Beginner Latin Savannah picked up ballroom dance in 2017 and has stayed with it since out of a love for spinning and wearing dresses. She learned from social dancing before joining BBDT in 2021, where she met her current instructor partner, Shayne. When they first partnered up, she decided to stick with him because he was willing to learn the Viennese waltz. Outside of the ballroom, Savannah enjoys reading.
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Kaitlin Durnen
Intermediate I Standard When Kaitlin was a freshman at the UW-Madison, she signed up for every student organization that mentioned dancing, which she believes is a great way to stay active while having a blast with friends. She even enrolled in Ballroom 101 in 2021; wanting a head start, Kaitlin tried some group lessons with Badger Ballroom. She was immediately hooked and hasn't stopped since! Fun fact: at Minnesota Ballroom BLAST 2021, she and her partner were the only couple on the floor for Newcomer Latin Jive.
She has partnered with Alec for a few competitions; together, they teach some of the same group lessons that originally got her hooked. Pictured with Kaitlin is her dance partner, Eric Johnson.
Outside of the ballroom, Kaitlin is an instructor for Madison Swing, and she frequents Madison's lively Latin dance scene. She says that she enjoys being outside when it is not too cold, but the team knows that she would go outside in any condition—and even jump in freezing cold water—for a good cause.
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Shayne Wadle
Intermediate I Standard Shayne first joined BBDT in fall 2020, when he started his Ph.D. in Computer Science. At first, it was all online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but careful in-person practices eventually became possible. He stuck with ballroom dance because of the people whom he met and because he felt that dancing and moving were fun. He first met Savannah through BBDT's partner matching—a service that the team still provides to all newcomers. Outside of the ballroom, he enjoys rock climbing and strategy games.
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Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate I Latin and Intermediate II Latin Emma started dancing in elementary school, learning ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical. She started ballroom dancing when she joined Badger Ballroom in 2022. When asked why she continued, she said that ballroom dance is "the perfect combination of socializing, being part of a team, competing in a sport, and exercise!" When not dancing, Emma can be found in the audience of various comedy shows in the area. Pictured with Emma is her partner, Stephen Brown.
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Eric Einerson
Intermediate I Latin Eric joined Badger Ballroom in the spring of 2016 following a foxtrot lesson with our sister organization, the Ballroom Association of Madison (BAM). He was encouraged and initially welcomed by former member BJ Achim and has made many lasting friendships on the team.
Eric continues to dance because he loves the limitless potential for incremental improvement while working toward a shared goal with a partner, and he lists ballroom dance as one of several positive contributors to his emotional, mental, and physical health, the others being strength training and IFS therapy. When he is not dancing, he likes haunted houses and corn mazes and follows tennis and football.
Eric has also trained with the Fred Astaire Dance Studio (FADS) in Madison and Colorado Dancesport in Littleton, CO. Pictured with Eric is Hailey Hardin.
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Bobbi Yogatama and Heather Hellenga
Intermediate II Smooth
Intermediate II Smooth
No bio available
Kaitlin's, Eric's, Hailey's, and Henry's photos are courtesy of David Tsai Photography.
Emmalee's photo is courtesy of Julie Durnen.
Emmalee's photo is courtesy of Julie Durnen.
Historical Instructors
Summer 2026
Beginner Standard: Henry Johnson
Beginner Latin: Shanti Astra and Savannah Olson
Intermediate I Standard: Kaitlin Durnen and Shayne Wadle
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks and Eric Einerson
Intermediate II Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Smooth: Heather Hellenga and Bobbi Yogatama
Beginner Standard: Henry Johnson
Beginner Latin: Shanti Astra and Savannah Olson
Intermediate I Standard: Kaitlin Durnen and Shayne Wadle
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks and Eric Einerson
Intermediate II Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Smooth: Heather Hellenga and Bobbi Yogatama
Spring 2026
Beginner Standard: Alec Fisher and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Eric Einerson and Hailey Hardin
Intermediate I Standard: Henry Johnson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
All-Levels Standard Technique: Heather Jennings and Yubing Hou
Intermediate II Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Smooth: Bobbi Yogatama and Heather Hellenga
Beginner Standard: Alec Fisher and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Eric Einerson and Hailey Hardin
Intermediate I Standard: Henry Johnson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
All-Levels Standard Technique: Heather Jennings and Yubing Hou
Intermediate II Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Smooth: Bobbi Yogatama and Heather Hellenga
Fall 2025
Beginner Standard: Alec Fisher and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Eric Einerson and Hailey Hardin
Intermediate I Standard: Henry Johnson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Standard Following: Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
American Smooth: Henry Johnson
Beginner Standard: Alec Fisher and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Eric Einerson and Hailey Hardin
Intermediate I Standard: Henry Johnson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Standard Following: Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
American Smooth: Henry Johnson
Summer 2025
Beginner Standard: Alec Fisher and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate I Standard: Shayne Wadle and Savannah Olson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan
Intermediate II Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan
American Smooth: Henry Johnson
Beginner Standard: Alec Fisher and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate I Standard: Shayne Wadle and Savannah Olson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan
Intermediate II Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan
American Smooth: Henry Johnson
Spring 2025
Beginner Standard: Alec Fisher and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Matt Elissa and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: Shayne Wadle and Savannah Olson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan
American Smooth: Michael Busche
Beginner Standard: Alec Fisher and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Matt Elissa and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: Shayne Wadle and Savannah Olson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan
American Smooth: Michael Busche
Fall 2024
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Matt Elissa and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: Shayne Wadle and Savannah Olson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Standard: Yubing Hou and Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan
American Smooth: Michael Busche
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Matt Elissa and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: Shayne Wadle and Savannah Olson
Intermediate I Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate II Standard: Yubing Hou and Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan
American Smooth: Michael Busche
Summer 2024
Beginner Standard: Eric Johnson and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate I Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan
Intermediate I Latin: Jacob Denson
Intermediate II Standard: Yubing Hou and Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Beginner Standard: Eric Johnson and Kaitlin Durnen
Beginner Latin: Emmalee Ciriacks
Intermediate I Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan
Intermediate I Latin: Jacob Denson
Intermediate II Standard: Yubing Hou and Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Spring 2024
Beginner Standard: Matt and Raina Elissa
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan
Intermediate I Latin: Jacob Denson and Aletea VanVeldhuisen
Intermediate II Standard: Yubing Hou and Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Beginner Standard: Matt and Raina Elissa
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan
Intermediate I Latin: Jacob Denson and Aletea VanVeldhuisen
Intermediate II Standard: Yubing Hou and Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Fall 2023
Beginner Standard: Nettie Dellheim
Beginner Latin: Jacob Denson and Aletea VanVeldhuisen
Intermediate I Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Heather Hellenga
Intermediate I Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Beginner Standard: Nettie Dellheim
Beginner Latin: Jacob Denson and Aletea VanVeldhuisen
Intermediate I Standard: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Heather Hellenga
Intermediate I Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Summer 2023
Beginner Standard: Nettie Dellheim
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: B Li
Intermediate I Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Anne Amen
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Beginner Standard: Nettie Dellheim
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: B Li
Intermediate I Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Anne Amen
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Spring 2023
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: B Li
Intermediate I Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Anne Amen
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Ballet: Katie Edwards
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: B Li
Intermediate I Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Anne Amen
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Ballet: Katie Edwards
Fall 2022
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: B Li
Intermediate I Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Anne Amen
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: B Li
Intermediate I Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Anne Amen
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Summer 2022
Beginner Standard: Matt and Raina Elissa
Beginner Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Anne Amen
Intermediate I Standard: Lorenz Vargas
Intermediate I Latin: Lorenz Vargas
Intermediate II Standard: Yubing Hou and Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Foxtrot: Jason "Jameson" Ocker, Rebecca Johnson, Anna Nadon, and Raina Elissa
Beginner Standard: Matt and Raina Elissa
Beginner Latin: Liam Tomson-Moylan and Anne Amen
Intermediate I Standard: Lorenz Vargas
Intermediate I Latin: Lorenz Vargas
Intermediate II Standard: Yubing Hou and Heather Jennings
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Foxtrot: Jason "Jameson" Ocker, Rebecca Johnson, Anna Nadon, and Raina Elissa
Spring 2022
Beginner Standard: Colin Richter and Taylor Treadway
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: Lorenz Vargas
Intermediate I Latin: Lorenz Vargas
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Beginner Standard: Colin Richter and Taylor Treadway
Beginner Latin: Matt and Raina Elissa
Intermediate I Standard: Lorenz Vargas
Intermediate I Latin: Lorenz Vargas
Intermediate II Standard: Michael Busche
Intermediate II Latin: Michael Busche
Instructors below may be missing or incomplete.
Spring 2020
Beginner Standard: Colin Richter, Jason "Jameson" Ocker, and Anna Nadon
Intermediate I Standard: Rebecca Johnson
Intermediate I Latin: Gunnar Thompson and Raina Petersen
Intermediate II Standard: Rebecca Johnson
Intermediate II Latin: Anna Nadon
Beginner Standard: Colin Richter, Jason "Jameson" Ocker, and Anna Nadon
Intermediate I Standard: Rebecca Johnson
Intermediate I Latin: Gunnar Thompson and Raina Petersen
Intermediate II Standard: Rebecca Johnson
Intermediate II Latin: Anna Nadon
Fall 2019
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker and Emily Koo
Beginner Latin: Colin Richter
Intermediate Standard: Rebecca Johnson
Intermediate I Latin: Gunnar Thompson and Raina Petersen
Intermediate II Practice Session: Anna Nadon
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker and Emily Koo
Beginner Latin: Colin Richter
Intermediate Standard: Rebecca Johnson
Intermediate I Latin: Gunnar Thompson and Raina Petersen
Intermediate II Practice Session: Anna Nadon
Spring 2019
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker and Alex Demers
Beginner Latin: Colin Richter
Intermediate I Standard: Raina Petersen
Intermediate I Latin: Anna Nadon
Intermediate II Practice Session: Anna Nadon
Beginner Standard: Jason "Jameson" Ocker and Alex Demers
Beginner Latin: Colin Richter
Intermediate I Standard: Raina Petersen
Intermediate I Latin: Anna Nadon
Intermediate II Practice Session: Anna Nadon
Fall 2018
Beginner Standard: Lance Hartung and Mina Ma
Beginner Latin: Jason "Jameson" Ocker and Alex Demers
Intermediate I Standard: Gunnar Thomson and Raina Petersen
Intermediate I Latin: Catherine Anderson and BJ Achim
Intermediate II Standard: Anna Nadon
Intermediate II Latin: Anna Nadon
Beginner Standard: Lance Hartung and Mina Ma
Beginner Latin: Jason "Jameson" Ocker and Alex Demers
Intermediate I Standard: Gunnar Thomson and Raina Petersen
Intermediate I Latin: Catherine Anderson and BJ Achim
Intermediate II Standard: Anna Nadon
Intermediate II Latin: Anna Nadon
Spring 2018
Beginner Standard: Gunnar Thompson and Raina Petersen
Beginner Latin: Catherine Anderson and BJ Achim
Intermediate I Standard: Cassandra Brzycki and Dallas Newton
Intermediate I Latin: Lisa Milter and Ziqing Lin
Beginner Standard: Gunnar Thompson and Raina Petersen
Beginner Latin: Catherine Anderson and BJ Achim
Intermediate I Standard: Cassandra Brzycki and Dallas Newton
Intermediate I Latin: Lisa Milter and Ziqing Lin
Fall 2017
Beginner Standard: Raina Petersen and Emily Tomforde
Beginner Latin: Lisa Milter
Intermediate Standard: Dallas Newton and Cassandra Brzycki
Intermediate Latin: Dallas Newton and Cassandra Brzycki
Beginner Standard: Raina Petersen and Emily Tomforde
Beginner Latin: Lisa Milter
Intermediate Standard: Dallas Newton and Cassandra Brzycki
Intermediate Latin: Dallas Newton and Cassandra Brzycki
Fall 2016
Beginner Standard: Nicole Gile, Crystal Wespestad, and Dillon Hanson
Beginner Latin: Alex Pinto and Alissa Milonczyk
Intermediate Standard: Jake Skebba
Beginner Standard: Nicole Gile, Crystal Wespestad, and Dillon Hanson
Beginner Latin: Alex Pinto and Alissa Milonczyk
Intermediate Standard: Jake Skebba
Fall 2015
Beginner Standard: Sophia Blitz and Dillon Hanson
Beginner Latin: Alex Pinto and Alissa Milonczyk
Intermediate Standard: Crystal Wespestad and Eric Whaylen
Beginner Standard: Sophia Blitz and Dillon Hanson
Beginner Latin: Alex Pinto and Alissa Milonczyk
Intermediate Standard: Crystal Wespestad and Eric Whaylen
