Courtyard Caper - May
May 2nd, 2026
Location: Illini Union, 314 AB (1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801)
Topic: Collegiate Shag
Time: 1-5pm (3 hours of instruction; 1 hour of breaks and practice time built in)
1:00-2:00 class
2:15-2:30 break
2:15-3:15 class
3:15-3:30 break
3:30-4:30 class
4:30-5:00 open practice
Cost (Mini-Workshop and Evening Dance): $20 UIUC students/$40 general
Course Description:
Come join us and learn Collegiate Shag from the ground up; no experience required. Originating in the early 1920s, Collegiate Shag is known for its high shag arm and iconic, visually striking shapes. The dance can be done comfortably to both fast and medium tempos and is the distant cousin of balboa. This fun class will be your chance to learn the fundamentals of Shag, connecting you to the broader swing dance community in just three hours. shag finger!!
Prerequisites: no experience required
Ava Francisco
Ava Francisco is a Collegiate Shag, Balboa, and Lindy Hop dancer based in Bloomington, Indiana. She began her dance journey in Houston, Texas, where she developed a love for swing dance and social connection on the floor. Now an active member and board leader of Indiana University’s Swing Dance Club, Ava helps build an inclusive and welcoming dance community. With a background in music, theatre and costume design, she approaches dance through storytelling, musicality, and character, bringing intention and embodiment to both social and performance spaces. She is always down to shag.
Zoe Shepard
Jazz violinist, Zoe Imani Shepard, is a performer and educator based in Bloomington, Indiana. Her life is marked by love for pedagogy, creativity, and the intersection between music and dance. Shepard regularly teaches, performs, and competes at swing dance events across the country, as well as maintains a busy schedule organizing local swing dance events in her community. Known for her musicality and joyful energy, she emphasizes groove, movement quality, and follow technique in both her dancing and teaching.
A graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Shepard earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance in 2024 and a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies in 2026 after falling in love with Lindy Hop in 2022. She quickly immersed herself in the world of improvisation and Swing Dance culture, leading to her success competing at events such as LindyFest, Second City Swingout, St. Louis Getdown, and more. Whether it’s on stage, the social floor, or in the classroom, you’ll never fail to see a wide smile on her face whenever there’s dancing involved!
Saturday Night Live Band Social
Location: Illini Union, Courtyard (1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801)
Schedule:
Drop-in Lesson: 7–8 pm
Live Band Dance: 8–10:30 pm
Cost (Evening Dance Only): FREE for UIUC students, $15 general
The Sweet Nothings
The Sweet Nothings is a traditional jazz group from Bloomington, Il. The group is led by Trenton Perry on guitar, and backed up by Allison Thabit on trumpet, Joe Sandy on accordion, Eric Knutilla on percussion, and Rachel Goodman on euphonium. They are influenced by the traditional music of New Orleans and artists such as Django Reinhardt, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, and many others of that era. Aside from early jazz they also dabble in other genres such as Western Swing, Musette, Bolero, and more. Some tunes you may recognize from their vast repertoire may include “On The Sunny Side of the Street,” “All of Me,” and “La Vie en Rose.” They bring fresh, new energy to the genre, and have become a recent favorite of the swing dance groups in central Illinois. Whether it's on a stage or street corner; retirement home or burlesque show, The Sweet Nothings have been sharing their spin on early jazz classics in every nook and cranny they can find in central Illinois.