Officers: 2024-25

Sasha Spiegel '26

Co-Captain 

Sasha is a Saybrook CS major from Dallas, Texas.  She never did ballroom before Yale, and as a junior she now competes at the silver level.  You can usually find her coding, dancing, TA-ing CS classes, or pursuing miscellaneous creative hobbies.

Nathan Lange '27

Co-Captain

My name is Nathan Lange, and I’m the co-captain of the Yale Ballroom Dance Team! I’m from West Virginia (cue John Denver), I’m studying MB&B to go to medical school, and I’m also involved in the Yale Concert Band and pit musicals. I joined the Ballroom team my first year here with no experience and found a lovely community with a common passion for dance, and I hope that we’ll see you soon!

Vincent Li '26

Newbie Co-Captain 

Vincent is a junior in Pierson studying computer science. He joined ballroom during the fall of his first year and has loved it ever since. This year, as one of the Newbie Captains, he is excited to teach the newbies the dances that he learned in his first year.
When he’s not dancing, he’s usually coding up a problem set, helping students out in office hours, or thinking through an interesting physics problem.

Abigail Hu '27

Newbie Co-Captain

Abigail Hu is a sophomore Political Science major in Pauli Murray College and one of the Newbie Captains for the Yale Ballroom Dance Team. She has been dancing Latin since she was 9 years old, but recently picked up Ballroom with the YBDT. Abigail believes in discipline, order, practice, and excellence. Abigail believes in being DOPE. Abigail does not believe in giving up. Abigail is excited to lead the next YBDT newbie class to glory. 

Liza Tsidulko '25

ADS Director

Liza is from Brooklyn, NY and loves dancing! She is the advanced seminar director on the YBDT. She is a senior in Trumbull college studying MCDB on the premed track with hopes of becoming an OBGYN. Liza has been dancing since she was 4 years old - for almost 15 years. She is a national finalist and has competed internationally focusing on 10-dance(Latin and Standard). When she’s not studying or on the dance floor, you can find Liza painting in the common room or spending time with friends and family.

Sunny Vuong '27

Treasurer

Sunny is a sophomore in Saybrook College from San Antonio, Texas, and a pre-med, prospective double major in MCDB and English. YBDT became so fond to her, not solely because of how elegant and fun ballroom can be, but because of the most deeply silly times she's had with the team. Outside of ballroom, you can find Sunny teaching fun dances to kids with Yale Peristalsis at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, or prancing around with her fruit fly larvae in a neurobiology lab. In her free time, Sunny enjoys funky cheeses, writing poetry, playing soccer, and making dining hall vlogs! 

Ava Schwarz '27

Social Director

Ava is a sophomore in Grace Hopper College studying Mechanical Engineering.  After years of classical ballet training, she's found a creative outlet (and many friends) in ballroom dance.  When not in office hours or a lab, she spends her time on the rugby pitch, the dance floor, or reading with a cup of tea.  Talk to her about nineteenth-century literature, the unofficial YBDT knitting circle, or anything space related.

Karinne Tennebaum '26

Show Coordinator

Karinne is a junior in Saybrook College studying Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Her dreams of being an ornithologist have taken her from Panama to Patagonia. Hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, she's dabbled in ballet, tap, and, now, ballroom. When not choreographing, find her with binoculars, hot chocolate, or a guitar. 

Samuel Rodriguez-Castrillon '27

Publicity Director

Sam is a sophomore in Davenport college majoring in Comparative Literature and Computer Science. He loves dancing whether it be in competition or socials, or even in the hip sways while cleaning his room. Especially the Latin dances. When he's not trying to get down a new move, you can find him reading some James Baldwin or Spider-Man comics, working out at PWG, or practicing Chinese. 

Garrett Sager '26

Coach Liaison

My name is Garrett, and this is my second year dancing! When I’m not dancing, I’m probably trying to rationalize buying a 500 gallon offset smoker from Mill Scale. 

Mikaele Ymker '25

Public Events Chair

Mikaele is a Senior in Berkeley College and the YBDT 2024-25 Public Events Chair. Mikaele joined the team as a Sophomore when she stumbled across a group of people swinging and spinning away on Beinecke Plaza and wanted to join the fun! Expanding the dance community at Yale and introducing everyone to the joys of social dancing is one of Mikaele's favourite things to do. Past YBDT public events have included Boot Scootin' Beinecke, the Great Gatsby Halloween Party, and the winter Masquerade Ball. Stay tuned for even more awesome events for all this year!

Quinn Angell '27

Alumni Liaison

Quinn is a second-year student in Yale College reigning from Springfield, Massachusetts. She is majoring in Chemical Engineering, and is interested in related research and technology that can provide equitable solutions to the climate crisis. She enjoys all parts of YBDT, from social dances to competitions, with many of her favorite dances (right now) falling under the Latin style. She is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers and works in the SAS office on campus. In her spare time, Quinn enjoys drawing, playing tennis and/or pickleball, and waiting around for the fall season to bring out her favorite outfits and decorations.

Officer Accountability

The Yale Ballroom Dance Team has always valued and will continue to fight for inclusion, community, and equality. Within our team, we have never tolerated discriminatory or disrespectful behavior — but as our nation and indeed our world witness widespread and necessary calls for racial justice, it is especially important now that we hold ourselves and each other accountable. It is imperative that we do more than call ourselves an inclusive and accessible organization: we must follow through on our words, and take actively anti-racist actions today and every day. While difficult, this includes taking appropriate disciplinary action against team members who have not upheld our values. You may read more about our team values here.