These people work behind the scenes to keep the place running smoothly, focusing on business development, admin, and hospitality! If you’d like to learn about our instructors, head over here.
Birkley WisniewskiBirkley Wisniewski has been an avid enthusiast of swing and jazz dance since 2002. Birkley founded Sugar Swing in 2005 and has made swing dancing his primary occupation while performing the art form on a professional level. He is the director of Mad Cat Swing, a dance team that has performed for The Winspear Centre, Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton City Hall, the Alberta Legislature and others. He occasionally deejays nationally and internationally, such as at Lindybout and Herrang, Sweden. Birkley feels his greatest achievement has been cultivating a local, vibrant swing dance community through Sugar Swing. He and his team has inspired thousands of adult Albertans to actively seek out dancing each year. Birkley teaches and performs swing at every kind of venue imaginable, from large festivals and concerts to schools and assisted living homes. His passion for dance springs from one core belief: everyone can enjoy dancing, regardless of partner, age, experience, physique, or appearance.
Ashley ReisingerAshley joined our office team as a receptionist at Sugar Swing in Fall 2018 and has been killing it ever since she started! Ashley started swing dancing at Grant MacEwan with their former swing dance club, and soon started attending Sugar Swing. After a bit of a hiatus, she’s back at it, enjoying an occasional dance when not in the office. Fun fact, she is a writer and novelist when not at Sugar Swing!
Joanne Zuk
Joanne has been with Sugar Swing since Fall 2018, joining our reception team! She works full time at a home developer while also caring for her daughter and part time with us. She helps a couple evenings every week with us; her main role with Sugar Swing is office reception, which involves all the critical day-to-day tasks to ensure our customers are well taken care of!
Jenna O’FlahertyJenna serves as Sugar Swing’s resident graphic designer and marketing consultant. She enjoys making rad designs to promote the club’s many classes and events, as well as figuring out how to get you into the ballroom. Jenna is also the owner of
Aviatrix Illustration and Design, her freelance graphic design company. When she needs a break from making stuff, Jenna likes to cut a rug with the fine folks of Sugar Swing at a social dance.
The Community
We also have an army of casual staff that organize our dances, teach classes, help run workshops, and generally ensure you have a great experience!
Finally, you are the reason that we exist. Without your respect and support, we would not be able to function. Because of this, Sugar Swing strives to be innovative, and wants to address all your concerns. We do our best to ensure that the quality of service you receive is better than any other dance club around.
Want to Join the Team?
Interested in becoming an organizer, deejay, or instructor? Or, want to reap the benefits of being a Sugar Swing volunteer? Visit the Get Involved page for more info!
