The instructor

Joanna Dupuis

Since its inception, Sets in the 'Burg has had the privilege of having Joanna Dupuis as instructor. She has enthused and energized her students with both her experience and her "leprechaunic" spirit. Inspired by her parents, Jim and Kathie Vint, Joanna began set dancing in 1993. Such fine instructors as Megan Downes at the Irish Arts Center in New York City (now of Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble) and, in particular, dancing master Tony Ryan of County Galway encouraged her to take her dancing to the next level. She began teaching in 1998 and continued her own professional dance education with an extended set dancing trip to Ireland. As well as becoming the Irish set dance instructor for Sets in the 'Burg, she has taught at Milwaukee’s Irish Fest, Fitchburg (Wisconsin) Irish Days, the Shorewood Recreation Department, and the Milwaukee Set Dance Club.

Joanna's main passion is Irish set dancing, but she also has been spied doing many other kinds of social dancing, such as waltz, swing, lindy hop, charleston, and contra. While Jo's real life partner, Larry, happens to be a non-dancer, he and her almost grown family have fully supported her nomadic career of dancing and instruction. When she is not sparking the crowd with either her fanatical doubling or her contagious giggles, she tends to her "second" career as a freelance graphic designer. Cedarburgian set dancers appreciate the lilt and laughter AND expertise brought to them by Joanna Dupuis.