Meet the Crew
Alex “Prototype” Malblanc |
Co-Founder, Executive Creative Director
Alex “Prototype” Malblanc is a powerhouse multimedia artist that seamlessly blends his mastery of design engineering with freestyle animation dance. As a neurodivergent and biracial artist, his work helps marginalized artists find their voice.
Diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome from an early age, Alex’s dance is informed by the nature of his condition’s involuntary muscle spasms. In the street dance scene Prototype is known as an expert on glitchy textures and the precise micro-controls required to execute on animated, robotic illusions.
Alex holds a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design. His fascination with mechanics led him into work as a toy inventor, where he has experimented with claymation, stop motion, robotics, engineering, digital rendering, and character illusion, building a library of reference material for his dancemaking practice. Notably, Alex was honored for his innovative contributions to the toy invention industry with Mattel’s 2022 “Invention of the Year” Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the field.
With over a decade of experience teaching, performing, and competing in street dance battles, Alex is a world-class animator, representing the Midwest animation scene. In 2024, he placed Top 16 in both the robot and animation dance categories at the international robot and animation dance championship Unimate. Onstage, he has performed with acclaimed artists such as Tyler the Creator, Ella Mai, Lois the Child, Flo Mili, Troyboi, and Glass Animals.
The healing, confidence, and purpose he has gained through his art has made him a dedicated ambassador for street dance culture. In 2019, he co-founded Shadow Puppetz, a Chicago-based popping and animation freestyle dance crew. Under his leadership, Shadow Puppetz has reached national acclaim, hosting the largest popping events in the Midwest including Nightmare on Rockwell St. (2021) and Out of the Shadows (2022-present).
Tatiana “Tanya” Armendariz |
Co-Founder, Executive Digital Media & Artist Relations Director
Born in Moscow, Russia, Tanya is a Chicago-based freestyle movement artist, educator, and community leader. Her work intersects her identities as an immigrant, parent, and woman, championing the cause of mothers’ representation in the world of street dance, a historically male-dominated field.
Specializing in popping, waving, and boogaloo, Tanya has over a decade of experience in her craft and has proven herself a fierce competitor in popping and open styles battles across the US. She has been invited to compete and represent Chicago at Red Bull Dance Your Style (2021 & 2022) as well as judge events such as Snipe’s Hip Hop in Chinatown (2022), Skunkworks Dance Studio’s Dust Off (2022), and The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago’s B-Series (2020). With a deep pedagogical practice, Tanya teaches regularly at Shadow Puppetz weekly popping sessions and has been invited to teach across Chicago at Chamber.io Intensives (2023), CODA Intensives (2024), and University of Chicago (2021).
Tanya holds a Bachelors in Marketing from University of Illinois Chicago and is the Co-Founder of Shadow Puppetz, a nationally acclaimed Chicago-based popping and animation freestyle dance crew. Tanya’s influential reach in the street dance scene not only stems from a respect for her craft, but is also rooted in authentic personal connections and a commitment to fostering inclusivity, demonstrated through initiatives to ensure Shadow Puppetz events remain safe spaces for everyone.
Under Tanya’s leadership, Shadow Puppetz has successfully hosted national events including Nightmare on Rockwell St. (2021) and Out of the Shadows (2022-present). She is also the Founder of Flow First Waving Collective, through which she organized an independent waving event in 2022. In 2024, she was awarded Chicago DanceMaker Forum’s DanceChance grant where she choreographed and performed an original waving piece.
Jude “Jinx” Brummett |
Executive Strategy & Operations Director, Crew Member
Jude “Jinx” Brummett is a cultural producer and freestyle robot and animation dance artist dedicated to promoting economic empowerment for street dance artists. She holds a Bachelors in Dance from Columbia College Chicago and is the Founder of Jinx Dance Media, a consultancy that provides professional services to the street dance community.
Jude’s expertise spans dancemaking, pedagogy, events, and digital media. She independently produced the Jinx Dance Media Podcast, which includes 27 episodes with 13 influential guest speakers such as Jessica Leyva, the CEO of Chicago Dance Crash, Handy “Hya” Yacinthe, the Founder of Jack of All Trades International Street Dance Festival, and Samuel “Sammy Mac” Macintosh, Founder of 10K Hip Hop and Street Dance Movement. The podcast explores critical topics around elevating street dance professionalism while maintaining its cultural integrity.
Presently, Jude works as the Donor Events Specialist at Rotary International where she supports high-profile donor events and stewardship activities. She also volunteers as the Executive Strategy & Operations Director for Shadow Puppetz, overseeing the production of national events including Nightmare on Rockwell St. (2021) and Out of the Shadows (2022-present), which recently received funding from Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Jude has curated notable robot and animation dance events in Chicago, such as a masterclass with Los Angeles dance artist Keumsae Pae (2023) and the Machine Learning Animation Intensive (2024), a two-day program featuring six workshops designed to provide students with a roadmap for building their animation practice overtime.
Jude has featured in live performances with BUKU Breakers at BUKU Music + Art Project in New Orleans (2022), and at Hongdae, an iconic street performing district in Seoul, South Korea (2016-2017). She has also appeared in a series of NPC comedy dance skits with viral content creator Mikael “Dr. Robotmik” Minier, including Coffee.NPC, Chinatown Quest, and How NPCs Feel Pain.
Sid Tucky |
Music & Audio Coordinator, Crew Member
With over 15 years of experience as a competitor, freestyle dance artist, and educator, Sid Tucky is a custodian of popping history and widely regarded as Chicago’s “heaviest hitter” within the national popping battle scene. His work as a music artist is inseparable from his dancemaking practice, embodying a visceral connection to the music through his movement.
Member of Electric Funkateers since 2014 and Shadow Puppetz since 2021, Sid’s journey has been defined by victories in multiple popping and open styles events across North America including World of Dance (2021 Champion), Book of Styles (2023 Finalist), Bashville Stampede (2017 Champion), and Jack of All Trades International Street Dance Festival (2022 Semi-Finalist). He has also been invited to judge at events such as Portland’s The Beautiful Street Dance Festival (2024), Snipe’s Windy City Throwdown (2023), World of Dance (2022), Kangz Kastle (2021), and The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago’s B-Series (2019).
With a mission to impart knowledge and preserve the essence of popping, ensuring its legacy resonates with generations to come, Sid’s reputation as an educator is coveted within the street dance community. He taught regularly at Electric Funkateer’s Sunday Funkdays from 2015-2017, and has taught several intensives including Electric Funkateer’s Popping Bootcamp (2017), Shadow Puppetz Popping Intensives (2023 & 2024), and CODA Intensives (2016 & 2017).
Under the mentorship of DJ Illanoiz since 2019 and DJ Captain Puerto Rico since 2021, Sid has become well known as a premier funk DJ in the Midwest. He has DJ’d at various clubs and dance battles in Chicago including B-Series (2019 & 2020), Hip Hop in Chinatown (2019 & 2022), Nightmare on Rockwell St. (2021), and Out of the Shadows (2022-present). He has also produced and released four mixtapes on Soundcloud, Chillin…Killin Vol. 1, 2, & 3, and Flow First Vol. 1.
Ricardo “Rio McFly” Robinson |
Event Experience Coordinator, Crew Member
Ricardo “Rio McFly” Robinson was born in Detroit to a family of artists. His mother’s musical talents and his father’s street dance experience led him into the arts from a young age. Rio began learning street dance styles at the age of 12, where Black music genres including Motown Funk, Techno, and Hip Hop were household staples for his family. This early experience has made Rio’s dance rich with the context of his familial and cultural roots.
After two decades in the street dance scene, Rio has become a strong competitor, performing artist, and teacher, pioneering tutting in the Midwest. He is passionate about showcasing his dance with authenticity and vulnerability. Having struggled with ADHD, anxiety, and depression, he aims to practice his dancemaking by utilizing a variety of tones, movement styles, and music choices to showcase the healing nature of street dance while shredding the toxic-masculine elements of its roots.
His goal is to embody the multifaceted and diverse ways in which popping can be used to share his strong personal voice without reservation, and hopefully inspire others to do the same along the way.
Kevin Yu |
Crew Member
Kevin Yu began dancing in 2015 with Phinix Dance Crew, a freestyle dance club at the University of Chicago. He trained in popping under the mentorship of OG Poppin Chuck for one year and was self taught in locking. In 2017, he began to expand his horizons in the popping and locking community as he spent his summers training with Rashaad, Future, and FireLock while dancing with the DMV dance community.
Shortly after, he began teaching and choreographing for Phinix Dance Crew, and later Groove Theory. After graduating university in 2019, Kevin remained in Chicago where he joined Shadow Puppetz and began competing in popping and open styles battles.
Kevin aims to continue developing his skills and knowledge through battles, training with his crew, and through the mentorship of other dancers. Meanwhile, he aspires to keep building the Chicago dance community while inspiring new dancers to become as passionate about the dance and culture as himself and his crewmates are.
Nancy “Miqui” uriostegui |
Crew Member (On Hiatus)
Nancy “Miqui” Uriostegui is a dancer and teaching artist residing in West Palm Beach, Florida. She grew up in the suburbs of Illinois and later moved to Chicago where she trained in both choreography and freestyle street dance styles such as popping, voguing, and hip hop. Miqui has competed, choreographed, and performed throughout the Midwest and West Coast with dance companies such as Ascension Performing Arts, CODA, and The Puzzle League in events including the World of Dance, Prelude, and Carnival.
Miqui has over five years of experience teaching children and adults at various levels. She has taught regularly at dance studios in Chicago and Florida, including Design Dance, Ashley’s Performing Arts Center, Kim Kids Dance, and The Royal Peacock Dance Studio.
In her dancemaking and teaching, she emphasizes individuality and creativity, encouraging other dancers and her students to embrace their unique voices and personal expression through the multi-faceted lens of street dance styles.
Meet OUR Collaborators
Tim McMahon |
Brand & Graphic Design Specialist
Tim McMahon graduated from University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program in 2017, where he interned for several reputable design companies including Rockwell Group, Apple Inc., Selbert Perkins Design, and Kao Brands. After graduating, he worked for 1 Trick Pony, a small branding company based in Philadelphia, PA. After three years there, Tim became the Graphic Design Director for Marques Brownlee’s YouTube channels MKBHD and The Studio, as well as the Waveform Podcast and Waveform Podcast clips.
Tim aims to bring a level of craft, purpose, and attention to detail across all of his work. This comes from his deep interest and experience with tactile creative work including large-scale murals, screen-printing, and occasional book-making.
Together, he and Alex “Prototype” Malblanc created the branding for Shadow Puppetz in 2019 upon the crew’s founding, and Tim’s graphic designs can still be seen populating Shadow Puppetz social media platforms in the form of flyers, posters, and promotional materials. You can see more of his work on his website.