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Profiles of the Instructors
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The Ballroom offers the finest in dance instruction in the Sacramento area. Whether you are interested in social dancing, want to be a dancer or even if you wish to dance competitively, you will find the level of instruction at The Ballroom to be the best, and the most affordable in Sacramento!
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Aira Bubnelyte &
Tomas Atkocevicius |
Aira Bubnelyte has been dancing and competing for 20 years. Her highest achievements are: World Youth Ballroom Champion; Under 21 Blackpool Ballroom Champion, and Amateur World Cup Ballroom Champion.
Tomas Atkocevicius has been dancing and competing for the last 25 years. He was the Lithuanian Ballroom Amateur Champion for 4 years and reached 1st place in IDSF World Ranking. Tomas has been teaching for the last 15 years; among his trained couples are Juvenile & Youth World Champions.
www.tomasandaira.com
Tomas & Aira, as a top Lithuanian Professional Ballroom couple, represented Lithuania in the European and World Championships for 4 years. After only one year of dancing together they became Professional Blackpool Ballroom Rising Star Runner-ups! They also were the Professional International Championship Rising Star Runner-ups and winners or finalists in all major U.S. Championships (U.S. Open, Ohio Star Ball, Yankee Classic, U.S. Nationals, San Francisco Open, International Grand Ball, Galaxy Open, Desert Classic and Embassy Ball World Cup. They have also competed and were winners or finalists in Asia, Europe, Australia and Africa! |
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Andy K. |
Andy has been an instructor at The Ballroom since 1995. He has studied under some of the best in Ballroom, Swing and Hustle. Andy is currently the Head Instructor for Night Club 2-Step and Hustle and also co-instructor for our Wednesday night West Coast Swing program. He also is one of our lead instructors for our Salsa program. Andy teaches Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Cha Cha, Salsa, Rumba, Bolero, Merengue, Samba, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Lindy and Charleston. |
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Chad & Marie Burson |
Chad and Marie Burson have been dancing and teaching Ballroom and Latin dance since they met almost 16 years ago. They have studied and performed Jazz, Modern, Ballet, International and American Style Ballroom, and have been finalists in several Professional International Standard Competitions. Chad and Marie coach Beginners, Individuals, Couples and Formation Teams in Social and Competitive Ballroom Dance. Chad and Marie teach fun and informative classes that always show their joy of dance and commitment to quality. |
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David Stewart |
David Stewart began ballroom dancing while a student at the California State University, Sacramento. It was soon apparent that he was going to be a force to be reckoned with. David began competing in the International Style Latin and achieved success early in his dancing career. His 15+ years of dancing have earned him national and international recognition in a variety of dance forms including the International Latin and Standard, as well as the American Rhythm and Smooth. As an amateur competitor he has received countless awards in all dance styles. Considered an elite dancesport competitor the United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association offered him the opportunity to teach while still an amateur. This privilege is given only to the top 20 percent of the dancers at the national level. One of his memorable achievements was being a finalist in the World Invitational American Smooth Championships. As a professional dancer, David is currently competing in the American Smooth and International Standard dance styles. David and Grace are 2006 International Grand Ball Showdance Champion. |
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Deborah Reno |
Deborah Reno began in Ballet and Tap at the tender age of 5. From that moment on she wanted to be a dancer! At her mothers insistence, she was persuaded to stop dancing and start piano lessons instead. But she had been bitten by the dance bug and as soon as she got to college she started a Ballroom class , in Pasadena and loved it. She moved to Wilton and auditioned for the Internationally reknowned Strauss Festival in 1988. While with the Strauss Festival she helped with two fundraisers and 11 shows. She danced, choregoraphed, designed costumes, wrote story lines, helped select music and worked with the producer and director from 1988 - 2000. She took dance lessons from other local instructors from 1995 to 1996. She began teaching for the Ballroom in 1997 while studing under such greats as: Heather Smith and Victor Veyrasset, Ron Montez, Stephen Cullip, Rene & Hans Schmidt and Bob Powers and Julia Gorchakova. She has also participated in local theatre productions at Consumnes River Stage, most recently in The Gunfighter. |
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Grace Kato |
The blur of activity you see at the studio would be Grace Kato. Her high energy and passion are apparent in all aspects of her dancing. Whether she is working on her own dancing or yours, her energy and enthusiasm is non-stop. Part of the Ballroom's Family since before they laid the first plank of wood on the floor, Grace has been active in our dance community since 1994. She started dancing as an amateur in the International Latin Style, followed by American Rhythm, International Standard and American Smooth. As an amateur, she and her partner, David Stewart competed and achieved national recognition in every style of dancing they have undertaken... even West Coast Swing! She is currently a competitor in the professional American Smooth division.. David and Grace are 2006 International Grand Ball Showdance Champion. |
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Jeanne Iben |
Jeanne Iben has been Ballroom and Swing dancing for the last 20 years. She started out dancing West Coast Swing and competed with a Formation Team at the U.S. Open. For three years Jeanne danced and did costume design for the Elk Grove Strauss Festival. For the past 6 years, her focus has been on International Style Ballroom dancing and has placed highly as an Amateur in Open Gold level at competitions. She teaches a beginning social ballroom class at American River College. At The Ballroom, she teaches the Social Confidence class on Thursday nights and is available for private lessons for beginners in: American Waltz, Foxtrot, V. Waltz and Tango and International: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, V. Waltz and Quickstep. In the American Rhythm dances she teaches: Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing and the Club dances: Night Club 2-step and Salsa. She also works with wedding couples on their "first dance" choreography. Jeanne loves dancing and keeps her lessons fun and non-threatening for beginners. |
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Jeffrey Munson |
Jeffrey has been dancing for over 20 years. The last several years has been focused on Ballroom and Latin (mostly Ballroom). The past few years Jeffrey has danced competitively and has been a Dance Sport finalist in several California Championships. He has performed shows for audiences from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Jeffrey teaches and studies American Smooth and the International Standard Ballroom styles. He studies with some of the top Ballroom dance coaches in the United States and Europe, receiving weekly training to better his dancing and teaching techniques. The payoff of all his hard work is seeing his students excel and grow as dancers and people. Jeffrey teaches all levels, from beginning to advanced. |
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Johnny Ochoa |
Johnny has been at the Ballroom since 2000. He has been dancing swing since 1997 and teaching since 1999. He teaches East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop and Charleston. His students remark to us how much fun he is in class and how much they enjoy his teaching and attitude towards swing dancing. He is also a member of the Ballroom sponsored Swing Dance Troupe, 'Sactown Jump', that performs all over the Sacramento area to standing ovations. All of this has helped make his Tuesday night swing dance at Club 21 a huge success with the swing crowd. |
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(photo coming soon)
Mike Del Campo |
Mike is Chief Instructor at the Del Campo Dance Studio as well as the Artistic Director of Salsa Capital, Del Campo Dance Studio Salsa Dance Teams. He has been dancing, teaching, choreographing and competing in
Northern California
since 1987. Mike enjoys teaching and working with people. He started his own studio along with his wife, Gina who is also a dance Instructor and currently teaches at their dance studio at
2818 Marconi Avenue
, in
Sacramento
, inside the Sacramento Academy of Dance. The Del Campo Dance Studio has professionally trained instructors. Del Campo Dance Studio teaches all of the partner dances, ballroom, swing and Latin. The studio specializes in the rhythm Latin dances particularly Salsa. Mike also choreographs first dances for wedding couples.Mike founded
Sacramento's
first and premier Salsa Dance Troupe Salsa Capital and is in charge of choreography for the salsa dance teams routines. The main performing Dance Team has been in existence since 1997. A second amateur team, called the Dream Team was started in 2004 as interest grew with students who wanted to perform also. Mike also teaches the Salsa lesson every Thursday night at the Pachanga Restaurant in Folsom and every Sunday night at Harlows in midtown
Sacramento
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Paul Zimny |
Paul has over 25 years of teaching experience in dance movement, theory & choreography. His ballroom training came by way of the Arthur Murray School of Dance where he trained & taught for over 10 years, eventually owning two dance schools. In addition, Paul has taught high school students for over 25 years. He is currently teaching at Folsom High School as well as conducting ballroom dance classes at American River College & holding dance movement clinics for students & teachers of all ages, backgrounds & skill levels. Paul has performed at both amateur & professional levels throughout the United States & Canada for over 35 years. He has designed & choreographed movement & staging for major motion pictures, musical productions & dance competitions. Paul's teaching style is fun & easy to understand, providing beginning dancers the information & basic skill to "hit the dance floor," as well as advanced technique for those seasoned dancers who want to take their dancing to the highest level. He conducts group classes & offers private instruction, specializing in Ballroom, Latin, East Coast Swing, Hustle and Argentine Tango. |
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Ted Colbert |
Ted Colbert has been dancing for 16 years. Ted specalizes in West Coast Swing, Hustle, and Night Club 2 step, which he has successfully competed in for many years. He is able to teach many other dances as well, though. He is known for his patience and humor in teaching and for his excellent lead.
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Theresa McGarry |
Theresa has background in Jazz, Modern Dance, Hula, Bellydancing, Ballroom, County, Hustle and Swing. She is primarily known for her West Coast Swing dancing in numerous competitions across the State. Her biggest reward in dancing is sharing the joy of dance with someone who is just learning! Theresa teaches West Coast Swing, Salsa, Night Club Two Step, and Hustle with her co-instructor, Andy K. |
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Trish Crow |
Trish has competed in many competitions, Showcases and Jack & Jills in West Coast Swing, Cha Cha and Hustle receiving numerous awards in all. She has successfully completed her Bronze level teaching program and is currently working on her Silver level teaching program. Trish has been teaching at the Ballroom since the Ballroom opened in 1997. She believes that dancing, learning to dance and teaching dance should be fun and easy. Her classes reflect that attitude. |
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