Biographies

MICHAEL NEIL & DANIELLE WILSON

Undefeated North American Showdance Champions. Michael and Danielle is a top couple in the American Rhythm style of dance. Four time United States Championship finalists, three time World Rhythm finalists on America ’s Ballroom Challenge and United Sates Cabaret finalists rank this couple worldwide. Accolades from these prestigious events bring them many invitations to perform and teach.

KELVIN ROCHE & LORI ANN GREENHOUSE

Before teaming up competition was in their blood. Kelvin’s dance history as an accomplished competitor and focused teacher dates back to the 80’s. Lori Ann and her partner were World Hustle title-holders and appeared in motion pictures. Together Lori Ann and Kelvin have traveled the circuit capturing all the titles in the Hustlesphere with classic hustle routines that feature difficult lifts and tricks. They dazzle audiences all over the country as they perform their various Latin and theater arts routines. As featured dancers in several Disney productions, they sparkle. Like very few couples can do, once they take the floor, they own it. True performers and dance artists who also excel as instructors

BRIAN GALLAGHER

Being part of "One of the most celebrated Hustle teams of the decade", who was Professional Theater Arts Hustle Champions and undefeated "Professional Just Hustle Champions”. Over the last decade he has won every major Hustle competition. Brian has an ability to break down dance patterns to help you understand the four major components for a comfortable lead and follow: movement, framework, footwork, and timing. It doesn't matter whether you are a beginner learning your basics or the advanced dancer learning travel, shaping, and/or syncopations.

CHRISTOPHER HUSSEY & KATRINA BRANSON

With 28 years of professional dance instruction between them, Christopher & Katrina bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to both their workshops and private instruction. Their lessons are filled with incredible patterns, cool footwork and syncopations and foundation dance technique – while at the same time being fun, playful and really exciting. Christopher & Katrina live to teach, perform, and compete.

DAN RADLER

Daniel was a four-time United States Representative at the World Ballroom Championships and featured Professional Ballroom Dancer for 13 years on the acclaimed program “Championship Ballroom Dancing”. He recently appeared on television’s America’s Ballroom Challenge 2009. He is the owner of Ballroom Dance Florida and teaches all styles of ballroom and Latin dance throughout South Florida.

PETER & ALEXANDRA PERZHU

Even though each began dancing at the age of six, Peter’s and Alexandra’s partnership is only five years young. Since coming to the USA from St. Petersburg, Russia about three years ago, they compete professionally in both American Smooth and American Rhythm on the Dancesport Championship circuit. During the past year they danced as finalists nine times and captured the title in Smooth six times. Recently, they also won the Florida State Triple Crown. This winsome couple brings an elegance to dance that few people can match.

JAKE HANING AND TALETHA JOUZDANI

Jake and Taletha began dancing together in 2007. In this short time, they have placed in the top five in the NASDE Classic Division, were finalists at the 2007 and 2008 US OPENs and are currently competing at the All Star level. Jake and Taletha are full-time instructors at Go-Dance Studio in Austin, Tx where they enjoy teaching a wide range of partner dances including Ballroom, CW, Latin Social, and Swing. They are actively growing Austin's local WC Swing community through weekly WC Swing Styling classes, social dances and outings. In their instruction, they put an emphasis on Teach it, Walk it, Dance it. Our goal is for our students to walk away confident with more than just an understanding of the moves and concepts.

DANIELLE BLOUIN

After intensive training in ballet, jazz, modern dance and competing in gymnastics, Danielle Blouin began her entertainment career in high diving, fire diving and trapeze show. She is a two-time UCWDC World Showcase Open title-holder and holds numerous Division I, II, III and IV titles. Danielle has been the recipient of 8 Top Teacher awards on the UCWDC circuit, including top teacher for World's 2007, 2008, and 2009. Her teaching focuses on lead and follow skills, dancing technique and understanding partnership to make dancing fun for everyone.

DIANE VELONSKIS & MICHAEL PECINA

Michael’s and Diane’s successful partnership has gained them recognition over the last 2 years in Smooth and Cabaret. When competing in ProAm Michael and his students are frequent award winners. His dedication to teaching both Smooth and Rhythm was recognized when he was awarded a top teacher award at the St. Pete’s Classic. Diana’s accomplishments include Rising Star American rhythm champion, 10 Dance German Open Champion as well as10 Dance Lithuanian and Russian champion.

MARK SMITH & SHERI HARRIS

As open UCWDC Division 1 Classic competitors, Mark and Sheri rank among the top 25 Country & Western competitive dance couples throughout the United States – and are considered one of the top C&W competitive couples in the state of Florida. Their partnership began in October 1996, and they have won many top placements coast to coast since then in both C&W and hustle dance circuits. In addition to their Country Western and Hustle dance background, they also have several years of training with top ranked ballroom, swing, and theatrical arts coaches from across the nation. They also perform show exhibitions for events and clubs. Their show repertoire includes a wide variety of audience-pleasing dance styles and themes: American-style ballroom and Rhythm, New York Hustle/Disco, Salsa, Theatrical Cabaret, Swing, and Country and western. You’ll find Mark and Sheri teaching beginner dance workshops at least once or twice a month at the local nightclub Round-Up in Davie, as part of the club’s regular rotation of instructors. They also teach group classes Monday through Wednesday evenings at Elite Academy of Dance in Plantation.ah They offer fun, affordable group classes as well as private lessons, and teach all dance levels, from introductory to advanced. Whenever possible they teach together, so students enjoy double the learning opportunities and personal attention they would normally get from a single instructor. Mark and Sheri also create competition choreography for couples, and train students for Pro-Am Competition.

MICHAEL VINCITORIO

With a specialty in Argentine style tango, Michael Vincitorio conducts some of the most widely attended dance classes and workshops in Florida. He trained extensively and interned with the tango Master of Rhythm & US Tango Finalist, Jorge Nel Giraldo, as well as with 2006 Stage Tango World Champions Diana and Carlos Paredes. As a performer, Michael has appeared professionally over 100 times including performances for the Sony - Ericsson Tennis Championships, as a principal in the Tango Fever dance company, in music videos and TV commercials. He also recently began working in non-dance related acting roles including a part in an upcoming movie. As an instructor, Michael brings a positive, encouraging and highly interactive approach to the process of learning dance. Taking a patient, constructive and energetic approach, participants are able to gain a sound understanding of the concepts and movements of the dance so they can truly develop more comfort, ease and elegance on the dance floor. As a result, Michael has built a reputation as one of Florida’s leading tango professionals.

VICKY SIERRA

Vicky is the consummate dancer and has studied and worked in multiple dance disciplines most of her life, including graduation from the esteemed Institute of Classical Ballet, Columbia. She has studied extensively dance pedagogy and is a qualified instructor of several dance forms including classical, jazz, contemporary dance, and, of course, is a recognized expert in the many varieties of Argentine tango. As a professional, she has taught and performed around the world. Included among her credits: Instructor of Classical Ballet and Theater Arts, at the Instituto de Bellas Artes, Cali, Colombia and has performed with various tango dance companies in Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and throughout Europe. She most recently (2009) toured throughout England with the Tango Siempre Orchestra. She brings a exciting element of strength and grace to tango and, with her spot-on technique and attractive styling, she provides an exceptional model for women in tango to gain from. She is very much a “hands-on,” supportive and positive instructor who helps practitioners develop more confidence and fluidity in their dancing.

Both Vicky and Michael intentionally push into new territory, always developing new innovations around the dance. They appreciate and respect the many shades of Argentine tango, from the traditional to the latest in modern movement and music. Their ultimate goal is for participants to find fun and enjoyment at every level of the journey.

LEE FOX

Lee Fox is originally from Georgia but now calls Ft. Lauderdale, Florida his home. He is a past president and current examinations chairman of the National Dance Teachers Association of America (NDTA). He has been teaching Ballroom, Latin, and Disco since 1978, and Country/Western since 1991. He has his licentiate degrees in the International Standard and International Latin Styles and the Theater Arts Style with the Imperial Society of the Teachers of Dance (ISTD) and his masters degrees in the American Smooth and American Rhythm Styles with the North American Dance Teachers Association (NADTA). He is registered to adjudicate with the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) and the World Dance Council (WDC). A former professional and pro-am ballroom competitor, he has judged several competitions in the United States including the United States Dance Sport Championships (USDSC).

SCOTT LAPPIN - Artistic Director Dance for Life

Scott has been actively involved in the ballroom field for almost 30 years. He has been dancing and teaching in the South Florida sun for 19 of those years and works independently, under the studio name Dance for Life, in the Delray/Boca/Fort Lauderdale areas. Scott’s teaching-focus is on the American Smooth and Rhythm styles of ballroom. His focus as a “movement technician” facilitates his students understanding of the foundational components of easy, graceful dancing. Although he has retired from the professional competitive circuit he continues to groom select students to national level standards.

For all of his accomplishments he has been presented Top Teacher awards from some of the most prestigious events in the business and for 12 out of the last 15 years from the United States Pro-Am Ballroom Dance Championships (USPABDC). His clients have received Top Student awards at such events as the Ohio Star Ball, the United States Dance-Sport Championships and the USPABDC.

ANGELE LAUZON

Born in Canada, Angele Lauzon played music since the age of 3 and began to study at 8. As she grew, so did her passion for music. She then decided to enrich her knowledge in music by studying music as her main subject in university. At the age of 22, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Quebec in Montreal.

Her talent for music has no boundaries as she plays music from all corners of the world, thus making her an artist with international flavour. She sings in the exotic languages of French and Spanish as well as she sings in English. She has performed for 14 years at the Hotel L’Esterel and for various events which have always had a great response. Her smile and her talent give her a very good reputation in major hotels in Canada and Club Med all around the world.