DANCESPORT PROFESSIONALS

Sunnie Page

Sunnie Page began her ballroom career in the American rhythm and smooth styles. She switched to the international standard and latin styles in early 1999, with the goal of competing at the international championship level. Throughout her amateur competitive career Sunnie won five titles at the US National Championships in the style cumulatively known as "International Standard" -- waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep. During that time she lived in England and New York City 4 months a year for extensive training with the worlds top coaches. Her highest ranking as an amtaeur was 2nd in the USA at the championship level in the International Dancesport World Federation rankings. After turning pro and opening The Ballroom Dance Company in 2005, she continued to compete internationally in the professional championship division. Sunnie continues to produce superior quality students who have won not only regional, but multiple national US Dance titles.

Mark Tabor

Mark is an exceptionally well-rounded dancer who has competed at the championship level in a wide variety of styles including international standard, international latin, and American smooth. He began competing in 1992 and made his first US final in 2001 at the USA Dance Championships in American smooth. Mark is the 2007 senior I smooth US Champion, a title he won at this year’s USA Dancesport Championships. Mark has been an active promoter and organizer for ballroom dance and competition. He’s been a USA Dance DanceSport Council Member since 2003 and organized the Northwest DanceSport Championships 2003-2007. Mark’s studied with many world class latin, standard and smooth coaches including but not limited to Heather Smith, Nadia Eftedal, Christopher Hawkins, Glenn Weiss, Stephen Hillier, Peter Eggleton, Olga Foraponova, Jean Marc Genreaux, Geoffrey Hearns, Gaynor Fairweather and Steve Powell. Mark provides a $10 discount for all youth private lessons (21 & younger with student ID).

PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS

Neylana Bezerra

Neylana is a certified zumba instructor & personal trainer, certified salsa instructor & choreographyer, and professional bhangra performer. Raised in Santiago, Chile, Neylana found herself surrounded in latin music and dance. Her background includes also includes ballet and gymnastics. Throughout the years, She's earned a variety of national accredited certifications and assisted in many specialty workshops. Her hobbies include finding the best music for her classes & the best methods to 'feel' the music through exercise and dance. Neylana believes in the healing power of music, and the positive qualities it brings out in everyone. She helps her students improve coordination, flexibility and posture. Her classes are high energy, safe, and fun!"

Jason Carter

Jason began social dancing 18 years ago on a whim and a dare. He developed a passion for country dance in Louisiana, and a desire to be a polished leader. Country dance proved to be a gatweay toward other styles like hustle, west coast swing, argentine tango, and nightclub two step. Today he embraces them all and believes the key to success is constant connection with one's partner. Jason's teaching style centers on cultivating that connection, and on learning solid lead-follow technique.

Kathy LaVeine Carter

Kathy grew up dancing and has been sharing her passion for dance with students for more than 8 years. Her first love is the social dance floor and she is driven to help people learn the technique and skill necessary to lead, follow, and create spontaneous dance. She specializes in contemporary styles such as west-coast swing, nightclub two-step, hustle, country 2-step, salsa, and meringue. She believes that the measure of a great dancer is the size of the smile on their partner’s face. Her goal is to teach solid dance concepts, be clear, motivating, and maybe even to make you laugh.

Jimmy Ho

Jimmy Ho began dancing Swing, Latin, Ballroom, and Lindy Hop in 1999. He performed with OSU's ballroom troupe in Corvallis. Jimmy is an active competitor on the west coast swing circuit who's won many Strictly Swing and Jack & Jill contests. He is happily entrenched in the local dance community and enjoys teaching. Jimmy takes pride in watching his students improve after his group and private lessons. Students are pleased with the extra time and effort he provides answering questions after and outside of class. Depending on student's dancing experience, he customizes teaching methods to help the beginners explore the fun of swing dancing, and help experienced students advance their techniques and choreography. Jimmy provides a $10 discount for all youth private lessons (21 & younger with student ID).

Sally Marin

My name is Sally Maritza Marin and I am from the wonderful city of Jersey City, New Jersey. Dancing has been the biggest part of my life and even though we couldn't afford to put me through professional dance classes as a child, I still danced whether it was for talent shows family reunions, classroom holiday parties or wherever I could get away with dancing. Born and raised in an urban neighborhood I received a taste of many international rhythms and forms of dancing and practically learned dance from TV,the streets, and my momma who was always teaching me how to salsa the right way. Lived in Ecuador for 4 years throughout high school where I fell in love with my roots of Latin Rhythms. Dancing is breathing!! I wish to spread the love of dance, because I truly believe it heals your soul, I discovered ZUMBA® Fitness over a year ago.... after being trapped in a very monotonous life, with work and school fulltime, I had just moved to Oregon and I had no time for myself, which led me to gain 65 Pounds in 2 years!! (YIKES) When I stepped into my first ZUMBA® class, I knew my life would never be the same. Since then I have lost 65 pounds, and became Licensed to teach Zumba classes. I am ready to make you a happier and healthier you, are you ready for me?

Lisa McKinney

Lisa began her dance training at the age of 8 in her hometown of New York City. She trained in various styles of dance including jazz, tap and ballet. At the age of 14 she was accepted to The High School of Performing Arts (Fame school) where she majored in Modern Dance. During her sophomore year in High School, Lisa was awarded a partial scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet's after school program. Upon graduating from Performing Arts H.S., Lisa attended Rutgers University, graduating with a B.A. in Economics. Lisa is an ACE certified personal trainer, YMCA certified group fitness instructor and certified Zumba instructor. Lisa welcomes all ages, abilities and levels of fitness to her Zumba classes!

Dustin Miller

Raised in Soldotna, Alaska, Dustin began his journey as a dancer at age 14. After a few performances he decided that he wanted to explore a bit deeper into the dance world, and began taking summer classes at Vergine's Dance Studio. The following season he was asked to join the Aurora Senior Dance Company. Dustin trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern and hip hop. Hip hop became a passion for him and he began assistant teaching later that year. The following season Dustin began teaching hip hop at Vergine's Dance Studio and traveled to Los Angeles to participate in the DanceExcellence! Festival, assistant teaching various hip hop workshops and creating show choreography. Dustin is eager to share his passion for dance with anyone who takes part in his classes. He provides a $25 discount for all youth private lessons (21 & younger with student ID).

Trina Siebert

Trina has been dancing swing, Argentine tango, Latin, and ballroom since 1995, and specializes in the contemporary social dances (west coast swing, nightclub two-step, and hustle). An active competitor on the west coast swing circuit, she has won a number of Strictly Swing, Classic, and Jack & Jill contests, and was named Best Overall Amateur Female at BridgeTown Swing 2003. Trina has been an invited instructor and performer at workshop weekends and dance conventions throughout the Northwest. Students appreciate her clear and relaxed instructional style; her philosophy is that dancing should be fun and accessible for everyone. Trina provides a $10 discount for all youth private lessons (21 & younger with student ID).

INSTRUCTORS

Autumn Bay

Autumn began teaching at Arthur Murray in Louisville, KY in 1995. Two years later she moved to Monterey, California and taught for Monterey Peninsula Dance Inc. She studied and taught American style ballroom, latin and country western, choreographed routines for performances and weddings, and became the training coach for new and junior teachers. During this time Autumn was also certified by the National Terpsicore Association of San Francisco. In 2009 Autumn moved to New York and headed the Roosevelt Island Summer Project, where she choreographed dance/drama shows for inner-city youth. While in NYC she further studied international & American style ballroom at the Dancesport Academy. A well-rounded instructor, Autumn has also trained in classical jazz, hip hop, and even studied Argentine Tango in Buenes Aires! Autumn now works in social services, attends PSU, and trains for national & international same-sex ballroom and latin competition.

Paris Guffey

In November 2007, Paris attended a free swing dance in Portland, and found the passion of his life. Five months later he began taking ballroom dance lessons at The Ballroom Dance Company with studio owner Sunnie Page. Paris enjoys performing, social dance, and has competed successfully in the amateur and pro-am dancesport circuits -- most recently placing 1st in gold waltz and quickstep with Sunnie at the 2010 Seattle Star Ball. Paris specializes international standard style ballroom, and also teaches all styles of east coast swing (like lindy hop, charleston & balboa) and nightclub two step.

Ann Marie Hathaway

A native Oregonian, Ann Marie began dancing at an early age and whirled her way to Hollywood with famous music video choreographer Michael Rooney. After an exciting dancing career in Hollywood, her love of Portland called her back to the Rose City. She continued teaching, and choreographed for and performed with a local swing dance team much publicized for their flying flips through the air. They competed successfully throughout the Northwest. Ann Marie specializes in a wide variety of vintage swing styles like the Charleston and East coast swing. Her salsa and waltz classes are also very popular. One of her most favorite dance styles to teach is smooth Hollywood style Lindy Hop Swing, in large part due to her love of jazz music. Ann Marie provides a $10 discount for all youth private lessons (21 & younger with student ID).

Rene Nunez

Rene grew up dancing in Chile. He and his sister were youth champions for 2 years in salsa, cumbia and merengue, and his parents were Chile's national Argentine Tango champions. He moved to the USA in 2000 and continued to compete in the international latin division in cha cha, samba, rumba, paso doble and jive. He's also competed in American smooth, rhythm and theater arts, and is also a certified gymnastic coach. Rene's been teaching dance for 10 years, and has studied with coaches like James & Janna Kunitz, Dima & Olga Sukachov, Andre & Natalie Paramonov, Eddie Ares, Felipe Telona, Emmanuel Pierre, Steve Vaso and more.

Nicole Robinson

Nicole has been a certified Zumba instructor for the past two years. She starting dancing at the age of 6 studying Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Hip Hop. Nicole went on to dance in college and also spent some time as an NFL cheerleader for the Arizona Cardinals! Nicole married and move to Oregon, and is now a proud mother of 2 kids. When she is not chasing after them, she is in class dancing away!

Steve Sowell

The moment Steve took his first waltz class, he fell in love with ballroom dancing. In 6 months he started competing initially locally, then nationally and internationally throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as the east coast and Canada. In addition to winning and making finals at many local competitions, at the 2007 USA Dance National Amateur Championships Steve made the US National finals in the bronze syllabus category. Steve is apprentice to Ballroom Dance Company International Standard professional Sunnie Page.

Marcus Sterling

Marcus began dancing during his undergraduate work at Oregon State University. His 1st ballroom class in 2004 paved the way to his love of social dance. Taking all classes possible, he soon discovered a talent for contemporary dance styles including west coast swing, nightclub, and hustle, as well as American and Standard ballroom. He's been teaching in Corvallis and Eugene since 2008. He enjoys keeping up with the rapidly changing styles of contemporary partner dance, and enjoys watching students improve and find enjoyment in their dancing.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR TEACHERS

Shawn Gardner

Shawn has been passionate about dance since the age of 10. She's been teaching over 14 years, and specializes in sharing the joy & benefits of dance with children & families. Her patience, enthusiasm & natural ability to connect with young dancers is evident in the many students who took their very 1st lesson with Shawn & have advanced to compete & perform for large audiences. Shawn's ballroom career began in 2005. Just 2 years later, after training under Sunnie Page, Shawn was crowned National Champion in both bronze & silver international standard at the 2007 USA Dance National Championships. She's also studied a wide variety of styles including musical theater, character, ballet, hip hop, jazz & more. She's performed in numerous stage productions & was a member of a professional modern dance company. She's available for private lessons for all ages, wedding lessons, single & couple adults, beginning competition preparation, showdances & more. Shawn provides a $10 discount for all youth private lessons (18 & younger with student ID) with the exception of Show Dance privates (which are full price). Please contact Shawn at SJeanDancer@gmail.com.

SHOWS