Tony has 16 years of dance experience which includes the American ballroom styles, the international Latin styles, country, swing, and nightclub dances and also extending into various Brazilian styles such as Kizomba. Which is his favorite? All of them!

Carolyn has been professionally dancing and teaching ballroom and all partner dances for almost 20 years. She has traveled all over the country and around the world competing, coaching, judging and doing shows both with her pro partners and students, winning numerous titles and championships. She loves her career because it combines her two favorite passions, teaching and dancing!

Cassidy is a seasoned dance educator with years of experience and a heart as vibrant as her choreography. With her tenacity and dedication, she's become a cornerstone of the dance community, sharing her expertise with students of all ages and backgrounds. Known for her infectious enthusiasm and bubbly personality, Cassidy creates an uplifting atmosphere with her students where every dancer feels valued and inspired!

Beginning his T'ai Chi practice in 1985 as a student of Debby Gordon, he has received thousands of hours of instruction from her, Kim Kanzelberger, and their teacher, Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo (senior student of Cheng Man-ch'ing). Teaching T'ai Chi since 1993,

Dr. Henry uses his background in physiology to safely emphasize correct posture to maximize the many great benefits of T'ai Chi practice.

Deborah fell in love with Israeli dancing in 1971 in Los Angeles. In high school there was an International dancing event which included some Israeli dancing; thus the adventure began. She was a passionate regular at Café Danssa for a total of 13 years.

In 1973 she volunteered on a kibbutz (communal farm) in northern Israel but had to return to the USA abruptly due to the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War. In 1979 Deborah was part of a Semester Abroad program in Jerusalem which joyfully included the responsibility of teaching Israeli dancing

Over the years she has acquired a large repertoire of Israeli circle and couple dances, and also International folk dances.

Deborah especially enjoys the pioneer / nostalgic / beginner dances. It is her desire to help dancers raise their level of skill, and interest, from beginner to the more complex dances…… with an emphasis on having fun.

Jennifer has a MS Ed and a MA Ed. She taught for many years and also was a principle. Now she has her own business tutoring and teaching classes.

Jennifer has over 15 years of professional experience in education as an elementary teacher and school principal. She has a bachelor’s degree and two masters degrees with a focus on early education and educational leadership.

Jennifer has been practicing sound meditation for ten years and qigong for five years. Her goal is to share the benefits of sound, meditation, and movement with others.

My journey into folk dance began almost 30 years ago when my mom began spending winters with my husband and me in Arizona after my dad passed. In her late 70's, my mom had taken up both square and contra dance in rural Maine where she lived and where I grew up. Upon arriving in Tempe, she found an ad in the paper offering country line and folk dance. As a non-dancer and an ER nurse working the night shift, my intention was to take her to dance, drop her off, and go home and sleep! The wonderful 81 year old dance teacher welcomed us with open arms and insisted that I stay. Staying was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my entire life! Learning about dance, especially folk dance, became my passion. The coming of YouTube and the internet has been a boon for learners like me.

Kevin is a lead Systems Engineer at General Dynamics. His degree is in electrical engineering. Kevin has been mentoring young people in the fields of engineering and technology for over 30 years. He was the first coach to have an all girl team win the Phoenix Future Cities competition.

Laina has a real passion for dancing and music and loves sharing the joy of dancing with her students. She has been a competitive dancer and has been dancing 28 year, teaching for the past 10 years.

Laina is an originator and Co-Host for the bi-monthly Country Rain and Dance Sensation at NRG Ballroom for the past 7 years.

Laina Lee of Dance Lane and East Valley Kickers Meet Up (with over 4,400 members.) She is a member of UCWCD. And teaches Country 2 Step, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Country Waltz and Cha Cha, as well as Night Club 2 Step and N.Y. Hustle.

Laina has a real passion for dancing and music and loves sharing the joy of dancing with her students. She has been a competitive dancer and has been dancing 28 year, teaching for the past 10 years.

She teaches partner and line dancing at different clubs and corporate events around the Valley. She also teaches Line Dance/Exercise classes at Optum Healthcare (part of United Healthcare.) She formed the Renegade Ropers Line Dance Team, a competition and performance team 5 years ago.

Luisa is a professional ballroom dance instructor, competitor, and choreographer. She works full time as an instructor teaching private lessons and group classes. She teaches a weekly beginner friendly “Ballroom Drills” class at Kaleidoscope. There's nowhere she'd rather be than showing off her hard-working students to friends and family.

Mona has been dancing for most of her life, beginning with Ballet, Tap and Jazz as a child. While she was in college she taught Ballet, Tap and Jazz to children and adults.

After graduating college, Mona worked as an Engineer for the US Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC. It was there that she learned Country Dancing, and began teaching and competing as well. Later, in Houston, Mona continued her dance training in Country, Ballroom and Swing.

Mona now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she teaches dance full-time, coaches competitive dancers, competes with her students in pro-am, and travels around the world, teaching, judging competitions and coaching.

Mona has been dancing for most of her life, beginning with Ballet, Tap and Jazz as a child. While she was in college she taught Ballet, Tap and Jazz to children and adults.

After graduating college, Mona worked as an Engineer for the US Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC. It was there that she learned Country Dancing, and began teaching and competing as well. Later, in Houston, Mona continued her dance training in Country, Ballroom and Swing. Mona won 2 Country Dance World Championships with her partner Chad Guidry, and 1 with her partner Sam Arvidson.

Mona most recently competed in the UCWDC Masters Division (the highest level of Country Dance competition) with Tim Perez, who was also a co-director of the Arizona Dance Classic,

Mona now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she teaches dance full-time, coaches competitive dancers, competes with her students in pro-am, and travels around the world, teaching, judging competitions and coaching.

Awards and Titles

**2011 UCWDC World Showcase Couples Grand Champion
**2006 UCWDC World Showcase Line Grand Champion
**2005 UCWDC World Line Grand Champion
**2003 UCWDC World Showcase Couples Grand Champion
**2001 UCWDC World Couples Showcase Division II Champion
**2000 UCWDC World Couples Showcase Division III Champion

Mona has been dancing for most of her life, beginning with Ballet, Tap and Jazz as a child. While she was in college she taught Ballet, Tap and Jazz to children and adults.

After graduating college, Mona worked as an Electrical Engineer first at the US Naval Research Lab in Washington, DC and later in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. It was there that she began competing in Line Dance and won 2 World Championships in Line Dance.

Mona now lives in Phoenix, Arizona, where she teaches dance full-time, coaches competitive dancers, competes with her students in pro-am, and travels around the world, teaching, judging competitions and coaching.

Ryan is a vibrant dance enthusiast with an unwavering passion for all styles of dance. As a newer dance teacher, he brings boundless energy and enthusiasm to every class, igniting the spark of creativity in his students. With a dedication to fostering joy and confidence through dance, Ryan eagerly welcomes new students guiding them on a journey of discovery and self-expression through the art of movement.

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Trudy started dancing when she was 6 and continued to dance all the way through college. She enjoyed all kinds of dance. Her mother and both aunts were professional dancers as young women. Her mother was also a professional square dance caller in college. As they say "Dancing is in Trudy's blood."

Kevin and Trudy started ballroom dance in 2013. They have fun dancing together and love to make dancing a fun activity for others as well. Their classes focus on the beginner dancer and those who like to dance socially.

Coming from an engineering background, they enjoy the challenge of making sure their classes are well planned out and structured to make learning as easy, enjoyable, and memorable as possible.

Trudy started dancing when she was 6 and continued to dance all the way through college. In her adult years she attended many years of Folk dance, Jazzercise, clogging, and Zumba classes. This is the foundation for her enjoyment of line dances.

Another passion Trudy had from an early age was music. She played flute and dabbled in piano and guitar. Marching band was such a favorite that she performed and competed in marching bands for over 8 years, including college.

She now teaches Line Dance classes that she created specifically for those with balance issues or get dizzy easily. The dances only face the front of the room and do not require any turns or spins. Much of her choreography is based on popular Country Line Dances. Others are choreographed by Trudy. The dances are danced to upbeat contemporary music.

Creating and teaching line dance combines the best of dance and music.

Trudy has a PhD in Computer Science. She has been teaching Hands-on Science classes for over 30 years.

In 1998 Trudy took her first class in tai chi with her mom. Her interest in the whole body benefits of tai chi grew as she watched the positive effects it had on reducing her mother's symptoms from post-polio syndrome which included breathing, balance, and stamina.

In 2013 Trudy was certified as an Easy (Gentle) Tai Chi instructor. Easy Tai chi was developed specifically for Parkinson's patients. In addition to teaching the Original Easy Tai Chi/Qigong she has developed 2 other tai chi classes: Gentle Tai Chi Sequences and Crane Dance Gentle Tai Chi. All three classes focus on improving balance and posture, strengthening the breath, and increasing stamina. As with all tai chi, it is a great way to reduce stress.