Anybody Know Of . . .

[Vince A]

. . . a World Class female dancer in the Bay Area (CA) that is available for private lessons???

[Laura]

What style, and how advanced/experienced are you? I know several excellent teachers who are students of the very top people -- and it's easier and less expensive to get lessons with the pros who are learning from the top than it is to get sessions with the topmost.

[swan]

. . . a World Class female dancer in the Bay Area (CA) that is available for private lessons???

Standard: Aira Burbelyte, Jula Walker, Diana Surkis, and Erica Ridgeway.

Latin: there's Christine Belanger, Anna Trebunskya, Jurga (forgot her last name. Vaidas' partner) and Diana Surkis.

Smooth: Valentina & Roberta Sun.

Rhythm: Christine Belanger.

[Vince A]

Thanks . . . any contact info? Specifically looking for cha cha . . . advanced . . .

[swan]

Thanks . . . any contact info? Specifically looking for cha cha . . . advanced . . .

You can look under NDCA directory for personal contact info on these pros. Jurga - you can probably contact either Metronome Ballroom of San Francisco or Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland.

Christine teaches at Starlite Dance Club in Sunnyvale as well as several South Bay dance studios.

Diana is in Dance Spectrum of Campbell.

If you're in Modesto, perhaps you can look in the Livermore area. There're couple of studios. But no "World Class" female dance teacher that matches the level of the ones I've mentioned.

[Vince A]

I'm there . . . thanks . . .

[Casey]

If you go to ndca.org and then to directories, you can search by name, State, category - there's contact info for Pupelyte, Jurga in that -- there are 325 pro-am teachers listed in CA, but DancerforLife is listed as a pro-am teacher and that's not right, is it?

[Laura]

DFL is -- she very recently turned Pro.

[Laura]

Smooth: Valentina
Valentina lives in Houston now.

[Laura]

I believe that Anna Trebunskaya is temporarily in LA. I was confused by "world class" -- I thought Vince meant someone who had been a Representative to the World Championships, and the only people I could think of were the likes of Tone Jacobsen (who sometimes comes to the Bay Area to teach people like Jurga, who swan mentioned) and Charlotte Jorgenson or one of the Suvarovs (all of whom often come to the Bay Area to teach people, including my teacher). And then there's Stefan & Denise Krauel, who had gone to the Pro World Championships as the US Representatives in 10-dance. Diana Surkis has gone to Worlds in Youth 10-dance, I think.

[Casey]

Is DFL REB's partner? Are they both pro now, or am I confusing DFL w/ someone else?

[swan]

I'm assuming DFL is REB's wife/partner - but they're listed as Pro/Am this time at Embassy. Reb, didn't you say you compete at the same event as me? I was in the IDSF event, not in session 5 of Embassy. No wonder I missed ya :)

[Errot]

...likes of Tone Jacobsen...
Who she is?
did you mean Tone Nyhagen? somebody told me that she come sometimes to coach Pavlo and Anna...

[Laura]

Oh yes Errot, you're right, I crossed her surname with someone else's in my mind. I've seen her work with Vidas & Jurga, too.

[Joe]

I'm assuming DFL is REB's wife/partner - but they're listed as Pro/Am this time at Embassy. Reb, didn't you say you compete at the same event as me? I was in the IDSF event, not in session 5 of Embassy. No wonder I missed ya :)
Why would DFL be Reb's wife? She posts here under her own name.

[Joe]

Oh, and Vince, perhaps you should specify whether or not you're looking for a world class dancer, or a world class coach...

[Vince A]

Er . . . uh . . . I guess there is a difference? I assume a coach/teacher/instructor . . .

[latingal]

Just a gentle reminder to all our members on DF, there are those on DF who prefer to remain anonymous...please keep this in mind when posting information that speculate as to the identity of our members in the "real world".

[etp777]

Vince A, like any performance, some people are great at performing, but can't teach. I'm sure not great, but I know that even what little I do know, I have trouble relaying to other people in a way they can understand. Applies across all my interests/work, some of which I am very good at. But good or bad, I can't teach anything. Sisters and dad on other hand are great teachers, and it's not limited to just their main areas of expertise, their skill in teaching is a skill in itself, so can convey anything they know in a way that others will understand and be able to make use of.

Not saying that great dancers can't teach well to, just that not all have the skill needed.

[and123]

True, good dancer does not necessarily equal good teacher. You could also say that there are a number of FORMER champions whose physical abilities may have long since peaked but who are an absolute wealth of information and insight.

[Vince A]

This is mainly for my wife, now an advanced dancer. I think she is contemplating calling Christine Belanger, since my wife's Mom lives in Sunnyvale, and I noticed that Christine can teach out of the Starlite.

My wife is an excellent dancer, especially in cha, but needs more of that "ballroom" look since she does not compete in ballroom!

BTW, my wife took first overall in her division this past weekend in San Jose!

[lamboman]

Hi Vince,

I have taken private lessons with both instructors:

Jurga Pupelyte.
She teaches in San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco. She is the partner of Vaidas Skimelis.
http://www.vandjdance.com/

Maria Shibalova.
She teaches at Genesis in San Francisco. She is the former partner of Genya Mazo.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3417328563575599464

[Laura]

Christine is a great choice.

[contracheck]

Standard: Aira Burbelyte, Jula Walker, Diana Surkis, and Erica Ridgeway.

Latin: there's Christine Belanger, Anna Trebunskya, Jurga (forgot her last name. Vaidas' partner) and Diana Surkis.

Smooth: Valentina & Roberta Sun.

Rhythm: Christine Belanger.

I'll go any distance and pay any price to take lessons from Anna Trebunskya. I had a good fortune to watch her closely at Embassy. Her dance in avocado dress was razor sharp and impeccable. Between dasnces she was standing a foot from me shaking her legs waiting for her next dance. Her paso doble was unbelibable.