Teachers in Washington DC

[Natalka]

Hi Everyone!
I had a friend ask me who the best teachers are in Washington DC...for Rhythm, Latin and Smooth...
Can anyone suggest a few people?
Thanks!

 

[Ithink]

For all those, Ron Bennett. For latin, Igor and Polina Pilipenchuk (they're in Baltimore, about an hour from DC), Sasha Senko and Lydia Petrigova, and Nonci Tirado.

 

[icequeen]

DC teachers

Where do Senko and Petrigova teach from?

Also, any recommendations for teachers who are strong in both standard and intl latin? I have heard that I should look up Dan Calloway--any experience with him, or others in the area? I will be moving to the DC/Bethesda area, and would prefer something that I can take the metro to.

Thanks!

 

[Joe]

what's your level?

 

[Ithink]

Sasha and Lydia teach out of Du Shor (and maybe others), a studio in Bethesda, very metro-accessible. Sasha is former US Amateur 10-dancer so I suppose he can teach standard as well.

I took from Dan for about 3 years as a syllabus dancer and for syllabus he is good. However, I will caution that he does NOT put much emphasis on technique, lead/follow, etc. but more into competition-centric dancing (both leader and follow do their parts but you are often not taught how to follow or lead them and how to dance as one). He'll make you look good in competition but it'll only get you so far. While it's fun, because his way contributes to good competitive results, once we got to open we discovered we didn't really know much about dancing The coach we have now is the opposite and I often wonder how much better we'd be now had we taken from her the whole time we've been dancing together (7 years or so).

 

[icequeen]

what's your level?

I started seriously training just a few months ago (was primarily social dancer before). Am now working on silver standard/latin. I would rather have a teacher who is focused on technique; I figure I can always pick up patterns later, and in the context of group classes.

Speaking of classes, are the DuShor classes good? And what is the going rate for private instruction in the DC area? (I've been living in the midwest, where I imagine prices are perhaps lower than on the coasts.)

 

[Ithink]

If technique is what you want, for standard I would look at Ian Gillett who teaches out of Chevy Chase Ballroom (also next to a metro stop). For latin, I imagine both Lydia and Nonci would be good. If you want a male teacher, then Sasha.

For group classes, I would take the Chevy Chase Ballroom ones, taught by Ron Bennett. Can't imagine the instruction at Du Shor's classes would come anywhere close to those taught by Ron.

 

[skwiggy]

If technique is what you want, for standard I would look at Ian Gillett who teaches out of Chevy Chase Ballroom (also next to a metro stop). For standard, I imagine both Lydia and Nonci would be good. If you want a male teacher, then Nonci.

For group classes, I would take the Chevy Chase Ballroom ones, taught by Ron Bennett. Can't imagine the instruction at Du Shor's classes would come anywhere close to those taught by Ron.

I imagine this was just a mistake from posting speed, but I have to pipe in to say that Ithink probably meant to say that Lydia and Nonci would be good for Latin. And, that Nonci is a female.

I concur about Ron Bennett's classes. I can't imagine you'll find better instruction in a regular group class setting anywhere in the DC area. Ron is a fantastic teacher, very experienced, and very knowledgeable.

 

[skwiggy]

For syllabus level, you might want to look at the local university classes also. Many of them offer quality group instruction open to the general public at a very affordable rate.

Private lessons in DC can range anywhere from $40/hour to $80/45 min, and up to about $125/45 min for visiting coaches. I'd say you should expect to pay at least $70/45 minutes for the real quality instructors.

I concur about Ian Gillett being an excellent choice for Standard, very focused on technique, and metro accessible. I took from Ian for years, and learned a lot.

Nonci is great as well, specializes in Latin, and comes to the metro accessible studio with some regularity. Or at least she used to last time I checked.

 

[Ithink]

I'd say you should expect to pay at least $70/45 minutes for the real quality instructors.

Unless you go to your coach's house, which is very metro-inaccessible Only in that case can you find a very good quality coach for less than that amount

 

[Ithink]

Icequeen: now that I know your height (from the other thread) Ian is probably not the best teacher for you (I think he is a very skinny 6'3"). When he is around (he splits his time between DC and his native Austrlia though so he wouldn't be in DC full time), Paul Huston is excellent. And, for your height, I'd take from Ron Bennett as well, for privates in addition to group classes that were mentioned above...

 

[Brush Tap]

If you're looking for Int'l Latin, Ariel Rad (male) is PHENOMENAL. He will take you to the very core of Latin technique- you might not get to actually "dance" much at first, but if you're technique-minded and can bear with the wait, he's absolutely fantastic. Easy to look at too!

 

[skwiggy]

As far as I know, Ariel usually teaches in Baltimore. So if icequeen is looking for metro accessible, he may not be an option unless he takes occasional trips down to DC.

 

[icequeen]

Thanks for the great advice, everybody. I'll make sure to look up the classes and instructors when I get to DC! If any of you are around and recommend social dances, etc., it would be great to meet up!

 

[Joe]

The best social dances are easily the Chevy Chase Ballroom College Night dances, usually 1st and 3rd Saturday. They're a little lighter in the summer when many of the local college kids are out of town, but in the fall and spring the studio can be packed. Well over 100 people.