Our founders & Instructors

A woman with long blonde hair styled in loose waves, wearing a lavender lace dress with a purple ribbon on her shoulder, and large sparkling earrings, posing against a white background.

Elena

I began my ballroom dance journey in Russia at the age of seven, training in both Latin and Standard styles and falling in love early on with movement, music, and self-expression. That first step into the dance world was made possible by my Mom, Natalia, who took my hand and brought me to a small studio in Kostroma, Russia. Her unwavering support planted the seed for a lifelong passion and continues to inspire me to this day.

In my 20s, I took a brief pause from dancing to focus on my education in teaching and business—but dance has a way of finding you when it’s meant to. In my 30s, it called me back, and I returned to the floor with renewed purpose, earning my teaching certification through DVIDA – Dance Vision International Dance Association. Today, I teach both group and private lessons, actively perform and compete, and continue spreading the love of dance throughout the community.

Being both a teacher and a performer has taught me that dance is more than steps—it’s connection, confidence, and a little bit of magic. Just as my mother once guided me into my first studio, I now feel honored to guide others as they begin or rediscover their own dance journeys. Outside of dance, I cherish spending time with my family—my husband Jack, our 10-year-old daughter Vica, and our two beloved pets, Luna and Cha-Cha—who ground me and remind me why I dance with such joy.

A woman with long dark hair and red lipstick posing in front of a colorful, painted wooden fence.

Rachael

Rachael’s love for dance began at the age of four, after witnessing the BYU Ballroom Dancers perform while touring near her hometown. Instantly captivated, she knew she was destined to dance. Although ballroom instruction for young children was unavailable at the time, her passion never wavered. As soon as she was able, she began formal training and quickly immersed herself in the world of ballroom dance.


Now a professional, Rachael is a DVIDA-certified instructor trained under the late, great Ron Montez. She teaches all four ballroom styles and has earned numerous regional titles across the United States. In addition to her ballroom achievements, she is a former UCWDC World Swing Champion. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience of dance through coaching and adjudicating across the country.
Inspired by her own early experiences, Rachael has dedicated much of her career to youth development through dance. She has created children’s dance programs and successfully introduced them into public school systems, with the goal of sparking curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of movement in young dancers. She continues to work toward her vision of making dance education accessible nationwide.


Rachael’s appreciation for movement expands into the fitness and health field, as dedicated fitness enthusiast, Rachael is deeply fascinated by the human body and its remarkable capabilities. She studied Neurobiology and Exercise Science at the University of Chicago, integrating this knowledge into her teaching style that is both technically informed and physically mindful. Grateful for the opportunity to share her passion, Rachael feels truly blessed to inspire others through the art of dance.