See Why It Wasn't About The Dancing
It Was Always About Family
Take A Trip Back In Time With Us
Friends
Some people you danced with them only a few times in rotation, some you looked forward to them showing up, some of you dated, some of you had relationships, some of you found your life partners. But you made friends- lots of them.
Parties
In the early days the parties were small, maybe only 40 mostly ballroom dancers, then 60, 80, 100. Shows, jam sessions, birthday gang dances, special artists, costume parties. We finally outgrew 216 and found the Granada Alhambra. Then wow! 300 on Fridays 5oo on Saturdays, & Ballroom Sundays
Competitors
Our first venture out as a Studio- the California Star Ball Championships- We won top Bronze Student, Top Silver Student, Top Teacher, and Top Studio. Over the years our students won US Pro Am Latin, World Pro Am Ballroom, A US Open Pro Swing Championship, and Top Solo Routine several times
Formation Teams
A few months after opening our team won the US Latin Formation Title. But mostly the teams gave people a way to bond as a group, push each other to excellence, thrill in the nervousness of the performance, party a bit too much, perform in the Rose Parade, travel to Congressos, and even the other side of the world. Some of you got thrown in with the big kids (the Pros!) and performed big shows.
- TV Choreographer for the Fly Girls on In Living Color
- Spoke 7 languages fluently
- Was a Country Western Junior World Champion and US Open Champion
- Was runner up for the Dance Fever Grand Championship
- Went to High School in the Phillippines
- Was a Michael Jackson backup dancer and danced at the Academy Awards.
- This person was a professional ballet dancer at 14
- Danced (and split) with the same partner 3 times. Winning the US Pro Latin Championship each time.
- This World Champion actually worked for Microsoft while he was winning.
- Vanessa Williams climbed all over this dancer during the filming of Dance with Me.
- A) Annetje Riel
- B) Lisana Hansen
- C) Marcus Koch
- D) Enio Cordoba
- E) Darrel “DHQ” Hollinquest
- F) Blair Johnson
- G) Robert Cordoba
- H) Mic Thompson
- I) Melissa Dexter
- J) Terryl Jones
- Came to US as a champion dancer but became an engineer
- This person was Swedish and Mongolian and spoke Russian.
- This person was a multi World Champion from Guatemala
- This person was dance partner for Ann Margret’s Las Vegas debut
- This person saved a young child who had fallen into a lion cage.
- This person is famous for growl/yelling Yeah!.
- Won first of 3 Feather Awards as Most Popular Teacher in the US
- This person danced on the Junior team, became a teacher and also worked as a server in the Granada
- This person is a Hollywood “triple threat” Sing, Dance & Act
- Did more shows at Let’s Dance than anyone with at least 7 different partners
- A) Lauren Calderoni
- B) Lisana Hansen
- C) Nini
- D) Enio Cordoba
- E) Alessia Minaeva
- F) Liz Lira
- G) Dan Docherty
- H) Natalie Mavor
- I) Beata Howe
- J) Joe Cassini
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OUR STORY