Gary Stephans
Gary Stephans has been dancing for over 50 years. When he was seventeen, he began training with Arthur Murray, passing his bronze and silver exams within the first year. He became an Arthur Murray studio owner at the age of 22, eventually becoming a multi-studio operator and a member of the National Dance Board.
After a thirty year corporate career, Gary traveled the country advising studios on operations, training teachers, judging and coaching. In 2005, he decided to settle in Washington, DC and founded Alliance Dance Institute as a model independent studio, having all forms of dance under one roof.
He believes that dance is an activity that can benefit all ages. He believes You Can Dance and has dedicated his life to disproving that students “have no rhythm” or “have two left feet.” He has a unique teaching method, which shows that ten movement elements form all ballroom dances. He emphasizes an eleventh element, connection, which he believes we are all seeking in life. His love of dance, love of people, extensive knowledge and desire to contribute make him a master teacher.
Susan Cox
Susan Cox, after having studied ballet for most of her life, is currently a professor of ballroom dance at Northern Virginia Community College, a member of the American Dance Montage performing dance company under the direction of Mr. Frank Regan, and has many years experience in teaching group and private ballroom dance lessons. Susan is certified with the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and has competitive ballroom dance and made for TV dance experience.
Reynaldo Perez-Linares
Reynaldo Perez-Linares has over 18 years of experience in various forms of dance, including jazz, modern, hip-hop, and ballet. As a free spirit, Reynaldo has also traveled extensively teaching, choreographing, and performing from Mexico to New York. He is passionate about teaching newcomers and experienced dancers at both competitive and social levels. Reynaldo’s kinesthetic and personalized approach to dance makes him an excellent teacher to work with in the four ballroom styles (Standard, Latin, Smooth, and Rhythm).
Frank Regan
Frank Regan, is a former United States, Canadian and North American Professional Dancesport Champion who has distinguished himself in many areas of the world of dance and theater as a choreographer, director, producer, writer, lyricist, and dance historian. He is a much sought after coach in the Dancesport genre with our students, a national and world championship adjudicator, and stylistic choreographer for the world famous Miami City Ballet.
Tanya Fiske
Tanya Fiske's passion for music and dance took her to a professional Hip Hop dance company in New York City at 18. After dancing at a professional level for a year Tanya decided to study Psychology and Criminal Justice and graduated from Rutgers University. Tanya moved to Maryland in 2000 where she performed and taught with Psyon Mauricio for 3 years ultimately becoming the Co-Director of Mezzlocutis Dance company in February 2006. In April of 2007 Tanya left Mezzlocutis Dance Company to focus on YemaShun and other teaching.
Tanya has a love of teaching fundamentals. She is known for breaking down movements to their simplest forms, and steers students towards what they need to know to execute basic movements and turn them into complex patterns. Most recently Tanya has begun an afterschool program in Montgomery County. She is teaching Mambo and preparing the students for a performance in April 2008. In addition to being the Latin Program Director at ADI, Tanya continues to perform and teach around the region.
Katya Merezhinsky
Lori Clark - Yasmina
Yasmina is a leading dancer who has performed Middle Eastern and Indian dance for many years throughout the Washington area and abroad. She holds a Masters in dance from American University. Over the years she has choreographed and performed for the embassies of Kuwait, Qatar, and entertained such guests as former First Lady Laura Bush, former Head of Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace, Colin and Alma Powel, former British Ambassador Christopher Meyers, and former Saudi Ambassador Prince Turki Bin Faisal. She recently danced for General Jones, the head of national security.
She has also danced for the embassies of Egypt, Russia, Singapore, Australia, and at the Yemeni Ambassador’s residence. In New Delhi, India, she performed solo along with The Egyptian National Folk Dance Troupe representing Egypt. At Baltimore’s Walters Art Gallery, Yasmina performed and taught during the “Orientalism in America” exhibit. Recently, Yasmina traveled to Nicaragua to teach and perform for the annual international conference of Arabic dance.
Education:
Masters Degree: Performing Arts-Dance, American University, Washington DC, 1997
Kathak Dance: Sri Ram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, New Delhi, India, 1987-1990
Hindi Language: Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, New Delhi, India, 1987-1990
Language and Dance: Adelphi University, Long Island, New York, 1983-1987
Grants:
Awarded Smithsonian Institution Grant for research on women in dance in India, 1996
Scholarship from Government of India for Hindi studies, 1987
Misha Mlejova
Pearl Carrington
Certified Professional Instructor by World Professional Dance Teachers Association
Certified Core Rhythms Instructor by DanceSport Fitness
Champion of 2008 Dancing with the Albany Stars
Competitor and Performer: Latin/Rhythm and Smooth dances
Instructor and Choreographer of over 10 different Latin/Rhythm dances, Five Smooth dances and Freestyle/Hip Hop
Designer of elaborate and personalized costumes and dance assessories
Seven-Sport Athlete and Hall of Famer