About Us

Jim trained in the Arthur Murray method of ballroom dancing and has been teaching since 1986. His style of teaching is fun and relaxed, with a little humor sprinkled in.

Jim placed first in the Florida Gator Classic Dancesport Championship, the Costa Rican National Dancesport Championship, the Sunshine State Dancesport Championship, and the Millennium International Dancesport Championship with students in all levels of experience.

While working at Arthur Murray Studios, International, Jim was trained by Patrick Johnson (ten-dance world champion), Sergio Moya (top international competitor), Michael Richenbach (retired regional director and former owner of Arthur Murray Studio, Ft. Myers, Fla.), and David Hamilton (Theatre Arts World Champion). Other coaches include Tony Prado, Top Five World Competitor, Max Sinitsa, World Champion, Kem Overby, Grand Master Instructor, Dan Calloway, Dual Fellowship with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Karina Smirnoff, five-time U.S. National Champion, World Trophy Champion, and Asian Open Champion.

Jim now teaches the DVIDA (Dance Vision) system at all levels. Jim is also the author of “A Ballroom Dance Teacher: How to Find a Good One, How to Be a Great One,” found on Kindle and Createspace.

He is also available for remote teaching, and is willing to travel. Please contact him at (803) 569-0380.

A former dance therapist, Zan is a longtime dancer and dance teacher. She is trained in the DanceAbility method for working with people of various abilities and certified by American DanceWheels to teach Wheel One ballroom dancing to wheelchair-bound people. She also has completed Parkinson's Dance coursework. 

As a modern dancer in New York, Zan trained with Martha Graham, Mary Anthony, Thelma Hill, and more, and had leading roles in several independent films and off-Broadway musicals. Zan coached the 2021 Carolina Ballroom Dance Club and choreographed the waltzes for the 2022 Poinsettia Cotillion. She has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Zan works primarily in adaptive ballroom dance with disabled and differently abled dancers and with dancers who want to concentrate on technique. To book a lesson or consultation, please text her at (802) 328-0100.

Vickie Van Frank and Henry Dowd, our Shag Instructor team, are Shag Hall of Famers, competitors, and great teachers!

They offer Beginner, Intermediate/Advanced group classes, as well as private lessons by appointment. For More info, contact Vickie at (803) 837-2415.