Chad Brooks
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Jason Carter
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Kathy LaVeine Carter
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Jennifer Fuller
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Shawn Gardner
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Jimmy Ho
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Jason Isbell
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Jessica Lindsey
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Sunnie Page
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Alex Poryadin
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Trina Siebert
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Mark Tabor
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Ann Marie Hathaway
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Steve Sowell
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Norbert Teston
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Read about us in "The Chinese Times," "Willamette Week," "Oregonian," "Tigard Times," "The Dalles Chronicle," and more!
The Dalles Chronicle article features Ballroom Dance Company instructor Ann Marie (2008)We created The Ballroom Dance Company to share the joy and benefits of dancing by providing a friendly, positive and knowledgeable atmosphere that allows you to meet people and learn a life long skill. We consider teaching people to dance a privilege and our personal goal.
We provide each student with a personalized program for their individual needs to creatively express themselves, exercise, socialize, and enhance their current dance skills.
No partner is necessary. We are an inclusive, friendly, all-ages, all skill levels facility. We also maintain a non-smoking, alcohol-free environment.
The Ballroom Dance Company works regularly with non-profit fundraisers and special events. We frequently host Lessons and Shows for non-profit charity groups. Depending on the nature of your group and the timing of your event, we may perform at a discount or even for free. If you have a special event at which you would like us to perform please Contact Us.
Click here to read Unsolicited Feedback we've received from various shows.
Chad began dancing at the age of 14 and joined the American Fork High School Ballroom Dance Company the next year. He danced as a member of
the 1998 United States Youth Standard Formation Championship Team and competed individually in syllabus and open Latin, Smooth, and Rhythm
events through high school. In addition to Ballroom Dancing, Chad performed on Modern, Jazz, and Lyrical dance companies. He went on to
attend Brigham Young University and majored in Ballroom Dance, winning several Bronze, Silver, and Gold level competitions in both
International and American Divisions, and placing in all levels of Open Latin and Rhythm. While at BYU he had the opportunity of training with
many of the best coaches and dancers in America and the World, including Lee and Linda Wakefield, Curt and Sharon Holman, Gary and Diana
MacDonald, Slavik Kryklyyvy and Karina Smirnoff, Corky and Shirley Ballas, and many others.
Jason began social dancing 18 years ago on a whim and a dare. He developed a passion for country dance in Louisiana, and a desire to be a polished leader. Country dance proved to be a gatweay toward other styles like hustle, west coast swing, argentine tango, and nightclub two step. Today he embraces them all and believes the key to success is constant connection with one's partner. Jason's teaching style centers on cultivating that connection, and on learning solid lead-follow technique.
Kathy grew up dancing and has been sharing her passion for dance with students for more than 8 years. Her first love is the social dance floor and she is driven to help people learn the technique and skill necessary to lead, follow, and create spontaneous dance. She specializes in contemporary styles such as west-coast swing, nightclub two-step, hustle, country 2-step, salsa, and meringue. She believes that the measure of a great dancer is the size of the smile on their partner’s face. Her goal is to teach solid dance concepts, be clear, motivating, and maybe even to make you laugh.
Jenny began dancing ballet at the age of 5, and expanded her education through jazz, advanced pointe, hip hop, musical theater, contemporary, swing, salsa and more styles. She's been an instructor with the Montana Dance Company, Montana Public School Disctrict, DuPage Dance Center, and is co-founder of the 3 Spot Dance Company out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jenny has competed in the professional American Rhythm division, and currently enjoys dancing with amateur partners for showcases and competitions. Jenny currently teaches American style ballroom and rhythm dances for The Ballroom Dance Company.
Shawn began dancing at the age of ten in ballet, jazz and tap. She knew dance would be the focus of her life, and explored a wide variety of styles. She continued her dance education in college exploring hip hop, musical theater, and character dance. Performance is her favorite aspect of dance. In fact she's performed throughout her life -- including in a professional modern dance company. She began ballroom dancing in 2005 and since then has competed throughout the country. She won 1st place in International Standard bronze & silver events at the 2007 USA Dance National Championships. Shawn has 12 years teaching experience, and is excited to see you in her classes.
Jimmy Ho began dancing Swing, Latin, Ballroom, and Lindy Hop in 1999. He performed with OSU's ballroom troupe in Corvallis. Jimmy is an active competitor on the west coast swing circuit who's won many Strictly Swing and Jack & Jill contests. He is happily entrenched in the local dance community and enjoys teaching. Jimmy takes pride in watching his students improve after his group and private lessons. Students are pleased with the extra time and effort he provides answering questions after and outside of class. Depending on student's dancing experience, he customizes teaching methods to help the beginners explore the fun of swing dancing, and help experienced students advance their techniques and choreography.
Jason has been dancing since 2002 when a friend dragged him kicking and screaming to a Lindy Hop dance at the Viscount Ballroom.
After six weeks of tripping over his own feet, Jason was finally able to execute a passable swing out and never looked back.
He began teaching in 2003 in Corvallis, Oregon.
Jason moved to Portland 2 years ago and quickly entrenched himself in the Portland Lindy Hop and West Coast scenes, becoming the President of the Portland Lindy Society and the Events Coordinator of the Portland Swing Dance Club (a West Coast Swing group).
Jason is also the head organizer for the Portland Lindy Exchange, a three day event scheduled for March 2008 that will bring 500 swing dancers to Portland from all over the country to Lindy Hop to the best live bands and DJs in Portland.
Jason currently teaches West Coast Swing, Hustle and Nightclub at The Ballroom Dance Company with Trina Siebert.
Jessica Lindsey began her yoga journey in 2000 to help rehabilitate a dance related knee injury. Yoga rebuilt her muscle strength and flexibility, and brought amazing mental and physical awareness that aiding in all aspects of her life. Realizing the immense benefits yoga was provided for her dancing as well as overall health, she continued to study Iyengar and Vinyasa yoga for 8 years. In 2008, Jessica enrolled in an intensive Vinyasa yoga teacher training program through Core Power Yoga and became registered yoga teacher through the internationally recognized "Yoga Alliance." Jessica also has a long history of dance training, including ballet, jazz, lyrical, and also ballroom. Jessica and her partner, Norbert Teston, compete in the open Latin category and are the currently the top amateur couple in the state.
Sunnie Page loved to dance growing up.
She began her ballroom career learning American rhythm and smooth styles.
She switched to international standard and latin when she met her amateur partner Jim in early 1999.
Throughout her amateur competitive career Sunnie placed first nationwide in bronze, silver, gold, novice and prechampionship levels at the US National Championships in the style cumulatively known as "International Standard" -- waltz, tango, viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep. Her highest ranking was 2nd in the USA at the championship level in 2003 (International Dancesport World Federation Rankings). After opening The Ballroom Dance Company and turning pro in 2005, she continues to compete with her partner Mark Tabor in the professional championship divisions across the USA and England.
Alex was born and grown in Moldova, a republic of the former Soviet Union. In 1980, when he was 6 year old, his parents signed him up for dance classes. Since that time he trained and competed throughout the USSR in International Standard and Latin, over 250 competitions. In 2000 Alex immigrated to the United States and immediately started teaching at Fred Astaire Dance Studios, where he supplemented his foundation in international style dancing with American smooth, American rhythm, salsa and west coast swing. Alex is well known in Portland Dance community as an accomplished performer and dance instructor. As a product of former Soviet school he expects the best efforts and commitment from his students and in return, shares his expertise and passion for dance. 
Trina has been dancing swing, Argentine tango, Latin, and ballroom since 1995, and specializes in the contemporary social dances (west coast swing, nightclub two-step, and hustle). An active competitor on the west coast swing circuit, she has won a number of Strictly Swing, Classic, and Jack & Jill contests, and was named Best Overall Amateur Female at BridgeTown Swing 2003. Trina has been an invited instructor and performer at workshop weekends and dance conventions throughout the Northwest. Students appreciate her clear and relaxed instructional style; her philosophy is that dancing should be fun and accessible for everyone.
Mark is an exceptionally well-rounded dancer who has competed at the championship level in a wide variety of styles including international standard, international latin, and American smooth. He began competing in 1992 and made his first US final in 2001 at the USA Dance Championships in American smooth. Mark is the 2007 senior I smooth US Champion, a title he won at this year’s USA Dancesport Championships. Mark has been an active promoter and organizer for ballroom dance and competition. He’s been a USA Dance DanceSport Council Member since 2003 and organized the Northwest DanceSport Championships 2003-2007. Mark’s studied with many world class latin, standard and smooth coaches including but not limited to Heather Smith, Nadia Eftedal, Christopher Hawkins, Glenn Weiss, Stephen Hillier, Peter Eggleton, Olga Foraponova, Jean Marc Genreaux, Geoffrey Hearns, Gaynor Fairweather and Steve Powell.
A native Oregonian, Ann Marie began dancing at an
early age and whirled her way to Hollywood with famous
music video choreographer Michael Rooney. After an exciting dancing career in Hollywood, her love of
Portland called her back to the Rose City. She continued teaching, and choreographed for and performed with a local swing
dance team much publicized for their flying flips through the air. They competed successfully throughout the Northwest. Ann Marie specializes in a wide variety of vintage swing styles like the Charleston and East coast swing. Her salsa and waltz classes are also very popular. One of her most favorite dance styles to teach is smooth Hollywood style Lindy Hop Swing, in large part due to her love of jazz music.
The moment Steve took his first waltz class, he fell in love with ballroom dancing. In 6 months he started competing initially locally, then nationally and internationally throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as the east coast and Canada. In addition to winning and making finals at many local competitions, at the 2007 USA Dance National Amateur Championships Steve made the final in the bronze syllabus category. Steve is apprentice to Ballroom Dance Company International Standard professional Sunnie Page.
Norbert grew up in France and started dancing with his local ballet at the age of 12. His studies later broadened at the age of 18 with modern, jazz, tap, swing, ballroom and latin. After returning from 4 years work in Vietnam, he returned to dancing and ascended the European competition ranks with the German Rot Told Casino Latin Formation Team in Nuernberg. After an intense season training up to 20 hours a week, his team placed 14th out of 135 in the Second National Division. Norbert moved to Portland 3 years ago and is apprentice to Ballroom Dance Company International Latin professional Chad Brooks. He’s competed with several partners and now competes and performs in the amateur 5-dance International Latin Division with partner Jessica Lindsey.