Sam and Lisa West are a talented dance duo who have made significant contributions to the world of dance in the Carolina Shag

Sam West:

• Sam is a 15-time national shag dance overall champion
• He has been an ambassador for the Shag dance, teaching and sharing his love for it across the U.S. and internationally.
• Sam’s dance journey includes memorable wins, including dancing alongside his sister, Sarah, and
  with his wife, Lisa

• Lisa’s love for dance began on the Country Western dance floor
• She has taught dance, line dance, and couples dance at Dance Connection studio in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
• Lisa met Sam at the USA Grand Nationals in Atlanta in 1998, and together, they have been teaching and promoting shag dance throughout the country and beyond.
• They have even held workshops in France, Spain, England, the Netherlands, and aboard cruise ships

Sam & Lisa West

Taliat Tarsinov is an international mega-star in the ballroom dancing world.  He is a highly esteemed adjudicator, lecturer, author, coach and choreographer.

• The Russian National Amateur International Latin Champion
• The Russian Professtional International style Latin Champion
• The Russian National Ten Dance Champion
• The Soviet Union National Standard and Latin Show Dance Champion
• The Europe Championships Ten Dance finalists
• The World Championships Ten Dance semi-finalists
• Two time finalists of the European and World Cups in the Professional Latin American and 
  International Standard
• The German open ChampionshipsFinalist
• The Dutch Open Championshpis Finalist
• Former National Fred Astaire Professional Standard and Latin Champion
• Members of the National Dance Council of America
• Member of the World DanceSport Federation
• invited and lectured at the World Dance Congress at the British Open Dance Festival in Blackpool

Taliat Tarsinov

Edward Simon is a professional ballroom dance champion, adjudicator, coach and choreographer. He has been behind the scenes as well as made appearances in various films and TV shows, most notably, performances on the PBS series Championship Ballroom Dancing and as a guest choreographer on the FOX dance competition-reality show So You Think You Can Dance.

• Professional United States International Style Standard Champion
• North American Dance Award for “Favorite Couple of the Year”
• North American Dance Award Nominee for “Choreographer of the Year”
• North American Dance Award Nominee for “Coach of the Year”
• World Showdance Finalist
• U.S. Theatrical Finalist
• Has organized competition like: New York Dance Festival and The Empire Dance Championship
• Owner of the dance studio "Dance New York"
• First place at the U.S. Grand Overall Championship
• first place at the U.S. Theatrical Championship
• Professional several times an American Smooth finalist
• Organizer of the Iowa Dancesport Classic

Edward Simon

Jonathan Roberts has been teaching ballroom dancing for almost 30 years. A world champion ballroom dancer, Jonathan has appeared on 7 seasons of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and has also been a featured choreographer on Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance. He travels the world teaching ballroom dancers of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience.  

• 2008 World Professional Smooth Champion
• 2003 Blackpool Professional Rising Star Latin Champion
• 1997 US National Professional Rising Star Ballroom Champion
• 2008 US National Professional American Smooth Champion
• Professional Competitor on TV Show “Dancing with the Stars“

Jonathan Roberts

Marianne Nicole is a former Champion in three styles of competitive dancing. Marianne is also a former examiner for the Fred Astaire Dance Studio organization, and currently a National Examiner for the DVIDA Organization.

• United States Rising Star American Style Champion
• Undefeated Fred Astaire American Style Champion
• Examiner for the Fred Astaire Dance Studio
• Capital Dancesport Championships, Co Organizer

Marianne Nicole

Tony Meredith is a Professional Ballroom Dancer, choreographer and former United States
 Professional Latin Champion who has choreographed for numerous celebrities and whose work and dancing has appeared in television, film, and theater performances all around the world.

• United States Professional Latin Champion
• Represented the United States 12 times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships
• Over 100 first place trophies
• North American Latin Champion
• American World Swing and Cabaret Champion
• Latin World Cup Champion
• DanceSport World Cup Champion
• Latin World Trophy Champion
• First place in the “Dirty Dancing Championships”
• 3-Time Winner of the Championship Ballroom Dancing competition sponsored by PBS
• Choreographed for competitive dancers and celebrities, including: Pierce Brosnan, Renee Russo, Vanessa L. Williams, Tim Robbins, Cameron Diaz, Megan Mullaley, Matthew Morrison, Susan Sarandon, Jessica Biel, Lisa Lampanelli, Steven Dorff, Patrick Stewart, Leslie Caron, Campbell Scott, Rob Schneider, & Barbara Walters

Tony Meredith

Bruce and Debby Hasson are the owners of Carolina Danceworks in Southern Pines, NC and are the invited judges for our bi-annual Trophy Match.

• Started as a Ballet dancer and Instructor for the Washington School of Ballet in Washington DC
• Over 25 years experience  in the Ballroom World
• Has won numerous Regional and National Championships in the American Smooth and International Standard
• Open Finalist in Both American and International
• Has the largest children’s program in North Carolina, “Ballroom of Tomorrow,” teaching at a number of schools in Moore County

Debby Hasson

Bruce and Debby Hasson are the owners of Carolina Danceworks in Southern Pines, NC and are the invited judges for our bi-annual Trophy Match.  Bruce is also a DVIDA certified National Examiner and runs the tests for all of our staff’s professional certifications.

• Certified in all levels of American and international style Ballroom and Latin
• National Professional Examiner and Adjudicator
• Has won numerous Regional and National Championships
• Choreographer for many of the top shows around the country
• Ranked in the top 3 in the country in both American styles and International Styles

Bruce Hasson

Rufus Dustin is one of the most famous, titled, and highly regarded dancers, coaches, choreographers, and certified adjudicators in the world, known for the passion instilled in him by the power of partner dancing.

• 2-time World Exhibition / Cabaret Champion
• 2-time United States National Professional American Style Champion (Rhythm and Smooth) (1974 – 1975)
• North American Latin Champion
• North American 10-Dance Champion
• United States Champion
• Blackpool Dance Festival Champion
• Multi-time Lecturer at the World Ballroom Dancing Congress in Blackpool, England

Rufus Dustin

Linda Dean is a legend in the ballroom dance industry. Her professional demeanor and impeccable taste have made her one of the most sought after coaches in the industry.

• Former U.S. American Style Champion
• S. Theater Arts Champion
• S. International style Latin Champion for four years
• Four times a finalist in the World Championship in International Latin
• Member of the Fred Astaire Dance Board 25 years
• Galaxy Dance Festival, co organizer

Linda Dean