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Last Free Latin Dance Lesson
Make sure to join us this Wednesday for our last free Latin dance lessons at the St. Petersburg Ceviche! Learn to do a little salsa, cha-cha, or maybe a rumba. Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant 95 Central Avenue St Petersburg Florida RSVP to IconicEvents@Icon-B.com
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Free Latin Dance Lesson at Ceviche in St Petersburg
Every Wednesday in the month of September from 6pm-7pm, Fred Astaire Dance Studio instructors will be offering FREE Latin dance lessons at the Ceviche in Downtown St. Petersburg. Singles and couples welcome! Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant 95 Central Avenue Saint Petersburg Florida RSVP to IconicEvents@Icon-B.com
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Proud Sponsor for the Florida Bride Show
We are a proud sponsor for the Florida Bride Show and we will be performing this Sunday! Come check us out from 11am to 4pm at T. Pepin’s Hospitality Centre.Tampa Bay Bridal Show, Wedding Guide and Bridal DirectoryThe Tampa Tribune's Wedding Guide - A guide to planning a wedding from The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and WFLA News Channel 8 including details to Tampa’s annual premier bridal fair.
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Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Brandon
David and Kelle Chancellor are very proud to announce June’s Student Spotlight for the Brandon Studio is Bridget Sardone. She is an accomplished dancer and a tremendous joy to have as a part of our dancing family. She holds a special place in our hearts because she is the first student to take a private lesson in our new studio. We look forward to watching her grow and progress in her already talented dancing and we are thankful she has chosen our studio to make that happen in. Here is a little bit about Bridget, in her own words. I started dancing in early 2006 to get ready for my wedding in fall of 2007. I had always loved dancing and wanted to learn formally so it was a match made in Heaven. The Milwaukee Wales studio owned by Greg Garrison was the launching pad of my dancing career. I fell madly in love with it, so much so that in November of 2006 I went to work as a receptionist at the Milwaukee Downtown studio owned and operated by Stacy and Dan Potter. I was actively involved in all that was Fred Astaire Dance Studio and competed in several regional events. By the time my wedding had arrived, my then husband and I had a beautifully choreographed first dance, prepared for us by Eddi Apolonov, the regional dance director for Wisconsin. A few short months later in February of 2008, my husband got a job requiring us to move to Florida. To say I was devastated would be an understatement; I was away from all that I had ever known, including my family and friends. The first few months were very difficult and in order to feel a sense of belonging I traveled 1.5 hours one way to dance at the St. Petersburg Central studio. It helped me cope with my new environment and work through the culture shock of being alone in a new place. As the summer went on and the gas prices skyrocketed, I had to end my dancing career once more. Last October at the national competition in Orlando, I found out that there was going to be a studio opening in Brandon and I was ecstatic! I had been missing my time in the ballroom terribly and felt a hole in my creative outlets. After many phone calls back and forth between Kelle, David, and me it was finally time for the new studio to open and I was more than ready to get back to a feeling of home. It was strange to be the first student in a brand new studio, but I was ready to get my dancing shoes on again and get back in the groove of things so I eagerly arrived to the first lesson taught in the studio. Starting out with a new teacher is kind of like going on a first date, there are nerves involved and hope for some chemistry and I was VERY lucky! David and Kelle made the studio warm and welcoming and let me into their lives right away. I feel truly lucky and blessed to be back in the ballroom and working with some very wonderful and talented staff, they have made this studio into a great place to spend time and I am so happy here. I'm looking forward to competing in my very first national competition this coming October and am hoping to represent the studio with flair. If you are even considering the idea of taking dance lessons, stop by and visit. It has made me truly happy and I love every minute of my time in frame. Happy dancing!
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Brandon Grand Opening
Our Brandon Grand Opening was a huge success! Don't miss the great photos in our gallery!
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SUBSCRIBESt. Petersburg North
MICHAEL PONCE DE LEON
Studio Owner
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Michael was born in saucy Havana, Cuba. Ever since he could remember, his parents encouraged him to dance, but he did not take dancing seriously until he was 13 and discovered girls. At the age of 16 Michael became a dance instructor and three years ago he joined the Fred Astaire franchise and became a studio owner. He believes dancing is the best business in the world to meet and connect with great people and train a talented staff.
ANASTASIA YABROVA
Instructor
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Anastasia was born in Kraknoyarsk, Russia and a ballet and modern dance background helped her enhance her knowledge in ballroom dancing. After moving to the US in 2007, she pursued a professional dancing instructing career and now lives her life’s passion of teaching people how to dance.
BEATRICE LOPEZ
Instructor
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Beatrice was born in Brooklyn, New York and started with a musical theater, acting and singing career but over the past years she dedicated her love and enthusiastic personality to hip-hop and ballroom dancing. As a professional dance instructor, she obtained the 2008 Fred Astaire National Novice Champion title. Way to go, Beatrice!
LINO HERNANDEZ
Instructor
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Lino was born and raised in Santa Clara, Cuba. “In our country, dancing is a big deal and a great part of our life”. Lino’s family moved to the US in 1998 and a few years later ballroom dancing became an addition to his already extensive Latin dancing background. Lino loves helping students understand what dancing can do for them.
MARTIN MATA
Instructor
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Began his passion for dancing in college in Santa Fe in Gainesville, FL where he receive a visual and performing art scholarship which he worked with such companies as the Maximum Dance Company, David Parson’s Dance Company, Shapiro and Smith Dance Company. Martin enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, but most of all sharing his love for dancing with everyone.
