Tytus has competed for 17 years both nationally and internationally and is a former U.S. Latin Dance Champion. He has taught professionally for the past 10 years and trained several U.S. Latin dance champions. His pedigree was perfected under coaches: Ron Montez, Rick Velenzuala, Walter & Julie Laird, Johan & Nadia Efiedal, Allen & Hazel Fletcher, Michael Wentink, Donnie Burns & Gaynor Fairweather, Corky & Shirley Ballace & Ruud Vermey.

Jurga started ballroom dancing at the age of six and began winning trophies in the 12-14 year old division. In 1994, Jurga enrolled in Klaipedos Arts University where she studied ballet, character, modern, folk dance, hip hop, and of course, ballroom. Her partnership with the equally talented Vaidas Skimelis began in 1999 and after just three weeks of practice they placed third in Lithuania in the Latin American dance category. In 2000 and 2002, Jurga and Vaidas won the Lithuanian 10 dancers competition and represented Lithuania in the European and World 10 dance competitions. In 2000 they placed 5th in Europe and 7th in the world. In 2005, they won the US International Latin Rising Stars competition.

Vaidas started his dancing career in 1982 and a year later, in his first competition, he placed 3rd among 50 couples. In 1995, he entered Klaipedos Arts University, where his concentration was on choreography and ballroom dance. Vaidas has also trained in ballet and other forms of dance, always looking to find different forms of individual expression. In 1999, Vaidas and Jurga Pupelyte became partners. In 2000 and 2002, they won the Lithuanian 10 dancers competition, and represented Lithuania in the European and World 10 dance competitions. In 2000 they placed 5th in Europe, and 7th in the world. When they turned professional in 2004, they were 2nd in Lithuania for Latin American dance. Since then, they have been winning competitions all over the USA, including Palm Springs, the Magnolia Open, and the Autumn Classic. In 2005, they won the US International Latin Rising Stars competition.

Silke's private students have often commented that her nurturing way of teaching allows them to reach levels of dancing proficiency they never would have imagined possible.

Silke is a renowned International Style Latin dancer, and has trained in the European tradition in both Germany and England. Her accomplishments include the 1998 Southwest Regional, San Francisco Open and California Professional International Latin Rising Star Championship and the 1998 International Grand Ball Professional Open International Latin Championship.

LiWen has been dancing and performing for the past 13 years. She recently appeared in the television dance competition series, “Dirty Dancing – Living the Dream," which aired on the national WE network from December 2006 – March 2007, where she came in 1st runner-up. LiWen has a well-rounded dance background, having trained in Modern Dance, Ballet, Chinese Dance, HipHop, Competitive Cheerleadering, Ballroom & Latin Dancing. She has always been actively involved in theater, dance productions, competitions and also danced with the widely-acclaimed Tammy L. Wong Dance Company in Singapore . LiWen has trained with top Latin coaches in the world including Ron Montez and Louis Van Amstel. She is currently dancing and performing with Tytus Bergstrom, who plays a key role in her dance training and career.

With over 100,000 subscribers in his newsletter and over 15,000 friends combined in myspace and facebook, Rodney Rodchata Aquino is a popular Latin Dance instructor, writer and lecturer in the world. Solely responsible for popularizing bachata dance in San Francisco Bay Area and the world, RODCHATA, as bachateros intimately calls him, has been in the Latin Dance scene for over 15 years and is considered the foremost authority in the bachata dance, both Dominican and Modern styles. He recently launched his much awaited dance DVD line up, Latin Dance Stimulus, a 5-volume of dance instructional DVDs of bachata, salsa and merengue. Read more...

Michael Arntz combines his years of experience as a musician with his training as a ballroom dance teacher to help beginning students learn how to dance to the music with skill and ease. His patience and expertise help students feel comfortable about learning to dance for the first time. He is accomplished in many styles of dancing, including Argentine Tango, Ballroom and Salsa. He received his teacher training through private lessons and Diane Jarmolow's Ballroom Teachers College. He is certified with high honors as a professional dance instructor through ProDVIDA in Bronze American Smooth and Rhythm dances. He teaches private lessons and is the primary instructor for the Wedding Dance Program at Just Dance Ballroom in Oakland. Karen Lile and Michael Arntz are dance partners and co-teachers. Learn more about Michael at http://www.absolutebeginnerdance.com/aboutmichael.htm

Max has been dancing for 10 years and has trained with many of the top world coaches, including Shirley Ballas, Nadia Eftadal, Louis Van Amstel and Richard Porter. Max has won numerous competitive titles, including the Youth Latin California State Dancesport Championships as well as the International Grand Ball Youth Standard Championships.

Linda Cannava has a background in ballet, modern-jazz and theatre. She has taught dance and performing arts since college and has performed with professional dance companies.

She is a compassionate and inspiring teacher. Her teaching style incorporates many aspects of movement to increase the understanding of ballroom technique.

Linda also donates her time to charities. She incorporates her creative and business talents to raise money for charities while promoting ballroom dancing in the community.

She performs and competes in the bay area and continues to grow in her dancing by studying with top professionals.

Jeff has been a Ballroom Dance instructor, coach, professional competitor, and choreographer since 1979. He is best known in the Ballroom Dance world for the mastery of technique in his teaching and his unique choreographic style.

He began his training with Fred Astaire Dance Studios and after moving to San Francisco in 1981 continued teaching for Arthur Murray Dance Studios. In 1988 he became an independent instructor and worked for The San Francisco School of Ballroom Dancing. Read more...

Stephen Cullip is a Certified Ballroom Instructor & Former National Champion. His Professional Certifications include WD&DSC and NDCA Certified Championship Adjudicator and Full Member US Terpsichore Association, all branches

Stephen is a Coach and Teacher of long standing, for the
- US Champion USC Formation Dance Team
- US Champion Youth Standard and Ten Dance Couples
- US Open Amateur Ten Dance Champions
- US Novice and Pre-Championship Winners

Stephen is a champion professional competitor and won has multiple championship titles as a competitor in Professional, Amateur and Junior competitions throughout his career. (see Stephen’s Complete Bio).

Jennifer is a certified ballroom dance instructor with 15 years of teaching experience. Since 1996 she competed professionally in all major U.S. Dance Sport competitions including Ohio Star Ball and USDSC.

From 1996-2002 Jennifer and her former partner won numerous American Smooth Open Professional & Rising Star finalist awards, including two Rising Star championships. In 1997 they were US National Rising Star finalists with Arthur Murray International. In 2005 Jennifer competed in International Standard with partner Tadas Jonyla, winning both Open Professional & Rising Star finalist awards. In 2006-07 Jennifer partnered with former two-time U.S. International Standard Champion Stephen Cullip for a series of Bay Area performances.
See Jennifer’s complete bio.

Miguel is a familiar face at West Coast Swing gatherings.  Although he got his start as a ballroom dancer in 1994, he has immersed himself in WC Swing since 2000.  He’s certainly found his niche, as Miguel has competed nationally and regionally and won numerous Swing titles for his smooth, sexy, almost lyrical moves punctuated with emphasized staccato accents that permeate the various intonations of Swing music.  Miguel placed 1st in the Advanced All-Star category at the Strictly Boogie By the Bay 2007 event, and won another 1st place Championship in the Jack & Jill Swing competition at the Monterey Swingfest 2008. You can find Miguel teaching his cool moves with Fodie Baker & Tom Arrington at Just Dance Ballroom on Thursday nights.

Michael Eric Koptke and Chelsea Farrah were the 2008 World Pro/Am Smooth Finalists and the 2008 World Pro/Am Rising Star Runners –up, as well as becoming the 2008 U.S. National Pro/Am Smooth Rising Star Runners-up.
They were also voted and received the award for “Best home grown Fred and Ginger” by the Sacramento Magazine, where Chelsea and Michael were both raised. Michael, with the assistance of Chelsea, was invited to teach the 2008 summer intensive at the Sacramento Ballet.  In addition they have also taught master workshops for the California State University Fullerton’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program.
Chelsea was also a classical ballet dancer of 13 years, training with the Sacramento Ballet and the Joffrey School of Ballet. Chelsea has recently made the decision to become a professional ballroom dancer and will now begin competing with Michael Eric in the Professional American Smooth category next year.

Lynn Gardiner watched a dance show at school that rocked her world and started classes immediately at age 7.  At 8, she began her performing career. Lynn has studied jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatics, modern and hip hop. At 17, she discovered the joy of social dancing at salsa and swing clubs.  Lynn graduated from Cal State Hayward, trilingual, with degrees in Spanish and American Sign Language while all the while, taking part in choreography classes and performance opportunities to develop her dance growth and continue being part of the dance community throughout college. After college, Lynn’s discovery of ballroom brought her to new heights of performing, competing, traveling and coaching. Always at home on the stage, and showered with 1sts for amateur rhythm competitions, Lynn stepped up her passion for ballroom dancing by taking Diane Jarmolow’s Ballroom Teacher’s Dance College so she could articulate and share her Rhythm, Latin, Smooth and Standard training with her future students. Since age 7, she’s dreamed of this. And now at 25, educated, well-rounded, and glad to give back to the Bay Area, students can learn with Lynn!

Barbara Goodridge, is an enthusiastic and experienced dance instructor who has won awards in Ballroom, Country Western and West Coast Swing. Her extensive training includes American and International Ballroom, Rhythm and Latin Dance, Swing - East and West Coast.

Most recently Barbara danced in the Professional Top Hat Club show. She completed teacher training in Bronze, Silver and Gold level American Smooth and Rhythm Terpsichord style, as well as West Coast Swing teacher's training.

Keith Gussoni a native of New Orleans, LA has over 25 years of dance performance experience and has won numerous national championship awards in Theater Arts, Cabaret, Swing and Hustle.  Keith, being trained by some of the most elite coaches of all styles of dance from all over the country, brings his knowledge of traditional Hustle  and Swing with a little southern flavor know as a taste of the Big Easy to his dance.  No matter what style dance Keith is teaching or performing, he always has a unique way of presenting it to his audience.  Keith performs teaches and judges at many of the major dance events all around the country.

Keith also serves as the vice-president of the IHDA (International Hustle Dance Association) the organization that is promoting and preserving Hustle dancing around the country as well as around the world.

Keith Just recently relocated to the Bay Area and is available for group lessons, private instruction and choreography.

Started to dance as kids at the age of 6 and 7 and began competing at age of 9.

Besides active dancing, Anton studied mathematics and graduated in 2000 from mechanics-mathematics faculty of Belarusian State University. Lena graduated in 2003 from Belarusian University of Culture as a dance choreographer and ballroom trainer. They have been dancing together since February 2000.

As Belarus representatives Anton & Lena were Finalists of IDSF World Cup 10 dance 2000, IDSF World Cup Latin 2002, European Cups 2000, 2002, 2004 and are 5-time national Belarus champions.

Anton & Lena represented the USA in the World Professional 10-dance Championship 2007 in Germany, where they placed 8th in the finals. They also won the Rising Stars title of the Ohio Star Ball, Heritage Classics and San Francisco Open. Anton & Lena also hold the Triple Crown, as Saint Louis Star Ball, Texas Challenge, San Diego Open Standard champions, and were finalists of all major competitions in the USA. They married in 2004.

Karen Lile has been dancing and performing since 1977. She is accomplished in many styles of dancing, including Argentine Tango, Ballroom (International & American), Salsa, Lindy and West Coast Swing. Karen Lile is a co-creator with Ted Ross of the new dance Foxtantino. She shares her joy of dancing with students and helps them look and feel great on the dance floor. In addition to teaching dance, she is gifted at helping dancers to reduce their shyness, overcome anxiety and to develop confidence in social, performance and competition situations. Her 30 years of experience in the performing arts as a Television producer (for A&E and PBS TV), Theatrical Director, Public Speaker and as a Business Entrepreneur in the Arts contributes to her ability to help dancers accomplish their leisure and career goals in a variety of areas. For more information about Karen, visit http://www.absolutebeginnerdance.com/aboutkaren.htm 

Julie Lowe has danced and taught professionally for over 20 years. As a Principal Ballerina with the Oakland Ballet Company, she toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, performing many of the company’s leading roles, and working alongside luminaries of the dance world.

As both a ballroom dance instructor, and as Director of the Ballet Program at the Metronome Dance Center in San Francisco, she has successfully bridged the worlds of ballet and ballroom, providing dancers the opportunity to enhance their technical and artistic skills in both dance forms. As Artistic Director of the Metronome’s acclaimed Summer Showcase, she was instrumental in bringing that production to the Cowell Theater stage where it has played to sold-out audiences for the past six years. Many of today’s top competitive and professional dance couples have worked with Julie, including Six-Time U.S. Finalists, David & Valentina Weise,  2005 U.S. Rising Star Latin Champions, Vaidas Skimelis & Jurga Pupelyte, and West Coast Swing National Finalists, Arjay Centeno & Melissa Rutz.

Julie’s association with Diane Jarmolow, Founder and Director of the Ballroom Dance Teachers College, began in 2000. Since that time she has continued to be inspired and educated by Diane’s innovative and effective teaching methods.

Julie enjoys teaching students of all levels, from beginners to professionals.  Her teaching philosophy is to create a safe, fun, and nurturing environment where students can expand and achieve their dance goals.

For years, San taught ballroom dancing in a small penthouse studio in Oakland. His dancing motto was, “there’s always an easier way.” His main objective was to promote the elegance, grace and culture of ballroom dancing, but most of all, to bring out the pleasure and joy of dancing in his students. San’s easy-going personality and patient step-by-step style of instruction encouraged all, including new students to ramp up their skills even after the first lesson! San briefly retired his dance instructing duties to expand his business and open this brand new 10,000 sq. foot Just Dance Ballroom facility on Oakland’s Embarcadero Cove Waterfront. But now, San is back! Look for him on Monday nights teaching Ballroom group lessons for beginners.

John Narvaez and Liz Rojas are World Champion Salsa dance artists, instructors and directors of the Salsamania Dance Company of the San Francisco Bay Area, which they founded in the year 2000. They are among the most accomplished competitive Salsa dance couples in the world and currently rank as top champions of the 2005 and 2006 World Salsa Championships.

John and Liz came to the U.S. from Colombia at the ages of 11 and 10 respectively. Drawing upon the rich heritage of rhythm from their Columbian roots — a musical universe in its own right, John and Liz bring an undeniable love and intelligence to their approach to Salsa Dance. They have evolved a deep appreciation for the beauty of Latin dance into a clear vision of sharing their passion and knowledge of Salsa throughout the world. They have performed on MTV’s Telemundo program and Alberto’s Night Club events, as well as at international invitationals throughout Asia, Europe and South America.

Their Salsamania Dance Company is the #1 Bay Area Dance Team – known for its hypnotic performances marked by high levels of grace, speed and technical difficulty. John & Liz’s Salsamania style is devoted to well honed teaching techniques that they use in a building block approach to learning, thus enabling students to learn and progress rapidly.

You can catch John & Liz for Salsa lessons on Monday nights @ 7 p.m. beginner lesson; 8 p.m. intermediate, and always enjoy the After Party to practice your new moves ‘til midnight.

Dancing since the age of 5, Lisette began her training in gymnastics. From there her education continued to Hula, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Ballroom, Argentine Tango and Theater. She was a member of the Argentine performance company called Ballet Pampa Argentina under the direction of Pampa Cortes for 2 years. She has starred in 2 tango film shorts, "Burn" and "Tango in the Park" as well as performed on television for KQED in San Francisco.

Lisette trained in Argentine tango with Julian "Miller" Ramil, Pampa and Valeria Cortes, Fabian Salas, Mariana Flores and Eduardo Cappussi, Julio Balmeceda and Corina de la Rosa, Mariano "Chicho" Framboli, Mariana Dragone, Sabastian Arce and Mariana Montes, Carlos Gavito, El Flaco Danny Garcia, Omar Vega, Daniel Juarez and Alejandra Armenti and many others. She spends extensive time in Buenos Aires each year training as well as teaching.

She has taught tango in the Bay Area including San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Mendocino. She has also taught in Palm Beach, Florida and Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has not only performed in her home state of California, but also in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Presently, she is teaching locally in the Bay Area and is currently Directing and Shooting her own Documentary on tango. She is an elegant dancer and patient teacher who concentrates on the techniques necessary for smooth, powerful and beautiful dancing. She works with the whole body focusing on connection, alignment, lines and beautifying steps.

See Lisette's full biography

Citabria loves to dance and it shows in her teaching and her dancing. In 2000, she completed with Honors the Bronze and Silver Levels of Diane Jarmolow's Teacher Training College in the American Smooth, Latin and Night Club sections. She also earned High Honors on the DVIDA American Style Basic Teacher Test and Honors on the DVIDA Bronze International Foxtrot and Waltz tests.

Citabria has also competed in straight and same-sex ballroom competitions both locally and abroad. At the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago, she and her dance partner took the Bronze medal in the A level Women’s Standard Ballroom. Several of her students also did well at the Gay Games, including one couple taking Gold in the E level of Women's Standard.

For more information about Citabria, please visit www.lightonyourfeet.com.

John Narvaez and Liz Rojas are World Champion Salsa dance artists, instructors and directors of the Salsamania Dance Company of the San Francisco Bay Area, which they founded in the year 2000. They are among the most accomplished competitive Salsa dance couples in the world and currently rank as top champions of the 2005 and 2006 World Salsa Championships.

John and Liz came to the U.S. from Colombia at the ages of 11 and 10 respectively. Drawing upon the rich heritage of rhythm from their Columbian roots — a musical universe in its own right, John and Liz bring an undeniable love and intelligence to their approach to Salsa Dance. They have evolved a deep appreciation for the beauty of Latin dance into a clear vision of sharing their passion and knowledge of Salsa throughout the world. They have performed on MTV’s Telemundo program and Alberto’s Night Club events, as well as at international invitationals throughout Asia, Europe and South America.

Their Salsamania Dance Company is the #1 Bay Area Dance Team – known for its hypnotic performances marked by high levels of grace, speed and technical difficulty. John & Liz’s Salsamania style is devoted to well honed teaching techniques that they use in a building block approach to learning, thus enabling students to learn and progress rapidly.

You can catch John & Liz for Salsa lessons on Monday nights @ 7 p.m. beginner lesson; 8 p.m. intermediate, and always enjoy the After Party to practice your new moves ‘til midnight.

Maria Shibalova has been dancing and performing since the age of six. She is a gifted International Style Latin dancer, choreographer and instructor.  Maria has been teaching all levels of students for social or competitive dance for over ten years. Her students achieve maximum results by focusing on technique as a building block to success. She is now a certified International Latin Adjudicator. Read more...

Growing up in Mexico City, Eduardo studied and danced for several dance companies specializing in Ballet Folklorico and Latin rhythms. After moving to the United States, he competed in track and field and performed figure skating.  Later he decided to focus on his main passion of dance, studying with renowned Samba dancers such Tedje Rose (Director of Akat Dance Troupe), Iya (former Carnaval Queen and Aguarela member), and Maisa Duke (director of Energia do Samba, former Carnaval Queen).  Eduardo has been performing Samba professionally for many years and currently dances with Akat Dance Troupe and BrasArte, as well as his own performing company, Colores de Samba.  He is also a certified personal trainer and certified Zumba instructor.  Eduardo brings his roots as an ethnic dancer and dynamic Samba energy to his ongoing private and group dance fitness classes throughout the San Francisco Bay area.

Patty Vo is considered one of the top female West Coast Swing Dancers on the scene. Based in California , she travels internationally, teaching, competing, performing, coaching, and judging at dance events across the globe. Patty’s backgrounds consist of Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Jazz, Ballet and Country. Through her versatility she is able to mesh her unique styles of dance to create a look of her own. Most recently she and her partner placed first at Liberty Swing, second at Grand Nationals, second at ACC Nationals, third at the 2009 US Open Swing Dance Championship Showcase Division, fifth in the Champion Strictly Swing at the Open, and second at SwingDeigo and Capital Swing. Not to mention other top placements in Jack & Jills, and Strictly Swing at West Coast Swing & Country events throughout the past year. Her energy and excitement can also be seen in her teaching. Patty is always striving for perfection and excellence in both performance and teaching. So come check out her exciting new class here with us at Just Dance Ballroom.