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Meet our Teachers

Alex Arteaga
  Alex has trained extensively with some of the top Ballroom and Latin coaches in the world.  His training has consisted of both the International and American styles of Ballroom and Latin dancing.  Private and Class instruction available.

Greg Gale
    Competitor with many years of experience.  Greg is a master choreographer.  He has extensive background in American Latin & Smooth dancing.
Greg began his dance career studying ballet and jazz.  He danced in High School productions and community theatre.  He started his professional career working for Fred Astaire Studios in Niles, where he quickly became the Dance Director.  Greg moved on to own two of his own studios, Let's Dance in Worth Illinois and Allegro Dance Center in Downers Grove, Illinois.
 
Greg organized and ran the Illinois State Dance Competition for 15 years,  as well as the Chicago Harvest Moon Ball for several years and the Chicago Challenge.  He is the former President of the Chicago Professional Dance Teachers Association.

Greg danced professionally in shows and competitions all over the United States and in Europe and has won many awards including a Gold Medal in the United States Championships and the top choreographer of 1997 in the United States Scholarship Championships.

His theatre credits include playing Herr Drosselmeyer in  The Nutcracker for 6 years for Ballet Le Gere.  Greg is the featured instructor on the video series "Bring Back The Romance of Dance".  He has studied dance at the Dance Center of Columbia College and Gus Giordanos and has studied  with many Ballroom coaches from the United States and England.

His dance company, Stormdance Productions,  was formed in 1991.  This community based dance company performed at the Willowbrook Ballroom.  Greg, along with his dance company raised over $50,000 for the Du Page County AIDS Program.  He is now a resident teacher at Ballroom City in Villa Park, Il.

Grayce Garnello  (click on Grayce's name to go to her home page)
    Comprehensive experience in Ballroom dance instruction, having taught for over thirty years.  Proficient in Foxtrot, Waltz, Cha Cha, Tango, Swing, Rumba, Samba and Mambo.  Studied with many of the American Smooth, Latin and International Champions.  Choreographed for many wedding couples to their "Special Song".  Grayce is Ballroom City's resident "Wedding Specialist".  Also, for the Wedding Party and parents of the Bride & Groom.  Private and Class instruction available.

Julie Hein
    Specializes in Country Western Partner Dancing.  Current competitor & officer for the Swing n Country Dance Club.

Heidi Lucky
    Well known instructor in American Ballroom, Latin & Swing.  Former competitor.  Current Ballroom Entertainer performing over 200 shows a year.  Heidi is a sought after MC for a variety of dance events locally & around the United States.  Also, a Chicagoland area dance shoe distributor for Very Fine Shoes.  For more info call (708) 449-8626 and ask for Heidi

Don MacDonald

 Don with the Hotline Dance Company              Don with Dolly Parton     Don with a young Brad Pitt
   
One of Chicagoland's most popular & respected Country Western Experts.  Don is a high ranking Competitor, Choreographer, Coach & Judge.  He also has an extensive background in American Style Ballroom & Latin.  Don has done movie choreography for some of the top stars including Dolly Parton, James Woods, Robert Redford, Brad Pitt and more.  He was a member and choreographer for the Hotline Dance Company, a disco/jazz group that performed in the Chicago area during the Disco Fever era.

Norm Lucky

      Current Ballroom Variety Entertainer & choreographer performing approximately 200 shows per year.  Many years of experience in American & International Ballroom & Latin.  Former competitor in both styles.  Booking agent for 13 top notch entertainers.  Private & class lessons available.

Hania Richmond
       Many years of experience in Country/Western partner dancing as a Teacher and Competitor.

Joyce Smith
Teaches class and private lessons with a background in American & International Smooth & Latin dancing.

Mary Thygesen
Co-owner of Ballroom City.  Hosts Friday Night Dance Class and Practice Party and BRC Saturday Night Dances.

Teddy Korbos
    Teaches and Competes in American Latin Dances.

                                                           
 Jed Walker
Latin Dance Instructor.  Private & Class Instruction

Katie Widuch
Private Ballroom Lessons for Singles & Couples.

Brian Wong.
Brian Wong's dance background is diverse with training in Jazz, Theater, Country, Ballroom and Swing. In 1997, Universal Studios selected him as a dancer for the 10th anniversary celebration of Dirty Dancing where he hung out with Patrick Swayze and the rest of the Dirty Dancing crew.  In 1998, Paramount Pictures used him as a dancer in a special for the 20th anniversary of Grease which was filmed at the Mann's Chinese Theater and then at the Paladium in Hollywood.
As an instructor, Brian has coached dancers around the country, along with judging and teaching workshops and dance competitions and events.  Brian has also taught American style Ballroom at Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
Competitively, Brian holds several titles including 2001 Mid US Advanced Swing Champion and a 2004 UCWDC  Pro-Am World's Championship.
Brian has also developed one of the most successful dance community websites in the Midwest, Chicago Dance News.
Brian hosts the "DOUBLE DANCE" every fourth Saturday of the month at Ballroom City.  This dance features music in Ballroom, Country, Swing, Hustle and West Coast Swing.  Private lessons available.

Bob Novak

We are proud to welcome Bob Novak who will be teaching our Tai Chi and Qi Gong classes. He comes to us with 53 years of experience in the Martial Arts. At the age of 8 he started studying Judo at the Chicago Commons Settlement House on Wood St. in Chicago.  At 10 years of age he moved on to studying Tai Chi Chuan at the East / West Kahsu Karate Organization on Ashland Ave. At 14 he studied Shorei Goju at Tai Jitsu on Central Ave. After being awarded a Shodan Black Belt in Shorei Goju in 1967 he continued his studies which included Aikido under Mr. Choi at the Choi Institute on Addison Ave. in Chicago and studied with Mr. Sukiyama at the Japanese Karate Association.  Bob has thought various forms of martial arts for the Chicago park District at Edison Park and Mayfair / Amundsen High School, Wright College, Tai Jitsu and the J.D. L. at their Temple in Wheeling IL. He still continues learning under his Sifu as Tai Chi and Qi Gong are lifelong learning experiences.

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