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| With my big Brother Dean, I started dancing as a little girl. |
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I grew up in a dancing
community and started dancing when I was four, as the "Queen of
Polka" I taught all of my cousins, we were the driveway
champions and the show at every wedding. They say I used to
twirl around and say:" When I grow up, I'm gonna be a fancy lady
and teach dance.' I'm not sure about the 'fancy lady', however
I've fulfilled my childhood dream and have enjoyed teaching for
20 years.
Prior experience as an Occupational Therapist and a
Social Worker has given me the sensitivity to individual needs
and abilities, to celebrate each success and to encourage and
motivate students to meet their chosen goals, one step at a
time. Dancing is fun therapy!
Without any Ballroom skills, I started with Arthur
Murrays' School of Dance in 1987, and passed all the Bronze
exams and enjoyed teaching full-time for years. Because I
learned the man's part first, my lead skills are as strong as
my follow skills, which is unique for a lady instructor.
Consider me your dance doctor, ladies, if your man has
trouble leading you, bring him in! We'll fix 'em!
In 1996, I was invited by the two Directors, a former Fred
Astaire Teacher/Trainer and a former Arthur Murrays'
Teacher/Trainer, to study, test out of the exam and instruct
for Northwest Athletic Clubs' huge social dance program. This
franchise was eventually purchased by Life Time Fitness. The
Social Dance Program was a casualty in the transition, they
let everyone go and I was anticipating the ax but instead was
asked to rebuild their entire ballroom dance program and train
and hire instructors for all 22 locations. That's when I
turned to my Fred Astaire trainer, mentor and friend. Together
we implemented a Professional Ballroom Dance Training Program
based on the DVIDA curriculum which is still successfully
training instructors today who are successfully passing the
exams, one dance at a time.
I've fallen in love
with Georgia! We are here due to my husband's transfer, and
it seems I've become Atlanta's Southern Sweetheart, being the
only ProDVIDA south of Atlanta as I've been enjoying
volunteering for Civil Air Patrol, elementary schools, nursing
homes as well as The Stardust Ballroom Dance Club.
Today it's my pleasure to Direct the Social Dance Program
at World Gym, offering group classes and monthly Ballroom
Dance Parties. See my class schedule page for more details.
Click here to see my class schedule
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Sondra Chan |
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* ProDVIDA: (Professional Dance Vision International Dance
Association)
* Best Dance Instructor*, 2008 & 2009: Minnesota Bride
Magazine
* Best Dance Instructor*, 2008 & 2009: City of Burnsville, MN
* Ask The Expert* contributor for the #1 Bridal resource, MN
Bride Magazine
* Latin Dance Jam* creator and instructor
I am blessed to do what I love and love what I do and
we will make dance enjoyable for YOU.
Sondra Chan
Certified American Ballroom Dance Instructor
ProDVIDA
member with an Associate of Dance Degree
Sondra@MyWeddingDance.com
770-243-3386
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