Smooth Street Ballroom

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     We have assembled a world class team of instructors, competitors and managers to ensure you get the best of instructions and smoothest operation. Our staff and management is dedicated to making your experience at Smooth Street a wonderful one.

New Instructors:

Smooth Street Welcomes: Theresa, Josh & Grace to our team of professional Ballroom and Latin dance instructors this month. Bios coming soon.

Heidi Groskreutz (TV Show "So You Think You Can Dance") & Kevin Clifton – Guest Instructors

The top British male Latin dancer and the top American female Latin dancer have formed a new partnership.  Kevin Clifton is a past Blackpool Finalist and ranked number one in England! The list of championships he has won in England and throughout the world is endless!  

Heidi is a four time U.S. Open Swing Dance Champion and U.S. Latin Finalist.  You might have seen Heidi on the hit summer show "So You Think You Can Dance," where she made it to the final four dancers! Heidi and Kevin are available for privates and coaching through Smooth Street when they are in the country which is monthly.

Tony - Former President & Current Honorary Board of Advisors

Dr. Knight, brings unique talents to Smooth Street . He has managed or provided consulting services to studio chains with thousands of students, including Y.H. Park ’s Tae Kwon Do, Tiger Schulmann’s Karate, and T-USA national seminar, a 200 member school chain, in addition to owning and operating his own studio. He trained under the U.S. Olympic team coach in Tae Kwon Do and holds a 4th degree black belt. He has been featured in Newsday, Black Belt Magazine and other magazines and has appeared on TV for his martial arts expertise and charity works.
He also provided management, financial and business consulting to a number of private and public companies and co-founded and served as chairman of a technology company that went on to raise millions of dollars, employ 89 employees and filed for a $ 50 million IPO. He has previously worked at Lehman Brothers and a mortgage subsidiary of a New York Stock Exchange listed bank with over $ 2 billion in assets. 
He holds a bachelors in economics and Juris Doctor degree and is studying for his Doctorate in Business Administration. His interest in Ballroom Dancing as a 2008 Olympic Sport and management systems for the studio promotes the interests of Smooth Street.

Ilan - Gold Medal coach and Salsa Instructor

Ilan started his dancing at Arthur Murray in West Haven CT and became an instructor after two years. Three years into his dancing career he was introduced to Salsa at one of the local Salsa clubs, and decided to learn more about this dance. Since that moment he switched his career from Ballroom dancing to strictly Salsa.
Ilan has taken part in many competitions and Salsa Congresses around the world. In 2001 he (along with partner) started a group called Salsa Kids. Under Ilan’s instruction, this group became the World Salsa Champions in 2004 at the prestigious Salsa congress in Puerto Rico competing against the best teams from all over the world.
Since then the group continues participating at the Congress and was selected the best group year after year.
Ilan’s dance studio named “Salsa My Way” was operating for the last 5 years in Hartford CT where he has given lessons to many children and adults. 
Ilan’s dance partner, Yessenia Benavides, recently played in the movie “Dirty dancing 2 - Havana Nights” and currently owns her own studio in Puerto Rico called “Lets Dance Studio P.R.” (www.letsdancestudiopr.com). Ilan and his partner have been dancing for the past 2 years and are currently practicing for the world championship competition.

Luka - Instructor/Competitor

Luka began ballroom training at 8 years old, training under Michael Malitowski, Joanna Lounis, Sergei Suvkow, and Agnieszke Melnicke.  

A 10 dance champion, Lukasz placed second in Poland in 2005, a quarter finalist in Holland and a finalist in 10 dance Championships in Germany and Switzerland.  

Currently, he coaches the top Polish 10 dance junior couples.  He has been in America for a short time, but has plans to continue his competitive career, and is one of our most sought after instructors.  

He is trained in all styles of International dancing and European style Salsa. Luka dances with Arletta and they perform dance shows together.

Arletta - Instructor

Arletta is a professional Salsa and Meringue dancer. She has traveled all over Europe teaching Salsa. 

 She was a finalist in the Prague dance talent competition and she also dances in International Ballroom and Latin Categories (Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive, Waltz, Tango and Quickstep). 

Arletta and Luka are dance partners and perform dance shows together

 

 

World Class Instruction & Management