Tony and Melanie

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Teacher Bio

Whether you caught their choreography each season on So You Think You Can Dance, remember a certain sexy dance scene from movie The Thomas Crown Affair, or a spectacular ballroom dance scene in Dance With Me, the work of Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin speaks for itself. These world-renowned choreographers and artistic directors have won the world’s most prestigious dance titles and have choreographed some of the most memorable pieces of da...read more

Class Descriptions

The Cha Cha

The Cha Cha is a Latin American dance of Cuban origin. It's a fast, rhythmical dance where the entire body is moving, often in opposition, to create a fluid yet sharp movement. It can be danced to various speeds, but is most commonly danced to energetic music and is a terrific dance style for contemporary pop songs.

The Rumba

The Rumba is a dance organically related to the rumba genre of Afro-Cuban music. It is often considered the most erotic and sensual Latin dance, for its relatively slow rhythm and the hip movement. The slower movement speed requires a strong foundation through the foot and lower body. With regular practice, Rumba imparts a great deal of control in a dancer's body.

The Samba

The Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin. The dance borrows some movements from Afro-Brazilian traditional dances and rituals. It is an exceptionally physical dance form that builds stamina and core strength while increasing a dancer's usable range of motion.

The Paso Doble

The Paso Doble is a theatrical Spanish dance. Traditionally, the man is characterized as the matador (bullfighter) and the lady as his cape in the drama of a Spanish bullfight. The dancers may choose to enact the role of the torero, picador, banderillero, bull, or Spanish dancer, and may change roles throughout the dance. Based on Flamenco dancing, the Paso Doble is both arrogant and passionate.