| About Renaissance |
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Dance is a powerful form of expression, and a valuable tool for the communication of emotion. It can bring a couple closer, strengthening their bond with one another and increasing their confidence in their own bodies. Because dance is inherently an intimate art, we believe it is important to learn a little bit about the background, training, and experience of those you trust to instruct you in this "language of movement." We'd like to take a moment now to introduce ourselves, and look forward to getting to know you in turn. Teaching is a continual source of inspiration for us. Our students' excitement reminds us daily of how fortunate we are to be able to share our life's passion, couple's dancing, with each other and with all of you.
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In 1978, Michelle began her performing career at the age of eight. In 1987, her life’s passion became apparent. Michelle found Couple’s Dancing. Beginning in a Community School program, with her dad as her partner, she quickly sped through those class levels, and wanted something more out of Couple’s Dancing ... COMPETITION! In August of 1988, after graduating from High School with honors, she ventured north to Seattle, Washington. It was there she began dancing and competing “Pro/Am” in Ballroom and Rhythm styles of Couple’s Dance, with her instructor, Rick Pride. She commuted the eight hour round trip almost every weekend for two years. In September of 1990, her Pro/Am career culminated in winning the United States Championship in Pro/Am American Rhythm. She went on to compete with an amateur partner in International Latin for one year, and then with a different amateur partner, she competed in Country Western Couple’s Dancing for two years. In 1993, she became a professional dance instructor. Immediately after turning Pro, she danced with a professional partner in Latin for a year and a half. Once Michelle became a professional numerous students who wanted to compete. With her competitive dance instructor, she was in high demand as a teacher, as well as a Pro/Am partner for students, she has traveled throughout the United States with both Country Western and Ballroom styles of Dance-Sport Competitions.
Chris's love of dance springs from a happy accident, eighteen years ago. A local restaurant was offering an all-you-can-eat buffet for only $5.00, which included a free pass to the establishment's nightly dance lesson. The food was good, the price was great, the dancing...well, he could live without it, until the night he was dragged onto the dance floor for the lesson. From that moment forward, he was hooked. Chris and Michelle met in the fall of 1993 when she was teaching a weekly lesson at a local dance club, and he became a regular of that same club. Soon, Chris was taking private dance lessons from Michelle, and competed with her for the first time in July of 1994. For the next ten and a half years, Chris trained and competed with Michelle in Pro/Am divisions at Country Western and Ballroom dance competitions all across the country, culminating in a Pro-Am World's Championship in 2003. Chris has been a professional dance instructor since May 2004, and thoroughly enjoys sharing the joy of couple's dancing with others. He, too, has a large number of competitive students vying for his time, and is pleased to dance with them Pro/Am at various events around the United States.