Our Team
Fred Astaire Dance Studios have given the joy of dancing to tens of thousands of New Yorkers. Today, over 60 years since its establishment the Fred Astaire Dance Studio Curriculum is still based on the original teaching methods perfected by the Master himself.
Our studio is one of the happiest, friendliest places in the city. People from all walks of life have been coming to us for over 20 years - for fitness, for a hobby, for that memorable first dance at their weddings, for self-expression, for a boost in confidence and social grace.
Our students and staff share the benefits of dancing through lessons, parties, showcases, amateur competitions, performances and great tours all over the world.
Becoming part of our studio family will open doors to a new world for you – one of excitement, new friends and great time on the dance floor to the calming sounds of a Waltz or the hot rhythm of a Latin-American tune.
We make learning to dance easy and fun no matter what your age, experience and goals are. Walk into our studio today and dance out!
Studio Directors
Marina and Taliat Tarsinov
Studio Directors Marina and Taliat Tarsinov began dancing together in Russia in 1974, a partnership that later blossomed into marriage and family. In 1988, after winning the Russian Amateur Championship, they turned professional and danced until 1995, when they announced their retirement from the competitive floor. Their professional awards and achievements are numerous including winning several national titles between 1990 and 1995- the Russian National Latin Championship, the Russian National Ten Dance Championship, and the Soviet Union National Standard and Latin Show Dance Championships. Out of the five possible national titles in their home country, they held four of them and were ranked second place for the fifth title, International Standard. Their show numbers, which they created and choreographed themselves, were particularly beloved and are fondly remembered even today. Some of their best numbers are “West Side Story”, “Fred and Ginger”, “Seagulls”, “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”, and “Safari.”
They represented Russia at more than twenty World and European Championships, where they were Ten
Dance finalists in Europe and semi-finalists in the World. In Holland, they were Exhibition World Championship finalists. They too were finalists of the European and World Cups in the Professional Latin American and Standard programs as well as many other prestigious international competitions including the German Open, Dutch Open, and the United States Ballroom Dance Championships.
In 1992 they moved to New York and have run the New York East Side Fred Astaire Dance Studio since 1994. They are former National Fred Astaire Professional Standard and Latin Champions and were selected to be members of the National Fred Astaire Council of Dance. They are also members of the National Dance Council of America and the World Dance and Dance Sport Federation. The Tarsinovs are acclaimed adjudicators and have been selected to represent the United States at all types of international competitions including World Championships.
For three years they were the hosts of a Russian television show called “Dance Globe” and starred on many other popular television shows in Russia. Taliat is the author of numerous articles published in Dance News (England), Dance Beat (USA), Dance Sport (USA), Dance Notes (USA), The Professional (Russia), Ballet (Russia), and other European dance publications. Interviews and articles about the Tarsinovs have frequently appeared in print, such as in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Dance Beat, and The Professional.
In 2007 and 2009 Taliat was officially invited and lectured at the World Dance Congress at the British Open Dance Festival in Blackpool, UK.
Marina and Taliat are also very beloved coaches and choreographers in the United States.Studio Manager
Dessi Iakova
Dessi Iakova started dancing ballroom and Latin at the age of 14. From 1985 to 1997 she was a finalist in various Dance Sport championships in her native Bulgaria and other European countries, performed in numerous ballroom and Latin show programs, and trained with some of the best coaches in the world.
In 1989 Dessi graduated at the top of her class from one of the most prestigious high schools in Bulgaria, specializing in English Language and Literature. In 1993 she graduated summa cum laude from the Medical University in Sofia, Bulgaria with a degree in nursing and diploma in health management.
Her true passion for dance was with her throughout years of performing and competing, and during this time she shared her expertise by teaching young children and teens the art of dance, the value of partnership, and the skill of memorable performance. Her ballroom and Latin classes were so popular that in 1997 her dance school had 90 children attending classes five days a week. Her students enjoyed great results and even now are still top ranked in Bulgaria.
In 1998 Dessi decided to pursue ballroom and Latin dance professionally in the United States. She has been teaching with Fred Astaire Dance Studios since her arrival in New York, being one of the most sought-after teachers.
In 2001 she was employed as a business manager of the New York East Side Fred Astaire Dance Studio and has been training new professional teachers and giving outstanding customer service ever since. She is a holder of the “Top Manager” award for the New York area for both 2001 and 2002. Under her management, the East Side Fred Astaire Dance Studio has received “Top Studio” Awards at numerous competitions. Her leadership skills have created an outstanding team of professionals and inspired many of our teachers to seek perfection in their careers as educators and performers.
Instructors
Gala Detkina
Gala Detkina was born in Siberia. She has danced successfully around the world and is the winner of many international competitions in Germany, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria, Canada, and the United States. She arrived in New York in 1997 to study acting. She continued studying dancing and acting in Russia, and she has recently returned to New York. Gala holds the distinguished Fred Astaire Dance Studios Top Female Teacher Award for 2007, 2008 and 2009. The award is given for extraordinary skill and performance in teaching dance within the Fred Astaire Organization. Together with her professional dance partner, Misha Zharinov, they are Fred Astaire National Professional American Smooth Champions, United States National Professional American Smooth Finalists, Ohio Star Ball Professional American Smooth Finalists and Ohio Star Ball Professional American Smooth Show dance Winners. They were also featured at PBS’ “America’s Ballroom Challenge”.
Tina Gerova
Tina Gerova came to the United States from Bulgaria. She, with professional partner, Plamen Danailov, is the reigning 5 Times Bulgarian Professional National Champion in both International Standard and Latin. Before coming to the U.S., she toured around the world with a professional dance troupe. Her dance career in America has skyrocketed, and she is now a UK Open Professional 10 Dance Vice Champion, Rising Star US Open, Blackpool, and International Championships finalist. She is also the current Fred Astaire National Professional Latin American Champion and European and World South American Show Dance Finalist. She has worked with Fred Astaire Dance Studios for many years, and is currently one of our most experienced teachers, respected and loved by all her students and colleagues.
Misha Zharinov
Misha Zharinov came to us from Volgograd, Russia where he began his dance career. He is the winner and finalist at many International Dance Sport Federation competitions. He was the first place winner of Malaysian Millennium Dance Sport Championships and the Singapore Open Championships. He graduated from the University of Fine Arts with a master’s degree in choreography and dance education. Mikhail is quad-lingual- he speaks Russian, Spanish, French, and English. Misha holds the distinguished Fred Astaire Dance Studios Best of the Best Teacher Award for 2008 and 2009. The award is given for extraordinary skill and performance in teaching dance within the Fred Astaire Organization. With his professional dance partner, Galina Detkina, they are Fred Astaire National Professional American Smooth Champions, United States National Professional American Smooth Finalists, Ohio Star Ball Professional American Smooth Finalists and two times Ohio Star Ball Professional American Smooth Show dance Winners. They were also featured at PBS’ “America’s Ballroom Challenge”.
Sonya Fil
Sonya Fil came to us from Volgograd, Russia. She has an Associate Degree from the Institute of Arts and Culture. During her dance career in Russia, she has achieved a Regional Vice Champion Title in Ballroom Dancing in the Youth Category in 2006, and in the Amateur Category in 2007. In 2008 she won the Champion title in the above competition as well. After joining the East Side Fred Astaire Dance studio in July of 2009, Sonya with her professional partner Eugene Graev have quickly become performers and competitors that everyone has noticed and admires. Her most recent titles are the 2009 Regional Professional Fred Astaire Champion and the 2009 National Professional Fred Astaire Vice champion in the International Latin Division.
Eugene Graev
Eugene Graev grew up in Volgograd, Russia. This is where he first started dancing Ballroom and Latin, when he was only 7 years old. During the years he has been a semifinalist in the Russian Federation 10-Dance (Ballroom and Latin) Championship, silver medalist in the Russian South Region Championship, finalist and Gold Medalist in numerous competitions in Russia and the Ukraine. Eugene holds the notable Fred Astaire Dance Studios Outstanding Teacher Award for 2008 and 2009. The award is given for great skill and performance in teaching dance within the Fred Astaire Organization. He joined our team in 2008 and with partner Sonya Fil has already achieved great competitive results in the professional dancing field. His most recent titles are the 2009 Regional Professional Fred Astaire Champion and the 2009 National Professional Fred Astaire Vice champion in the International Latin Division.
Boris Khenzykhenov
Boris hails from Siberia, Russia where he took his first steps in Ballroom and Latin dancing at age of 7. He was a finalist at numerous regional dance championships in Russia.
Most people look surprised when they hear him speak Russian or when they learn that he is Russian. This is because his ethnicity is Buryat – the largest ethnic minority group in Siberia, mainly concentrated around the lake Baikal.
Boris graduated from The University of Irkutsk, Siberia, with honors and holds a degree in World Economics. He speaks Russian, German, Chinese and English.
Boris joined our team in 2011 and won his first competition in the United States – the Fred Astaire Northeast DanceSport Championships Mixed-Novice Division in November of the same year.
Jungie (JJ) Zamora
Jungie was born in Ozamiz City, Philippines, where he started his dance career in his early childhood, initially in Hip – Hop and Jazz.
He transitioned into the world of Ballroom and Latin dancing in 2000, while in high school.
Jungie, with partner Sheena Richen Daminar, is the undefeated Latin Dance Champion in all regional competitions in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
Sheena and Jungie moved to Manila, the capital, to pursue better coaching opportunities and develop their talents further. While in Manila, Jungie choreographed dance shows for the local TV stations GMA-7 “(Teen stars”), and NBN – 4 (“The Morning Show”).
He was also one of the professional dancers partnering a celebrity on the dance reality show
“U Can Dance Ver.2”.
Jungie has won several National Latin dance Championships and was a finalist at the Nong Nooch International DanceSport Championships in Thailand in 2011.
Jungie and his partner Sheena were noticed for their talent and skill shown at the Philippine Star Ball in 2010 and 2011, and were invited to perform in a Ballroom and Latin Dance production in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
They were then recruited to work as dance instructors at Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
Sheena Richen Daminar
Sheena started dancing in her native Philippines at the age of eight. She specialized in Ballet and Jazz, until she discovered the world of Ballroom Dancing, loved it and never looked back.
Sheena, with partner Jungie (JJ) Zamora, is the undefeated Latin Dance Champion in all regional competitions in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
After graduating from the University with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management Sheena moved to Manila City to join her partner Jungie and pursue better coaching opportunities to develop their talents further.
Sheena has won several National Latin dance Championships and was a finalist at the Nong Nooch International DanceSport Championships in Thailand in 2011.
Sheena and her partner Jungie were noticed for their talent and skill shown at the Philippine Star Ball in 2010 and 2011, and were invited to perform in a Ballroom and Latin Dance production in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
They were then recruited to work as dance instructors at Fred Astaire Dance Studios.Coaches
Jennifer McCalla
Jennifer McCalla is a licentiate of the Imperial society of teachers of dancing (ISTD) in International Latin, International Standard, and Theater arts. She is a licentiate of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios organization in American Smooth and Rhythm. Her dance accomplishments include being a US Ten dance finalist, Finalist in Major Competition in the USA including the Yankee Classic and the Heritage Classic, Four times undefeated United States Amateur Latin, Standard and Ten dances Champion, and a US representative at four World championships. She also was Fred Astaire National Smooth Champion undefeated 95 to 97, US Rising Star finalist in Standard, Latin and Smooth, Ohio Star Ball Rising Star Champion (Smooth), Breakers Rising Star Champion (Smooth), Texas Challenge Rising Star Champion (Smooth), and Eastern United States Rising Star Champion in Latin, Standard and Smooth.
Sasha and Olga Bylim
Sasha and Olga Bylim moved to the United States from the Ukraine in 1996. During their early dance career, they were Ukrainian Amateur Champions in Standard, Latin, and 10-Dance categories for three consecutive years. They turned professional in 1991 and following the birth of their daughter, Olesya in 1993, they won the Ukrainian Professional Standard Championship later that same year, which they continued to win in '94 and '95. During their reign as champions, they represented the Ukraine in European and World Championships. While in the United States, they won a U.S. Rising Star title and went on to become finalists in U.S. Championships.
Both Sasha and Olga have Bachelor Degrees in Education. In 1999 they opened their own Fred Astaire Dance Studio overlooking the Hudson River in Sleepy Hollow, New York. While still in their competitive role, they were the Fred Astaire National Professional Standard Champions and currently are members of the Fred Astaire National Dance Council.
Marianne Nicole
Former United States Rising Star American Style Champion, undefeated United States Theatre Arts Champion, North American International Latin Champion, Canadian Theatre Arts Champion, undefeated Fred Astaire American Style Champion, undefeated Fred Astaire Theatrical Champion, undefeated Fred Astaire International Latin Champion and World Latin Representative.
She is a World Class Adjudicator & Coach, and Co Organizer of the Capital Dancesport Championships and a National Examiner for the DVIDA Organization and former examiner for the Fred Astaire Dance Studio organization.
Rufus Dustin
World Dance and DanceSport Council professional, coaching, choreographing and judging throughout the world. He has been certified as an adjudicator by the WD&DSC and Fred Astaire Dance Studios Inc. in international standard and latin, American smooth and rhythm, and theater arts. As a professional dancer, Rufus competed nationally and internationally, holding national titles in international latin, American rhythm and theater arts. He currently choreographs for the top professionals and amateurs. He has performed all over the world, including special presentations at Blackpool.
Linda Dean
Former U.S. American Style Champion and U.S. Theater Arts Champion. She was the U.S. International Latin Champion for four years and was four times a finalist in the World Championship in International Latin. Ms. Dean has been a member of the Fred Astaire Dance Board 25 years. She currently serves an adjudicator at major United States and world championships.