Instructors
Rachelle Irby
Rachelle started dancing ballroom in high school, at an after school program, where she fell in love with partner dancing. Her main specialty at The Ballroom is West Coast Swing, Country Two Step, Nightclub Two Step and Line dance. She also teaches private lessons in American Smooth and Rhythm, as well as wedding chorepgraphy. She also enjoys creating choreography for UCWDC couples and musical theater. She currently competes in Allstar on the WSDC circuit and in Division 2 on the UCWDC circuit.
John-Mark Mamalakis
John-Mark started dancing ballroom while attending college for his bachelor’s degree where he was introduced to dancing through local dance events. He quickly became involved in social dancing and teaching dance at the local college and dance studios. He teaches beginning to intermediate American Smooth and Rhythm, West Coast Swing, Nightclub 2 Step, and Country 2 Step. In 2020 John-Mark won two world titles at the UCWDC Country Dance Worlds Championships for line dancing. He currently competes in the UCWDC Division 3 couples, Intermediate Line Dance, and Advanced in the WSDC circuit.
Genya Malko (Evgeny)
Instructor - Genya is a certified professional instructor and adjudicator. He graduated from St. Petersburg Russia University with a Masters Degree in Ballroom Dancing and Performing Arts. The Russian Federation awarded him the qualifications of Instructor and Choreographer in Creative Arts, Master of Dancesport (Ballroom Dancing and Ballet). Evgeny is semifinalist of National American Smooth professional championships, and a finalist of the first American Smooth British Open in Blackpool. He teaches American Smooth and International Standard from beginning to advanced.
Paul Zimny
Paul has over 25 years of teaching experience in dance movement, theory & choreography. His ballroom training came by way of the Arthur Murray School of Dance where he trained & taught for over 10 years, eventually owning two dance schools. In addition, Paul has taught high school students for over 25 years. He is currently teaching at Folsom High School as well as conducting ballroom dance classes at American River College & holding dance movement clinics for students & teachers of all ages, backgrounds & skill levels. Paul has performed at both amateur & professional levels throughout the United States & Canada for over 35 years. He has designed & choreographed movement & staging for major motion pictures, musical productions & dance competitions. He conducts group classes & offers private instruction, specializing in Ballroom, Latin, East Coast Swing, Hustle and Argentine Tango.
Mitzy Traynor
Mitzy began dancing and performing at 4 years old, in her mothers dance studio, in Stockton. In College, she was chosen to be the Captain of the Cheerleading and Drill Teams for 2 years. She went on to become a Pre-School teacher and Kindergarten teacher for 13 years. Mitzie has studied ballet for 15 years passing the Cecchitti Classical Ballet tests of Grade 1 and 2 . She has also studied with many West Coast Swing Champions and still attends their workshops and classes. She was the owner of the Smallie School of Dance, in Lodi, for 40 years, where she taught Ballet, Lyrical Dance, Tap and Zumba, for many ages. She also taught at Berkeley College for 3 years. She competes in West Coast Swing, Country, Hustle, Night Club Two Step and Pro-Am events at many of the national events, in several states. She started taking classes at The Ballroom in 2004 and after assisting many instructors, starting teaching herself in 2017, at the Ballroom.
Adam Watts
Instructor - Adam comes from a long line of dancers, musicians, singers, and performers and artists of all kinds, including wing-walkers, dance instructors, and music directors. While he specializes in virtually all of the American Smooth/Rhythm dances for both social and performance dancing, he can also get you off the ground in International Latin. Adam has studied dancing at studios in the Sacramento area for more than a dozen years and has been teaching exclusively at The Ballroom of Sacramento since early 2015. Adam feels that by giving students a solid foundation of lead and follow technique, as well as a basic understanding of the characteristics of each dance, there is no limit to where they can go. Adam teaches Bronze to Silver (beginning to intermediate) level in the following dances: Foxtrot, Waltz, American Tango, Bolero, Rumba, Cha Cha, Merengue, Salsa, Night Club Two-Step, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, Hustle, East Coast Swing, and West Coast Swing, as well as the Samba Line Dance.
Jamie Cooper
Jamie has traveled the world competing and performing. She did her first international competition in 2004 in Berlin, Germany and has won numerous titles since. Some of her titles include 10-dance champion at the Gay Games in 2006, 2nd place in Latin and 3rd place in Standard at the Same-Sex World Championships in 2005, and 3rd place in Standard in 2006, 1st place in both International Latin and Latin American Showdance and 2nd place in American Smooth at the US Championships in 2010. In 2011 she was awarded 2nd place in the Classic American Showdance at the US Championships and 3rd place in both International Latin and 10-dance at the Same-Sex US Championships. Most recently, Jamie became the Female World Champion in 9-dance and Rhythm at the 2014 Gay Games. Although Jamie loves to compete and perform, her true love is teaching. Jamie teaches both American and International styles. She is certified by the World Dance and Dance Sport Council and has also obtained a certification as a Zumba Instructor.
Sheryl Emmons
Sheryl began Ballet dancing at the Barbara Briggs Ballet Studio when she was five years old. Her love of dance quickly took hold and she also began studying Tap, Jazz, and Modern dance with Ron Cisneros. Ballroom, Latin and Swing entered her life at age 22, when she began taking lessons at a local Dance Studio. Since then, she has studied Ballroom, Latin, and Swing with instructors in Sacramento, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New York. Sheryl also enjoys dancing many other styles of dance, including Country, Flamenco, Kizomba, Lambada-Zouk, Hula and Belly dancing, but admits her favorite dances are Kizomba and Balboa. Sheryl’s other love is theatre. She studied theatre at UCLA and UC Davis, majoring in technical theatre.
Johnny Ochoa
Johnny is a dancer, instructor, choreographer, promoter and DJ. He began swing dancing in 1997 and has been instructing since 2000. He teaches 6-count Swing, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag. Students constantly comment on how much fun he is in class and how much they enjoy his teaching and attitude towards swing dancing. He is also a member of The San Francisco Jitterbugs, a professional dance troupe that performed all over the West Coast to standing ovations. All of this has helped make his Tuesday night swing dance in downtown Sacramento a huge success, and the longest running swing night in Northern California. For more information on Johnny, his lessons and dances, go to www.sactownswings.com.
Kat Painter
Kat has been teaching for many years specializing in Country. She teaches: Country Two Step, Schottische, Triple Two Step, Country Swing, Polka and line dancing. She also teaches East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Night Club Two Step, Bolero, Salsa, Bachata and Hustle. Kat teaches beginning to advanced levels. She has also taught modern, jazz, beginning ballet and contemporary dance. She focuses on social dancing but also competes in Country and has several competition students also.
Dave West
Dave has been dancing since 1982, teaching since 1984. Dave dances Country, Swing and some Ballroom. He competed on the *West 40 Dance Team*. He has competed, judged, taught up to Masters level in Country, was a Master Choreographer, Master Judge and a Master Instructor for the UCWDC and CWDI. He has worked with over 18 teams and 136 couples, many of which became Grand Champions. His greatest accomplishment was finding and molding Robert Royston, who is now world renowned. Dave has taught at clubs and studios all over the bay area. He built and owned *Dave's Dance Place* studio from 2000-2003. He has taught at The Ballroom of Sacramento since 2010.
Mitch Dudley
has been dancing since 2000. He took lessons from Eddie Vidola Sr. & Jr before moving to Santa Rosa and taking from Yvonne Wayne and Kelly Buckwalter. He started dancing at the Ballroom in 2003 and in 2010 started assisting Theresa McGarry, in the West Coast Swing class, eventually taking over the Beginning class in 2015. Besides West Coast Swing, Mitch teaches Country Two Step and Night Club Two Step. He is well liked for his easy going style. He is also available for private lessons.
Grace Kato
The blur of activity you see at the studio would be Grace Kato. Her high energy and passion are apparent in all aspects of her dancing. Whether she is working on her own dancing or yours, her energy and enthusiasm is non-stop. Part of the Ballroom's Family since before they laid the first plank of wood on the floor, Grace has been active in our dance community since 1994. She started dancing as an amateur in the International Latin Style, followed by American Rhythm, International Standard and American Smooth. As an amateur, she and her partner, David Stewart competed and achieved national recognition in every style of dancing they have undertaken... even West Coast Swing! David and Grace turned "pro" in 2003 and they have continued with their dancing success together as well as with their pro-am students. She consistently has top placements with her students. If you see her out on the dance floor, be sure to ask her for a dance!
Christy Cloud
Christy grew up wanting nothing more than to dance! Her parents were more sports minded, however, and enrolled her in a multitude of competitive sports. She finally got her wish as a teenager and began formal and rigorous ballet training, which was woefully late in life to be a serious ballerina. Nevertheless, in college she majored in Music Theatre and minored in dance. In 2007 Christy came to The Ballroom of Sacramento and was introduced to partner dancing. In 2008 she started working for us in a variety of capacities. She began her formal teacher’s training with our in house program in 2008. Bitten immediately by the Argentine Tango bug, she specializes in Argentine Tango but can teach the other dances and choreograph for special events and weddings.
Theresa McGarry
Theresa has background in Jazz, Modern Dance, Hula, Belly Dancing, Ballroom, County, Hustle and Swing. She is primarily known for her West Coast Swing dancing in numerous competitions across the State. Her biggest reward in dancing is sharing the joy of dance with someone who is just learning! Theresa teaches West Coast Swing, Salsa, Night Club Two Step, and Hustle.
Monika Olkiewicz
Monika, originally from Poland, embarked on her remarkable journey in the world of dance at the age of 3, focusing initially on classical ballet. At the age of 10, she ventured into the realm of Ballroom Dance. Her passion for dance would ultimately lead her on a tour of Europe, culminating in her relocation to the United States at age 18.
As an amateur dancer, Monika blazed a trail across the USA. With a wealth of experience spanning over 3 decades, she transitions into the professional dance circuit. Today, Monika imparts her expertise as a dedicated teacher of Ballroom dance and American Smooth, catering to students of all levels, from novice to advanced. Her instructional repertoire includes, group classes, private lessons, Pro-Am partnerships, and wedding couples.
Bailey Castillo-Tucker
Bailey's dancing started in college, where he studied Psychology, Dance, and Kinesiology in pursuit of a career in Dance Therapy while touring with his college’s Ballet/Contemporary dance company. His ballroom dancing career sparked an interest that has since grown to include both the social and the competitive. Bailey is a firm believer that good technique should make dancing fun and easy.
A former finalist in American Smooth and an award-winning choreographer with experience teaching all styles from beginner to the competitive level: Bailey specializes in American Smooth and International Standard, as well as social partner dances including West Coast Swing, Hustle, Salsa and Bachata. He has a special place in his heart for choreography of any style, from show numbers to wedding dances to competitive routines.
Tyler Apian
Tyler teaches beginning to advanced American Smooth, Rhythm, Club Dances and Competitive Dancing.
Elloitt Genovia
Elliott teaches Salsa and Bachata from beginning to advanced levels.