DANCE INSTRUCTORS

Dance Headquarters Features the Finest Dance Instructors in San Diego!

For more information about any of our featured instructors, click on the “More Info!” button listed below their photo.

If you have additional questions, or to schedule a private lesson with one of our instructors, please CONTACT US.

Shawn Torgerson

Shawn Torgerson/Owner

Shawn opened the studio Dance For 2, now better known as San Diego’s, Dance Headquarters in 2005. At that time it was just the top floor of the American Legion in Linda Vista. The room was small but, was the start of what is now one of the largest dance studios in San Diego at 7,700 square feet and features what he feels is the best of the best in staff, students, flooring, sound, lighting, and location. While able to teach with high proficiency a multitude of styles his specialty is club dances and uses his background in hip hop and breakdancing to create unique and cool pattern combinations that can be used in partner social dancing. He now focuses primarily on running the studio and making sure it continues to be evolving at a top-notch level while teaching a limited amount of private lessons and classes.

Dance Headquarters is his complete vision. A place where all dance styles and people of any gender, race, size, or religion are welcomed. A favorite saying of his is, “Dance is a form of expression and everyone should learn to express themselves.”

He has worked very hard in putting together a place that offers everything from social partner dancing to top-level competitive dancing while making sure staff and students are warm and welcoming. Whether you come here to learn, train, or practice he hopes you enjoy the dance.

Noelle Newman/Studio Manager

Noelle is the welcoming face you see when you first walk into Dance Headquarters and the friendly voice on the phone when you call to ask questions or schedule lessons. She oversees the dance instructors and event coordinators along with being tasked with the day-to-day responsibilities of running a dance studio with more than 20 instructors and hundreds of students. This includes scheduling, promoting on social media, managing the newsletter, collections, cleaning, website management, troubleshooting & more!

Christann Heideman

Christann Heideman, a San Diego native, began dancing jazz and hip hop as a kid. In junior high and high school, cheerleading became her avenue for performance and creativity through body movement. After high school, Christann had a strong interest in partner dancing and, in 2003, she began training in to be a ballroom dance teacher, becoming a certified instructor in 2005 through Dance Vision.

In January 2011, Christann joined the team of incredibly talented teachers at Dance For 2, now San Diego Dance Headquarters where she still teaches. She has a passion for teaching new dancers and watching them transform right before her eyes. She has taught numerous wedding couples their first dance including Katie & Steve who’s first dance consisted of a mash-up of famous movie choreography like Dirty Dancing, Thriller, Pulp Fiction, and Austin Powers- Yes, all in 2.5 minutes! She has also loved working with families for the Father-of-the-bride dance and surprise wedding dances.

Christann’s style of teaching varies and each lesson is tailored to the student. The most important part of a lesson is to give each person what they need to have fun and learn to dance with the approach that works best for them. She offers Salsa, Cha Cha, Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot, East and West Coast Swing and more. If you have any questions, just ask!

David Fan

David Fan

David Fan’s mantra is simply this; that dancing should be for everyone! Whether your goal is to just try something new, to have that wedding dance you’ve always dreamed of, or even to go compete and perform at the highest levels, we can develop a program that fits you. David has been teaching since 2016, and have coached numerous dancers ranging in age from four to ninety-nine, and of all levels from newcomers to other professionals. He specializes in International Ballroom, International Latin,American Smooth, American Rhythm, Theater arts, and weddings.  David brings a strong artistic background as he is also a classically trained operatic baritone.  He looks forward to sharing his live for dance with you!

FDA

Facility Dance Alumni (FDA)

We are Facility Dance Alumni! Our mission is to provide a fun, welcoming, and safe space for people to dance and be themselves. We want to continue to keep our dance community alive and see it grow and thrive! All our instructors are highly talented and trained in their craft.

Here are just some of the names our instructors have worked with & been a part of: Jabbawockeez,  Super Galactic Beat Manipulators, Saweetie, Kendra Jae, Adam Sevani, Nick Pauley, Nicole Kirkland, San Diego Rock Angels, SeaWorld, Disneyland, Legoland, Fuego Dance Crew, NBC’s World of Dance, World of Dance Competition, SNOWTORIOUS, NRG Music and Productions, District 2 Dance Team, SDSU Diamonds Dance Team, Moonshine Beach, Moonshine Flats, and many more!

John Nagel

John Nagel is also concurrently teaching dance and fitness classes at SDSU. He has been teaching partner dance for decades, having a repertoire of over thirty dances. Everything from cumbia to country western two-step.

Katia Diamond

Katia Diamond

Katia, originally from South America, specializes in Argentine Tango. She has been dancing and teaching Argentine Tango most of her life. Katia teaches all styles of Tango including salon, milonguero, fantasia, stage, milonga & vals. She teaches both leader and follower roles and is one of the very few women instructors that can lead tango as well her male colleagues.  Katia is also a Ballroom & Latin Dance Instructor, Performer & Competitor. She holds numerous national and world titles in American Rhythm & Smooth and currently teaches social students, competitive dancers and competes & performs worldwide.

Katia is also the founder of Milonga MagnificaTM, “Southern California’s most Magnificent Milonga,” TangoBurlesqueTM, an Argentine Tango & Burlesque show scheduled to debut next year, and has been featured as the lead dancer in several dance music videos.

But Katia’s true passion is for teaching. She genuinely loves teaching and her students mean more to her than anything. She is incredibly happy to watch each and every one of them as they improve and succeed on the dance floor.

You can contact Katia or follow her on Facebook to keep up with her latest classes, events, workshops & more!

Linda Garwood

Linda Garwood is originally from Mexico and is now permanently residing in San Diego. She has been dancing and studying tango since 1998 and has been teaching since 2002. She teaches strictly social tango both from the leader’s and follower’s perspective in both traditional salon tango and the more intimate Milonguero style. She has traveled extensively to complement her training, learning from well known Argentine masters such as Facundo Posadas, Guillermo Merlo, Fernanda Ghi, Sergio Cortazzao, Stella Barba, Graciela Gonzalez and many more. Most recently she trained in the Milonguero style with Susana Miller, Argentina’s foremost teacher in this style. Linda has been in Buenos Aires twice, both times spending a month perfecting her dancing technique and investigating different teaching methodologies. The Argentine influence can be felt and seen in her approach to teaching Tango. Posture, connection and musicality are emphasized extensively through all her classes. Technique is always the focus point of her teaching. She strongly believes in a solid foundation and complete understanding of the basics of the dance.

Liza Marians

Fun, friendly, patient, flexible, & talented are some of the words students have used to describe dance instructor Liza. She has been choreographing and teaching wedding dances as well as beginning level country, line, ballroom, swing, & Latin dancing in San Diego for 20 years. She was professionally trained at Mac Vitties Dance Studio where she taught for a few years and then branched out on her own furthering her training with experts in the field. The daughter of an accomplished international folk dancer, Liza has been dancing all her life and loves inspiring and motivating people.

Margie Adams

Margie Adams

2toGroove has been one of the most sought after sources for swing dancing instruction and entertainment in San Diego for more than 13 years…. and continues to be highly referred. Getting people to “swing dance now” in the class room and on performance stages and dance halls across SD is what it’s all about….passion for this great American art form. When people see the energy, take a class or come to a 2toGroove event, they will experience what matters..the joy of it all!. Swing is about happiness, sharing the music, and connecting with others. It takes two – 2togroove.” In its infancy, 2toGroove started when one of San Diego’s first lindy hoppers, Margie Adams, was asked to teach what she knew. From a couple classes back in 1997, that grew into what is now known as 2toGroove, a full time swing dance  instruction and dance entertainment business originated by Margie and Jim Cruzen. By bringing together a wealth of 25 plus years of instructional experience in swing, ballroom, jazz, ballet, tap and folk dance, Margie brought great teaching and diagnostic skills to the 2toGroove learning environment.  Her goal has been to make sure that is always the case and that all 2toGroove instructors support that.   The well-attended classes, dance parties and special events say it all. Margie with dance partner , Jim also continues to teach at major international workshops in the US and Europe, run the biggest annual cash prize dance contest in the the US ($10K David Patrone Viejas Swing Event) and has in previous years run the local venues “The Rocket Swing Club” and “All Things Swing dance as well as the “Halloween Monster Swing Jam” event. 2toGroove has kept swing dance in the public spotlight by performing in and around San Diego for events such as the Grand Opening of the Balboa Theater downtown, Midway Museum, Classics for Kids Concerts, Celebrate Dance Festival, Chula Vista and La Jolla outdoor concerts, and other public events. 2toGroove is also a favorite among San Diego’s corporations for swing dance entertainment. Over the years, they’ve helped create successful swing themed parties for companies such as Qualcomm, 1-800 Flowers, GreatCall Inc., the City of Carlsbad, 1st Pacific Bank, LaJolla Country Club and more. Finally, 2toGroove runs an exciting swing for hire performance team called SwingFX. They are fast, fun and will definitly make you smile.    So you can see ….with so much passion for swing, for performing & teaching, Margie and her dance partners, dance team   and crew keep it swingin’ in all kinds of ways .  There is something for everyone.

Maria Kucherenko

Maria Kucherenko is CEO of American Modeling Academy and has more than 25+ years of experience as a Runway model in Russia, China, Europe, and the USA. For the last 20+ years as director of fashion shows and beauty pageants in Russia and the USA. She has trained more than 7,000 models all over the world.

Mark Pablo

Mark Pablo

Mark teaches classes for both social and competition dancers with his dance partner, Christann Heideman.

Studios/Performances/Projects:

U.P.T.O.W.N Dance team
Hawaii Dance Alliance
Honolulu Dance Studio
808 Dance Project
Champions Ballroom
Starlight Dance Studio
El Mundo del Tango
Pattie Wells’ Dancetime Center
24 hr. Fitness
Nike

Disneyland’s Magic Music Days
SILK (R&B group-Elektra records)
MTV’s “the Grind”
Salsa Congress (Los Angeles/Albert Torres Productions)
Salsa Congress (Hawaii/Albert Torres Productions)
“Tango Caliente” (w/ Fernandha Ghi & Guillermo Merlo)
Rihanna (Def Jam recording artist/album promo)
Tango for “Celebrity Sonnets Presentations” – Old Globe Theatre

Mira Reznichenko

Mira Reznichenko is a professional ballroom dancer, instructor, and choreographer with 24 years of dancing experience and over 9 years of teaching expertise. Born in Ukraine, she began her dance journey at the age of 3 and has continued to refine her skills in the United States. As a Ukrainian National Latin finalist and winner of numerous international dance competitions, Mira offers private and group lessons to students of all ages, for both

recreational dance and competition programs. She serves as a dedicated guide for her students throughout their entire dance journey, nurturing their growth and supporting them in achieving outstanding results in competitions both in the US and worldwide.

Parker Dearborn

Parker Dearborn has been a dancer since he could walk, first by learning Country & Line dances, and then as a teen, participating in both solo and partner dance styles.  He eventually gravitated to West Coast Swing, with a back-round in Ballroom, Latin, Country, and other forms of Swing. He became a professional dancer, at the age of 17 in his hometown of San Diego, California.

Parker has dedicated his life to dance and is grateful to have a successful career that has earned him the most prestigious awards in the world of West Coast Swing. Parker holds the title to every major championship in the nation. He is a three time US Open Swing Dance Champion and two time Grand National Swing Dance Champion.  He has also been inducted to several Halls of Fame for his contributions to the style of West Coast Swing. Parker’s decorated competition career has since distinguished him as a world-renowned and sought-after choreographer, instructor, and coach.

Russ Bradchulis

Russ is a six-time World Champion dancer with the United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC), and renowned national Instructor known for his emphasis on technique and down-to-earth explanations. He also is an active competitor in the UCWDC, Country The Step Tour, and World Swing Dance Council, and has won multiple awards for his line dance choreography. As the Director of Operations and Competition Coordinator for KickStart Country, the leading Country Dance Event and Instruction company in the United States, Russ is responsible for setting up and maintaining all of KickStart’s competitions, systems, and processes to make events run smoothly and ensure that all competitors have a fun environment in which to explore their own passion for dance. Russ’ areas of expertise include Two Step, Country Swing, Waltz, Night Club Two Step, ChaCha, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Triple Two Step, and Polka. If you ask him, Russ will tell you that he feels most at home, dialed in, and fulfilled when he’s teaching anything — especially country dance — and sharing his passion for helping people become the dancer they’ve always wanted to be…. or to discover that person within themselves.

Sergiy Kvashyn

Sergiy is a 5 time Ukrainian Latin Champion, a Professional World Latin ChampionshipSemi-Finalist, and a Winner and Finalist of many international competitions in England, Russia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Switzerland, USA, Austria and MORE! He has more than 30 years of dance experience and has been teaching for over 20 years. His students are pro/am World Champions and US National Champions. Sergiy specializes in International Latin and Ballroom dancing.

Trish Connery Walkup

Trish Connery Walkup is a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and judge
specializing in the contemporary partner dances. She is based in San Diego.
An award-winning dancer, Trish is a five-time UCWDC Worlds Champion in
multiple divisions as well as a California Swing Dance Hall of Fame Rising Star.
She is a multi-year finalist at the US Open Swing Dance Championships including
top placements in Masters Routine Division, Masters Strictly Swing Division and
Teams Division.
Trish began her teaching/judging career 20 years ago in Los Angeles with the
legendary “teacher of teachers,” Skippy Blair and her Dance Dynamics
Intensives training program. After building a successful teaching business in Los
Angeles, Trish made the move to San Diego in 2012.
Trish was quick to put down dance roots in her new hometown. She is one of
the original founders of Southland Hustle, a social dance club in San Diego
dedicated to promoting and preserving Hustle through weekly classes and
monthly social dances. She is a Co-Founder of the Double Diva Workshops and
Hustle Teams. She is also the creator behind DanceChatter Performance Teams,
with routines in Country 2-Step, West Coast Swing, Hustle, and Nightclub 2-Step.
Today Trish teaches a multitude of dances: West Coast Swing, Hustle,
Country 2-Step, Nightclub 2-Step, Cha Cha, Salsa, etc. Trish and her husband,
David Walkup, are the premiere Country 2-Step instructors in San Diego.
In addition to weekly group classes and private lessons, Trish is often on the
teaching and judging staff at dance conventions. She produces specialty
workshops for corporate clients, dance studios and private parties. She provides
teaching, choreography and coaching services for social and competitive dancers and loves to work with wedding couples as they prepare for their all-
important first dance.

Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams

Vanessa has been Ballroom Dancing for more than 30 years, having started in her native New Zealand. She trained in Ballroom, Latin and New Vogue and competed successfully in the
Amateur International Standard division in New Zealand while studying for her MS in
Psychology. Moving to the U.S. in 1998, Vanessa started her career as an instructor in 2003, taking a position at a Pennsylvania dance studio, and training in the American dance styles of Smooth, Rhythm, and Club. In 2005 she and her husband moved to San Diego, where she loves to share her joy of dance with
students of all ages and abilities. She has many students whose primary goal is enjoying social dancing, but also trains students who perform in showcases and competitions. During her time in
San Diego she has become sought after as a wedding dance specialist, and has helped over 150 San Diego couples make their wedding dance memorable. She is especially good at working with beginners (including reluctant grooms!), developing a unique course of instruction to fit
each individual’s goals and learning style.
Vanessa is the primary instructor and Dance Program Director for Let’s Dance Kids!, a non-profit foundation based in the South Bay School District with the goal of providing Ballroom Dance training to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
She is a member of the Dance Vision Professional Teacher Organization, and has achieved professional certifications in both Smooth (American style) and Ballroom (International style).