Dance Instructors

Dance Times Square boasts the finest roster of ballroom and Latin dance instructors in New York City. Our staff combines both the highest level of dance skill with top-notch teaching methods.

Fellow dance instructors from around the world come to Dance Times Square in the heart of Manhattan to learn from Tony and Melanie, whose expertise includes both training top competitors, as well as getting beginners comfortable on the dance floor in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere.

The staff at Dance Times Square is carefully chosen for their knowledge, skill and teaching ability. This is a team that truly loves giving dance lessons and spreading the joy of dance, and instructors are closely matched to the needs of each individual student. Whether your goal is to finally learn how to dance, or to train to become a champion, the instructors at Dance Times Square can take you there.

Melanie LaPatin is a world-renowned choreographer and artistic director who over the past 30 years has won the worlds most prestigious ballroom dance titles and has choreographed some of the most memorable pieces of dance in film and television.  Melanie represented the US for over a decade in the World Latin American Dance Championships where she and her partner Tony Meredith took home over 100 major Championship titles.

After her retirement from competitive dancing in 1998 Melanie created Dance Times Square as a home-base in New York where she continues to produce and direct a variety of theatrical shows and choreograph for film, television, Broadway, and a new generation of ballroom dancers.

Tony Meredith serves as a ballroom dance competition adjudicator, coach, and choreographer, and possesses a wide range of versatility in all dances. Tony has been behind the scenes as well as made appearances in various films, TV shows, and Broadway, including feature film performances in Dance with me, Let It Be Me, and The Last Days of Disco. He is also known for co-hosting seasons 1 and 2 of the PBS series America's Ballroom Challenge with Marilu Henner.

Tony met Melanie LaPatin  in 1981 and the two subsequently formed a professional partnership, traveling the world representing the United States 12 times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships, and soon after retiring from competition, opened Dance Times Square.

Clive Uter hails from London, where he began dancing at the age of seven. He has represented England at the world championships in the International Latin category, and has trained with top coaches from around the world. Since coming to New York, Clive has been a finalist at the Ohio Star Ball, the world's biggest ballroom dance competition, in the Professional Rising Star Latin category. He also competes with many of his students and travels the country representing Dance Times Square. Clive comptetes regularly in the pro-am division with his students. Clive's current titles include: Blackpool youth finalist, British national youth finalist, UK closed youth champion, British nationals amateur finalist, UK closed amateur finalist, UK world representative in juvenile, junior, and youth, Ohio star ball professional rising star finalist and Yankee classic professional rising star champion 2010.

Esther Frances is originally from Miami, FL and has been creating her own style of dance since she was three years old. She trained in classical ballet for 12 years in Alabama and Florida. She has been performing and teaching ballroom dance for over 6 years and has recently relocated to New York to further her training with Tony and Melanie. At Dance Times Square she is able to use her business and dance skills as their manager and marketing director. She has years of experience as a state and marketing manager for one of America's largest beverage distributors. Esther received a BM from the University of Miami in Music Business and Entertainment Industries with a minor in marketing.  During her time at the university she concentrated on classical piano, jazz vocal studies and dance..

Kathryn Vaughn started her dancing career in Colorado in 1996.  She started off as a Country/Western dancer but found that she loved both American Ballroom & Rhythm styles of dancing.  Throughout the years she has not only taught many levels of dancing but has performed in shows and competed in both American Smooth and International Standard. She has competed for years and earned many titles including the 2004 United States Rising Star American Ballroom Champion.  Kathryn moved to Maine in 2005 with her partner and opened up their own Ballroom Studio.  She has made the exciting move to New York and is one of the managers here at Dance Times Square.  

Vladimir Velev was raised in Bulgaria, where he began dancing at the age of six, and attended university in Austria. From 2006-2009, based in Jupiter, Florida, he was a member of one of the East Coast's most successful ballroom dance teams. Vladimir specializes in teaching both children and adults, sharing his enthusiasm at Dance Times Square while continuing to train for competition. His current titles include: Austrian champion from 1999 to 2005, 2004/2005 - Semifinal (9th place) World Amateur Cup in International Latin 2005 - Quarterfinalist  in European Amateur Championship in International Latin 2004/2005 season - Ranked under the Best 50 couples in the World Amateur Ranking List in International Latin, 2006 quarter finalist at European and World  Professional Latin Championships two time Fred Astaire Professional Latin Champion 2007 Hotlanta number 1 ranked couple in the International Latin Professional Division

A native of Haiti who holds a degree in economics, Edson Jeune competes in the American Rhythm and American Smooth categories, where he has posted solid results with partner Cristina Pacheco. When not training or giving dance lessons, Edson enjoys improving his massage skills.

Chrissy Bridgeman enjoys bringing new ideas to traditional styles and technique and is constantly learning new material and technique to add to her 12 years of experience in teaching and performing. Chrissy has won numerous events including the American Lindy Hop Championships and Canadian Swing Dance Championships. Chrissy has also choreographed and appeared in film and theater for Hard Rock Live’s Oscar Night America, American Heartland Theater’s production of SWING!, and many others.  Most importantly,  Chrissy focuses on making sure everyone learns and has a great time.

Yesid Lopez is originally from Colombia. He has been involved with different organizations performing in Colombia, UK, Cuba, and the US as a dancer and choreographer. He has been a choreographer-featured dancer in Latin styles with Hanwha Resort in Sokcho City, South Korea. He has trained, instructed, danced and choreographed numerous Latin and world dance styles.Yesid has taught and danced with Ballet Hispanico of New York, has his own dance project called Yesid Lopez Contemporary Dance: The Collective, working with DeMa Dance Company as a resident choreographer and has been chosen by the WDA America for the 2010 International Young Choreographer Project in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Russ and Katusha Wilder started dancing at the ages of 6 and 7 in St. Petersburg, Russia. After moving to United States in 2002 Katusha and Russ quickly moved thorough the ranks and gained recognition as one of the top 10-dance couples nation wide.  Katusha  graduated from St. Petersburg University of Physical Culture with a degree as a Specialist in Sports & Personal Fitness Instructor. Russ graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in TV and Radio Production. Currently Russ and Katusha are working with Audrey Hepburn Children’s House in Hackensak, NJ to help abused children by implementing a dance program as a part of their curriculum. Russ and Katusha's current titles include: Top 48 at Blackpool May 2010, United States Amateur 10-Dance Runners up ,United States Amateur Representatives to the World 10 Dance Championships, 2008 Mexico Open Professional Standard Finalists, 2009 Emerald Ball Rising Star Standard Professional Bronze Medalists, 2008; 2009 United States Professional 10-dance Finalist, 2009 Ohio Star Ball Rising Star Professional Standard Bronze medalists, La Classique Du Quebec 2009, 2010 Professional Standard Bronze Finalists and Latin Finalists, 2010 Vegas Showdown Open Professional Latin Finalists.

Raquel Ribich is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado at Boulder who received her bachelor of fine arts degree in dance along with an emphasis in psychology. Raquel Ribich had the privilege of meeting Melanie LaPatin during the filming of the movie, Leading Ladies in summer 2009. Raquel has been technically trained in many styles of dance including: jazz, modern, hip hop, ballet, West African dance, Flamenco, and aerial dance. She relocated to New York in order to broaden her education in ballroom dance with  guidance from Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin along with the other talented teachers at Dance Times Square.