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.
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.
Tobi Kretschmer began his training in Germany when he was just a child and has been dancing ever since. He is well trained in International Latin and Standard as well as American Smooth and Rhythm, Hustle and Salsa. His most recent titles include the Rising Star Champion in American Smooth at the New Jersey State Open 2010, Finalist in American Smooth at the Commonwealth Classic 2010, and he was also the German 10 Dance Champion in 1997. Dancing and teaching is his passion in life and he enjoys taking his students to the highest levels in competitions. Whether you are a competitive student or have never danced before, Tobi can accomodate anyone's dancing needs.
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
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.
Stirling Taylor was born in Dallas Texas where his passion for the limelight and dance started at a very early age. Learning Salsa, Bachatta, and Merengue from his Latin friends was only a start for the passion that would drive the rest of his future. After high school Stirling moved to Florida to pursue an education in broadcasting journalism at the University of Central Florida, University of South Florida and the University of Carolina at Charlotte. While attending school he was approached at a dance event to be a dance Instructor and fell in love with the world of ballroom and Latin dance. Since than Stirling has won numerous awards for his dancing as well as his talent to teach. He has been recognized as a top instructor for his skill to share his passion and knowledge with his students, gaining them first place at several dance events. Through his years as an instructor Stirling specializes in the ability to transfer the knowledge he possesses to the student or students in a fast fun and easy manner.
Patricia Becker is a dancer, actress and choreographer from Argentina. She started her dance training at the age of 5 years old. She trained in classical ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, Latin rhythms, and tango. She has worked for the Ballet Sangre Latina and for the Ballet Oficial de Danza Contemporánea del Teatro San Martín, directed by Emilia Montagnoli who was one of Pina Bausch’s dancers. She has choreographed many musicals in Argentina such as: Frankenstein, Don Mago and Arlequino. In 2006 she moved to New York and has appeared in multiple plays and musicals such as Gardel at the Spanish Repertory Theatre. She has been an ACE award nominee as Best Dramatic Actress for two consecutive years.
