Our Team
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Roswitha Wetschka
Director, Principal teacher
Roswitha is a dance teacher, coach, choreographer and former competitor, originally from Vienna, Austria and was in 2011 the European Champion in Latin American Dances, Women Seniors. She has a Master degree in Psychology from the University of Vienna and the highest qualification level in dance sport, the Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). At the ISTD she was involved in research about inclusive dance syllabus, has published several times in the ISTD magazine and is part of the Think Tank for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. She is teaching 'Partnering in Social Dance' at the London Studio Centre ('BA (Hons) Theatre Dance', for Ballet, Musical Theatre, Jazz Theatre Dance, Contemporary Dance) as well as chairing the organising team of the Vienna Dance Contest, a longs standing international same-gender dance competition in Austria.
Roswitha has more than 25 years of teaching and choreographing experience (14 years of that in Vienna), and is known for her contagious enthusiasm for dancing and for her musicality. Her deep knowledge of dance technique, body, mind and movement informs her creative and fun-focused teaching approach and her endless search for new ways of teaching. She is very successful with making people dance and enjoy within a short period of time, with developing choreography adapted to each Wedding Couple, with improving the technique of dancers on any level, from Beginners to medallists to competitors to professionals, and with making Ballroom & Latin dancing more inclusive for all abilities or ages, including people with any kind of physical or mental restrictions or disabilities or simply older age. She also prepares dance teachers for professional exams in Ballroom, Latin and Viennese Waltz with the ISTD.
Charles Chan
Charles Chan is a dance teacher and DJ in Latin and Ballroom dances; as well as a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Born in Hong Kong, Charles moved to London as a teenager and for many years had a successful career as a dental surgeon. During this time he discovered Ballroom and Latin Dancing – a hobby which soon turned into a passion, eventually leading him to pursue a professional career in dance.
Since then he has built up a budding profile as a teacher of students from social dancers to medallists; as well as a DJ and compère for social events and dance competitions.
Charles is a member of the teaching/organising team of the long running dance club The Pink Jukebox and part of the organising team of the international dance competition, The Pink Jukebox Trophy. He performs and competes regularly with the show-dance team The Pink Dancers.
Charles believes Latin and Ballroom Dancing is for everyone, at any age; it is a healthy, sociable pastime which is a lot of fun - and can even be life-changing.
Ivana Ostrowski
Ivana is a dance teacher, choreographer & creative and former competitor & professional dancer. She has worked within the dance industry for over 25 years.
Born into a Ballroom dancing family in Berlin, she started dancing at an early age. She competed in Ballroom and Latin Dance in Germany for 10 years and became a Junior and Amateur Champion in both Ballroom and Latin American Dance. Moving to London to study Contemporary Dance Theatre at the Laban Centre, she graduated with a First Class Degree (BA Hons Dance Theatre). After graduating from Laban, Ivana worked as a professional dancer within the dance industry for many years before she then moved into the creative side as well as the educational side within the dance industry. She is a winner of the Simone Michelle Choreography Award and is qualified with the ISTD at the highest level. She holds Fellowships in both Ballroom and Latin American Dance with the ISTD (FISTD). Ivana served on the Club Dance Faculty of the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) from 2009-2015; during this time she was part of the team which wrote the current ISTD Salsa syllabus. She has taught at various schools and colleges all over London for the past 25 years. Furthermore she has worked on the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Franchise for over 15 years all over the world (Ireland, UK, Middle East, Turkey) - both as a professional dancer as well as a Choreographer and Creative (working on concepts & creatives for the show).
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Ivana enjoys teaching people from all areas of life - professionals, aspiring and established performing artists, children, as well as the general public in various types of settings - from Wedding dances to social dancers, aspiring professionals, professionals & coaching competitors. She also prepares students for Medal exams with the ISTD and can prepare dance teachers for professional exams in Ballroom & Latin with the ISTD.
She has also got extensive experience working within the inclusive dance field, teaching and choreographing for wheelchair users and visually impaired students, both on a social and performance level - she enjoys developing creative ways of how established dance techniques can be adapted and creatively explored to make dance technique and the dance experience accessible and enjoyable to all.
Kevin Haycock
Kevin started Ballroom and Latin American dancing at the age of 9 and competed regularly until he was 16. At college he discovered a love of contemporary dance and went on to study contemporary, ballet and Jazz dance at the Coventry Centre for Performing Arts, followed by The Northern School of Contemporary Dance. He is an Associate in Ballroom and qualified in Latin American dances with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, ISTD.
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Kevin had a varied early performing career dancing and singing throughout the north east of England, in nightclubs, social clubs, and holiday camps with several bands and dance performance groups.
In 2011, after a long break from dancing, Kevin rediscovered his love for Ballroom dancing and started taking classes again in London, just in time to audition for and then perform in the 2012 London Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.
Currently, as well as teaching, Kevin competes regularly, nationally and internationally in Ballroom, Latin and 10 Dance. He has a passion for all forms of social dancing and enjoys helping others discover a love of partner dancing.
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Laurie Yates
Senior teacher
Laurie started dancing at the age of seven at which time he studied both Ballroom and Latin American and undertook a series of ISTD medal tests. Two years later he became a competitive dancer commencing in the Juvenile division and then continuing in the Junior and Adult amateur category before joining the Professional ranks. With his Professional dance partner, he was rated within the world's top 12 couples in Professional Ballroom, achieving a semi-final place in both the British Professional ‘Open to the World’ Ballroom Championship at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool and the ‘International’ Professional Ballroom Championship at the Royal Albert Hall, London. During that time Laurie was in great demand for Ballroom shows and demonstrations.
Since retiring from competing, Laurie has concentrated on teaching, coaching and choreographing. He teaches adults and children of all ages and grades from beginners through to competitors and students studying for Medal Tests and Professional examinations. His passion for teaching encompasses technical accuracy, musicality and choreographic artistry.
Outside of the studio Laurie is often invited to adjudicate competitions both in the UK and abroad and to date has adjudicated championships in over twenty countries. He is also a regular contributor to the newspaper ‘Dance News’.
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Laurie holds Fellowship level qualifications with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in both Ballroom and Latin American together with the ISTD Certificate in Dance Education. In 2011 Laurie was honored to be appointed as an examiner for the ISTD and has since assessed medal test candidates throughout the UK and in Asia.
B Mashat
Seeking a break from her rigorous computer science classes, B discovered ballroom dancing during college in California. Since then, she has fallen in love with the world of ballroom, Latin, and swing dancing.
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In addition to participating in multiple showcases and social dance events as both a follower and a leader, B competed as a swing dancer in Lindy Hop with the Sacramento-based Midtown Stomp team at Camp Hollywood. She also joined the Gwen Burton Luke's Spirit in Motion Dance Company, where she competed in the San Francisco Open and the International Grand Ball.
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B graduated with high honours from the Professional Ballroom Teachers Academy, earning a diploma in Bronze level American Smooth, American Rhythm, and American Club dances. Additionally, she has an associate degree in American Smooth through Dance Vision International Dance Association.
B's absolute favourite aspect of ballroom is social dancing, both as a leader and follower. Her position in the California studios where she danced on a daily basis allowed her to train with and teach people of all age groups, backgrounds, and levels of expertise. Her passion for social dance stems from the joy that only partner dancing can bring and the sense of community it fosters.
Currently, she is undergoing training for certification in International Standard and Latin American dances from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.
Ralf Schiller
Senior teacher
Ralf started dancing as a teenager in Germany and competed successfully in Latin and Ballroom.
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He was the Principal of Kensington Dance Studio in London, as well as a member of the Club Dance Faculty of the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) and is the co-founder and organizer of the Pink Jukebox, Pink Dancers, and Pink Jukebox Trophy. He wrote the ISTD Syllabus in Argentine Tango. Ralf together with Kele Baker were choreographing for many years the Argentine Tango for BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
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His teaching is guided by his great musicality, his immense knowledge and deep understanding of dance technique and dance history as well as of the thousand little tricks that make learning dancing so much easier. He is the master of teaching complicated steps and technique in a simple way and of choreographing always new advanced routines.
Ilias Agoras
Guest teacher
Ilias was born in Greece and has achieved a BSc Degree in Physical Education. He has been dancing Ballroom, Latin American and other forms of dancing for more than 25 years. He started his teaching career more than 20 years ago and is qualified with the IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association). In 2003 he was awarded a scholarship from the IDTA, for his remarkable success in the professional Ballroom exams.
Ilias who is able to teach Greek Dances as well, enjoys passing his knowledge to his students and see them happier at the end of the class.
Monica & Omar
'LosOcampo'
Guest teachers
“LosOcampo” are Monica Romero & Omar Ocampo. They are teachers, dancers and choreographers of Argentine Tango and Argentine Folklore, are located in Argentina, but visit London regulary and can then be booked, for shows, group classes and private lessons.