For Kristina, dance has been
a passion all her life. Although having
a background in ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, Congolese and tap, ballroom is
her true love. Her early ballroom
training came under the direction of Steven and Susan McFerran and continued
with Martin Skupinski and Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin. Kristina’s
Collegiate ballroom achievements include the following accomplishments: Gold
Medal in International Standard (1st place all dances), Fall 2005, and competitive experience placing top three in Gold Level International
Latin, Silver Level American Smooth and Silver Level American Rhythm 2003-2006. Kristina’s Amateur achievements
include: Novice International Latin 3
Dance Champion, Triple Crown Dancesport, Summer 2009. Her Professional achievements include: finalist with her Students in Bronze Level
Smooth Pro/Am, Nevada Star Ball, Summer 2010.
Kristina is a DVIDA certified instructor and is proficient in the following styles of partner dance: Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Hustle and Polka.
Kristina earned a B.A. in both Psychology and Theatre/Drama from the University of Michigan in 2007. She not only graduated with Honors she also received the Theatre and Drama Merit Award. While at the University, she traveled the country competing as a member of the ballroom dance team, demonstrating a knowledge and skill across all four styles. Kristina was also part of the Latin Fever Dance Troupe in 2006, which performed in and around the Detroit, Michigan area.
Kristina then became part of the entertainment department at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and performed in a variety of shows and parades across property. These included: Party Peep (Dancer)-Move it, Shake it, Celebrate it Street Party; Pixar Pal (Dancer)-Block Party Bash; Cinderella Court Dancer-Mickey’s Pirate and Princess Party; Bridesmaid (Dancer)-Disney Dreams Come True Parade; Cowgirl (Dancer)-Woody’s Cowboy Camp; Dancer-Hoedown.
Additionally, she was a puppeteer for the Voyage of the Little Mermaid Live Stage Show, and did 40 hours of training with Disney’s renowned Geppetto’s Puppet School. She also was chosen to represent the entertainment department on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in 2009 and appeared in ABC’s Disney’s Christmas Parade in 2007 and 2011.
Kristina continued her dance career as a professional ballroom dance instructor at Ballroom Utah Dance Studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, taking students to competitions as well as performing in and choreographing showcase dances. She also participated in charity functions and appeared on local television as part of the Ballroom Utah Studio.
Most recently, Kristina moved to New York City to work with Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin at their studio, Dance Times Square located in Midtown Manhattan. She worked as an Instructor as well as Studio Manager, and appeared in many charity functions and dance performances. Kristina was also chosen as a professional dancer in the first annual "Dancing With The Stews" competition that helps to fund a school in Ethiopia that cares for women and children. During the last year, Kristina had the privilege of working with the website Howcast as a ballroom dance professional. She filmed over 70 videos in which she provided instruction for all of the major ballroom and latin dances. You can view these videos at this link: http://www.howcast.com/videos/513455-How-to-Do-the-Waltz-Balance-Step-Ballroom-Dance . In the spring of 2014, Kristina was chosen as a host and dance instructor for Dancing With The Stars and Walgreen's "Dance Happy, Be Healthy" partnership, in which she taught ballroom lessons at Grand Central Station in New York City to promote the season finale of Dancing With The Stars.
In addition to dance, Kristina also has an extensive theatre background. While at the University of Michigan, she had roles in the following productions: The Tempest-Miranda, Shakespeare in the Arboretum, University of Michigan, Spring/Summer 2007; Twelfth Night, Olivia, Rude Mechanicals Theatre Group, University of Michigan, Fall 2006; Love’s Labor’s Lost, Princess of France/Maria, Shakespeare in the Arboretum, University of Michigan, Spring/Summer 2006; The Wild Party, Delores, MUSKET, University of Michigan, Spring 2005; Cabaret, Kit Kat Dancer, MUSKET, University of Michigan, Spring 2004. Kristina also participated in productions outside of the University, including: Once Upon a Mattress, Queen Aggravain; Lend Me a Tenor, Julia; Hello Dolly, Lead Dancer; Footloose, Lead Dancer; Sweet Charity, Lead Dancer; and The Pajama Game, Lead Dancer.
Kristina is a DVIDA certified instructor and is proficient in the following styles of partner dance: Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Hustle and Polka.
Kristina earned a B.A. in both Psychology and Theatre/Drama from the University of Michigan in 2007. She not only graduated with Honors she also received the Theatre and Drama Merit Award. While at the University, she traveled the country competing as a member of the ballroom dance team, demonstrating a knowledge and skill across all four styles. Kristina was also part of the Latin Fever Dance Troupe in 2006, which performed in and around the Detroit, Michigan area.
Kristina then became part of the entertainment department at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and performed in a variety of shows and parades across property. These included: Party Peep (Dancer)-Move it, Shake it, Celebrate it Street Party; Pixar Pal (Dancer)-Block Party Bash; Cinderella Court Dancer-Mickey’s Pirate and Princess Party; Bridesmaid (Dancer)-Disney Dreams Come True Parade; Cowgirl (Dancer)-Woody’s Cowboy Camp; Dancer-Hoedown.
Additionally, she was a puppeteer for the Voyage of the Little Mermaid Live Stage Show, and did 40 hours of training with Disney’s renowned Geppetto’s Puppet School. She also was chosen to represent the entertainment department on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in 2009 and appeared in ABC’s Disney’s Christmas Parade in 2007 and 2011.
Kristina continued her dance career as a professional ballroom dance instructor at Ballroom Utah Dance Studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, taking students to competitions as well as performing in and choreographing showcase dances. She also participated in charity functions and appeared on local television as part of the Ballroom Utah Studio.
Most recently, Kristina moved to New York City to work with Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin at their studio, Dance Times Square located in Midtown Manhattan. She worked as an Instructor as well as Studio Manager, and appeared in many charity functions and dance performances. Kristina was also chosen as a professional dancer in the first annual "Dancing With The Stews" competition that helps to fund a school in Ethiopia that cares for women and children. During the last year, Kristina had the privilege of working with the website Howcast as a ballroom dance professional. She filmed over 70 videos in which she provided instruction for all of the major ballroom and latin dances. You can view these videos at this link: http://www.howcast.com/videos/513455-How-to-Do-the-Waltz-Balance-Step-Ballroom-Dance . In the spring of 2014, Kristina was chosen as a host and dance instructor for Dancing With The Stars and Walgreen's "Dance Happy, Be Healthy" partnership, in which she taught ballroom lessons at Grand Central Station in New York City to promote the season finale of Dancing With The Stars.
In addition to dance, Kristina also has an extensive theatre background. While at the University of Michigan, she had roles in the following productions: The Tempest-Miranda, Shakespeare in the Arboretum, University of Michigan, Spring/Summer 2007; Twelfth Night, Olivia, Rude Mechanicals Theatre Group, University of Michigan, Fall 2006; Love’s Labor’s Lost, Princess of France/Maria, Shakespeare in the Arboretum, University of Michigan, Spring/Summer 2006; The Wild Party, Delores, MUSKET, University of Michigan, Spring 2005; Cabaret, Kit Kat Dancer, MUSKET, University of Michigan, Spring 2004. Kristina also participated in productions outside of the University, including: Once Upon a Mattress, Queen Aggravain; Lend Me a Tenor, Julia; Hello Dolly, Lead Dancer; Footloose, Lead Dancer; Sweet Charity, Lead Dancer; and The Pajama Game, Lead Dancer.