Dance Instructor and Coach

I started dancing after seeing Disney's rendition of Dance of the hours in the movie Fantasia and was hooked. I started with ballet and jazz and in college, discovered partner dancing through Lindy Hop and I haven't stopped partner dancing since then. I believe in learning as many forms of dance as a way to engage my body in different ways so I expanded my repertoire of dancing to include Argentine Tango, other forms of swing (East Coast, Balboa, West Coast), basic ballroom (Fox Trot, Waltz, Rumba) and even Belly Dancing.

I believe there's a dancer inside everyone just waiting to bust out! Dance has allowed me to open up more and discover the joy in expressing movement to music with another person. It is a joyful, social, physical activity that helps you to learn about yourself and how your body can express to music and communicate with someone else at the same time. Through dancing I have discovered a way to enjoy and celebrate who I am and I would love to share dance with others to help them realize that as well. [Read more on what dancing means to me here.]

I am currently actively dancing kizomba, salsa and bachata and teach at the Century Ballroom in Seattle, WA. If you want to learn kizomba, whatever your level, I'm happy to help you get to where you want to go whether its to get started, refine or improve. I started Kizomba in 2010 and have been growing the local scene as well as teaching since 2011. I have been privileged to learn from and be coached by many great instructors such as Oscar BA, Eddy Vents, Kwenda Lima, Petchu & Vanessa, Lucia Nogueira, Albir, Cymeone to name a few. I can help you with body movement, leading, following and am ready to geek out with you about dance. I also teach salsa (on1 and on2) and bachata.

Contact me at frances@alum.mit.edu if you wish to schedule privates.
Look up my schedule for group classes on Century Ballroom's website or check Kizomba Seattle for my latest events and teaching engagements. 
Read my blog.
Find out more about Kizomba in Seattle.
Read my Interview with Kizomba Community and their Ladies in Leadership series.

VIDEOS:
Dancing Semba with Ricardo Graca at the Seattle Bachata Kizomba Festival 2015
Dancing Kizomba in Nicaragua
Dancing Kizomba in Mexico and in Belles Artes, Mexico City
Dancing Mambo at Salsa Duello (Vancouver BC)
Dancing Mambo at the Century Ballroom
Dancing Kizomba at the Seattle Bachata Kizomba Festival 2014
Dancing Bachata at the Portland Salsa Festival 
Dancing Semba with visiting instructor Cymeone Mapao

DANCE and INSTRUCTOR RESUME

• Instructor at the Century Ballroom since 2011; Also taught at Salsa Con Todo, Belltown Dance Studio and Salsa N Seattle. 
• Event Coordinator and Community Builder for Kizomba in Seattle
• Member of Mambo U Dance Project (Salsa team) with director Andre Mintz for 4 years
• Member of Seattle Touch (Bachata) Team, a branch of Island Touch Dance Academy for 2 years 
• Taught Kizomba at the following Congresses and Cities:
• Seattle Salsa Congress 2012
• Seattle Fusion Festival 2013
• Nicaragua Congress 2013
• Seattle Bachata Kizomba Festival 2014, 2015
• Reno Latin Dance Festival 2014
• LA Bachata Dance Festival 2014
• Portland Salsa Congress 2014
• Mexico City (Kizomba Seattle Mexico Exchange 2014) 
• Vancouver, Canada 2011
• Performed in:
• Vancouver International Salsa Congress 2011
• Portland Salsa Congress 2011, 2012, 2013
• Hawaii Salsa Congress 2012
• Nicaragua Salsa Congress 2013
• Reno Latin Dance Festival 2014
• LA Bachata Dance Festival 2014
• Seattle Bachata Kizomba Festival 2014, 2015