Ken Richards

Ken Richards

Co-Director
Professional Certified Instructor
WDSF Examiner


Certified

Certified

ken@blueballroom.net

Ken is a second generation dance instructor, has a Bachelors Degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Businees and a Masters Degree in business administration from Florida International University.  He served as the Marketing Director for the International Franchise Headquarters of the Arthur Murray Franchised Dance Studios for 7 years, consulting studio owners around the globe and training the country’s top dance teachers.  He served four terms as the elected Vice-President of DanceSport for USA Dance, the National Governing Body for DanceSport in the USA.  In this role, Ken administered the DanceSport Council, the National DanceSport Rulebook and the National DanceSport Championships.  Following this, he served as a recent National Past President of the organization, and was elected again in 2020 to serve as President for the next four years. In 2012, he was elected by a majority vote of the member countries of the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) to serve as a Presidium Member and re-elected in 2013 for a 4-year term.  In 2015, after extensive studies in Europe, Ken became one of the first Certified Technical Examiners for the WDSF in the USA. And with all that experience and knowledge, his favorite activity is helping people learn to enjoy dancing.
Ken & Carrie Ann Inaba

Ken & Carrie Ann Inaba, with US Amateur
10-Dance Champions, Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov, at the 2009 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships

Roseanna Richards

Roseanna Richards

Co-Director


roseanna@blueballroom.net

Roseanna has been a student and competitor of dance, training under the country’s top instructors/coaches since the early 1970’s.  She has a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the Philadelphia College of Arts.  She has run numerous businesses and is the person responsible for making the BlueBallRoom the studio that it is today. 

It was Roseanna’s dream that brought this studio to life. She designed every aspect of the studio to optimize the dancers experience.

Roseanna - Dancing With The Stars

Ken and Roseanna on set with Carrie Ann Inaba of Dancing With The Stars

Denis Parfyonov

Denis Parfyonov

Teacher, Coach, Pro/Am Competitor, Choreographer, Professional Competitor


denis@blueballroom.net

Denis was born in Lviv, Ukraine. He started dancing at the early age of 6, studying always with Ukrainian Champions and all the best teachers from around the world.  After a long and successful career as an Amateur representing on the National Team, Denis turned Professional and won many Standard and Showdance Championships with his partner and wife Tania Sopit. In addition, they have competed all over the world and have many International Titles to their name.

Denis has a Master’s Degree of DanceSport Coach, Bachelor’s Degree of Ballroom Choreographer and title of Master of Sport International Class.  He is an International DanceSport Teacher and Adjudicator with 20 years of experience.
Denis is a writer and translator of books and articles, and founder of The Ballroom Library: www.ballroomlibrary.com
His hobby is computers and technology which led him to a Polytechnical Degree of Web Master.
Together with Tania, he is owner of Brand Your Elegance, which creates ballroom stylish competing and practice clothes for dancers and adjudicators.
Denis loves pets very much.  To learn more about Denis, visit his private web site: www.parfyonov.com.ua

Now after moving to US, Delaware Denis is teaching full time in BlueBallRoom Dance Studio. His students are children and adults all levels in International Ballroom & Latin and American Smooth & Rhythm as well as Disco and Night Club. Denis is teaching private and group lessons, dancing shows and competitions with his students and preparing students for medal testing. Denis & Tania performed at some famous Fundraisers and Gala Balls (Pink & Black Ball, US Dance NY Gala, Amethyst Ball, Dancing with the SCC Stars, Winterthur Dances, Limen House Opera Delaware) and participated in You Oughta Know TV Show

Tania Sopit

Tania Sopit

Teacher, Coach, Pro/Am Competitor, Choreographer, Professional Competitor


tania@blueballroom.net

Tania successfully started her career from gymnastics at the age of 3… every day working hard for 6-8 hours, competing, winning but dreaming about dancing.  Ten years later her dream finally came true! She made her first step on a dance floor and recognized it would be her journey through the rest of her whole life! Tania danced International Ballroom (Standard) and Latin American disciplines through the Championship Adult Amateur division, continuing with Ballroom in the Professional division.
Together with her partner and husband Denis Parfyonov they are many times Ukrainian champions in Professional Ballroom and Ballroom Showdance (sequey), finalists of European and World Championships and Masters of Sport International Class.

Tania is originally from Ukraine. She graduated from Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts and was certified as a choreographer and dance teacher. Tania has 11-years of experience teaching kids and adults in Ballroom, Latin, Social Club Dances (Salsa, Bachata), Pro-Am, providing physical trainings, dancing showcases and judging competitions. And now her new passion is American Smooth and Rhythm.
The main point for her to see the passion in her students’ eyes, feeling their joy of being on a dance floor, and help them to become every day better and happier in the BlueBallRoom Dance Studio, as she is while dancing!

Now after moving to US, Delaware Tania is teaching full time in BlueBallRoom Dance Studio. Her students are children and adults all levels in International Ballroom & Latin and American Smooth & Rhythm as well as Disco and Night Club. Tania is teaching private and group lessons, dancing shows and competitions with his students and preparing students for medal testing. Tania & Denis performed at some famous Fundraisers and Gala Balls (Pink & Black Ball, US Dance NY Gala, Amethyst Ball, Dancing with the SCC Stars, Winterthur Dances, Limen House, Opera Delaware) and participated in You Oughta Know TV Show

Aidyn Gangemi

Aidyn Gangemi

Dance Instructor and Choreographer
USISTD Certified


Certified

aidyn@blueballroom.net

Dance Instructor

Aidyn has always enjoyed the beauty of dance and the process of learning.  His dance career began with competitive ice dancing, which he spent many years competing nationally. Under the coaching of Olympic, World and National medalists, he spent up to 7 hours a day training and developed his passion for teaching. Furthermore, he obtained many nationally recognized awards, achievements and is double gold star rated under the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition, Aidyn obtained his Personal Trainer Certification through the American Council on Exercise and has continued learning and achieving specialist program certificates such as Senior Fitness and Behavior Change. During this time, Aidyn also completed his Associates Degree in the Arts and went on to become a fitness manager of a kickboxing gym for two years. Aidyn currently works as a full time Emergency Medical Technician in the city of Wilmington in the busiest 911 department in the State of Delaware, is part of the honor guard and is also a Field Training Officer. 

During Aidyn’s skating career, he began to take ballroom dance lessons and quickly fell in love with the elegance and intricacy of this unique dance form. Later on he would perform many Showcase Routines that brought a standing ovation from the audience and high accolades and scores from the nationally renown ballroom Adjudicators. He also completed medal tests and improved his dance repertoire, specializing in American Style Ballroom.  

Upon deciding to retire from Competitive Ice Dancing, he switched his focus and attention to perfecting the skills and techniques necessary to teach ballroom dance.  Aidyn’s commitment, determination and dedication as an athlete, has been instrumental in his pursuit to be an astute and caring Instructor.  His admiration for dance reflects in his desire to give back and teach people the joy of partnership dancing at any and all levels of learning. Aidyn enjoys choreographing creative routines and bringing out the best in his students. He strives to make dance fun, rewarding and enjoyable for all his students. And is recognized, through an arduous exam process, by the US Imperial Society of Teacher’s of Dance (USISTD) with his Associate Level Degrees.

Misha Crawford

Misha Crawford

New Student and Wedding Dance Specialist Teacher, Pro/Am & Professional Competitor


misha@blueballroom.net

Misha Crawford recently moved to Delaware from Highland, Utah. She has been dancing since she was 8 years old and grew up competing in all dance disciplines – Ballroom, Smooth, Latin, and Rhythm. As an individual competitor, she earned many national titles including U.S. Youth and Amateur Smooth finalist and Amateur Rhythm champion.  She now continues her professional career competing the Smooth and Ballroom styles.

In college, Misha participated as a member of the Ballroom Dance Touring Company for 4 years, performing and competing throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe, winning the Blackpool British Latin Formation Championship title twice during her time with the team. She is experienced in teaching international and social dance classes as part of the Department of Dance at BYU for six years, while also coaching youth and adult formation teams and competitive couples throughout Utah and Idaho. Along with her passion for dance, she is currently a Family Life Educator and has a master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. Misha is excited to be a part of the BlueBallroom team and share her love of dance with you!

 

Matt DeLockery

Matt DeLockery

Teacher, Coach, Wedding Dance Specialist, Pro/Am Competitor


matt@blueballroom.net

Matt is an experienced teacher who has taught social and competitive dance at two different studios in the Atlanta area, prior to starting at The BlueBallRoom.  Before he started dancing, Matt trained in Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi. He is a 4th degree black belt, Sifu, and Certified Instructor who taught martial arts for a decade. 

Competitively, he focuses on International Latin as well as Country Dancing. He has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has also spent many years training in weightlifting, powerlifting, crossfit, and rock climbing. Matt looks forward to drawing on all of his knowledge to help BlueBallRoom Dance Students become the best dancers they can be.

Matt is currently accepting all social dance students, wedding couples, and competitive Country Dance Couples and Pro/Am Competitors.