D A N C E S P O R T   E D U C A T I O N

Our Instructors

“.... The stature and professionalism and elegance of your teachers are beyond my wildest imagination. And the most amazing thing is their kindness and patience with the students. Their enthusiasm is infectious. They are so much fun to watch in action! Thank you for bringing this opportunity to our school!”
Deborah Summers, Superintendent, Mission Montessori Schools

Learn more about our dedicated, world class team at DanceSport Education™. Backed by over 50 years of combined industry experience, we are fully committed to helping young people learn, grow, and achieve through the power of DanceSport. 

Inna Berlizyeva


A world class, top-rated DanceSport professional, Inna was born in Ukraine and started her dancing career at the age of 9. She comes to the U.S. as an accomplished DanceSport athlete at the top of her field: 3-times Ukrainian National Champion, and 3-times Slovenian National Champion.

Artem Plakhotnyi



A world class, top-rated DanceSport professional, Artem was born in Ukraine and began dancing at the age of 6. He comes to the U.S. as an accomplished DanceSport athlete at the top of his field: 3-times Ukrainian National Champion and gold medalist at the Under 21 World Championship.
Inna and Artem moved to the United States in 2005, where they formed a competitive partnership and continued their career as professional DanceSport professional athletes and instructors. They proudly represent the U.S. at world and international championship and events.

To this day, they have a remarkably successful professional career – they are winners of major U.S. competitions and winners, finalists and semifinalists in the world’s most prestigious and competitive professional DanceSport events. Their talent, inspiration, and hard work brought them to the highest levels of achievement and recognition – Top 3 in the U.S. and Top 15 in the world.

Their strong DanceSport foundation comes from Ukraine. They are both graduates of the prestigious Ukraine National Dance Academy. They are students of the world renowed coach Alexei Litvinov. They further developed and refined their ballroom dance skills working with the world’s top DanceSport coaches. They have a passion to share their knowledge, experience and wisdom with a myriad of students of all ages and levels, as well as other amateur and professional couples.
They are highly sought after instructors and coaches nationwide. Combined, Inna and Artem have over 35 years of instructing, training and coaching experience. This experience helped them shape a comprehensive instructional methodology and curriculum to develop and train the 21st Century DanceSport athletes. DanceSport is already a recognized Olympic sport, awaiting its medal status by the International Olympic Committee.

Inna and Artem are also entrepreneurs. In 2011 they opened their own, independent dance studio – Imperial Ballroom Dance Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, from where they operate today. They are proud to offer to their students and the community the largest ballroom studio in Metro Phoenix, spanning over 4,000SF of state of the art, uninterrupted flex dance floor and world class DanceSport education.

Alisa Seleznova

Alisa was born in Ukraine. She was nearly 7 years old when she started ballroom dancing at the “Legend” Ballroom Dance Club in her home city, Kharkiv, Ukraine. She lived very close to the studio and one day her mom took her there. That was the start of her ballroom dance journey and career.

Alisa comes to the US as an accomplished DanceSport athlete at the top of his field – 2014 Ukrainian National Ballroom Dance Champion. Alisa, together with her professional ballroom dance partner Alisa won the Ukrainian online casting for Royal Caribbean Cruises and were their premier ballroom dance couple. 

Alisa graduated the State Academy of Physical Culture in Kharkiv, Ukraine with a B.A. degree in Physical Education and DanceSport. 

Alisa moved to the US in 2018, as one of the top-rated ballroom dance instructors at Imperial Ballroom Dance Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her strong DanceSport foundation comes from her original club training in Kharkiv, Ukraine and her college education majoring in ballroom dance. She has over 5 years of teaching ballroom dance to both children and adults.

Ivan Khudolyi

Ivan was born in Ukraine. He started ballroom dancing at the age of 5 at M-Studio in his home town, Sumy in Ukraine. His parents were a major influence for his ballroom dance career.

Ivan comes to the US as an accomplished DanceSport athlete at the top of his field – 2014 Ukrainian National Ballroom Dance Champion. Ivan, together with his professional ballroom dance partner Alisa won the Ukrainian online casting for Royal Caribbean Cruises and were their premier ballroom dance couple. 

Ivan graduated the National University of Kharkiv, one of the major universities in Ukraine with a B.A degree in Foreign Languages (English).

Ivan moved to the US in 2018, as one of the top-rated ballroom dance instructors at Imperial Ballroom Dance Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. His strong DanceSport foundation comes from his original club training in his home town Sumy, Ukraine, and later in Kharkiv. He has over 5 years of teaching ballroom dance to both children and adults.
Ivan and Alisa are currently a professional ballroom dance couple and compete in International Latin style in the US Rising Star and Professional Ballroom Dance divisions. 

Ivan and Alisa train and teach at the Imperial Ballroom Dance Center in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In 2019 Ivan and Alisa joined DanceSport Education and share their love and expertise for ballroom dance with the students, at their schools, in their classrooms.

Alex Maslanka

Alex Maslanka is a top ballroom and Latin dance instructor based in Arizona, originally from Windsor, Canada. With over two decades of experience, he’s represented Canada on the world stage, earning titles like Canadian National Latin Champion, Blackpool Semi-Finalist, and Paris "Fred Astaire" World Championship Finalist.


Alex is also the founder and operator of The First Dance, Canada’s leading wedding dance company, known for creating one-of-a-kind first dances, parent dances, and bridal party routines.


A passionate and inclusive teacher, Alex has years of experience working with students of all ages and abilities—including individuals with disabilities and autism. He’s also performed for the Arizona Autism Charter School, helping raise nearly half a million dollars through dance.


Beyond the studio, Alex has appeared in television, music videos, and major live performances, sharing stages with some of the industry’s best.


Alex is currently a successful dance coach and choreographer based in Scottsdale, Arizona.


Shelly Meshkausk

  • 10 Dance National US Champion
  • Latin National Finalist
  • Ballroom National Finalist
  • Open to the World Finalist


Erik Linder

  • 10 Dance National United States Champion
  • Latin National Finalist
  • Ballroom National Finalist
  • Open to the World Finalist


Michelle Brecker

Michelle went to Arcadia High School. She graduated Arizona State University with a B of A degree in Sociology and Communications. Her positions as an Assistant Operations Manager at LA Fitness, expertise with medical records and scheduling, skin care lead at Sephora and community liaison at Wheels on the Bus helped her shape strong communication and management skills.


Michelle started her dance career in the Salsa Competition Team at Arizona State University. While in college, she started learning and practicing competitive ballroom in the American Smooth and Rhythm styles. She competed in the Amateur division with her then dance partner David Rodriguez. Later, after joining Imperial Ballroom dance studio, she started learning and competing in the International Style - Latin and Standard. In 2018 Michelle entered the ranks of professional ballroom. She competes in the International Standard Style in the US Rising Star and Professional Ballroom Dance divisions with her professional partner, Oleh Teleha. Michelle and Oleh are Rising Star finalists.


Currently, Michelle and Oleh are independent ballroom dance professionals.

Oleh Teleha

Oleh was born in Ukraine. He started ballroom dancing at the age of 5 in his hometown Merefa, at the "Dionis" DanceSport Club. His mother inspired him to start training ballroom dance. His father instilled in him the belief to never give up in sports and in life. Ever since, Oleh made ballroom dance his love and his sports and his career.

Oleh’s strong DanceSport foundation comes from his original club training in his hometown Merefa, and the prestigious DanceSport Club of Alexei Litvinov, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. 

Oleh is a graduate of the State Academy of Physical Culture in Khrkiv, Ukraine with a B.A. degree in Physical Education and DanceSport. He started his career as a ballroom dance instructor while in college in Ukraine.

Oleh moved to the US in 2017 and joined the Imperial Ballroom professional team in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

In 2018 Michelle Brecker and Oleh Teleha formed a professional ballroom dance partnership. 


They compete in International Standard Style in the US Rising Star and Professional Ballroom Dance divisions. 


Michelle and Oleh are independent ballroom dance professionals.


In 2018 Michelle and Oleh joined DanceSport Education and share their love and expertise for ballroom dance with the students, at their schools, in their classrooms.

Egor Abashkin

Egor Abashkin is a world class, top-rated DanceSport professional. Egor was born in Moldova and began dancing at the age of 7. He comes to the US as an accomplished DanceSport athlete at the top of his field – Moldovan National Champion, as well as World and European Champion with the Moldovan National DanceSport Formation Team.

Egor is a recipient of the highest sports achievement award of the Republic of Moldova – “Honorary Master of Sports”, primarily awarded to Olympic athletes only, recognizing him as a distinguished national athlete for his sports achievements and contributions to the field of DanceSport in Moldova.
In 1999 Egor moved to the United States, where he continued his professional career as a DanceSport athlete. To this day, he has had a remarkable success as an athlete – he is a two-time US vice champion and three-time US champion in Amateur Ballroom, Professional Rising Star winner in the US and England (Blackpool), and finalist in major US (Ohio Star Ball) and international DanceSport championships (UK Open).

Egor’s strong DanceSport foundation comes from his original club training in Moldova, which he further developed working with the world’s top DanceSport coaches. Egor has B.A. degree in DanceSport and physical education from the University of Physical Education and Sports in Moldova.

Egor became a DanceSport instructor while at his original club in Moldova, and continued training and coaching DanceSport athletes in the US. He has over 25 years of teaching, training, and coaching experience.

The young dancers he started training at his original club in Moldova became national DanceSport champions, and winners of many world and international events. While in New York, he worked with Pierre Dulaine as part of the popular Dancing Classrooms program.

In 2015 Egor joined the Imperial Ballroom professional team in Scottsdale, Arizona. His education, experience and knowledge contribute tremendously to the high caliber expertise of the Imperial Ballroom instructional team and make him a highly sought after instructor for students of all ages and coach of amateur and professional DanceSport couples.

Roland Kyle

Roland was born and raised in Cottonwood, Arizona. He started dancing at age 14 through a ballroom program at his high school, American Heritage Academy, a charter school in in his home town. 

His DanceSport career started in 2008 as an amateur ballroom competitor, while still attending high school. Roland followed his passion for ballroom dance and his dream of becoming a professional DanecSport athlete, and in December, 2016 Roland turned professional, after a great competitive amateur career of dancing both International and American Stiles of ballroom. 
While training and competing as an amateur DanceSport competitor, Roland also completed his studies at Arizona State University, where he graduated with a B.A. Degree in Hospitality Management. 

Roland Kyle joined Imperial Ballroom Dance Center’s world class professionals as an instructor in 2016 and DanceSport Education in 2017.

Rose Dimov and Donovan Dominguez

Rose started dancing at the age of 8 at a local studio in Phoenix (Ahwatukee) Arizona. When she was 16 she fell in love with ballroom dance, which became her passion, and today, she cannot imagine her life without it. Rose started her DanceSport career as an amateur dancer of International Latin style. While training and competing, Rose also completed her studies at Arizona State University, where she graduated with a B.A. Degree in Family and Human Development. After a great competitive amateur career in International Latin style (Open to the World Latin Pro/Am Vice Champion), in 2013 she transitioned in the professional category and started training and competing in American Rhythm style with professional partner and recently husband Donovan Dominguez.

Donovan started dancing at the age of 18. He stepped inside an Arthur Murray dance studio in Phoenix, and ever since, the love for dancing prevailed and continues to shape his life and professional dance career. His dancing and instructional talent was immediately recognized, as after just four months of receiving dance instruction, he transitioned from a student to a basic level ballroom instructor. In 2006 he started competing professionally and in November 2013 he started his professional partnership with Rose.
Donovan and Rose are dedicated, passionate, and hardworking dancers, who bring excitement and emotion on the competition floor. They believe that in many cases, hard work trumps talent, and this is exactly what produces success. Donovan and Rose are currently ranked in the top 12 in the U.S. and second in the nation for Arthur Murray World American Rhythm Professional Championships. They are winners of the Professional Rising Star American Rhythm at Ohio Star Ball, considered the biggest ballroom competition in the U.S. Donovan and Rose are determined to reach the top of their dancing potential. They train under the watchful eye of top U.S. and world coaches.

Rose and Donovan joined Imperial Ballroom Dance Center's world-class professionals as one the studio's premier instructors in 2016 and DanceSport Education in 2017. Today, Donovan and Rose compete professionally in American Rhythm style, and instruct both competitive ballroom styles – International Standard and American Rhythm. Combined, Donovan and Rose have over 20 years of teaching experience. They are one of the most passionate instructors when it comes to social styles of dancing and their unique ability to professionally instruct over 33 different partner dances.