MEET SHALENE
Shalene Archer
U.S. Professional Champion
Shalene Archer is a two-time United States American Smooth Champion, 9 Dance American Style Smooth & Rhythm Champion, and World American Style Smooth Champion.
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A youth competitive gymnast and cheerleader in Oklahoma, she moved to Nashville to join the pre-med program at Vanderbilt University and made Nashville her permanent home. After falling in love with the city, ballroom dancing, and teaching, she has been competing and coaching nationwide for 31 years.
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​In addition to competing as a professional, Shalene has always competed with amateur partners and created and manages MIB Dance Tour, a pro/am couples ballroom competition circuit. Over her career, Shalene helped drastically change the landscape of pro-am competition which was traditionally dominated by male professionals partnering with their female amateur partners. As a result of her example and diligent and knowledgeable leadership, the MIB Dance Tour grew year-to-year industry-wide, and other competitions now offer amateur leader/professional follower opportunities, backed by monetary scholarships and awards.
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Shalene is a proud member of her Nashville community as a long-term resident, dance instructor, and church community member. She strives to employ her knowledge and passion to create strong communities—first in the Nashville area and then nationwide—through top quality dance instruction.
Dennis Woods has been passionate about dancing his whole life and began his ballroom journey 25 years ago. His parents were involved in a very bad car accident and started having success in recovery by using ballroom dancing as therapy. Seeing how the teachers used music to help his parents with coordination, rhythm, posture, balance, Dennis was very curious about exactly what they were doing because of the great results. Ever since the day he walked through the doors of the dance studio and hit the competition floor he was hooked and hasn’t stopped dancing since.
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MEET DENNIS
Dennis Woods
U.S. Pro Rising Star Champion
This has led him to achieve many accomplishments such as: American Smooth Rising Star champion, American Smooth Open Finalist, American Rhythm Finalist, Pro/Am United States Standard Finalist, Pro/Am Smooth Champion, Top teacher Awards from one of the nation’s prestigious dance schools, Certified Bronze through Open Gold in all styles. Because of all the benefits dancing provides, ballroom dancing has turned into one of Dennis's biggest passions in life. His goal is to share the wonderful gift of dance with everyone.