YOUR TEACHERS
Champions who love beginners
Five instructors: a national adjudicator, a world champion, a national Latin champion, a full-time professional and a rising young competitor. Between them, decades on the competition floor — and every one of them still cheers loudest for somebody’s very first box step.
NATIONAL & WORLD TITLES ● CERTIFIED NATIONAL ADJUDICATOR ● PRO PARTNERS FOR COMPETITION
01
THE FOUNDER
We make champions
That is not a slogan — it is who teaches here. The founder judges the national competitions our students train for. The team holds world and national titles and partners students on the Pro-Am floor. And one of them is still at the start of his own climb — which is exactly the poin
30+
YEARS — ALEKSANDRA’S TEACHING CAREER
4
INSTRUCTORS WHO PARTNER STUDENTS IN PRO-AM COMPETITION
World
THE LEVEL OUR TEACHERS HAVE COMPETED AT
FOUNDER & OWNER
The couple on our home page is Aleksandra, competing at the United States Dance Championships
Aleksandra Barsukov
Certified Coach · National Adjudicator · over 30 years teaching
U.S. NATIONAL RISING STAR CHAMPION — AMERICAN RHYTHM
U.S. NATIONAL VICE CHAMPION — 9-DANCE
U.S. NATIONAL RISING STAR BRONZE — AMERICAN SMOOTH
WORLD FINALIST — AMERICAN RHYTHM
NATIONAL ADJUDICATOR, ALL STYLES
Originally from Ukraine, Aleksandra began dancing as a small child and has spent her life in the art and sport of ballroom. She competed as an amateur in International Latin and professionally in Ballroom, American Smooth and American Rhythm — a U.S. National Rising Star Champion in Rhythm, a National Vice Champion in the 9-Dance division, and a World Finalist in American Rhythm, with finals at the most prestigious competitions in the country.
Today she is a Certified Coach and National Adjudicator in all major styles, and judges regularly at national and regional competitions — in Orlando and across the country. She founded Prestige Ballroom to build the studio she would have wanted as a young dancer: serious about technique, warm to walk into, and open to every age.
She believes dance is a unique combination of art and sport — one that builds confidence, discipline, creativity and connection, and enriches lives on and off the floor. Thirty years of students agree.
02
THE TEAM
Competitors who teach
Every one of them competes and partners students on the competition floor. Every one of them teaches a nervous beginner the same afternoon.
INSTRUCTOR · PROFESSIONAL
Artem Kravchenko
American Smooth & Rhythm · All styles
PROFESSIONAL SINCE 2019
TAMPA BAY REGIONAL TOP TEACHER
10+ YEARS TEACHING · DANCING SINCE AGE 3
Artem is a professional ballroom dancer and instructor who began dancing at three and competed for the first time at six. After years of competitive experience as an amateur, he turned professional in 2019 and competes in American Smooth and Rhythm.
He is versatile across every ballroom style — International, American and social — and tailors each lesson to the student’s goals, abilities and personality. He was named Tampa Bay Regional Top Teacher, and dancing is what he does for a living: full-time, every day.
INSTRUCTOR
Sofia Vantukh
International Latin · Social & Competitive
USA DANCE NATIONAL CHAMPION — INTERNATIONAL LATIN
INTERNATIONAL FINALIST
15+ YEARS DANCING · 7+ YEARS TEACHING
Sofia is a USA Dance International Latin National Champion and a finalist at international competitions, with more than fifteen years of dancing and seven of teaching behind her. She works with children, teens, adults and competitive dancers alike, and has coached students from their very first lesson to national-level floors.
She specialises in both social and competitive ballroom, and is passionate about helping students build confidence, technique and a love of dancing. Her favourite part of teaching: watching students surprise themselves with what they can achieve.
INSTRUCTOR
Alexander Sarkisian
Competitive Ballroom · Dancing since age 6
WORLD CHAMPION
4× U.S. CHAMPION
5× OHIO STAR BALL CHAMPION
Alexander started dancing at six and never really stopped. His competitive record speaks for itself — a World Championship, four U.S. Championships and five Ohio Star Ball titles — but what students notice first is the patience. The same discipline and perseverance that built that record is what he brings to a beginner’s first waltz.
He continues to compete, to partner students on the competition floor, and — in his words — to strive for growth and inspire others through his own journey.
INSTRUCTOR
Aurelius Szabo
American Smooth & Latin · Rising competitor
AMERICAN SMOOTH
LATIN
STARTED AS A TEENAGER
Aurelius discovered ballroom as a teenager and committed to it quickly, building solid technique in American Smooth and Latin through consistent training and competition. He is proof that you don’t have to start at five.
He still competes, still refines every figure with every opportunity to dance and perform, and brings that same steady, encouraging work ethic to his students — especially the ones who think they started too late.
