Want a great time? With Miss Andrea on the job, it’s guaranteed. She spent several years as the director of marketing at the Las Vegas Tropicana, where her job was to throw big bashes –New Year’s Eve for 5,000 people, Super Bowl for 3,000, etc….From there, Andrea entered the wonderful world of ballroom dance and she’s enjoyed it for more than ten amazing years. Andrea’s on a mission to inspire everyone who walks through the door. “Life can be so hard,” she says, “but ballroom dancing helps you forget all that. I love seeing the positive changes in people’s lives…from better health, to making new friends, gaining self-confidence, and so much more.” She believes all of us can use more bright spots in our lives, and her goal is for “every student to leave the studio feeling better than when they came in.”

If this were a yearbook, Miss Lisa would be voted Miss Congeniality. She’s the powerhouse of the studio, keeping track of everything and everybody. Lisa has been in ballroom dancing for more than nine years and students love dancing with her. Her titles include Ohio Regional Open American Rhythm Champion and she always looks fabulous on the dance floor. We call her our party animal because she plans the best parties for our students. She thinks she cracks the whip, but she just cracks us up. “I’ve never met a dance I don’t like,” she says. “And I love introducing students to dances they’ve never tried. I tell them it’s just like broccoli: You’ve got to try each dance twice before you decide you don’t like it.”

“I enjoy teaching people something they’ll use for the rest of their lives,” says Dance Director Rob O’Bryant. Rob doesn’t just teach students; he trains other instructors at Fred Astaire studios around the state. Rob began his dancing career in 1998 at Fred Astaire. Having danced freestyle since 1985, he has always had a desire to dance. He is nationally certified in American Smooth and Rhythm and is trained in International style, as well. Well versed in all styles of ballroom dancing, he specializes in both American Rhythm and International Latin. Rob began competing professionally in 2006. In the same year, he placed second in American Closed Rhythm and in 2007, he became American Closed Rhythm Champion in the Ohio F.A.D.S. Regional Dance Competition. In 2005, he was F.A.D.S. top teacher in the Ohio Region.

Frankie was dancing before he was walking, and has performed in song and dance troupes since elementary school. He currently holds the title of Fred Astaire Ohio Regional Closed Rhythm Champion. He has a strong background in local musical theater, recently playing the lead in High School Musical 2 and Bye Bye Birdie, with another leading role in Grease. His latest role was Fender in Hairspray at the Beck Center. “I’m so excited to be part of the Fred Astaire family,” he says. “It’s great to make people laugh, learn and enjoy themselves!” Frankie specializes in teaching new students, and he’s terrific at bringing out their best.

Kellie Love has had an extensive dance career. Her most recent accomplishment was capturing the title of Fred Astaire Ohio Regional Closed Rhythm Champion.  Her professional career began with SAFMOD – a dance ensemble where she performed on “silks,” spinning in the air on ropes of material. Kellie also performed and choreographed modern pieces, while being featured as a B-Girl. Battling at events like the coveted Scribble Jam hip hop festival in Cincinnati, dancing for the Cavalier Scream Team, and opening up for the Black-Eyed Peas, Kellie grew her professional career to include larger audiences. Soon after she moved on to dance team experiences where she had danced for the Cavalier Girls and the Gladiator Goddesses, then quickly began choreographing and dancing in videos for local artists. Kellie is happiest on the dance floor and she wants everyone to feel the same way.

Dave is a terrific performer and dance instructor, who brings his extensive musical theater and show choir experience to Fred Astaire. “I’m in this because I love dancing and I enjoy sharing dance with as many people as I possibly can,” he says. Dave was in the Top 25 Show Choir at Mentor High School and has performed at the Willoughby Fine Arts Theater. “I’ve been having the time of my life since I joined the Fred Astaire family,” he says, “and I can’t wait to see where this path leads me.”