Competition Details

Dana Edward

Dana is a retired American and Canadian/American professional American Smooth and Rhythm Champion. She’s been teaching for 23 years. She worked for Fred Astaire Dance studios for 9 years and has owned her own dance studio called Invitation To Dance in Hilliard, Ohio since 2001.

She was the head coach for the Competitive and Formation teams for the DanceSport at OSU team from 2009 to 2012. She currently Coaches Amateur couples to compete at NDCA and USA dance competitions

Licentiate American degrees in Ballroom, Rhythm and Theatre Arts with the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (USISTD)Licentiate degrees in International Ballroom and Latin with Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. (ISTD)Member of the 2016 USISTD's National Committee.

Karita Yli-Piipari

Trevor Luff

Trevor Luff is an adjudicator for WDSF, USA Dancesport, and collegiate competitions

Invigilator for USA Dancesport competitions, and chairman of judges for collegiate competitions, adjudicated/invigilated USA Dancesport Nationals 2015, 2016.

He is WDSF Certified and Certified with Standard, Latin, Judging System 2.1.

He holds Triple Licentiate degree’s through the USISTD: American Smooth, rhythm, & Theatre arts.

Dual Fellowship degree’s I.S.T.D. International Standard & Latin.

Travelled throughout most of Asia teaching in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Taught for over 25 years; organizing Medal tests, local competitions.

Sami Yli-Piipari

No Bio available

MC & DJ - Cindy Johnson

Cindy Johnson began her training and teaching career with the Arthur Murray Studio in Fort Worth, Texas. As a competitor she progressed to the level Professional Rising Star Champion. Cindy moved to Atlanta in 1984 and taught at Atlanta Ballroom Dance Centre owned by Jackie Walls.

Cindy is a frequent DJ and MC at many local ballroom dance parties, competitions and social events (ABDC, USA Dance, Atlanta Dance, Coolanta). She was deck captain for the Southeastern Regional Amateur Championship during its Atlanta years. As "Deck Captain Extraordinaire" she kept dancers in line, on time and ready to dance.

Today Cindy coaches social, performance, competitive male and female dancers in all the following styles: Smooth, Standard, Rhythm Latin, Swing and Country. She keeps busy with a steady schedule of private lessons, group classes and workshops for beginning to advanced dancers.

Cindy believes that dancing is a most pleasurable and personal form of communication ...something everyone can use.

Karita Yli-Piipari

Registrar/Scrutineer/Organizer-Mark Garber

Mark Garber is an amateur competitor and competes ProAm with instructor, Natalie Pruitt, He has been a long time volunteer for USA Dance, both locally and nationally. especially in the area of IT support. Mark started taking social dance classes in his late 30's in order to meet some ladies and improve his social life. Mark has passed DVIDA medal exams in Standard and is working on passing more exams in both Standard and Latin. He is now working on his ISTD medal exams. He looks forward to the day when he can dance one long wall without any instructor complaints. Mark finds benefit in taking dance lessons, one of which there is someone to tell you stand straight when your mother is no longer around.