Diane Jarmolow's Ballroom Dance Teachers College is the realization of a life-long dream of founder Diane Jarmolow.
Diane Jarmolow's BDTC provides professional dance teacher education in a warm and friendly environment that nurtures individual students on their path to becoming a dance teacher.
Diane Jarmolow
Diane Jarmolow, the founder and director of Diane Jarmolow's Ballroom Dance Teachers College, is a DVIDA National Examiner and the originator of their new, innovative system of professional certification. She has been teaching Ballroom Dancing since 1978. She is the founder and former owner/director of the Metronome Dance Center, one of the largest ballroom dance studios in the country. She has trained hundreds of professional dance instructors, including preparing five-time U.S. Champions Victor Veyrasset and Heather Smith, U.S. Champion Olga Forapanova, and current US Smooth Finalists David and Valentina Weise, for their professional exams. Her credentials include a Licentiate Degree in the Ballroom Branch of the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (USISTD), an Associate Degree in the Latin American Branch of the USISTD, an Associate Degree in the American Branch of the USISTD, and an Associate and Membership Degrees in American Style Ballroom and Latin with the United States Terpsichore Association. She is a fifteen-time winner of the "Top Teacher" award at national competitions. She currently consults and trains studio owners, managers and dancers throughout the United States and internationally.
Brandee Selck, Guest Instructor
A graduate of Diane Jarmolow's Ballroom Dance Teachers College, Brandee began to teach dance at the Metronome Dance Center in 1999, after a successful career in the computer industry. She specializes in Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, and West Coast Swing, and has developed national dance curricula and manuals for Dance Vision.
Brandee has been a Ballroom Dance Teacher for 7 years. Her knowledge of and competence in the technical aspects of dance has earned her a solid reputation among teachers and students. Brandee sums up her passion about teaching: “I love watching people grow, seeing their fear melt away. I can literally see people feel better about themselves, becoming more relaxed and confident, and it brings me great joy.”
Brandee Selck holds the following certifications:
Ballroom Dance Teachers College Diploma
USISTD Associate American Style Smooth Certification
DVIDA Associate American Style Smooth Certification
DVIDA Associate American Style Rhythm Certification
DVIDA Licentiate American Style Rhythm Certification
Melissa Saphir, Guest Instructor
Melissa Saphir is a graduate of Diane Jarmolow's Ballroom Dance Teachers College. She began teaching at the Metronome Dance Center in 2001, where she currently provides professional dance instruction in the American Smooth and the East Coast Swing programs, as well as classes in American Rhythm and other dances.
As one of the most extensively DVIDA-certified teachers in the U.S., Melissa excels at clearly communicating technical details of dance to students and aspiring teachers. She has a friendly and encouraging spirit, which buoys the confidence of her students. She says, “I love sharing a system of dance training that works for those of us who didn’t start dancing at age four. It is a thrill to share the joy of social dancing with adults who never danced before, a passion I will enjoy for the rest of my life.”
Melissa Saphir holds the following certifications:
Ballroom Dance Teachers College Diploma
DVIDA Associate American Style Smooth Certification
DVIDA Master American Style Smooth Certification
DVIDA Associate American Style Rhythm Certification
DVIDA Master American Style Rhythm Certification
DVIDA Associate International Standard Certification
DVIDA Associate Argentine Tango Certification
DVIDA Master Argentine Tango Certification
DVIDA Grand Master Argentine Tango Certification
Eldon Bryce, Guest Instructor
His grandmother was a flapper and his mother a professional singer and musician, so it’s no surprise that Eldon Bryce is a successful dancer and instructor. Starting out as a break dancer at age 13, Eldon has performed on stage, in clubs, amusement parks, and in the TV musical “The Birthday Party.” He has taught and performed swing for “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy” and is a featured dancer in the movie “Swing,” as well as in the upcoming DVIDA “Get Certified!” DVD. Eldon trained, taught and competed with the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Charlotte, NC, before moving to San Francisco in 2000. "One of my greatest joys is to choreograph and perform with my students and fellow professionals,” he says. “ Anyone can dance. Everyone learns at different rates, but everyone makes progress. I love to see people learn and grow, and the happiness they feel as they see themselves advance. Dance makes life as a whole richer, more satisfying, and more fulfilling.”
Eldon Bryce holds the following certifications:
USISTD American Style Bronze Smooth Certification
DVIDA American Style Bronze Smooth Certification
FADS Bronze American Style Smooth and Rhythm Certification
David Arnold, Guest Instructor
Originally from Upstate New York, David Arnold has been teaching Ballroom Dancing for nearly 29 years. He entered the world of dance after hearing a radio ad for the Hustle, and two dozen dance lessons later, he enrolled in a teacher training program. He transitioned from being a new student, to being the Dance Director of a dance studio, to opening his own studio – all in a four-year period.
He owned his studio for seven years, training his staff and his teachers in preparation for their certifications. Since 1990 he has been teaching, competing and performing in the Bay Area. His specialties are American Smooth and International Standard. You know you are training with David because you are laughing, working, totally focused, and inspired to push through toward your own excellence. David says, “I am fully present and engaged with each student as if he or she were my own professional dance partner.”
David Arnold has been certified through Arthur Murray International:
American Smooth Full Bronze
American Smooth Full Silver
American Rhythm Full Bronze
American Rhythm Full Silver
Alise Halbert, Guest Instructor
Alise Halbert has been dancing for 16 years and has competed professionally in International Ballroom. She currently teaches at the Metronome Dance Center and develops choreography for dance showcases in the Bay Area and for her own performances throughout the United States and Europe.
Alise believes dancing is a wonderful, healthy way to communicate non-verbally. She encourages her students to bring their dancing to a higher level by understanding how their state of mind and posture interact. With practice, students are able to choose their desired mindset and the quality of their physical presence.
Alise’s trademark is her upbeat, clear instruction, and her intuition of how best to convey material to each individual student.
Alise Halbert holds the following certifications:
USISTD International Style Bronze Latin Certification
USISTD International Style Bronze Ballroom Certification
Licentiate Teaching Certification for International Standard
Associate Teaching Certification for International Latin
Christy Coté, Guest Instructor
Christy Coté is the creator and Director of the Academia de Tango Argentino at the Metronome Dance Center. She began her career as a Ballroom and Latin dance instructor for Arthur Murray Dance Studios and has been dancing, choreographing and teaching professionally for more than 25 years. She is a National Examiner for Dance Vision and the author of the first-ever Argentine Tango Manual, published by Dance Vision International. Christy’s instructional videos (with partner George Garcia of Honolulu) are available at www.dancevision.com or www.thetangocatalogue.com Christy says, “I love sharing the joy of dance with people. I believe dance brings out the best in people, and I love being able to help them participate.” She urges, “Don’t wait to do what you love to do.”
Julie Lowe, Guest Instructor
Julie Lowe has danced and taught professionally for over 20 years. As a Principal Ballerina with the Oakland Ballet Company, she toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, performing many of the company’s leading roles, and working alongside luminaries of the dance world.
As both a ballroom dance instructor, and as Director of the Ballet Program at the Metronome Dance Center in San Francisco, she has successfully bridged the worlds of ballet and ballroom, providing dancers the opportunity to enhance their technical and artistic skills in both dance forms. As Artistic Director of the Metronome’s acclaimed Summer Showcase, she was instrumental in bringing that production to the Cowell Theater stage where it has played to sold-out audiences for the past six years. Many of today’s top competitive and professional dance couples have worked with Julie, including Six-Time U.S. Finalists, David & Valentina Weise, 2005 U.S. Rising Star Latin Champions, Vaidas Skimelis & Jurga Pupelyte, and West Coast Swing National Finalists, Arjay Centeno & Melissa Rutz.
Julie’s association with Diane Jarmolow, Founder and Director of the Ballroom Dance Teachers College, began in 2000. Since that time she has continued to be inspired and educated by Diane’s innovative and effective teaching methods.
Julie enjoys teaching students of all levels, from beginners to professionals. Her teaching philosophy is to create a safe, fun, and nurturing environment where students can expand and achieve their dance goals.
Angie Major, Guest Instructor
After graduating from SSU with a degree in chemistry, I decided to pursue my dream of dancing. My hobby of ballroom dancing is now my career.
I began teaching in the North Bay in 1995 and have been loving it ever since. I received my teaching degree in the American style dances from the Terpsichore Association, the USISTD, and DVIDA. I joined the Metronome Dance Center in 1999, where I teach the Rhythm (American style Latin) classes, as well as private lessons in all styles of dance. I also teach private lessons in South City. I enjoy teaching at weddings, corporate events and private parties as well as private lessons and group classes. I also compete in the Professional American Style Rhythm with my dance partner Patrik Gallineaux.
I was a featured dancer in "Swing, the Movie" which came out in 2003 and is now available on DVD. I also danced in KQED's "Big Band Magic" which first aired in March 2003. My goal of constant improvement and my love of performing is why I compete. Performing dance also brings me tremendous joy and satisfaction. I have danced in numerous shows from small events and parties to onstage at San Francisco 's Cowell Theater. I perform vintage routines with the female group, the DecoBelles and in September of 2006 I was crowned “Miss Art Deco” by the Art Deco Society.
In 2003 I co-founded a dance entertainment company, DancEvents, to help companies and individuals hire dancers to teach and perform at corporate events and private parties. Every year in the spring, DancEvents puts on The Main Event to showcase our dancers, provide dance lessons and throw a fabulous dance party for the community.
Teaching dance is so fulfilling. There are so many benefits that dance brings to people, such as increased confidence, getting in better shape, satisfaction in learning something new, gracefulness, and most importantly, having fun dancing. I feel so lucky I am able to share with others the joy I receive from dancing.
Betty Gong, Diane Jarmolow's BDTC Exam Coach
Growing up listening to Motown and R&B music and feeling the music in my inner soul has always given me the freedom to express myself though "freestyle" dancing. Studying modern dance, line dance, International Latin dance, American rhythm and American smooth dance, classical Chinese Feather Fan dance, and Chinese Tango has definitely broadened my depth in the dancing world over the past years. Performing in front of a large live audience has given me a taste of "stardom" and "glory". This has also opened many opportunities for me to teach dance, have my own classes and also to perform professionally on stage.
The turning point of my life was when I joined Diane Jarmolow's Ballroom Dance Teachers College (BDTC) in 2002. This began my actual formal education in ballroom dancing, taught and trained by Diane Jarmolow, director and the founder of Diane Jarmolow's BDTC at the Metronome Dance Center. She is my mentor and will be my mentor forever, who believes in me and continues to encourage me to reach for my goals. At this time in my life I am enjoying this wonderful, rewarding journey of teaching students to dance and coaching the BDTC teacher trainees. The contentment of watching the students progress in their dancing abilities and the teacher trainees excel in their exams are my proudest moments. The outcome of all this is similar to watching a small rose bud slowly blooming into a beautiful rose. Special thanks to Diane's teaching that no mountains are ever too high to climb. A graduate of Diane Jarmolow's BDTC, I am now the Exam Coach for the Ballroom Dance Teachers College, preparing the teacher trainees for their BDTC exams or for their DVIDA certification exams.
Jaymee Racho, Assistant Dean
I graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a minor in Psychology. I have had a professional career as a public accountant for the last 4 years but grew up with a love and passion for dancing. As a child, I studied ballet, tap and jazz for 8 years and while at Rutgers, I was a member of three amateur hip hop dance troupes and performed in a number of showcases. I began to explore the world of ballroom dance about a year ago and discovered a new found love for salsa dancing. I recently left my life in New York to move across the country and embark on my journey towards becoming a ballroom dance instructor through Diane Jarmolow's BDTC Teacher Training Program. Making the decision to change my career to focus more on what I love to do rather than what I have to do has been one of the smartest decisions of my life. Special thanks to Diane for helping make dreams become reality!