About us

Lead & Follow School is your guide to the art of partner dancing. At our school, the world’s best instructors teach you classic Ballroom, sultry Salsa and Latin, or crazy Swing.

Join our school and make friends, learn new styles, and have fun. You don’t need a partner or special dance skills to make the first step at our ballroom.

Group classes
If you like to practice in a group or want to find new friends and have fun, look at our group classes. Try Swing, Tango, Salsa, and more! Everyone is welcome—just look for the beginner, advanced, and all labels in the schedule to make sure you feel comfortable during the class and get joy, not the achy feet. To start, choose your dance style—Social Dance, International System, or American System. We also have a program for Kids.
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Private lessons
Private classes offer the most in-depth and individual approach to your learning. Your PERSONAL TRAINER will help you set and achieve goals and will develop a per sonalized plan for each of your classes. Makyour UNIQUE WAY through the ballroom! Getting married? We'll help you make your WEDDING dance something to remember.
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Special events
Workshops, themed parties, dance nights, and other events are an important part of our school's life. Bring everything you've learned to the dance floor and meet other students. We have the most welcoming atmosphere—at dance events, even the shiest of our students let themselves go.
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On-line classes
Keep dancing and getting joy from every movement even when you cannot attend an offline class. All classes are now held online. Check out the schedule and enroll!
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Our Teachers

Teacher
Denis Kutepov

Russian International Ballroom Champion, Blackpool, and World semifinalist in both amateur and professional categories.

Denis is the leader, teacher, and the heart of the Lead&Follow dance school. Tango, foxtrot, Viennese waltz, and quickstep — this is all him.

Teacher
Mariya Oblakova & Alexsandr Riabtcev

– Finalists of UK Open Championships 2022 in amateur rising stars ballroom
– Bronze medalists of the Russian Amateur Ballroom Championship (RDU, 2020)
– World (2018) and European (2019) Amateur champions in 10 dances (WDC);
– Winners of the UK Open Amateur Championship in 10 dances (2019);
– Finalists of the Blackpool Dance Festival in Amateurs, rising stars Ballroom (2019);

Teacher
Marina & Chris

Specialists in Argentine Tango, Marina and Chris hold over six years of experience in social dance instruction. They are wholly committed to sharing their passion and enthusiasm for dance. And love working with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Their engineering backgrounds lend a technical focus to their approach. With an associate’s degree in kinesiology, Marina utilizes her knowledge of human anatomy and biomechanics in pioneering holistic dance techniques. And excels in helping her students achieve the distinguished lines, elegant angles, and smooth, effortless movements that characterize Argentine Tango.

Teacher
Angela Porter

Angela Porter has been dancing Chicago Steppin’ for 14 years and has been teaching this dance for 11 years. She teaches from beginners basic to advance of the Follower and I teach beginners basic of the Lead.

Chicago Steppin’ is a Black social dance that evolved from the Chicago’s Bop. Chicago Steppin’ expresses emotion, it’s consistent of an 8 step cadence and it’s performed with the focus being on the up beat in the music with 3 beats per cycle of the 8 steps.

Teacher
Danielle San Paolo

Danielle began her ballet training at age 7. After graduating high school, she revived her love for ballet while working as a performing artist in a missions organization in Kona, Hawaii. She later continued her ballet training with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, MS and then Light of the World Ballet in Syracuse, NY. Returning from New York, Danielle began school at Riverside Community College. Danielle received her B.A. in World Arts and Cultures with a concentration in choreography and dance in June of 2012.

Teacher
Nixon Sy

Nixon Sy has been an absolute star in the Social Dancing Scene for over 20 years. His experience is unlike no other when it comes to Beginners as well as advance social dancers as he has hosted over a 1000 parties. His name is very well known in the Inland Empire as well as LA County for being the most professional and responsible host and DJ. Nixon is also available to teach as he pretty much knows everything there is to know about partner dancing.

Awards

Denis Kutepov and Lesya Sinitsa

– Blackpool Dance Festival Professional Ballroom Semifinalists
– US Open Professional Ballroom Finalists
– Ohio Star Ball Showdance Winners