About Us

Marina and Vasiliy bean dancing in their early teenage years when they first met in Kaliningrad, Russia. They began to build their passion and love for dancing together. They competed successfully as amateurs and professionals throughout Russia and Europe while receiving degrees in mechanical engineering and working in this field for over 10 years. They decided to follow their ultimate passion desire and passion for dancing, which led them to establish a 300-student ballroom dance school for children and youth, teaching and training at a high level that has resulted in many of their students becoming champions in many countries around the world.
 
Vasiliy and Marina believe that ballroom dancing affects the individual physically, mentally, and spiritually. This belief of caring for the whole person, along with providing an exceptional quality of dance instruction and training, led them to continue their expertise in the dancing profession as they moved to the United States in 2000. They are well recognized throughout the United States for their instructional technique, training and coaching skills as adjudicators at both amateur and professional levels. Their exceptional quality of dance instruction and training led them to become owners of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Jacksonville back in 2008.
 
In their Jacksonville South studio, they provide for students of all ages and levels teaching fun and joy of basic and social dancing and meeting their individual desires and needs which always leads to changing peoples lives. Along with teaching beginners, they have helped students reach the highest levels of their dancing dreams which lead them to win United States National and World titles at the professional and amateur levels.
 
In 2016, Marina and Vasiliy expanded their professional expertise by opening a second location in St. Augustine, FL. They continue to serve the St. Augustine community and changing people’s lives every day.
 
They both hold Arthur Murray Verified Professional Examiner certification in American and International styles of dancing. They are also certified adjudicators with the National Dance Council of America (NDCA). They provide exceptional training for their teaching staff in order to excellent service to each student that becomes a part of their dancing family.

Misha Vlasov began dancing at the age of 7 at his parents dance school back in Russia. When he moved to the United States with his family, he continued his dance career competing in International Latin and Standard along with the American Smooth and Rhythm divisions for more than 20 years under the coaching of his parents, Marina and Vasiliy. Also, Misha performed in the Jacksonville Florida Theatre in The Community Nutcracker Ballet and The Frog Prince Ballet. He has also performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Cirque De La Symphony.
 
He competed professionally with his partner, Vanda Polakova, and they were able to place 3rd in the World in the professional American Rhythm Style and were finalists of many prestigious competitions. In 2015 and 2016, Misha and his partner won the National American Mambo Championship. After a long competitive journey, Misha decided to continue his passion for dancing by sharing his knowledge and skills with his students. Misha is actively competing with his students on the national level in the Pro/Am division, earning lots of prestigious titles in the United States. He also actively coaches throughout Arthur Murray dance studios in the United States and in Europe. In 2018, Misha and one of his students auditioned for Season 13 on one of the biggest television shows, America’s Got Talent, and advanced all the way to quarter finals and received the “golden buzzer,” from country super star, Martina McBride. In 2019, another one of his students took home the first-place title in the Open Gold Pro/Am Rhythm division at Ohio Star Ball, one of the most prestigious competitions in the United States. Misha specializes in all ballroom styles of dance and his goal and mission is to bring happiness and joy to every student he works with and achieve all of their dreams.

Ilia was born in Russia and began dancing International Ballroom and Latin Style at the age of 8. Ilia is an international class dancer, a finalist of many European competitions, and a prize-winner of many regional competitions. He is a knowledgeable teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience and has trained many European finalists in different age categories. Ilia moved with his wife and partner, Yulia, to the United States in 2018 and is successfully teaching all styles at Arthur Murray St. Augustine studio. Ilia and Yulia became champions in International Latin Style among Arthur Murray studios in 2019. He also actively participates with his students in many regional competitions placing very high and always receiving positive feedback.