Our Teachers

Our teachers were hand-picked after ruthless auditions and painful screenings, after which the judges unanimously decided on these top four.

All of us at WHYM believe that ‘2-left-feet’ is a serious but curable condition.

iliaIlia

Ilia brings with him over 30 years of dancing, teaching and performing in the United States and Russia. Ilia’s career began with the formal ballet training and a Master of Dance Education degree  from the Moscow’s Institute of Theater Arts.  Ilia directs our dance program.

maria

Maria

Maria’s fitness background began with 13 years of rhythmic gymnastics training in Russia and then continued for the last 14 years as a group fitness and yoga instructor. Ballroom dancing is her latest passion.  Maria directs the fitness program at our studio.

Rachel NeilsonRachel

Rachel studied ballet, tap, and jazz from the age of seven. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre Dance from the University of Akron. Rachel performed with Dancing Wheels, a modern dance company of Cleveland. She also holds an Associate level certification with High Honors in American Rhythm and Smooth through the DVIDA syllabus. Rachel worked as the Dance Department Coordinator of Solon Center for the Arts and has over 10 years experience teaching a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap and ballroom for kids and adults. Rachel also performs throughout Northeast Ohio with her dance partner, Minas Katsantouris.

Linda MusarraLinda

Linda Musarra has been dancing, teaching, and competing in all types of dance for over 35 years. She has owned a dance studio for 12 years where she combined ballroom and all other dance styles and even gymnastics and group fitness concepts to allow her students to experience the full spectrum of music and movement. Linda’s classes include choreographed routines which her students then proudly present in dance recitals and competitions.