Heidi & Hal Vaughan
Heidi & Hal are the owners of Simply Ballroom Dance Studio. Both have been dancers for many years and they have participated in several competitions and performed in numerous showcase events. They both graduated from the Ballroom Dance Teacher's Academy and Heidi taught at Simply Ballroom and other places for several years. They purchased Simply Ballroom in July of 2022. They now wish to continue in the footsteps of the original owners by fostering quality dance education and the community atmosphere of the studio.
Heidi & Hal met at Simply Ballroom in 2008, and held their wedding reception there in 2017. They live in Chesterfield with 2 dogs and a cat and have 2 amazing grandchildren.
Heidi & Hal met at Simply Ballroom in 2008, and held their wedding reception there in 2017. They live in Chesterfield with 2 dogs and a cat and have 2 amazing grandchildren.
Heidi Orland Vaughan
Heidi has been dancing since 2008. She graduated from the Ballroom Dance Teacher's Academy and taught at Simply Ballroom for several years. She has also taught with Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation and at the Perkinson's Center for the Arts. She has participated in many ballroom competitions, and has won numerous awards in state and local events including The River City Ballroom Dance Competition, The Roanoke Star Ball and The DC Dance Challenge. She continues to enjoy competing with her students and performing showcase routines, her passion being the smooth dances.
Now back at Simply Ballroom, Heidi's favorite students are beginners. She loves the excitement of the moment when students realize that they CAN dance. She is now the owner of Simply Ballroom.
Now back at Simply Ballroom, Heidi's favorite students are beginners. She loves the excitement of the moment when students realize that they CAN dance. She is now the owner of Simply Ballroom.
Jay Henderson
Jay is a seasoned professional, having taught for many years at Arthur Murray in Roanoke, VA. Prior to working at Arthur Murray, Jay was a studio owner and a longtime instructor. He teaches all levels from Newcomer through Gold American style as well as Country Western, Salsa and other Latin and nightclub dances. He welcomes competition and showcase students also.
Sheree Coy
Sheree made the change from the accounting world to the dancing world. She walked into the Simply Ballroom Studio and started taking group classes. After two months she signed up for The Ballroom Dance Teacher’s Academy and graduated eighteen months later. During that time she competed at The River City Ballroom Competition and the Richmond Dance Challenge and won Top Female Advanced Bronze group. She also enjoys showcase events, line dancing and formations. She became certified through DVIDA’s Dance Degree in American Style Smooth & Rhythm with honors. She finds dancing a great way to work out and have fun.
Samantha Albert
Samantha has been ballroom dancing for 15 years. She has taught off and on for the last 10 years and has competed in a few competitions in the Midwest. She enjoys the American style dances but is learning Latin and Standard as well as getting to know club style dances. She has fun working with couples getting ready for a wedding, students wanting to learn more about dance and to perform in showcases.
Christopher Albert
Chris has been dancing since 2013 when he joined the Ballroom Dance club at Virginia Tech. Shortly after, he was recruited by the local dance studio to teach and participate in the Dirty
Dancing celebrations held every summer at Mountain Lake Lodge, where parts of the movie were filmed. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chris moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia where he worked as an engineer, taught ballroom dancing, and eventually met his wife Samantha. In 2021 Chris and Sam moved to Richmond and are excited to continue to dance and teach all styles of ballroom dancing.
Dancing celebrations held every summer at Mountain Lake Lodge, where parts of the movie were filmed. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chris moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia where he worked as an engineer, taught ballroom dancing, and eventually met his wife Samantha. In 2021 Chris and Sam moved to Richmond and are excited to continue to dance and teach all styles of ballroom dancing.
Diane Bates
Diane decided, after retiring from teaching Math in Chesterfield County, that it was time to learn something new. She walked into a beginner ballroom class at Simply Ballroom and was hooked. After attending group classes, taking private lessons and volunteering at the Richmond Parkinson's Dance Project, Diane's passion for dance grew. She registered for The Ballroom Dance Teacher's Academy and graduated in 2012. She has competed at The Carolina Classic, Roanoke Star Ball and The River City Ballroom Competition, winning awards in ballroom dancing and showcase events. She now teaches both ballroom dance and line dance. Her philosophy of dance is that we all have a dancer in us and should just let go and enjoy it!
Penny Jesmer
Penny teaches Ballroom Boogie Fitness classes at Simply Ballroom. Ballroom Boogie Fitness is fun fitness at its best! Penny has fused together what she has learned as a Ballroom dancer and fitness instructor and has created a fitness class for everyone. When you join in on a Ballroom Boogie class, you’ll learn simple dance fitness moves derived from the Foxtrot; Waltz; Swing; Paso Doble; Cha Cha Cha…just to name a few. You will discover that Ballroom Boogie Fitness is dance history repeating itself in a way that is fresh and new, yet familiar. Penny’s Credentials: Certified Group Fitness Instructor, currently teaching Ballroom Boogie Fitness; Choreographed Step; Strength Classes and Balletone. For more info on Ballroom Boogie visit their website: www.ballroomboogiefitness.com