Dance Instructors

This is a list of the independent dance instructors that teach at The Dance Space:



If you are interested in learning to dance, or improving your current level of dance, simply select the instructor you like best and contact them directly for information on private lesson availability and pricing. 

Instructor contact, specialty and experience information is below:

Phyllis Harris

Contact:

Specialties:

Experience:

30 years experience as a full time dance instructor, 18 years experience teaching Argentine Tango, 9 years experience as a hostess/DJ in senior communities (Independent, assisted living & memory care), 9 years as the dance director for Riverside School (5th, 6th, 7th & 8th grades), 2 years as dance instructor for the Richmond Renaissance Cotillion.

Ian Gillett

Contact:

Specialties:

Experience:

Comments:

Ian is originally from the UK, Ian is a highly respected teacher, coach, choreographer and adjudicator. He began dancing when he was 7 having been primarily trained by former World Ballroom Champions, Brenda Winslade and Peter Eggleton. Ian has also had the opportunity of training with many top coaches in the industry and his competitive career was highly successful. Some of his titles include:

Ian has been teaching since 1989 and has extensive knowledge of technique and musicality. His students and couples have been successful at National Championship level. Although he is based in the metro DC area, Ian teaches in Richmond on a weekly basis. He also travels extensively in the US. Ian is delighted to be associated with The Dance Space. 

Mike Recant

Contact:

Specialties:

Experience:

Mr. Recant has been studying Ballroom Dancing since the early 1980's and has been teaching beginning Ballroom private lessons and group classes in the Richmond Metro area for over 20 years.  He enjoys a reputation as being both an excellent teacher and making Ballroom/Latin dance understandable and fun. He has taught group classes for Chesterfield County Adult Education and is a regular group class instructor at The Dance Space.

Mr. Recant is also a frequent Ballroom Dance DJ for The Dance Space as well as DJing for both the Richmond and TriCties USA Dance chapters.

John Holcomb

Contact: 

Specialties:

Teaching all styles of social dancing (Ballroom, Latin, & Rhythm) for all ages 8 to 80 and all levels from very beginner, through training someone to become a Professional Dance Instructor them self.  

Working with couples no matter what stage their relationship is in; from just starting to date to being married for many years, has always been one of my specialties! In my style of teaching couples I focus on not just the dancing itself, but improving their communication skills together, as well as strengthening their relationship through the use of dance. With my approach in teaching I’ve seen hundreds of couples over the past 38 years strengthen their relationship, and in many cases even restore it!   

Experience: 

I have over 38 years of experience as a Professional Dance Instructor, teaching, preforming, creating choreography for hundreds of Weddings (Bride & Groom, Father & Daughter, Mother & Son, and even Bridesmaids, and or Groomsman flash mob routines), and all other types of occasions. I also competed Pro/Am for several years with many of my students, and they always placed high in the awards, winning multiple titles and trophies. I too was awarded several trophies & titles including Top Teacher.        

I completed and was examined, and checked out through a Gold level of instruction in the American style of social dancing in Ballroom, Latin, and Rhythm dances through the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. 

I also completed and was examined, and checked out through a Silver level of instruction for the International style of competitive dancing in both the International Standard, and American Smooth styles of dance with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. (ISTD)                                      

I’ve had the honor and privilege to have trained with many World Champions over the years, but just a few of my favorites are Sammy Stopford & Barbara McColl (Blackpool World Latin Dance Champions for several years), Nicholas Cotton & Debbie Avalos (American 10 Dance Champions for several years), and Pierre Allaire & Mireille Veilleux (Canadian 10 Dance Champions for several years). 

I’ve also been very blessed to have worked and trained with many high level instructors over the past 38 years, and I continue to upgrade and work on my own dancing, and teaching skills on a regular basis.          

I’m also a professional DJ with over 35 years of experience, and have done everything from running the music at thousands of dance parties up to DJing several dance competitions and anything else where a Professional DJ is needed. (Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, Office Parties, Pool Parties, etc.)      

Comments: 

My motto in teaching dance has always been to make it fun, easy, and can do for all of my students!!