Lorraine Muller -
The Owner of Lorraine-Michaels Dance Centre for over 20 years (1981)
United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (USISTD) certified as a teacher of American Smooth and American Rythm Dances.
London Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) certified for Ballroom Dancing.
Lorraine continues to study with international instructors. On a weekly basis, she takes 2 to 6 hours of advanced level classes from top instructors from Europe, Canada and New York. On a regular basis, she travels to New York City and Montreal to further her training.
She is currently preparing for her "Licenciate Ballroom", the next level of certification through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD).
She has been teaching for over 20 years.
She teaches: Swing, Ballroom, Latin, Hustle, Tango, Weddings, Aerial lifts and tricks classes.
Corliss Bull -
The Manager.
Corliss teaches Ballroom, Latin, Hustle, Swing and Wedding programs.
Corliss was born in the Mohawk Valley. She earned a Registered Nurse degree and worked at both Ellis Hospital and as a Charge Nurse in various doctor's offices for 25 years. She has two sons, -Mike, who lives in Virginia, and Jeff, residing in Santa Fe and at home with her is her cat Daphne.
Besides enjoying music, reading and cooking, she decided she needed to find a new passion to devote her time to. Ann and David Denzer, who were dancing with Lorraine-Michaels at the time, heartlily reccommended Ballroom Dancing. Corliss gave it a try and loved it. She has been dancing with Lorraine Michaels for thirteen years and teaching Ballroom Dance for eleven. Corliss is the lead Ballroom Dance instructor and Manager for Lorraine-Michaels.
Cori Irwin -
Hip Hop Coordinator.
Cori teaches the most received Hip Hop classes in the area with her cutting edge moves.
Born and raised in Albany, she began dancing at age five. She studied tap, ballet, modern and even break dancing. In high school she she concentrated more on acting and music, she began flute and piano lessons, and eventually voice. Cori was also an active public speaker and acted in many school plays.
Once out of high school, she continued acting in some independent and feature films. She is also a member of Screen Actors Guild. It wasn't until 1998 when she was living in New York City the she rediscovered her passion for dance. She began studying Hip Hop dance at Manhattan Studio with a professional music video dancer. In 1999 she returned to Albany and continued Hip Hop dancing at Lorraine Michaels. She also picked up ballet again along with modern, African and Belly dancing. When she is not dancing, she attends Sage Evening College with an interior design major. She loves dancing and likes to perform Hip Hop dance whenever possible.
Erick Singleman -
Erick is a former amateur ballroom and Latin dance competitor that has competed in the US & Canada. Erick has trained in Montreal with International 10 Dance Champions Pierre Allaire and Mireille Veilleux. Erick continues to attend seminars and lessons to keep up with the current trends in ballroom dancing.
As an RPI graduate in Engineering, Erick emphasizes the technical aspects of how and why one must position their body in a certain manner in order to facilitate the movement of both themselves and their partner. In his view, once these fundamentals are established, dancing becomes an effortless act that translates music into motion.
Erick teaches Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Hustle, Group and Private Lessons.
Christina Douglas -
Hip-Hop
Christina Douglas started her love for dance at the age of ten when she became a cheerleader. She cheerleaded and danced for eight years for Pop Warner football and high school sports. She used her talents to become a choreographer of dance routines for her high school's cheerleading team. She studied jazz and hip hop at the Flynn School of Dance in Troy NY, and perfected her dance style and unique moves when she began taking classes at Lorraine Michaels Dance Centre in 2002. Christina began teaching Hip Hop classes at Lorraine Michaels Dance Centre in 2003. She teaches classes of all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. She has performed at hip hop festivals, local artists shows and international conventions. She is a resident of Troy NY ,a graduate of RPI and presently works as a Transportation Engineer in Albany.
Tony DiSarro -
Kickboxing Coordinator.
Tony is a Black Belt in Kosho-Shori Ryu Kenpo and a certified Japanese Sword Fighting instructor. He has trained in the martial arts for over 15 years. He runs a great work-out that will help you get fit, toned, flexible, and feeling very confident!
Walter Folger -
Dance Instructor- Milonguero Extranjero
My junior high school class took Ballroom Dancing every Friday night. My teacher said that I expressed myself in Tango and asked me to assist her in instructing her dance classes. I have been involved with social dancing ever since.
In 1995, I took a wine tasting tour of Argentina to explore where the Tango had developed. In La Boca, the Italian district where Tngo originated, I began my atudies in show Tango. (Tango Fnatasia). In 1997, after watching the Ballroom Dancing competitions in Blackpool, England, I decided to concentrate on the Argentine Tango because of its combination of a smooth dance with Latin flavor.
In Argentina, style and rhythm are considered more important in Argentine social dance, than the number of figures the dancer performs at the milongas (dance halls). The most difficult aspect of dancing at the milongas, is the need to change figures before thier completion to avoid colliding with other dancers. My method of teaching concentrates on the rythym and style of the three dances done in the Salons with Tango figures: Milonga, Tango and Vals. I demonstrate and teach the skills necessary for the dancer to be able to change a basic figure into other figures in order to successfully negotiate the dance floor
Walter also teaches Swing, Ballroom, Latin, Hustle, and Milonga style Tango.
Mike Muller- -
Dance Instructor: Ballroom, Swing, Latin, Hustle.
Michael Muller began dancing in 1980 as Lorraine’s student. He quickly progressed and began studying with Lorraine under June LaBerta and Eddie Dorfer in NYC.
June was an original Palladium dancer and specialized in Mambo, Argentine Tango, Roseland FoxTrot along with all the social dances.
Eddie Dorfer was the first Mambo dancer in NYC in the 1980’s and helped pioneer the new Argentine Tango movement in the U.S. following the Broadway show, “Tango Argentino.”
Mike has been teaching dancing for 20 years. He has performed locally and in the Catskills. He teaches Ballroom, Latin and Swing. He has a special affection for FoxTrot, Roseland FoxTrot, Waltz and the smooth dances.
Jerry Durovic -
Dance Instructor- Latin
Dr. Jerry Durovic grew up dancing in New York City and has taught salsa and merengue at latinclubs, co-managed at Capital District Latin Dance Club, and has trained with Latin Ballroom dance champions from Canada and Europe. He enjoys introducing dancers to the joys and styling of social latin dancing as well as the steps of club salsa and merengue.
Suzanne "Lilya" Rancourt -
Belly Dance Instructor
Suzanne is a certified fitness trainer with over 15 years experience. Her primary dance influence is that of internationally known dancer choreographer Richard Gonzalez teaching from the Jazz, Modern and African-Caribbean styles of Katherine Dunham and Syvilla. Suzanne has studied with the international dance troupe Cutumba! in Santiago, Cuba as well as with other renowned Afro--Caribbean and African dancers. Suzanne's Middle Eastern dance training is in both Cabaret and Folkloric gypsy styles as taught and performed by Elaina, Asamara, and Dallia Carella. Suzanne is "An artist of uncommon diversity" and is influenced by her Native American (Abenaki) heritage and philosophies.
Everett Coons -
Private Instructor for Ballroom, Swing, Latin, Hustle and “First Dance” Wedding Programs. Everett started dancing in 1992, after attending a Dance Studio Event with a friend. He soon discovered his passion and natural born talent for dancing. He trained for two seasons with Corliss Bull and now trains with Lorraine Muller. Everett soon realized after learning the basics of Swing, Rhumba and Mambo that he had found his niche and continued his dance training. His skills rapidly moved to another level as he developed proficiency in performing the Tango, Cha-Cha, Quickstep, Samba, Salsa, Peabody, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz and West Coast Swing.
Everett is available for private lessons in Ballroom, Swing, Latin, Hustle and “First Dance” Wedding Programs.
Susan Andrews -
Susan is a Teacher Competitor and specializes in all levels of Ballroom Dance Classes. Susan started dancing in 1983. She studied and trained with Peter Billet. She taught independently for six years and with another Dance studio. She teaches American Style Smooth and Latin, and Swing.
Scotty Swing -
Swing dancing instructor (New Instructor--more infor. to com)