Nancy and Steven Fontaine began dancing in Sonoma County with John Ross Academy of Dance in 1996.

Our first class was Beginning Country. We had been married for 23 years and had never danced together (We have now been married 36 years). Our coach John Ross not only taught us how to dance, he also taught us to love dance.

We started with no knowledge of dancing and caught on very quickly. We began assisting in John's classes after about 6 months of lessons. Around the end of our first year, our coach approached us to become teachers for him.

We trained for 8 months on how to teach and continued to assist in classes. We taught our 1st class (Beginning Country) in September 1997.

We have been teaching ever since, starting with just one class a week at first. As time went on we were offering up to 15 classes per week, before relocating to Roseville, CA in November of 2003.

We have trained with some of the finest dance instructors in the business, including:

Donald Johnson and Kasia Kozak
Jim and Janell Maranto
Michael Mead and Toni Redpath
Victor Veyrasset and Heather Smith
Ron Montez
Buddy Schwimmer

Karen Leonard: Dancers Body Class Instructor

Karen started teaching exercise in 1979 at Georgene's Health Club in So. San Francisco just for fun and to introduce something different to the club.  It quickly became a "hit" among the woman at the club.  In 1980 she was one of the backup exercise gals for Joanie Greggins on channel 2 in San Francisco.   She continued to teach at Georgene's Health Club for the next 3 years and in 1982 she opened up my own exercise studio in Millbrae, CA,  "Karen's Body Shop" Exercise to Music!  It was for women only.  A place where they could feel comfortable, secure, and confident without intimidation that they could get healthy and lose weight.   It was better than she had hoped for. Karen also taught at "What a Racquet" in Daly City who contracted her to come in twice a week to do an aerobic exercise class for men and women. She finally closed her studio to raise her two children in 1990 and would sub at different health clubs for the next 10 years.  Now, she is excited to be back teaching exercise and healthy living to women of all ages, shapes, and sizes.  "I hope my class also teaches a life style for women so they can learn to love exercise, feel good about themselves and their bodies all while getting healthy".  Today Karen is a mother, and grandmother of 3.

Carrie Emerson:  Certified Zumba Instructor

Julia Carroll:  Belly Dancing and Vinyasa Yoga Instructor

I have loved movement and dance all my life.  Ever since my first ballet recital at age 6, I knew I had to dance, and when I saw my first belly dancer in a restaurant in 1972, I knew I had found my dance form. I immediately began taking classes with my mother, which I continued for the next 7 years. I took a few years off to raise a family and explore other dance forms, joining the "Plague Rat English Country Dancers" for a while, and eventually went back to ballet class in 1985.  Missing the exuberance of belly dance, I started teaching classes in 1987, and founded my dance troupe, "The Ottoman Traders," in 1991, which is still active and performing around Northern California today.  Belly dance teaches you to appreciate your body, builds your strength, and boosts your self confidence.

I discovered Hatha yoga when I was a freshman in college.  I took classes from different instructors and did some yoga on my own, but wasn't very consistent.  Six years ago I discovered Vinyasa Yoga, which really spoke to me.  The dance-like flow and quality of movement in conjunction with the breath practiced in Vinyasa compliments dancer development as it improves your mind, body, and spirit connection.

Lisa Donchak: Quickstep and Viennese Waltz