About our Principals

The guiding spirits of Classic Ballroom are

• Paul Botes
• Donna Edelstein
• Jay Larson
• Pauline Sanchez

Head Coaches Paul, Donna & Jay all prove that:

Experience counts

Paul, Donna and Jay are all National Champions and international performers

• Paul and Donna have won major competitions in the Standard and Smooth divisions, and have performed together on national TV, in the SuperBowl XXIII half-time show, with the Strauss Symphony of America, The Metropolitan Ballet, The Beyond Ballroom Dance Company and at corporate and special events.
• Jay is a US Professional 9-Dance Champion, three-time North American Rhythm Finalist and 9-Dance Champion and winner of numerous individual competitions nationwide.

There's a world of dance beyond competition

Since retiring from competitive dance

• Paul, Donna and Jay all choreograph for and train professional and amateur dancesport athletes and social dancers, and perform with The Beyond Ballroom Dance Company.
• Paul is a top teacher at competitions, as well as emceeing and judging, and co-organizes The Snow Ball DanceSport Competition with his wife Donna.
• Donna judges major competitions, teaches dance at Macalester College with husband Paul, and writes for DanceBeat.
• Jay is a top teacher at competitions nationwide and is a founding member of The Beyond Ballroom Dance Company.

Business Manager Pauline proves that:

Dreams can be practical

• Pauline has combined her love of social dance with her business and management expertise to forge a career in dance studio management.
• Pauline excels in making a dance studio a solid, efficient business organization - without sacrificing any of the spontaneity and fun that makes it a special place to be.