Guest Coaches

The World’s Best Dancers and Coaches, in Our Studio!

Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Burr Ridge offers and delivers the finest in group and private ballroom dance classes, but we also bring you a great variety in our professional coaching. Broaden your knowledge and skills by meeting and working with some true standouts. You’ll be glad you did. These professionals have helped shape the dance industry and continue to inspire the teaching methods used throughout the dance community. We encourage you to enroll today with one (or better, both!) of these special guest coaches.

Wednesday, September 10th
Anna Krasnoshapka
Coaching Day and Master Class

  • International Dance Council Member
  • Studio Co-Owner
  • With Fred Astaire Dance Studios Since 2013

BIO

Anna was born in the Ukraine. She has been dancing since the age of 7. Piano lessons were also a side hobby for Anna, but her passion for dance took over. Her dance education continued at the National University of Physical Education and Sport in Kiev, Ukraine. She was the winner of the Ukrainian Champion, Latin Division in 2011 and 2012. She also took home top honors in many European Dance Championships. She take her coaching very seriously and has only been taught by the best of the best. Anna is famous for being the responsible one of the group. She has passion for the growth of all students, celebrating the everyday small successes, as well as the big ones.

Anna and her partner, Mykyta Serdyuk, started their partnership in the Ukraine, then moved to the US to join the Fred Astaire Dance Studios team in Madison, WI. They started competing right away with great results, earning many first place wins in the Professional Latin division before transitioning to the American style. They’ve taken on the American styles with great success, as they now are 6-time Fred Astaire National 9-Dance Champions and 2-time American National 9-Dance Champions. In 2018, they made the decision to focus on their studio and retired from competing together.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Undefeated Fred Astaire Dance Studios® 9-Dance Champion in American Smooth & Rhythm
  • Fred Astaire Dance Studios® National American Rhythm Finalist
  • Fred Astaire Dance Studios® National American Smooth Finalist
  • Ohio Star Ball Open American Rhythm Finalist
  • United States Open American Rhythm Finalist
  • 2-Time United States 9-Dance Champion in American Smooth & Rhythm

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • American Smooth
  • American Rhythm
  • International Latin
  • Choreography
  • Business Training

Wednesday, September 24th
Rachel Sayotovich
Coaching Day and Master Class

Rachel, born and raised in Milwaukee, began dancing at the age of 8 at Young Dance Academy. She soon began intensive pre-professional training and competed in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary. She received numerous national awards and scholarships for her soloist and group work. After high school, Rachel attended Marquette University and kept dancing as a hobby. She continued to teach a variety of ages and styles of dance, while also working with local movie productions, dance companies, and theater companies as a musical choreographer.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Marquette University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and Broad Field Sciences, she planned to pursue a career in dancing after being accepted to the American Musical and Drama Academy in New York City. However, after a spontaneous decision to try ballroom lessons at Fred Astaire as a graduation present, she decided to pursue training in ballroom. After a short two year amateur career that brought numerous Pro-Am National Championship titles, she decided to pursue the professional circuit.

Rachel has been with the Fred Astaire family for a total of almost 10 years. She transitioned from being a  student, to becoming a teacher, and then becoming training director of the studio. As a teacher, Rachel has had much success with her students in a variety of styles, including students who have become notable National and International Champions. Rachel was also consistently the Wisconsin Region’s Top Female Teacher across all categories for many years, receiving many plaques and honors for her hard work and dedication to developing her students. During her time as a training director, Rachel helped to lead a team of teachers to becoming a Top 20 studio in the country across the entire Fred Astaire company. The instructors she worked alongside also had much success, winning top awards for their accomplishments.

Professionaly, she is currently competing in the International Latin style with her partner Alex since 2019. In just a few short years, even amidst a global pandemic, they have already accomplished quite a bit in a short time. They are most proud of their finalist placements in all Rising Star Latin events at major U.S. competitions, including USDC Open to the World, Ohio Star Ball, New York Dance Festival, Emerald Ball, and more. They also travel internationally to all of the major Latin competitions where they have become Rising Star semifinalists, including at the most prestigious Blackpool Dance Festival and International Championships held in the United Kingdom as well as at World Masters held in Innsbruck, Austria.

Her areas of specialty include International Latin, International Smooth, American Rhythm, American Smooth, Theater Arts/Cabaret, Showdance, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Beginner Students, and Wedding Choreography.

Rachel is very excited to be opening her first school in the Wisconsin area. She cannot wait to share her passion for dancing with the area of New Berlin and is beyond grateful to become a part of your dancing journey!