- International Dance Council Member
- Studio Owner
- With Fred Astaire Dance Studios Since 2002
BIO
Jackie has been dancing the ballroom circuit since she was 7 years old, and held the undefeated United States Pre-teen and Junior Champion titles for 10 consecutive years. Being raised in the dance industry, the competitive floor is where she is most comfortable. Her “spicy & sassy” dance passion comes from her Italian and Filipino heritage. Although the American style of dance is Jackie’s expertise, she is also well versed in the International Style of Latin & Standard as well as Theatrical. Jackie enjoys coaching students and professionals at any level of learning. Along with her partner, Jesse DeSoto, she has captured United States and World status in the Open American Rhythm. In 2005, they placed 2nd in the World in the Mambo/ Salsa Competition held in Miami, Florida. They were a featured couple on the 2005 PBS’s American Ballroom Challenge dance program. Jackie and Jesse have worked with some of the greatest coaches in the world, such as Jean Marc Genereux & France Mousseau, Rufus Dustin, Taliat & Marina Tarsinov, Corky Ballas, Kasia Kozac, Bruno Collins & Luann Pulliam, Stephen Knight, Tony Dovolani, Elena Grinenko, Eddie Apolonov, and Maxim Chmerkovskiy. Being sponsored is one of the highest honors that any dance couple could have bestowed upon them and she is ever so grateful to their sponsors: Costumes—Dore Designs, Videography—Championship Productions, and Dance Shoes—Showtime Dance Shoes. Jackie is one of the most talented young dancers in the industry! She was a frequent face on ABC Channel 7 Morning News where she offered an array of her dance knowledge for various dance events in this great city of Chicago. In 2006, Jackie was a guest judge for ABC 7’s Last Dance competition that aired each morning for 5 consecutive days. Jackie has since stopped professionally competing and focuses on training and developing new teachers in the Illinois region. She is now the proud co-owner of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios – St. Charles IL location, with her husband, Evgeniy.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- 10-Time Fred Astaire Open American Rhythm Champion
- 2-Time United States Open American Rhythm Finalist
- 3rd Place Open American Rhythm – Ohio Star Ball
- World Mambo Vice-Champion
- Ohio Star Ball Rising Start Rhythm Champion
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- American Rhythm
- American Smooth
- International Latin
- International Standard
- Theater Arts
- Business Training
- Teacher Training
Jackie Josephs-Grytsak is part of the prestigious Fred Astaire Dance Studios International Dance Council, which oversees Dance Instructor training and certification, judges (Professional, Amateur, Pro/Am) at Regional, National & International Fred Astaire Dance Studio Dance Competition events, actively coaches our Students & Instructors in dance studio locations across our network, and continuously reviews our proprietary dance curriculum to ensure only the finest, most up-to-date programs for our Students. For more information on the Fred Astaire International Dance Council or any of its members, please contact us.