Meet Our Richmond Dance Instructors and Team
You don’t have to arrive knowing the steps. We’ll help with those.
At Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Richmond, VA, our team teaches ballroom and Latin dance lessons at our Arboretum studio. Whether you’re preparing for your wedding, trying something new, or returning to dancing, we start by getting to know you and what you’d like to accomplish.
We keep learning, too. Our instructors build on Fred Astaire’s established teaching methods, continue their own training, and work together to help you progress. When a step feels tricky, we’ll break it down or find another way to explain it. When your hard work pays off, you’ll have people to celebrate with.
Our purpose is to help people flourish through dance. That starts with making room for questions, treating each other with kindness, and helping you build confidence and connections that carry into everyday life.
Meet the people who will welcome you, help you get scheduled, and join you on the dance floor.
Dmitriy Gnatush - Dance Instructor
Dima helps beginners and wedding couples build confidence through ballroom dance lessons.
Daniel Koval - Dance Instructor
Daniel brings international performance experience and an encouraging approach to ballroom lessons, showcases, and competition preparation.
Polina Kravchuk – Dance Instructor
Polina helps beginners and wedding couples feel comfortable dancing and has served as a lead instructor in our ParaDance collaboration with Sportable.
Vladyslav Balyka – Dance Instructor
Vlad helps new students build ballroom and Latin dance skills, from their first lessons to showcases and competitions.
Loraine Claro – Scheduling Assistant
Loraine helps you schedule introductory lessons, answers questions about getting started, and connects you with our team.
Meet Our Studio Owners
Tommy Bettin and Maggie Small Bettin are the owners of Fred Astaire Dance Studios Richmond. Tommy’s background spans classical ballet, ballroom, and Latin dance, and he opened the Richmond studio in 2018. Maggie, a Richmond native, danced professionally with Richmond Ballet for 16 years and continues to serve on its Advisory Council.
Today, they lead the studio and support the instructors who teach your lessons. They invest in ongoing training, build on Fred Astaire’s established teaching methods, and encourage a team culture where people work hard, help each other, and keep learning.
Their shared purpose is to help people flourish through dance. For Tommy and Maggie, that means creating a place where you feel welcome to try, supported as you learn, and connected to people who care about your progress.
Both owners have been recognized among Style Weekly’s
Ready to Get Started?
You don’t need experience or a partner to begin. Tell us what you’d like to learn, and we’ll help you take the first step.