Birthplace: Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Favorite Food: Italian, sushi, ramen, Mexican, or Greek… Okay, all food.
Favorite Music: Classical, EDM, 80s pop
Favorite Dances: WALTZ all day, every day!
Competitive Style: Amateur Smooth & Rhythm
What I love most about teaching: Teaching has always had a special place in my heart; something about sharing my knowledge and experiences with others is extremely rewarding. Seeing a student have a ‘light bulb’ moment after struggling with a subject is one of my favorite experiences.
One thing people don’t know about me: I LOVE trying out new hobbies! Some of my favorites include keeping a saltwater fish/coral tank, smoking meat (the best ribs you’ve ever had!), gardening, growing gourmet mushrooms, fishing, camping, ATV riding, video games, and reading, to name a few!
Bio: Clay was born in Wheat Ridge and grew up in Westminster until he was 9, when he moved to Grand Junction. Growing up, he spent many evenings watching TCM, his favorite channel, which featured the work of Fred Astaire and other titans of early black and white cinema. He then moved to Austin, Texas, when he was 21, to pursue a profession in Software Engineering. After 8 years of living there, he had had enough of the heat and lack of seasons and moved back to where he always felt at home, here in Westminster.
Clay began his dance journey at the age of 30, joining Fred Astaire Dance Studio because of its familiar name from the movies he grew up watching. During his tenure as a student, he has utilized dance to become more agile, work on his confidence, and overcome his fear of being put in the spotlight. This has led him to compete, perform in shows, and even win a People’s Choice Award for one of his showcases.
