Corey Eiland

I started my path to becoming a dance instructor by doing the same thing many of my first-time students do – by taking that first dance class.

I wasn’t fortunate enough to have a background in jazz or ballet from a young age like some dance instructors, but I decided that "starting late" wasn't going to get in my way, and I took that first dance class (trivia: it was East Coat Swing). Also similar to some of my first-time students, I recall vividly that it wasn’t exactly an easy ride. I love teaching beginners especially because I let that memory guide every one of my classes – I was that nervous student with two left feet. I remember what it was like to step on feet, be off-beat, and forget the moves. I remember getting frustrated seeing others learn more quickly than me, and thinking that maybe dancing wasn’t for me.

Today, around five years later, I dance all day, every day. Music and dancing – especially Salsa – are my life. I've performed with dance teams, competed and won in contests, promoted my own events, and most importantly taught hundreds of students. For three of those years, I've taught at Atomic Ballroom, a place that has made possible a lot of what I’ve done. It was one of the first places I ever went dancing, and I remember being welcomed like family; every week, the staff remembered my name and asked how I was doing, and the teachers patiently worked with me in class to make sure I was improving. Every time I teach a lesson to a new student, I hope they get that same vibe that I did, and they don’t give up.

If you've ever tried dancing before and felt like you didn’t get it, you and I definitely have that in common. Keep coming to my class, and I guarantee you’ll be looking back on those times before you know it.

Latin
• Salsa
• Cha Cha
• Argentine Tango
• Cumbia
• Bachata

Latin
• Salsa
• Cha Cha
• Rumba
• Argentine Tango
• Cumbia
• Bachata