Business & Tech
Tango With Port Chester's Ballroom Dance Academy Owner
They offer ballroom social and competitive dance as well as Latin dances like salsa, bachata, merengue and cumbia.
Everyone knows it takes two to tango, but not everyone knows how to tango. Never fear, Maria Blanco and Jamie Ramirez are here to show you how.
Ramirez is the owner of the located at 168 Irving Avenue here in Port Chester.
“I have been dancing professionally for about eight years,” said Ramirez. “But I’ve been teaching children and adults the gift of dance for more than 15 years - nine of them here in Westchester.”
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Ramirez started at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio and waited to open his own studio until he felt he was ready. Ramirez has also taught at elementary schools and Manhattanville College. Ballroom social and competitive dance as well as Latin dances like salsa, bachata, merengue and cumbia are all part of Ramirez’s teachings at the Academy of Ballroom Dance.
“I have never been as happy as I am having Maria here with us,” said Ramirez.
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Maria Blanco finished high school, planned on attending college and majoring in fashion design. It was a last minute decision to cancel those plans and follow her true passion of dance. Blanco has been dancing for most of her life but was also interested in many artistic expressions including painting, photography and pottery.
Blanco has performed in several tango festivals, television advertisements and loves to teach her craft.
“I have developed an instructional system for our classes. I consider the goals of each student and teach according to that. I combine individual technique, couple’s exercises and dancing so the student can learn a lot but have fun at the same time. I focus on technique and precision without forgetting musicality, how to differentiate the orchestras, the codes of the dance and keeping the roots of our culture alive.”
Blanco will be performing at the Ballroom Dancesport Extravaganza VIII, Tuesday June 12 at the Westchester Broadway Theatre and teaching at the Academy of Ballroom Dance again this June.
For information on lessons from either Jamie Ramirez or Maria Blanco, contact Academy of Ballroom Dance at 914-231-6457 or jamiedanceinstructor@gmail.com
