At Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Jacksonville South our talented dance instructors and proven teaching methods will have you on the floor in no time. Experience the grace and excitement of this timeless social activity with programs that are customized to fit your unique goals and schedule.
Our Studio Mission:
“We want the opportunity to make you the best dancer you can be. Share with us your goals and we will work with you to meet them. We believe that dance can solve many issues – physical, mental, spiritual. We care about your journey into dance and want to help you find your inner dancer.”
Vasiliy and Marina Vlasov - Owners & Franchisees
Vasiliy and Marina Vlasov believe that ballroom dancing affects the individual physically, mentally and spiritually. This belief of caring for the whole person, along with providing an exceptional quality of dance instruction and training, led them to become owners of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Jacksonville, in 2008.
Their expertise in the dancing profession began prior to their 2000 arrival in the United States in Kaliningrad, Russia. Meeting as teenagers, Vasiliy and Marina began to build their passion and love for dancing. They competed successfully as amateurs and professionals throughout Russia and Europe while receiving degrees in mechanical engineering and working in this field for over ten years. Deciding to follow their ultimate desire for dancing, their passion led them to establish a 300 student ballroom dancing school for children and youth, teaching and training at a level that has resulted in many of their students becoming champions in countries around the world.
Vasiliy and Marina are sought after throughout the United States for their instructional technique, training and coaching skills as adjudicators at both amateur and professional levels. In their Jacksonville South studio, they provide for students of all ages and abilities, quality instruction in a warm, caring atmosphere in which students can pursue ballroom dancing as a means to meet their individual desires and needs, often changing their lives.
They both hold Arthur Murray Verified Professional Examiner certification in American and International styles of dancing. They are also certified adjudicators with the National Dance Council of America (NDCA). They provide exceptional training to their teaching staff in order to give excellent service to each student that becomes a part of their dancing family.
Misha Vlasov - Instructor
Misha Vlasov has been dancing and competing in International Latin and Standard along with the American Smooth and Rhythm divisions for more than 20 years under the coaching of Marina and Vasiliy. Now, he competes nationally throughout the United States with his students in the Pro-Am division, earning lots of prestigious titles in the Pro/Am division. Last year, one of his students took home the first place title in the Open Gold Pro/Am Rhythm division at Ohio Star Ball. He is currently No. 1 in the nation in Pro-Am Mambo and in Pro-Am Bronze International Latin with his students. In addition to ballroom dancing, Misha performed in the Jacksonville Florida Theatre in The Community Nutcracker Ballet and The Frog Prince Ballet. He has also performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Circue De La Symphony.
Misha recently began a new partnership with Vanda Polakova in the Professional American Rhythm division, and they have been wowing everyone who watches them. They are sure eye-catching with their fun and energetic personalities. Even though this is a new partnership, they have been receiving great placements and feedback from top judges!
Pavel “Pasha” Andreyev - Instructor
Originally from Russia, Pasha has been a Jacksonville resident since 2006. He began dancing at the age of six, under the coaching of Vasiliy and Marina Vlasov. Pasha is trained in all International and American style dances. He has been competing and performing for over 20 years. He has found his true passion through dancing and competing in Ballroom Dancing. He also in constantly travelling and competing with his students in the Pro/Am division, and also lately has been competing, with wonderful results in the American Rhythm Professional division. When he dances, it is evident that he truly enjoys dancing!!!
Irina Babina - Instructor
Irina began training in Rhythmic Gymnastics at the age of 9 and took ballet classes to help benefit her gymnastics career. She successfully competed in many Russian and European competitions. All of her competitive routines included a lot of dance movement in addition to gymnastics elements. While she loved gymnastics, she later realized that her true passion was for dancing. She moved to the United States in 2008, and decided to take her love for dance and turn it into her career. She started her training at Arthur Murray and has made many accomplishments throughout the last year, winning several local Professional competitions. She is constantly working to improve her Professional skill and knowledge, and is always delighted to share this with her students.