|
Greg and Mary Jo Hansen
Greg has a lot of things he likes about the dance business, but at the top of that list would be his love to help people excel in an area, dance, where most people feel that “you either have it or you don't.” That is probably something that he and The Famous Fred Astaire had in common. Fred was quoted as saying, "Most people feel that good dancers are born, all the good dancers I've seen have been taught or trained."
Greg began his dance career in Austin, Texas in 1979 when a friend told him about a training class ad. He brings more than 25 years of dance humor, experience and wisdom to the studio. He chose to take a competitive approach to the dance business. After winning several competitions, including first place in the Southern Invitational, Greg retired from professional competitive dance to focus on his love for teaching. He now shares a love of dance with his students in the Pro?Am Divisions.
Greg has been recognized within the Fred Astaire organization as a Top Instructor, Manager, and Franchiser, qualifying for and winning the coveted Freddy Award a number of times in his career.
Greg say's his goal is to help students and staff live all their dreams, personally and professionally.
Greg and Mary Jo met in Fort Smith, Arkansas where Greg was the owner of two Fred Astaire Dance Studios. They were given the wonderful opportunity of expanding the Fred Astaire organization into the Colorado area and couldn't pass it up. Implementing a 3 year plan to sell the Arkansas studios, they arrived in Denver. They have been doing business in Denver since 1997. Mary Jo says "it is the people in Denver that made us want to relocate."
Mary Jo has been with Fred Astaire Dance Studios since 1991. Her family spent many evenings watching reruns of Fred Astaire. Having danced herself since she was 8, getting into the Fred Astaire Organization was a dream come true.
Mary Jo's favorite thing about the dance business is people. She loves helping develop their talents no matter what level of dancer that they are. She says "seeing the excitement on their face, whether it's because they just learned a box step or placed first in a National Competition is always a wonderful experience for a teacher to have. I don't think I'll ever get used to it."
Mary Jo has been recognized for her talent as an instructor many times. She has been one of the Top Female Instructors, winning the coveted Freddy Award all but 2 years of her career. She was the first and only female instructor to win Top Teacher Overall in a National Competition, beating all the male instructors, in the history of Fred Astaire Dance Studios. She was named the Top Female Competitive Instructor for 2003 with one of her students being named Top Male Competitor 2003 at the Astaire Awards Ball in Chicago. Mary Jo's talents as Instructor speak for themselves.
Mary Jo's goal is to provide an environment for students and staff where they can feel free to express themselves through the beauty of ballroom dance.
Greg and Mary Jo as a team have received many awards for their schools’ achievement as well as the Freddy Award for Top Studio. Both Greg and Mary Jo say that they love being in the Fred Astaire Organization and being associated with a man of that caliber. Their goal, as a team, is to provide a place that Fred himself would be proud of.
|
