Category Archives: Teacher Spotlight

Teacher Spotlight: Gia Ray

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Gia Ray started her dance career working as a salsa dancer in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She loved dancing and wanted to expand her repertoire so branched out into the world of ballroom, teaching at Blue Light Ballroom in Charlottesville, Virginia and competing professionally in Smooth around the country. After competing in Smooth she decided to expand her professional dance to Rhythm, and is now teaching all of the above at Smooth Sailing Ballroom. To make a full circle, Gia now also leads Salsa, Bachata retreats to San Miguel de Allende once a year for Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos).

Teacher Spotlight: Adam Mehring

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Adam has been a leader in Charlottesville’s ballroom dance scene for more than
15 years, and he is the owner of award-winning Smooth Sailing Ballroom. Born
and raised in Albemarle County, he began teaching 16 years ago. Adam has won
multiple Top Teacher awards at dance competitions near and far. He has worked
with thousands of students, from high-level competitors and wedding couples, to
kids and individuals who just want to have fun and learn to dance. Smooth
Sailing Ballroom offers private lessons and group classes, and its main mission is
to make people happy through the art and joy of dance. When not on the dance
floor, Adam enjoys traveling, rock climbing, scuba diving, skiing, sailing, hiking,
yoga, mountain biking, acrobatics, cooking, woodworking and music.

Teacher Spotlight

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David Acunzo

David Acunzo (with partner)

David Acunzo, President of Charlottesville Tango, teaches classes every Thursday evening at the McGuffey Arts Center. He discovered tango in 2006 at the Princeton University Tango Club and has been a devoted social dancer ever since. Originally from France, David lived in the UK for several years, where he began teaching and organizing regular tango events in Birmingham before moving to Charlottesville. 

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Charlottesville Tango https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=charlottesville%20tango

Instagram: @cvilletango