MEET ROBERTO AND MONIKA
We both come from rich dance backgrounds and ballroom dancing has been part of our lives since we were children. In 2007, we decided to become professional competitive dance partners and formed RM Dance. Most recently, we became Professional Rising Star Latin Champions at the 2009 Emerald Ball! We share a passion for dancing and how it can make people's lives better. Over the years of teaching our students, we have developed an approach that really works and we are dedicated to helping our students accomplish their unique goals through dancing.
We currently teach ballroom dance lessons out of Club One Studio in Costa Mesa, Avante Garde Studio in Newport Beach, and Regency Ballroom in Torrance.
ABOUT ROBERTO
A teenaged Robert doing an exhibition with his partner at the time
I was born and raised in the breathtakingly beautiful city of Genova, Italy. My career as a competitive dancer started in 1994 and during that time, I have been fortunate enough to win numerous competitions and awards throughout Italy, Europe and the United States.
I also have a passion for teaching dance which led me to start the Dancesport Alessandria School in 1996. Through the school I was able to teach a number of young dancers who became youth champions and eventually went on to become well respected and successful dance professionals.
When I first came to the United States in 2006, I began teaching at a Fred Astaire franchise studio in New York. This gave me valuable experience in using social dancing as a way to help people live richer and more fulfilling lives. I came to the West Coast to start RM Dance and along with teaching students, I also have the privilege of serving as the coach for the UCI Collegiate Dancesport Team.
I credit the success I have had up to this point to a sense of diligence that my parents instilled in me from an early age and I love applying this diligence to helping my students accomplish their unique goals through dancing. My love for latin dancing grows out of a respect and passion for latin culture and when not teaching or competing, I enjoy social dancing and preparing italian cuisine for friends.
ABOUT MONIKA
Monika's first dance competition, 10 years old
I was born and raised in a small city in the west part of the Czech Republic. From when I was just a small child, I can remember my parents commenting that I had natural rhythm and should be a dancer. I began learning at the age of 10, studying steps and movements on my own as there were more girls in the class than boys. At the age of 15, I started my first dance partnership and we quickly rose to the top of the amateur ranks in the country. With this partnership, I was able to travel throughout Europe and began teaching other youth and adult couples.
A desire to focus on dance as a career led me to the United States where I had a life-changing experience working at a franchise dance studio in Boston. The four years I spent at this studio showed me how powerful dance was as I helped my students dance at their weddings, improve their self-esteem, their relationships and social lives, all through dancing. It was then that I decided that I wanted to focus on helping people live richer more fulfilling lives by experiencing the joy of ballroom dancing.
After I moved to California, I continued to compete with my previous professional partner making the finals and winning many competitions throughout the country. In late 2007, I spoke to Roberto over the phone and convinced him to come out to California for a tryout. After meeting with him and introducing him to my students, I knew immediately that this was going to be a fruitful partnership. RM Dance was formed soon after and we have been helping our students accomplish their unique goals through dancing ever since.
Now that you know a little about us, why don't you tell us a little about you!
GETTING STARTED TODAY
We've got a special intro lesson so you can meet us, get a taste of our approach, and tell us about your goals for dancing.
» SCHEDULE A FREE INTRO LESSON
SIGN UP ON OUR EMAIL LIST