Follow Us on Facebook

Vlad Astafiev

Dance education:

1993-1994 – dance studio “Fortuna”, Lugansk, Ukraine – trained intensively in Latin, Ballroom, Show dances;
1994-1996 – dance studio “Ber-Mir”, Lugansk, Ukraine – continue to dance and took part in city and regional competitions in Latin and Ballroom;
1996-1998 – dance studio “Allan-Bravo”, Lugansk, Ukraine – trained, competed on national competitions;
1998-2001 – break-dance studio “Flying Foots”, Lugansk, Ukraine – trained intensively in Break-dance, hip-hop, boogie style and took part in shows;
2001-2006 – dance studio “Olympia”, Lugansk, Ukraine – trained intensively in Latin, Ballroom, took part in national competitions, shows all over Lugansk region and Ukraine;
2007-2009 – dance studio “Avangard”, Lugansk, Ukraine – train, compete, teach and perform on different events (weddings, showcase balls);
2009-2010 ­- Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Glastonbury, CT, USA - teach, train, compete in Professionals in International Latin and Standard, American Smooth and Rhythm.
2011-December 2012– dance studio “Avangard”, Lugansk, Ukraine – teach, train, compete in Pro Latin Division, perform on different events, judge regional, national and international competitions.

During my competitive career I have trained with following coaches:

Vitaliy Glazkov - judge of international category, Ukraine;
Maxim Litushkin - champion of Ukraine in Amateurs and Professionals, Ukraine;
Sergey Francen - judge of international category WDC, Ukraine;
Oleg Kochnev - former professional dancer, judge of international category WDC, Ukraine;
Sergey Kobilkin - judge of international category, Poland;
Tatiana Kostina - judge of international category WDC, Russia;
Eugene Katsevman/Maria Manusova -US Amateur Champion, Professional World Finalist, Blackpool Finalist in Pro Latin Division;
JT Thomas - US National Professional Smooth Champion;
Christine Harvey-Banks - NDCA judge, Blackpool International Standard Finalist;
Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine - US Professional American Rhythm Champion;
Igor Volkov/Ella Ivanova - Ukrainian Pro Latin Champions, Ukraine.
Barbara McColl - WDC judge, Blackpool Pro Latin Champion, UK.
Sergey Surkov/Melia - 3rd couple in the world in Pro Latin Division, Russian Pro Latin Champions 2008-2012, Russia.
Vasiliy Altunin - WDC judge, coach, choreographer, Russian Pro Latin Finalist, Russia.
Olga Omelchenko-Muller - WDC judge, former World Amateur Latin Champion, Germany.
Victor Nikovskiy - Russian Pro Latin Champion, judge, choreographer, Russia.
Barbara Nagoda-Ambroz - judge of international category, coach, choreographer, Slovenia.
Andrey Buschik - 2007 Russian Pro Latin Champion, European Pro Showcase Champion, WDC judge, Russia.
Natalia Petrova - Russian Pro Latin Finalist, Blackpool Semi-finalist, WDC judge, Russia.
Andrei Gavriline – 3 times US Pro Latin Champion, choreographer, judge, studio owner, USA.

Dance achievements:

In the past years I took part in many national and international competitions in Latin and Standard and achieved some good results.

In season 2007-2008 – “C-B” (Amateurs) category and Amateurs Open:
2 third places, 7 second places and 1 first place in regional and national competitions.

In season 2008-2009 – “B-A” (Amateurs) category and Amateurs Open:
4 first places, 1 second place and 3 third places in national competitions.

In season 2009-2010 – Professionals Open:
semi-finalists on US Eastern Dancesport Championships in Boston, MA; Northeastern Open Dancesport Invitational in Stamford, CT; Atlantic Open Championship in Atlantic City, NJ; Commonwealth Classic Dance Sport Championship in Burlington, MA; 2 third places in International Latin and Standard on Regional Fred Astaire Competition in Quincy, MA; 1 fifth place in International Standard on Regional Fred Astaire Competition in Mystic, CT; 1 fourth place in Pro International Latin on Fred Astaire National Championship in Orlando, FL; 1 first place in Pro Latin Category on Regional Fred Astaire Dance Studios Competition in Mystic, CT.

In season 2011-2012 – Professionals Open:
quarter-finalists of WDC World Series in Kiev, Ukraine; semi-finalists of Open Professional Latin Championship “Winter Star-2012” in Moscow, Russia; quarter-finalists of WDC World Series in Moscow, Russia.

2005-2006 – work with students in organizing shows at the University and different clubs;
2007-present – work with children of 4-7 age, teaching dance and promoting dance sport;
2008-2009 – work with seniors who took part in regional and national championships and won several of them; organizing wedding dances for couples.
2009-2010 - work with Amateurs dancers of different age categories and different levels; compete with them on Regional and National Competitions.
2011-2012 - work with seniors, amateurs and children, competing with students in Pro/Am category and in Professional Latin Division, judging regional, national and international competitions.

Video links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aRkrGAH4C4 – jive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5FdlVPbx9U – paso doble

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpbLsd6iqs0 – rumba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta4j7NxVa8E – samba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaVbPLTH_f4 – cha-cha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO6Z90oHRy0 – practice rumba