Andrew Polunin

My ballroom career started at the age of ten. I started performing and competing with my partner

back in Ukraine. We took part in local, national, and international competitions and

performances. The most memorable moment was a trip to France in 2004 where we were lucky

and honored to perform in numerous events around the country. In 2006, I moved to The United

States. Thanks to my parents, I was able to continue my ballroom training. I got even more

serious, and, with my partner, I was able to gain a tristate championship title in International

Latin junior division. After my partnership came to an end, I couldn’t find a new partner at my

level, so I gradually transitioned into coaching at the studio where I used to train. Parallel to that,

in 2010-2011, I started my higher education at Temple University Fox School of Business and

began working with Dancing Classrooms as a Teaching Artist. This organization gave me a great

opportunity to improve my teaching skills and to make a difference in children’s lives. In 2012, I

changed my major to Liberal Arts (English) and in 2015, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree.

With every year, my involvement with Dancing Classrooms grew. I gradually started to pick up

more responsibilities and eventually transition into Artistic and Education Director position.

Parallel to this, I am working as a dance instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studio training

people in American style ballroom dancing.