Instructor Bios
Rachel Lidskog
A professional dancer, singer, and choreographer, Rachel Lidskog has been a certified dance instructor for 24 years—in business as 2 Dance with Joy—and now also the proud owner of Dance with Joy Studios, LLC. Known for her joy while teaching, Rachel’s dance knowledge includes a broad repertoire of styles, including all the American and International Style Ballroom dances (Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Cha Cha, Bolero, Mambo, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, Jive, Samba and Paso Doble) as well as many other partnership dances (West & Coast Swing, Lindy Hop Swing, Charleston, Balboa, Hustle, Country 2-step, Night Club 2-step, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cuban Casino Rueda and Argentine Tango).
Rachel enjoys traveling often with her teaching, to festivals and special events, with professional partners and students, competing, teaching, and training, in destinations across the US and around the world, including Argentina, Cuba, France, Holland, Spain, and Sweden. Her strong dance and performance foundation includes solo dance training in classical ballet, tap, jazz, modern, gymnastics, Polynesian, Irish, Flamenco, musical theater, aerobics, Tai-chi, ZUMBA and yoga, allowing her appreciation for all forms of movement and a greater understanding of body mechanics, alignment and energy.
Rachel’s musical theatre credits include the leading and supporting roles of Nellie in South Pacific, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, The Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooge, Stupefying Jones in Lil’ Abner, and Old Devil Moon in On With the Show, as well as a principal dancer and chorus singer in Evita, Oklahoma, South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun, and Cabaret. Choreography credits include numerous professional dance shows, Newberg High School’s show choir, and Guys and Dolls, Haddasah, Forest Grove Highschool’s production of Brigadoon and the Vancouver School of Arts production of Guys and Dolls.
Schedule your private lesson with Rachel Lidskog by contacting Dance with Joy Studios. Or for Rachel Lidskog’s group classes, check her calendar at 2dancewithjoy.com.
Adam Cornett
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Adam Cornett started dancing in his freshman year of college with Rachel Lidskog in 2000. He joined the PSU ballroom competition team in 2001 and began assisting Rachel as a TA in all of her classes and shadowed her for two years throughout Portland. In 2003 he decided that of all of the dances he was learning, Argentine Tango was the one that called to him the most.
In 2004 he was the understudy of Alex Krebs for one year and began to travel and teach. In 2006 he moved to Eugene where he taught Tango. Upon moving back to Portland in early 2007 he took a break from teaching to focus on his marketing career. Now after 5 years he is back in the scene due to his deep passion for teaching.
Adam encourages creativity in his students by giving them the tools to experiment with the dance on their own. He pushes the borders of a students abilities so that they can expand their range quickly and efficiently. Schedule your private lesson with Adam Cornett
Alicia Schuler
Alicia Schuler (Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop) was born a student of tap, literally. Her mother taught tap classes while carrying Alicia until the week she was born. As a baby, the only time she was calm was while she was on mommy’s hip in tap class. At 18 months, she donned shoes of her own and has been a studio-rat ever since. She ventured beyond her studio at the age of 11 to train with Damon Keller, and has been since. She has also trained with Gregg Russell. She has a hunger for learning, and still spends most of her time in the studio. She hopes to one day be able to earn a living doing what she loves…
Schedule your private lesson with Alicia
Andy Long
Andy Long’s dance experience began right here on the floors of Portland Dancesport. Andy has a musical background in jazz, and so found his initial interest in dance directed towards the swing styles. In 2009 he began participating in PDS’s West Coast Swing class. Through his experience in that first class his eyes were opened to other styles of dance and he soon found himself dancing many ballroom and latin dances. Andy has performed in both the 2009 and 2010 Holiday Shows and brings 10 years of martial arts teaching experience to the table as well.
Andy is currently apprenticing at PDS in American Smooth, Rhythm and Nightclub Styles. .Schedule your private lesson with Andy Long
Chris Jones
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Chris has been dancing since 1980. He has competed and taught extensively on the national country and swing dance circuits. He is a U. S. Open Swing Dance Championships finalist and a Country Western Grand Champion as well as winner of numerous Jack and Jill Championships. Chris judged the first Country Western World Championship in Nashville, Tennessee. He also owned and operated the popular Southern California dance studio, Dance Magic. While living in California, he was nominated for recognition by the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. Because of his unique style, he has been effectionately called “No Bones Jones,” and was very influential in the acceptance of West Coast Swing by the country dance community. Schedule your private lesson with Chris Jones
David Fennig
David Fennig started dancing a little more than 8 years ago at Arthur Murray because he begged for lessons as a present for his 15th birthday. He was close friends with the couple who eventually started managing the studio, and attended many group classes and parties. From then on he only danced socially until he got to go back to Arthur Murray in the summer of 2010, and has been dancing non stop ever since. He is primarily a ballroom dancer, but also loves Club Salsa, Lindy Hop, Blues and is quickly falling for Argentine Tango. Schedule your private lesson with David Fennig
George Caceres
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Originally from New York, George Caceres, grew up surrounded by the rich culture of Latin music & dance. With over 14 years of experience teaching and performing different styles of Latin dance including, Salsa, Mambo, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, Casino Rueda and Merengue, George is recognized as Portland’s Godfather of Salsa & King of Bachata and has been one of the main leaders in creating what is now known as the Salsa/Mambo Community in Portland, Oregon. George is also the Director of Sabor Latino Dance Company, one of Portland’s exciting Latin dance groups and has had the opportunity to teach and perform in many Latin dance events throughout the Northwest and in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Vancouver BC & San Juan, Puerto Rico. As if dancing wasn’t enough, George is also the lead vocalist for one of Portland’s exciting Salsa bands, Afincando.Schedule your private lesson with George
Jack Lim
Jack is a versatile dancer who actively competes in west coast swing. He started ballroom dancing in 1998, then dabbled in lindy hop, salsa, blues and whatever partner dance he could find, so that he could share the joy of dance with as many people as possible. He enjoys being silly and loves finding goofy ways to express musicality.
2012/01 Swingcouver, 1st place Intermediate Jack and Jill, Vancouver BC
2010/02 Capital Swing, 1st place Novice Jack and Jill, Sacramento CA
2009/04 USA Dance Nationals, competed in both bronze and silver level for International Standard and Latin, Baltimore MD
Schedule your private lesson with Jack Lim
JoAnn Kohl
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JoAnn Kohl, lawyer by day and dance instructor by night, teaches a variety of dance styles including Zumba®, Zumbatomic®, Ballroom, Latin, and theatrical dance. JoAnn loves teaching people of all ages, and particularly enjoys teaching children and teens.
JoAnn started dancing and teaching professionally in the late nineties. She taught children’s theatrical and jazz dance to local community groups starting in 1997, and her ballroom and social dance teaching career began in 1998 at an Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Merrilville, Indiana.
JoAnn’s dance titles include first place champion of the 2001 Indiana Challenge in Youth Pro-Am Open International Latin and 1998 Teen Miss American Star Dancer of the Year.
JoAnn teaches weekly Zumba®, Zumbatomic® Kids Dance Parties, and other group classes for adults and youth. She is also available for private lessons. Schedule your private lesson with JoAnn Kohl
Jon Jackson
Watch Jon CRCS Intermediate J&J (2nd Place)
Jon’s been dancing to his own beat his whole life, though as a kid he called it “Flailing with Confidence” rather than dancing. The “Flailing” was largely comprised of cliché movie dance moves combined with a heavy influence from Michael Jackson choreography. For a high school talent show, he taught himself the choreography to Thriller and then taught it to his friends. The performance was a hit, and the crowd went wild.
When Jon began college, he noticed an advertisement about an introductory workshop to partner dancing, so he decided to end his flailing and learn a structured dance. the workshop explained basic connection, but it unlocked a deeper connection within him. In those 30 minutes, he had discovered his new passion. Shortly thereafter, he was introduced to West Coast Swing, which he took to like a fish to water. A few months later, he began learning every partner dance available (Latin, Ballroom, Blues, Argentine Tango, etc…). Since he finds himself to have a natural talent at following, he learns both the lead and follow components to every dance he encounters.
He now competes regularly in West Coast Swing and already has a 1st place win under his belt. He plans to continue competing in hopes to reach champion status (as both a lead and follow). He is also currently training in Ballroom and Latin styles, with an eventual desire to compete in those divisions as well.
Jon teaches private lessons. Schedule your private lesson with Jon
Joshua Faulkner
Joshua Faulkner, a native of Portland, began instructing with Fred Aistaire studios and later moved to southern California to study and teach dance. There he specialized in Salsa and studied with many greats of the genre, eventually becoming known for his unique style and fusion of Salsa with other forms of dance. Joshua has taught for well over a decade and brings his experience from one of the Salsa capitals of the world to Portland. You’ll also appreciate his dashing good looks and wicked charm, so be careful ladies!
Joshua instructs our weekly Salsa class and also teaches private lessons. Schedule your private lesson with Joshua Faulkner
Mike Eblen
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Mitchell (Benji) Smith
I am a Portland Native and have been dancing for four years. I started with partner dancing with a focus on the Blues; and have been expanding ever since. At this point I’m dancing at an advanced level in Partnered Blues, Solo Blues and Jazz, Funk, Charleston, and Electric Boogaloo. I have had a wide array of teachers, including the blues community at large; as well as coaches Brenda Russel, Jae Wilson, and Barry Douglas. I am always learning new dances and excited to inspire and share what makes dancing fun with the world. Schedule your private lesson with Benji Smith
