A good dance studio makes learning to dance simple and enjoyable. South Coast Dancesport, with nearly 100 years of experience among its instructors, is such a studio.

This exciting and cutting edge studio trains not only a wide variety of students interested in dance at any level, be it social or competitive, but boasts some of the top professionals in the country whose love for dance is matched only by their commitment to their students’ success. Both Matt Gregory (owner) and his team of teachers at South Coast Dancesport understand that their primary responsibility is to be the voice and the hands (and the feet!) necessary to guide their students to the happiness and fulfillment that dancing so remarkably provides.

Let us introduce you to our friendly and welcoming staff:

Owner / Instructor

Matt Gregory has been teaching social and competitive ballroom and Latin dance for nearly fifteen years. Matt began his teaching career at a Fred Astaire dance school in Colorado Springs, Colorado and quickly discovered his natural abilities as an instructor and motivator. In 2005, seeking the training of top coaches and the community of world class professionals, he moved to Southern California.

Instructor

At the age of 12, Ryan Crutcher began his dance training, laying a foundation in the classical world of ballet and modern dance. Once introduced to the Swing world, he began to feel his passion truly come into focus. Ryan won the United States Open Swing Dance Championships in 2001 and the World Country Championships in 2002.

Instructor

Ekaterina (Katya) Marshukova is a professional with nearly twenty years of experience in the dance industry. She currently competes worldwide in the International Standard dance division, yet teaches all of the different dance styles. At the age of 18, Katya left her native Russia to pursue a dance career in France. She competed in the Latin category until the age of 19, when she developed a passion for the Standard category and began competing. While in France, Katya attended Sorbonne University. From there, she began competing in the United States.

Instructor

Philip began his ballroom training and even started competing at twelve years old. By the age of 17, he had become the United States Pro/Am Junior Latin Champion. At 18, he became the United States Standard Pro/Am Adult Champion. In the Amateur ranks he was a finalist in all major national competitions. Later, as a professional, Philip was ranked in the top 24 in the United States. Most notable to Philip are the following competitions: the Holiday Dance Classic (he was the Professional Rising Star Latin champion) and the Ohio Star Ball (a Professional Rising Star Latin finalist). Also of note, as a Pro/Am teacher, Philip was ranked third in the United States as Top Teacher in 2007.

Instructor

Justina has loved dancing since she could walk; a passion passed down from her mother and grandparents. At age 5, she began her formal training in ballet, which extended for 7 years. By age 16, Justina found ballroom dancing and instantly knew it was the style for her. In addition to her ballroom pursuits, Justina has also been trained in both jazz and African dance styles. As an amateur, Justina consistently was a finalist or champion in the Rhythm and Latin divisions at competitions throughout the United States.

Instructor

Though always athletically inclined, and with years of experience in competitive and show horseback riding, Liza’s dance experience originated with ballroom dancing. Immediately falling in love with the style, she came to adore all that it offered: the fun of social dancing, the contagious energy of a studio, as well as the serious, competitive skill levels that were available. Liza’s training began in the American styles of ballroom (though she has since trained extensively in the International Standard and Latin styles, as well). It wasn’t long before she developed a passion for competition, winning in the pro/am division at numerous competitions, such as the San Diego Dancesport Championships, the California Star Ball, and the San Francisco Open, to name a few.

Instructor

Originally from Seattle, Washington, Tyler moved to Southern California several years ago to further his knowledge of dance and pursue his love of ballroom and Latin. Tyler spent the majority of his youth focusing his energy on the arts: he excelled at painting, singing, and acting. Tyler was inspired to add dance to his repertoire at the age of 9, after watching a documentary about Bob Fosse. Throughout Tyler’s adolescence he studied many different styles of dance, including hip-hop, jazz, ballet, tap, and various ethnic styles. When Tyler was a senior in high school he began to train as a ballroom dance professional. Once he had a taste of the classic elegance of the Standard and Smooth dances, and combined that with the fiery passion of the Latin and Rhythm dances, he was HOOKED!

Executive Assistant

Cambrey started dancing at 6 years old in a suburb of Los Angeles and has been trained in ballet, contemporary jazz, and hip-hop. She relocated to Orange County to attend UC Irvine. While in school Cambrey became an active member of the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women where she gained valuable experience in planning philanthropic events, marketing, and developing her organizational skills. Cambrey recently graduated with a major in Psychology and Social Behavior and a minor in Education.

Office Manager

Tera Davis brings over 10 years of office management and administrative experience to South Coast Dancesport in her role as the studio's Office Manager. She has an extensive background in the financial services industry, making her a great fit to handle all of the studio's operational needs. She may handle all of the “behind the scenes” details, but she's the first smiling face to greet you as you walk through the door.