ABOUT US

Melanie A. Dale, Co-Owner of the NC Ballroom Teachers College
Master Instructor
Owner of A Step to Gold International Ballroom

Member of Imperial Society Teachers of Dancing, North American Dance
Teachers Association, and Professional Dancers Federation

Originally a Ballet Major at Virginia Intermont College, Melanie continued to
study at East Carolina University and danced professionally with the
Savannah Ballet Company under the direction of Ballerina Karina Brock. As
Dance Director for the City of Savannah, she was introduced to the the world
of partnership dancing.

After teaching Ballroom for a franchise studio in Savannda, Georgia and
Venice, Florida for 2 years, Melanie decided to work as an independent in
1984. In 1986, she married 11 time US 10-dance champion, Larry Silvers.
He, as well as many World-Class European coaches, trained her in the
International Style of Ballroom & Latin Dancing.

During the last 27 years, Melanie has competed in the American Style &
International Style of Ballroom Dancing and earned a Licentiate Degree with
the North American Dance Teachers Association as well as an Associate
Degree with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She has trained the
US Junior and Pre-teen Champions and continues to be a Certified
Championship Adjudicator.

In 1997, she began her study of Argentine Tango at the first US Tango
Congress held in Miami. Afterwards, Melanie was credited with bringing
Argentine Tango into the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area. Her students
organized the "Triangle Tangueros"; a non-profit organization promoting the
study of Argentine Tango.

While some people see the differences in different styles, Melanie says that she
sees the similarities...the common way the bodies work to lead and follow all
partnership dances. "Each dance has its own mood and feeling which
contributes to the beauty of the choreography."

Jillian Hood, Co-Owner of The NC Ballroom Teachers College
Master Instructor

Jillian Hood began dancing at the age of three and started with ballet as her
primary focus. In middle school, she added modern dance as a second form.
She was a member of various dance companies from middle school through
high school, including being a member of the Raleigh Civic Ballet from age 10
until 17 when she began college. At Coker College in Hartsville, SC she earned
her B.A. in Dance as well as a B.A. in Mathematics, graduating in 1999.
Melanie was her first ballroom instructor when she was 16. During college,
Jillian studied abroad in Adelaide, South Australia where she trained as a
student at Arthur Murray Studios. After college she trained as an instructor at
Fred Astaire Studios in Pineville, NC.

In 2000, Jillian moved back to the Raleigh area, where she reconnected with
Melanie at A Step to Gold. Since then she has enjoyed being both a student
and a teacher. Now she is honored to join with her mentor, Melanie Dale, in
establishing the North Carolina Ballroom Teachers College, LLC.