Meet the team

Coaches shaped by a life in dance

Our instructors bring championship experience, attentive partnership, and a genuine love of teaching to every lesson.

Gene and Elena Bersten, ballroom dance coaches and co-owners of Dance With Us America

Our coaches

Experience you can feel on the floor

From first steps to national competition, each coach meets students at their level and helps them move forward with clarity and confidence.

Co-owner and professional coach

Gene Bersten

Gene Bersten was born in Belarus and raised in Minnesota. Gene’s dance partner is his wife Elena. He has been complimented on numerous occasions on his wonderful and strong partnering skills, his hard work ethic, his determination, and passion for dancing and performing. Gene dances with his heart and soul and always delivers a meaningful performance full of passion. Gene has won multiple United States titles in Latin dancing championships.

Also, He has been featured in a dance company called “Dance with Love” which has been featured all over Minnesota and the country. Gene owns one of the strongest and well known dance studios in the Midwest “Dance With Us America”. He taught at Magic Ballroom, and worked and taught at the Center for Youth Development for many years, sharing his love for dance. Gene is a former USA professional rhythm rising star champion and World Professional rhythm finalist.

His motto is take one day at a time and always give his all to everything he does.

Co-owner, professional coach, and adjudicator

Elena Bersten

Elena Bersten At the age of 12 Elena started learning ballroom/Latin dance. In the summer of 1998 Elena and her mother (herself a former champion of Russia) opened the dance studio “21st Century”. Elena at age 16, went to school for choreography.

In her dancing career Elena won numerous awards for her dancing abilities and won many prestigious Russian championships and titles. Gene and Elena began dancing together in 2010. Together they created Latin and Ballroom dance shows, and currently they co-own “Dance With Us America”, a highly rated dance studio in Edina, Minnesota. Elena is A former USA Professional rising star Rhythm champion and a Professional World Rhythm Finalist.

Elena is also Certified as a national adjudicator with USTA and NDCA: A+ B+ C+ D+

Professional Latin Dancer and Coach

Alena Khoroshevtseva

Alena Khoroshevtseva is a passionate young woman that began ballroom dancing at the age of 4. She is a graduate from Minnetonka High School and is now attending Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Apart from ballroom dancing, she participated at the Academy of Russian Ballet for 9 years. Currently Alena is a professional latin dancer in the Twin Cities that travels nationally and globally.

When at home, she helps the studio by teaching kids ballroom and other styles of dance and inspiring them to find their passion. Alena’s love for dance helps motivate her students and other dancers around her, showing them that anything is possible.

Together with her dance partners she has received many top places in national NDCA and USADance completions. In most recent USADance Nationals, Alena Khoroshevtseva with her partner Mishiko Bregvadze placed 2nd overall in the Professional latin division. Their high placement at nationals has earned them a spot in the WDSF world championships in Leipzig, Germany 2022.

Latin Dancer and Coach

Alex Vladimirov

Alex Vladimirov began dancing at the age of four and has dedicated over 17 years to the art of ballroom dance. A graduate of Wayzata High School, he is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science at the University of Minnesota while continuing his passion for competitive dance and instruction.

Throughout his competitive career, Alex has represented himself at prestigious NDCA competitions across the United States, consistently earning top placements alongside his dance partners. His achievements include multiple national titles, highlighted by winning 1st Place in both the Collegiate and Under-21 Latin divisions at the 2022 and 2023 USA Dance National Championships, earning the distinction of USA Dance National Latin Champion. Most notably, he also placed 2nd out of 107 couples at the USA Dance National Championships, demonstrating his excellence at the highest level of national competition.

Alex specializes in Latin ballroom dance and is passionate about sharing his knowledge with dancers of all ages and skill levels. Known for his positive energy, professionalism, and innovative teaching style, he creates a supportive and motivating environment where students can build confidence, refine their technique, and achieve their personal goals. His enthusiasm for dance, combined with his approachable personality and commitment to excellence, inspires students to develop not only as dancers but also as confident individuals.

Professional coach and competitor

Artem Lazarev

Artem Lazarev was born in Ukraine and has been dancing since he was 12 years old. Since then he has been the 12X Ukrainian Latin champion, 5X Ukrainian Ballroom champion; 2X Ukrainian 10-Dance champion. He was also the European Cup winner in Latin and ranked as high as 13th in the world rankings.

He moved to the USA in 2015 and since then has been certified and received a master degree in both Rhythm and Latin dance. He also teaches ballroom and smooth on a high level and competes both ProAm and Professionally.

With more than 20 years of a teaching experience super excited to join “Dance with us America” family!!!

Dual national champion and ballroom dance instructor

Anasophia

Anasophia discovered ballroom dance at the age of 16, and from the first lesson to the first steps on the competition floor she knew she had found her passion. What started as learning a few moves quickly developed into a deep commitment to the artistry, discipline, and creativity of ballroom dance.

Anasophia is a dual National champion who competes all around the country bringing home top placements and champion titles.

Anasophia is excited to teach others the beautiful language of dancing, and is passionate to help others grow in their own personal dance journey!

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul”
Martha Graham

Find your coach

Start with a lesson built around you

Whether your goal is social confidence, a first dance, or competition, we will help you choose the right place to begin.

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