About Lisa Spiro and the Evans Family

People always ask me, "How long have you been dancing?"  And I always answer, "since I was five." 
Five years seems to be about right, although I can't exactly remember when I started ballroom dancing, or at least, doing recognizable ballroom dance steps.  It was definitely around that time that I joined my mom's dance team for Hartford kids.

 Let me back up a bit and explain.

My dad still likes to do dance lifts, such as at my wedding.

My mother is Michele Evans, an extraordinary ballroom dancer.  She started out as a ballet instructor, which is how she met my dad, Gregory Evans (my dad danced for the Hartford Ballet).  Around the time they got married (September of 1980), my mom switched dance forms, moving away from ballet, and into ballroom.  She became a ballroom dance competitor, specializing in Theatrical Ballroom with her dance partner, David Rosinski.  Together they won every Theatrical Dance competition in the United States and abroad, including:

the 1985 and 1986 United States Championship, 

1986 World Invitational in Blackpool, England, 

the Silver Medal at the 1995 United States Championship,

second place in the 1995 World Invitational.....

Let's just stop there and say my mom is really, really good, shall we?

Since 1981, my mom has also been teaching ballroom dance lessons throughout Connecticut.  Her bubbly personality and her straightforward teaching style is what makes her a fantastic ballroom dance teacher.  And she has done more than just teach adults.  She created her own non-profit organization in 1993 for teaching kids to dance, called Hartford Youth Dance Initiative (H.Y.D.I. for short).  It mainly involved having a kid's ballroom dance team, who would perform at schools, libraries, and major events.

...And that's where I come in.

H.Y.D.I. was originally founded at my elementary school in Hartford back when I was in kindergarten.  At first, I wasn't officially one of the dancers, but then (and I can't remember how this came around) I suddenly became a part of the group.  A short while later, my brother, Nate Evans, became a part of it as well.  Nate and I, along with several others my age, began performing all around Connecticut, particularly around the Hartford Area.  We performed at schools, libraries, jazz festivals.  We even performed at the Big-E a couple of times.

That's me in front.

It was mainly because of my mom and of H.Y.D.I. that I became passionate about ballroom dancing.  Dancing with my friends in H.Y.D.I. created some of the best memories of my childhood.  This particular art form has always been a part of my life, from elementary school into college.  After I was too old to be a part of H.Y.D.I., I continued taking my mom's dance lessons at the Masonic Hall, learning not only the followers' role but the leaders' part as well.  It was my hobby, my life's passion.  It even played a significant role in how I met my husband, Dave, back in 2006.  In fact, if it weren't for my mom's beginner lessons, Dave and I never would have met.

If it weren't for my mom and her dance lessons, we never would have met.

I confess I have other passions as well (*gasp*).  In high school I was fascinated with ancient history, so I went to college for an anthropology degree, with a minor in archaeology.  I paid my college tuition by teaching swimming lessons at the YMCA, (swimming, another favorite hobby of mine). 

When I graduated in 2010, I discovered that archaeology doesn't have a whole lot to offer in terms of a decent paying job, and furthering my degree would have to be the next logical step in becoming a successful archaeologist.  But by that time I was burnt out and ready to quit school for the time being.  However, I couldn't live off my low pay as a swim teacher.  So I decided, what the heck?  Why not become a dance teacher and make some money doing something that I love?  Teaching dance is not all that different from teaching kids how to swim; I'd just be dealing with bigger kids and a different physical activity.  So I asked my mom if she would hire me, and the rest, is history.

Me and Mom teaching at the studio

I admit I am not a certified dance teacher.  I never felt the need to get certified.  I've been dancing and performing for over 20 years, and I've apprenticed myself for the past four years to a dance teacher with over 30 years dance-teaching experience.  Eventually I might get a flimsy piece of paper that says I know how to dance, but for now, my overwhelming experience is more than enough.  I am not so egotistical as to think that I'm an amazing dancer; I am not amazing, I'm pretty average.  You can easily find dancers who are ten times better than me.  But I am a fairly good teacher and I really love my job.  My goal in teaching dance is to ensure that my students enjoy themselves, both when they're learning and when they are out dancing.

Right now, I am teaching exclusively at Hartford Ballroom, along with my mom and my brother, but eventually I plan to branch out a bit and teach in other places as well.

Want to take our lessons? All three of us, my mom, my brother, and I, teach both group and private lessons at the studio.  Here's our info below: 

Michele Evans: The Amazing Michele Evans teaches all of our intermediate and advanced classes.  She specializes in all things ballroom.  Because she's the best and most experienced dancer, she's also the most expensive private lesson instructor, charging $75 an hour.  If you want to take a private lesson from her, contact her at 860-693-3909 or at 860-794-6879.  She can also be reached by e-mail at michele@hartfordballroom.com

Lisa Marie Spiro: Me!  I teach the beginner classes on Mondays, as well as the lessons before our dance socials.  Like my mom, I specialize in all things ballroom, particularly for beginner and intermediate students.  If you want a private lesson from me, contact me either by phone (860-655-5731, call or text) or by e-mail (lisamarie@hartfordballroom.com)

 Nathan Evans: My little brother, a tango pro!  Nate started out in ballroom, and still teaches it from time to time, but his main specialty and passion is everything Argentine Tango.  You can always find him at a Milonga somewhere, dancing the night away.  He's also very good at teaching tango.  If you want a lesson from him, you can call or text him at 860-922-1550, or e-mail him at nate@hartfordballroom.com