Patrick Ellner and Andrea Mirenda

NDCA Certified Bronze, Silver, Gold; Associate Professional Diploma

Owners Patrick and Andrea have been dancing and teaching ballroom dance in Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Wisconsin for more than 35 years between them. They own two studios of their own and have trained many teachers over the years who have gone on to work in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota and Ohio. Several of the teachers they trained have gone on to own their own studios as well, including Gary and April Dahl right here in Rochester, who got their start as students and later teachers at Fred Astaire for several years.

Patrick helped create the Rochester chapter of USA Dance more than 15 years ago and introduced Salsa dancing to Rochester, creating the passion that later led students Fred and Myrna Gommels to open the Blue Moon Ballroom. Before retiring from professional competition, Andrea was the Minnesota FADS Smooth Champion and National FADS Smooth Rising Star Finalist. She coaches several collegiate performance and competition teams including St. Mary's University and Carleton College, her alma mater. When not in the studios, they enjoy many outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and horseback riding.

Studio Manager

NDCA Certified Social & Advanced Bronze, Social Silver

Stephanie's is the friendly voice you usually hear when you call the studio and if you have a question she knows the answer or will find out for you! She keeps track of all the students' programs and lessons. In addition to being adept with the business side of the studio, Stephanie was a gymnast and competitive cheerleader as well as a ballet, tap and jazz dancer from a young age, and she loves teaching and performing!

Dance Director 

NDCA Certified Social & Advanced Bronze, Social Silver
Winston came to us from Australia after establishing a hip hop dance program there to help keep kids off the streets. He has continued this work here in Rochester, working with hip hop dance programs at the Boys & Girls Club and Century High School. He teaches multiple styles of dance including ballroom, Latin, country, swing and hip hop. Winston has judged and choreographed for the Miss Winona pageant and he and one of his students were chosen by Tony Dovolani of Dancing With The Stars to be highlighted in the opening number of the nationally televised Walt Disney Christmas Parade!

NDCA Certified Social Bronze
Lyndsy comes to us with a strong music and dance background. She has studied ballet, jazz and modern dance extensively and performed the Ballet Coppelia with Allen Fields, Director of the Minnesota Ballet, as well as being on the State Dance Team two years in a row. She is majoring in music composition and plays piano and sings. Whether she plays a physical instrument or uses her voice or body as the instrument, Lyndsy has a passion for all forms of musical expression and strives to instill that in her students!

Good luck to Lyndsy as she goes off to college! We look forward to seeing you back on breaks!

NDCA Certified Social Bronze

SE United States FADS Novice Professional Champion

SE United States FADS Intermediate Professional Finalist
Deustin's dedication to dance began in pre-school when he was kicked off the school bus for refusing to sit down because he was doing a Michael Jackson impersonation in the aisle! He continued his pursuit of the arts throughout school, singing in several choirs and playing the drums in band during grade school. In high school Deustin won 1st place in the school talent show every year for his singing and dancing talents, as well as being a dancer and choreographer for the Hip Hop dance team and a B Boy group.

Deustin's athletic abilities complement his dance talents. He was on the football, wrestling and track teams throughout high school. More recently he played tailback in the semi-pro football league and did a stint in the US Army before joining Fred Astaire Dance Studio. We're excited to have this talented dancer on staff!

NDCA Certified Social Bronze

Charlie started in the arts at a young age, appearing in musical and Shakespearean theater over the years, until he was introduced to country, swing and line dancing at the age of 17. A trip to the Bahamas where he saw people dancing literally all night long inspired him to pursue his dancing further. He added West Coast Swing to his repertoire and won a place on a performance team, entertaining crowds at concerts and parades--the Aquatennial and Holidazzle Parades, the MN State Fair, etc. Charlie partners Jessica Restivo of the Inver Grove Hts studio in American Smooth and Rhythm professional competition.