Portland-Area Ballroom Dance Instructor Receives International Recognition
Portland-area business owner and dance instructor Michael Petr was named one of the top-ten ballroom dance instructors in the world on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the World DanceSport Championship in Columbus, Ohio. Petr, originally from Prague, Czech Republic, came to Portland with a vision of creating champions out of non-dancers. His students’ outstanding results speak to his success: He now has seven students who are earning top-three rankings on the state, national and international stage.
Portland, OR, December 05, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Portland-area ballroom dance instructor Michael Petr was named one of the top-ten ballroom dance instructors in the world on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the World DanceSport Championship in Columbus, Ohio.
The World DanceSport Championship Series, the dance world’s premiere competition, consists of 94 competitions with more than 2,500 professional ballroom teachers from around the world competing for the title of top teacher.
Petr, originally from Prague, Czech Republic, came to Portland with a vision of creating champions out of non-dancers. His students’ outstanding results speak to his success in achieving that vision: He now has seven students who are earning top-three rankings on the state, national and international stage – many of which had never danced before working with Petr.
What brought Petr to Portland, like many young professionals who are new to the area, was the natural beauty of the city, which reminded him of his hometown of Prague. But it was also his childhood hero, Portland Trailblazer legend Clyde Drexler who he watched thousands of miles away in Prague, who influenced him to get on a plane to Portland in the first place. “When I walked across the Burnside Bridge and saw the West Hills in the distance, I knew this is where I wanted to live and pursue my dream of taking everyday people and turning them into world-class dancers,” says Peter.
Petr’s student Carol Scherer, now a national finalist, is one of those everyday people he transformed into a dancer. “Michael is an artist in the way he helps students be their best,” Scherer says.
Petr is not just an instructor, but also a world-class dancer himself. He is a former Czech champion and European and world finalist in ballroom dancing. He’s also appeared on “So You Think You Can Dance” and on the European version of “Dancing with the Stars.”
“I don’t want to teach you to dance, I want to transform you into a dancer,” says Petr. Now with a growing business and a top-ten title under his belt, Petr is well on his way to achieving the dream that brought him to his new hometown of Portland just three years ago.
The World DanceSport Championship Series, the dance world’s premiere competition, consists of 94 competitions with more than 2,500 professional ballroom teachers from around the world competing for the title of top teacher.
Petr, originally from Prague, Czech Republic, came to Portland with a vision of creating champions out of non-dancers. His students’ outstanding results speak to his success in achieving that vision: He now has seven students who are earning top-three rankings on the state, national and international stage – many of which had never danced before working with Petr.
What brought Petr to Portland, like many young professionals who are new to the area, was the natural beauty of the city, which reminded him of his hometown of Prague. But it was also his childhood hero, Portland Trailblazer legend Clyde Drexler who he watched thousands of miles away in Prague, who influenced him to get on a plane to Portland in the first place. “When I walked across the Burnside Bridge and saw the West Hills in the distance, I knew this is where I wanted to live and pursue my dream of taking everyday people and turning them into world-class dancers,” says Peter.
Petr’s student Carol Scherer, now a national finalist, is one of those everyday people he transformed into a dancer. “Michael is an artist in the way he helps students be their best,” Scherer says.
Petr is not just an instructor, but also a world-class dancer himself. He is a former Czech champion and European and world finalist in ballroom dancing. He’s also appeared on “So You Think You Can Dance” and on the European version of “Dancing with the Stars.”
“I don’t want to teach you to dance, I want to transform you into a dancer,” says Petr. Now with a growing business and a top-ten title under his belt, Petr is well on his way to achieving the dream that brought him to his new hometown of Portland just three years ago.
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Michael Petr Dance
Bobbi Berry
503-707-4223
Bobbi Berry
503-707-4223
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