The Dance Studio
108 N. Spring StreetTupelo, MS(662)842-2242
Instructor Biographies
Learn a little about our instructors' past experiences with ballroom dancing.
Rubye Del Harden - Owner
Growing up, Rubye Del Harden never thought of herself as an entrepreneur. But, one day she woke up and realized she owned seven businesses. What is surprising to her and others is the diversity of those businesses - from printing to newspapers to an online store that sells books and gifts to consulting and now - a dance studio. Rubye Del, who has danced since 2001, says she can operate so many businesses by having great managers. An amateur competitor, Rubye Del takes lots of lessons, attends group classes and parties and works through many venues to build the North Mississippi ballroom community. She doesn't teach at the studio, but lends her business and marketing expertise and gives support to the studio's great staff.
Jill Palmer - General Manager
Jill doesn't have the dance experience but does bring 35 years of administrative, team building and organizational skills to the table. She does love to watch the capable instructors and wonderful students practice. She is a former member of the Board of Quality Examiners for the State of Mississippi and has traveled across the United States delivering training on Team Building, Motivation and Self Improvement. She has worked for such top companies as Rockwell International, Tenneco Packaging and Packaging Corp. of America. She has been self employed for the last 12 years as a consultant.
Naomi Alexander - Director of Dance
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Naomi Alexander has come to us from her home town of Huntsville, Alabama. She received the majority of her dance training there. She has choreographed many showcase performances and wedding dances for her students over the last seven years. She has also competed in a number of pro am comps with all of her students taking either 1st or 2nd placements. She teaches through the silver level in most American and international dances.Robbie Greenwood, Senior Instructor
Robbie is a graduate of Millsaps College with a degree in English. He began his dancing career in Jackson, MS where he started his training and certification in the DVIDA syllabus. He specializes in the American Smooth dances as well as West Coast Swing. Wanting never to stop learning, he continues to get top end coaching from Jim and Jenell Maranto, Ron and Karla Montez, Kasia Kozak, and Phil Dorrall. His first Pro/Pro competition with his pro partner Stephanie Betts in American Smooth was in February 2009. Robbie just recently married and has relocated just outside of Memphis. He still teaches one day in Tupelo and one in Oxford each week.
Audree Reece
Audree Reece began dancing hip hop and ballet at a young age but decided to switch over to Ballroom after attending a class in Booneville. She enjoys choreographing routines and is certified in both American Smooth and American Rhythm. 
Liz Martin
Liz is a local native of Tupelo, MS and began dancing about 4 years ago. She has been trained by some of the best teachers in the country. She has competed in many competitions and received numerous awards including second place at the World Dance Council Pro/Am World Championships in Argentina in 2007, and second at the rising Star in Open Gold at USBC in Orlando. She has continued her training with Fabian Sanchez of Dancing with the Stars for two years. She is very excited about her new challenge of training in International Latin with Ukranian champion, Misha Konstantynov. She is also a certified gold Zumba instructor and is excited to bring this new fitness craze to The Dance Studio in Tupelo.Brad Haynes
Brad started dancing in Tuscaloosa under the instruction of Phillip Farley. He has been dancing for a little over two years. While Brad's background is rhythm, he loves to learn new things and he is excited about growing in smooth. His goal is to better himself and the studio through learning and growing. He admits that he started dancing because he thought the women would like it!!! But now, he loves the dance and the magic of the music and says this is his lifetime mission. Prior to dancing, he was in construction. His basic philosophy is best illustrated in this quote: "Dancing is not only a passion, it is a person's soul, heart and mind. Therefore, we don't do it because we are told to, we can't not dance."
Grecia Marleny Estrada-Goin
Grecia heard about the Dance Studio, which was then named Dance Quest in the local Tupelo newspaper. Her mother encountered the ad and set up lessons because she knew that Grecia, a vibrant young Belizean dancer, would feel at home in the ballroom dance venue. After the private lessons, she continued going to the Friday night parties, this continued for about three years. This year she decided that she wanted to teach and help others feel the happiness that she has felt dancing. She says that she has been dancing since she was 18 and she's not stopping. Being at the Studio has made her feel more like home in Belize because of the music and dancing and just having fun with people.
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Add your main content here - text, photos, videos, addons, whatever you want!Derrick Ritter
Abigail Wood
Abigail brings her expertise to the Dance Studio in the West Coast Swing arena. She free lances West Coast Swing workshops for the Studio, in addition to actively competing at the All Star Level at major national West Coast championship events including MADjam, DALLAS D.A.N.C.E. and the Chicago Classic.
