Starlight Dance Studio Classes and Instructors

Meet Our Instructors

Nowhere else in San Diego offers more under one roof than here at Starlight Dance Studio. There are more than 30 successful classes currently in session, with more to come! With our Professional World Class Dance Instructors covering a vast variety of styles of partner dancing, you could find yourself wanting to move in so you wouldn't have to go home in between lessons, practices and weekly parties! Our remodeled studio is a whopping 7300 square feet of dancing mania! Come in and check out our two ballrooms unlike any other dance studio. Check our instructors listed below.

Michael Kiehm:

Owner/Director Starlight Dance Studio

Michael started teaching dance when he was only 17 years old. His first professional teaching job was for "The Journey", a young adult night club where he taught large groups of students to dance the Hustle and basic Cha Cha. It was not very long before Michael began teaching full time at a popular dance studio in San Diego. Within two years Michael was offered a teaching position with another more reputable studio in La Jolla, CA. Here Michael also implemented his other skills:
- Graphic artist/advertising specialist / Studio Management
It did not take long for Michael to realize his dream of owning his own studio, so in 1982 Michael opened the Starlight Dance Studio. Starlight Dance Studio has grown to six times its original size with over 30 very talented instructors and over 300 students and growing every day!

Michael competes, performs, coaches, judges, and hosts dance events throughout the year on top of his very busy teaching schedule. Michael holds a "Rising Stars" International Latin Champion title with his sister, Carmen Garcia and several "Pro-am" Ballroom & Latin Championship titles. At the present time Michael competes in West Coast Swing.

mkiehm@starlightdance.com
Michael John Kielbasa:

Michael John is an up and coming super star in both the Swing world and the Salsa world. Michael teaches all of the American style ballroom and Latin dances as well as Swing, Hustle, Salsa, Lindy hop and other current club dances. He has won several 1st place championship titles in the swing venue and is currently teaching workshops at several conventions across the USA. Michael is available for private instruction as well as group sessions for social functions. You can reach Michael through the studio for appointment times.
Ronnie DeBenedetta:

Ronnie has been dancing since 1994. Can you guess his reason for getting into dance? You got it! A woman. She was adamant: if he couldn't dance, there'd be no romance. Ronnie became a Country-dancin' fool. He threw himself into classes, private lessons, and competing. After two short years, he turned pro; he and his professional partner, Stephanie McPherson, were the UCWDC Worlds 2001 & 2002 Masters Division Grand Champions. He is currently competing in the Swing and Country circuit with Professional Brandi Tobias.

On his way up through the competitive ranks, Ronnie won many Grand Champion (Division One) titles with previous partners and, consequently, is well-known throughout the C-W dance world. He is a sought-after judge, M.C., workshop teacher, invitational competitor, and show-dancer.

Ronnie's quick sense of humor is legendary around the Starlight. His private lessons and classes are filled with great information and lots of laughs. Ronnie's alter-ego is an attorney. He finished law school in December of '98 and passed the Bar in California and Nevada. He isn't practicing yet, but is constantly on the look-out for his first lawsuit.

Ronnie is often invited to perform shows, judge competitions, and teach workshops across the United States, Canada and Europe.

Ronnieddancer@aol.com
Brandi Tobias :

Brandi is back in San Diego! Please contact her for her schedule

brandi_tobias@yahoo.com
Parker Dearborn:

Parker's specialty is unique choreography and funky styling with emphasis on music interpretation. Parker has won many championships in the Swing venues all over the U.S. His style of dancing is very popular with the younger generation of Swing dancers today!
Carmen Garcia:

Carmen has been teaching all styles of partner dancing for 30 years.
Currently teaching at Starlight Dance Studio owned by her brother Michael Kiehm. Carmen competes, performs, coaches, and judges competitions. She has a title in Rising Star International Latin Championship with her brother, Michael Kiehm. She is also in the Hall of Fame for West Coast Swing. Carmen also is the owner of "Carmen's Dance Shoes" since 1981. She is a finalist in the United States West Coast Swing Championship with Ricardo Moncado (Texas) and Lowell Gosser (California).

Carmen has 3 sons, Michael, Mark & Matt and all like to dance. Michael Kielbasa, her son, is now teaching dancing and competing all over the world. Carmen enjoys hiking, skiing, tennis, bowling, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and of course "Dancing".

Carmen's Dance Shoes - 6506-D El Cajon Blvd. - San Diego, CA 92115 - 800-854-4318
www.carmensdanceshoes.com
Nancy Grab:
Nancy started dancing with Michael Kiehm in Pro-Am competitions in 1996. In 1997 Nancy began dancing Pro-Am with Professional, Ronnie DeBenedetta, culminating with two World Championship titles in 2000, in both Classic and Showcase divisions.

Nancy has been teaching at the Starlight for a couple of years now, and has assisted Ronnie with the intermediate class in the past. Don't miss this opportunity to learn new high energy variations from the "Queen of Fun". See you in class!
Jennifer Stein:

Jennifer is Starlight's premier female instructor for Salsa! Jennifer along with her husband and partner David are the founder of "Majesty in Motion". San Diego's Largest Salsa club. Jennifer has been dancing salsa for about 4 years now, in addition, she has also trained in jazz for 2 years. She met David at Cafe Sevilla November 2002 and the next day she was dancing salsa. She was new to salsa but her jazz background helped her pick it up fast. She joined Majesty in Motion in June 2003. She has performed throughout San Diego and has traveled to many cities such as Boston, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Mexico, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Vancouver. She recently started a ladies team and she plans to continue to grow with Majesty in Motion. David trained her how to be the dancer she is today. They are now partners and also married!
Dawne Kiehm:

Bio Coming Soon
Mary Manzella:

Mary has been an instructor in San Diego for many years. With teaching experiences in all styles of Ballroom, Latin, Swing and night club dances, Mary brings another point of view to the Starlight Dance Studio..
Stephen Showers:

Since 1983, I have been a professional Ballroom dancer. During that time I have been a performer, competitor, and instructor in virtually every style of dance including American, International, Swing, Nightclub, and Argentine Tango. I have trained with the best, and taught all ages from 5 to 101 (no joke). I think the world would be a better place if more people learned how to dance.

Originally from Tucson, Stephen is one of the few instructors who has competed in nearly every style of dance sport. His experience as a teacher and competitor has helped him to develop a unique style of teaching that makes learning to dance easy.

Visit my Blog Click Here
Debbie Torgeson:

Debbie has danced for over 39 years. She has been trained in ballet, jazz, tap and modern by teachers from San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, London and France. Currently, Debbie teaches group ballet and jazz classes at Starlight Dance Studio as well as private lessons by appointment. She is also on staff in the Theatre Department at St. Augustine High School as Choreographer and Assistant Director. Recent productions include Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Music Man, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Seusical, and Oklahoma.
Debbie Torgeson can be reached at 619-602-7223 or by email at torgeson3@cox.net

torgeson3@cox.net
David Stein

David has been dancing salsa for over 8 years now, however he has been dancing since he was just a kid. He entered many talent shows and was an avid break-dancer throughout high school.

He joined a group called O.T.B, (Out to Break). People called him "Dancing Dave". He is a skateboarder and been featured in skate videos, and skate magazines. Growing up it was all about extreme sports and break-dancing. He has worked for a skate shop for over three years, and wanted a change.

One day while looking for a job, he came across an ad in the paper for "Dance Instructors Needed-Will Train". There he was trained in latin ballroom dancing and he did that for 8 months. During that time he developed a great passion for salsa and met Stephen Gallardo and Josie Velsasco. They all teamed up and decided to move on to the next level starting San Diego's first dance company Salsa Y Fuego.

While working with them, he gained knowledge on how to run a dance company. A year later he and his prior dance partner, Espie Hernandez decided to start the dance company now known as Rumba Rica. While working together the two performed, taught at salsa workshops, and were a part of major salsa events in Southern California.

After working with Espie for over two years, David decided to start Majesty in Motion one of San Diego's newest dance company. Since working with this dance company, David has been given the opportunity to travel to Arizona, New Orleans, Bermuda, New York, Seattle, Boston, Canada, Portland, Japan, San Francisco, Mexico, Vancouver and many cities in Southern California.

With his new group of dancers, David has been working on taking his dance company to the next level. He along with Steve Meyer have created the duo " White Boy Wonders " of San Diego Known for their high energy performances. Through his new routines, they incorporate many styles of dance such as, Jazz, Ballroom, and Hip Hop. David is currently developing San Diego's largest dance company performing, and teaching throughout Southern California.

www.majestyinmotion.com / dave@majestyinmotion.com
Tashina Beckmann:

      Tashina Beckmann started dance training at the age of 2.5 and hasn’t stopped since. She has classical training in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Pointe, Tap, Modern, West Coast Swing, Ballroom and Country Ballroom dance styles. She has competed and performed in a multitude of events nationally as well as internationally.

      In 2008 Tashina was selected as a member of the Young Americans. For two and one half years she toured, taught and performed with the company throughout 7 countries in Europe. She has taught dance in schools, youth prisons, rehab centers, and youth homeless shelters across the world. Tashina loves to share her joy of dancing by teaching and performing every opportunity she gets.

            Tashina Beckmann is available for private lessons and group classes. She may be reached by email at Tashina@Expressive-Movement.com or by phone at: 719-661-3435.

For any questions or comments you may contact Tashina at
Tashina@Expressive-Movement.com