Owners
Jurga Pupelyte
World class judge
Jurga started ballroom dancing at the age of six and began winning trophies in the 12-14 year old division. In 1994, Jurga enrolled in Klaipeda's Arts University where she studied ballet, character, modern, folk dance, hip hop, and of course, ballroom. Her partnership with the equally talented Vaidas Skimelis began in 1999 and after just three weeks of practice they placed third in Lithuania in the Latin American dance category. In 2000 and 2002, Jurga and Vaidas won the Lithuanian 10 dancers competition and represented Lithuania in the European and World 10 dance competitions. In 2000 they placed 5th in Europe and 7th in the world. In 2005, they won the US National International Latin Rising Stars competition, multiple times Us National Latin finalist and major competitions winner.
Anton Koukareko
Anton began his dancing career at age 5, with his first competition at age 8. As Belarus representatives Anton was a Finalists of IDSF World Cup 10 dance 2000, IDSF World Cup Latin 2002, European Cups 2000, 2002, 2004 and are 5-time national Belarus champions. A 2000 graduate of Belarusian State University, he majored in mechanics-mathematics. Anton represented the USA in the World Professional 10-dance Championship 2008 in Germany, where he and his partner placed 4th in the finals. They also won the Rising Stars title of the Ohio Star Ball, Heritage Classics and San Francisco Open. He is US Nationals and Open British Rising Star finalist.
Vaidotas Skimelis
World class judge
Vaidas started his dancing career in 1982 and a year later, in his first competition, he placed 3rd among 50 couples. In 1995, he entered Klaipeda's Arts University, where his concentration was on choreography and ballroom dance. Vaidas has also trained in ballet and other forms of dance, always looking to find different forms of individual expression. In 1999, Vaidas and Jurga Pupelyte became partners. In 2000 and 2002, they won the Lithuanian 10 dancers competition, and represented Lithuania in the European and World 10 dance competitions. In 2000 they placed 5th in Europe, and 7th in the world. When they turned professional in 2004, they were 2nd in Lithuania for Latin American dance. Since then, they have been winning competitions all over the USA, including Palm Springs, the Magnolia Open, and the Autumn Classic. In 2005, they won the US International Latin Rising Stars competition, was multiple times US National Latin finalist. After he retired from his competitive dancing, Vaidotas was invited to dance in Broadway, to be a guest performer with Marry Murphy at "Burn the Floor".