Glen Strauss
Beginning at the age of 13, Glen took up a kids beginners class with no dance co-ordination and very little social confidence. After a couple of one hour classes, he was sure that ballroom dancing was something that inspired him for life. It was then Glen said to his parents, "I want to dance professionally and some day own my own studio".
After being a medalist for a short period, Glen was paired up his first parnter Katrina. They danced their way though the levels in the Junior division, taking home hundreds of trophies, sometimes 5-6 trophies each at a single comp. Before turning 16, Glen began dancing with Belinda and took out the Junior C Latin American event at South Pacifics (against another 80+ couples).
At the age of 15, Glen's Father and No.1 fan, had suddenly passed away. His voice was Glen's confidence and energy at the dance comps. Glen still hears that encouraging voice today!
During his first 5 years, Glen had the chance to complete in New Zealand and twice in Tasmania. Glen & Belinda worked their way through to Adult B grade before ending their partnership. He re-partnered Katrina for a short period, before moving from Albury to further his dancing career.
A move to Dubbo gave him the opportuinity to travel with 30 people around China and Thailand, performing with temporary partner, Renee. After 3 months in Dubbo, Sydney was Glen's home 7 years, working with some amazing teachers and fellow dancers. Moving from suburb to suburb, Sydney life was very difficult to settle down, especially travelling with a bicycle. During this time, Glen met Hollie, whom he unfortunately only partnered for 2 years.
For the next five years, he then danced with his partner at the time, Jeanette. With many successful comps together, they reached Adult A Grade division after winning Adult B New Vogue at the Australian Championships in 2003. This became Glen's last competitive comp to date, also ending his relationship with Jeanette.
Many years of experience and knowledge has become a powerful teaching tool for Glen, who now enjoys showing others how to improve their ballroom techniques, so he moved back home to begin his dream. In 2007, Glen started teaching for Lorraine Hewitt - former owner of Albury-Wodonga Dance Centre for 32 years. Glen and his wife Niki, took over the business in July 2010 while expecting their first child, Mabelle.
Glen & Niki had continued the studio's activites, and had also built it up from 2 days to 7 days a week. While scheduled private lessons and 10 social classes run throughout the evenings, Glen & Niki, with the assistance of their instructors, are also training Debuatante groups on weekends.
In 2017, another opportunity allowed Glen to compete overseas in the annual Blackpool Dance Festival in England. With 11 months training with Melbourne partner Loreta, and under the guidance of Alarna Donovan-Morris, Jeremy Garner & Michael Carey, they placed 32nd out of 92 international couples in the Senior Open Latin American.
Glen, to date, has acquired his Level 1 Coaching Qualification and Level 1 Adjudication Qualifications in both New Vogue & Latin American.
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Jodi Banks
Jodi started ballet at the age of 4 years old. By the time she was 6 years old, she was trying out other styles like Jazz, Modern Dance & Gymnastics. Later on, Jodi had a go at Rock ‘n' Roll, which she found enjoyable and continued socially until she started competitions.
At 12 years of age, Jodi was introduced to Ballroom and Latin American, and instantly felt more at home. While meeting some wonderful friends and needing a challenge, she started doing medal tests, which then led to local Ballroom competitions. Over the next few years, Jodi became more involved into the bigger comps in Melbourne and had committed to 4-6 days of training a week. This only lasted a year which Jodi then had a break from dancing all together.
While travelling overseas to Michigan USA in her early twenties, Jodi became involved with a local dance studio and was assisting with the Ballroom & Latin dance classes. In the meantime, she had the opportunity to learn new styles such as Salsa, Hustle and lots of other American-based dances styles. She also did a short term course in Modern/Ballet for her study requirements, achieving an A grade for both styles. Further travelling led her to England, where she was visiting studios wherever she went, thinking that it would be a great opportunity to experience the same dance styles but in a different country.
In 2004, Jodi had returned and moved to Albury when she first stepped into Albury-Wodonga Dance Centre and she has been a part of the studio since. Glen & Niki had given Jodi the chance to help with Social Ballroom and Latin classes, Debutante Balls and other dance related events. She has learnt so much from Glen's techniques and knowledge, and has enjoyed the fun and wonderful atmosphere that the studio provides. Jodi's favourite memories are of the most wonderful people who come to learn and dance at our studio, and being able to pass on her previous experiences and knowledge.
Since 2012, Jodi was nominated as Chairperson to our studio's Travel Club, which involves organising fundraising events, to help our young dancers become more involved into local and state competitions. Jodi's involvement has been a great asset to the studio.
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