Our Instructors

Paul Brown

I started dancing and dance lessons as a Country style dancer. In 1997, I discovered American style Ballroom and I found I enjoyed taking the lessons and competing with my instructor.   In 2000 I became Top Student competing against people from studios across Canada and the United States. In 2000 I also became partners with another competitor, Cathie Penalagan, and we started International style Ballroom dance lessons with former Ontario Champions. With hard work and long hours I successfully competed with Cathie in both the American and International style dancing.

Cathie and I switched instructors to work with a multi-time Canadian Champion and Judge and competed successfully under his training in the English system. We were fortunate to have been chosen by the past Australian 10 dance Champion and World level judge to train with her and she continued our success in competing under her tutelage.

Over the next 20 years and up to today I have continued to train with National Champions (from various countries), as well as World Champions where I have learned different styles of leading, floor craft technique, advanced variations, movement, technique and musicality from both ladies and men in Latin and Standard. The diversity in Nationality and style of our teachers has given me a greater opportunity of learning a variety of dancing and teaching styles. Currently we train with Alex and Julia Chalkevitch in both Standard and Latin.

I have continuously taken lessons since 1997 (through Skype during COVID) up to 3 to 4 hours a week and successfully competed at the Provincial and National level for over 20 years. I am at the Championship Level in Standard and Latin.

To stay current and gain a greater depth of knowledge I have, over the years, taken and continue to take hundreds of hours in lessons with top instructors and judges on advanced teaching technique for both competitors and social dancers, focusing on the English, Italian and Russian style,

I have tried to help local teachers build their dancing skills and stay current to make them more successful in their dance business.

I have trained both Standard and Latin style couples to go on to be winners in their divisions in Ontario Dancesport at the Provincial level.

With Cathie we have been invited to and given numerous performances all across Southern Ontario.

I have been a member of the London Ballroom Dance Club since 1999.

Deborah Eastman

Ballet, Tap and Jazz

• Started dance lessons age 4 at a Local dance club

• Studied Ballet, Tap and Jazz at Dorothy Carter School of dance London Ontario for approximatley10 years.

• Obtained my dance teachers certificate in Ballet (ISTD) 1978, tap and jazz (BATD) 1985

• Operated Lightfoot School of dance 1981-1987

• Prepared students for yearly dance recitals and examinations in ballet tap and jazz through the BATD system.

• Taught an off-ice program for figure skaters 1978.

• Taught a dance fitness program for Fanshawe College, night school 1982/83.

• Dance instructor for Glencoe Dance Club 1980-1987.

Ballroom

• Started social Ballroom with LBDC 2010.

• Started training with Cathie Penalagan and Paul Brown in 2012 for competitive Ballroom.

• Competed in Pre-bronze, Bronze, Silver and Gold level

• Participated in show cases with Paul Brown for the Mandarin Festival in Toronto and LBDC.

• Also has studied with many coaches who were National Champions (from various countries)

• Currently continues to study private Ballroom dance lessons weekly training in Pre-Champ level.

• Currently training in Ballroom dance instruction and technique in both the Lead (Man) and Follow (Ladies) parts.

• Line Dance classes are designed for a "lighter" fun element still teaching some concepts and techniques that can be used when dancing with a partner.

Cathie Penalagan.

I began taking American style Ballroom dance lessons in 1998 and competed with my instructor.

In 1999 I became partners with Paul Brown and in 2000 started International style Ballroom dance lessons with former Ontario Champions.

I pursued competing in both American and International style dancing with Paul Brown. Paul and I began working with an instructor that was a multiple time Canadian Champion and International level Judge and competed successfully under his training in the English system. We were then fortunate to be chosen by the past Australian 10 dance Champion and World level judge to work with her and she continued our success in competing under her tutelage. This opened the door for us to train with both male and female instructors (in both Standard and Latin) over the next 20 years that have included National Champions (from various countries), as well as World Champions where I learned technique, body mechanics and musicality. The diversity of my teachers has given me the advantage of learning dancing and teaching styles from different countries. I have continuously taken lessons from 1998 to the present of up to 3 to 4 hours a week and successfully competed at the Provincial and National level for over 20 years.

I am at the Championship Level in Standard and Latin as well as the equivalent in American Style Smooth and Rhythm and have earned my Gold Level medals.  Though I trained for competing I also have taken and continue to take hundreds of hours in lessons with top instructors and judges on advanced teaching techniques for both the man and woman’s part for both competitors and social dancers. My specialty is body mechanics and advanced technique in both Latin and Standard, focused mainly from the Italian, Russian and English styles.

I have worked with many of the local teachers to help keep them current and increase their dancing skills and have trained both Standard and Latin style couples that have gone on to be winners in their divisions in Ontario Dancesport at the Provincial level. I have earned my Gold Level medals.

Outside of Ballroom I helped train the Country Dancing Senior World Champions. With Paul Brown I have been invited to and given numerous performances all across Southern Ontario.

 I have been a member of the London Ballroom since 1999 and have been on the Executive twice

I was the Secretary then Southern Ontario rep for the Ontario Dancesport Association which is a subsidiary for the World Dancesport Federation.  I helped run many of the Provincial and some National competitions.

For 4 years I produced an e-zine (on-line magazine) called the Telemark, geared toward both teachers and students of Ballroom dancing.