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Tonja Martin DiasTonja has been performing in front of audiences since she was 2 years old and loving every minute. From baby ballet through many conventional forms of dance taught in a small US city, including tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop and including vocals in solo work, small ensembles, show and concert choirs, and piano recitals she has taken center stage. Always physically active, if she wasn't dancing she was most likely running or at a year round swim team practice or meet. Tonja received awards and honors for many of her activities as a youth.
With her love for dance and performance, along with her athletic nature, Ballroom was just the next natural step. Studying and teaching ballroom for over 25 years now, Tonja has achieved much recognition and many awards for her success as a teacher, manager, as well as a professional competitor. She achieved a finalist status in the Open American Smooth division in many NDCA circuit events in 2007-8 with Tony Scheppler and again in 2013 with Morten Jensen. Ohio Star Ball finalist in 2007, Fred Astaire National Smooth Champion in 2007-8, Rising Star Smooth finalist at Emerald Ball, USDSC and Ohio Star Ball in 2013, Rising Star Smooth Champion at Yankee Classic and Empire Dancesport in 2013, Dance With Me Smooth Champion in 2012-13. Tonja also performed in the popular dance trilogy "Sway" starring Maks & Val Chmerkovskiy & Tony Dovolani. She also had the honor of choreographing a masquerade ball scene for the popular TV show Gossip Girls, as well as a dueling soft shoe performance for Tony Bennett with his daughter. |