Dancesmiths' Fred Astaire Studio: Teaching Downtown, Midtown, Cordova, Bartlett and Memphis Ballroom dancing, Dancesport, Latin, Social and Party Dancing.

Dancesmiths strives daily to provide quality in everything they do. Whether it is a lesson, a competition, a party, or an Ultimate Vacation; we want everyone to have a blast dancing and learning to dance. We have a very simple idea of how ballroom dance lessons should go: fun and easy. That is the main focus for all levels, from beginners to dancesport competitors.

Dancesmiths teaches two types of dances: Rhythm dances and Smooth dances. These two types include social and party dancing; ballroom and Latin dances; and dancesport or competitive dancing. Please go to the Styles of Dance page for more information on specific dances.

Dancesmiths staff is made entirely of full-time, certified, professional dance instructors. They feel that the best lessons are taught by instructors who spend their days training to teach better dance lessons and working on their own dancing. With this in mind, all dance instructors are tested regularly by the Fred Astaire National Council of Dance. All certifications must meet Dancesmiths high standards; passing is not good enough. All instructors must receive Highly Commended marks in their dance tests. The tests consists of leading and following each dance to music, and solo demonstrations for each pattern in each dance.

Benji Smith began teaching ballroom and Latin dancing while in College at UNC-Wilmington. Always with Fred Astaire Dance Studios, he taught in Asheville, Greensboro, and Wilmington, NC. In 1991, he came to Memphis in a make-or-break career move. In his first few days, he realized he would be successful in Memphis. With hard work and dedication, Benji became the top teacher and, with his wife Beth, a top competitor. He has also taken many students to various dancesport competitions; teaching even brand new students how to be top performers.

Always looking to the future, Benji strived to learn every detail of the dance studio, so that one day he would have his own. August of 2000 the doors opened. Working on his own dancing and teaching, he has received his teaching certification in Bronze, Silver, and Gold American Style dancing, including an Associate level Professional diploma.

In business he received many Top Teacher honors: Most lessons taught, most guests (referrals), and most lesson sales. None of which would have been possible without the training of Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Tom Korpitz, and by gaining the trust and respect of his students.

Beth Smith began dancing at age 5 in Crown Point, Indiana. After moving to Memphis in the fourth grade she continued to dance through out her child hood, taking lessons at Patricia Williams School of Dance. Beth began doing Country Western dancing in 1990, focusing mainly on line dancing. She was first introduced to ballroom and Latin dancing when her mother invited her to a Guest Party at Fred Astaire Dance Studio. She began taking lessons, then finally decided that dance would be a career choice. She had two very different options in mind: 1. Teach at Fred Astaire Dance Studio or 2. become a dancer for Disney in Orlando. Luckily for us all, Disney did not get her.

Beth worked furiously at getting her teaching credentials in order, completing the Fred Astaire American Style Syllabus in only 2 years. She also holds an Associate level Professional Diploma. It was during that time that she began competing with Benji.

In 1999 and 2000 Beth became the only teacher in Fred Astaire Dance Studios to be the Top Guest Getter (most referrals) in 5 consecutive quarters! An amazing feat. Beth has also achieved Top Teacher awards for lesson sales, a key indicator of student satisfaction. Most recently she was the Top Female Teacher at the 2003 Memphis mini-match.

In addition to her dance credentials, Beth has a B.S. in Nutrition and Food Science, as well as a Masters Degree in Fitness and Wellness.

Ballroom dancing and dancesport is alive in Memphis!

2435 Whitten Rd. Suite 106 Memphis, Tennessee 38133 (901) 213 9393