Chevy Chase Ballroom Dance Studio

Chevy Chase Ballroom has been Washington DC's ballroom home for over five decades. The studio sits on the second floor of the VOIGHT building at 5207 Wisconsin Ave NW, and operates six days a week with evening classes after work and weekend morning sessions.

The studio is now led by Dima (Dmytro Churchun) and Alina, who met as dance partners on the Chevy Chase Ballroom floor in 2018 and have since become life partners and co-managers. Dima began dancing at age 6, winning Ukrainian national and international competitions; in 2014 he placed 7th at the European Championship in Poland, and in 2015 made the top 10 at the World Championship in Italy. He began teaching in 2009 and in 2012 was selected for the Paralympic Team of Ukraine, where he trained wheelchair-bound dancers. Alina was born in Russia and trained in ballet before moving to ballroom; she has won many Pro/Am competitions with students in the DC metro area and later coached professional boxing referees and Cirque du Soleil artists in Las Vegas. The couple now compete together in International Ballroom and have made finals in several US competitions.

The teaching team includes Ciro, originally from Naples, Italy, who studied International Style Ballroom from age 11 and has competed nationally and internationally; he also trained in ballet, modern jazz, and hip hop, and currently dances on the Washington Wizards dance team. The studio also features instructors named Ellen and Eliza, both mentioned repeatedly in student testimonials for wedding choreography and group instruction.

Classes span ballroom, Latin, Smooth, and Rhythm styles at all levels. Group classes run in monthly series that build week by week, with 45-minute sessions and partner rotation so no one sits out. Private lessons offer one-on-one instruction tailored to your goals, music, and timeline. Social dance events bring the community together for partnered dancing with no experience required. Wedding choreography is a core offering—students consistently report learning full first-dance routines from scratch in just a few lessons. Beginner-friendly throughout: the studio explicitly welcomes absolute beginners, those with zero dance experience, and students learning for Viennese balls, weddings, or competitive progression.

Your first group class starts with a few minutes to settle in and meet classmates, followed by step-by-step instruction with rotating partners so everyone learns together. By the end of the 45-minute session you'll be dancing a real routine. Arrive a few minutes early and plan to be at the studio at least 10 minutes before class starts.

Dima (Dmytro Churchun) is manager and instructor with decades of competitive experience, including a top-10 finish at the 2015 World Championship in Italy and 7th place at the 2014 European Championship in Poland; he also trained Paralympic athletes. Alina is general manager and instructor, born in Russia with ballet and ballroom training, Pro/Am competition wins, and experience coaching Cirque du Soleil artists. Ciro is an instructor trained in International Style Ballroom since age 11 with national and international competition experience, also skilled in ballet, modern jazz, and hip hop; he performs with the Washington Wizards dance team. Ellen and Eliza are instructors specialised in wedding choreography and group instruction.

Absolute beginners are explicitly welcome; the studio builds from the ground up with no shortcuts or assumptions, and students report dancing by the end of their first class.