Midtown Ballroom

Midtown Ballroom is a competitive and social dance studio located at 1133 Metropolitan Avenue in Midtown Charlotte, near Trader Joe's and Salon Loft. The studio teaches Ballroom, Latin, Smooth, and Rhythm styles to dancers of all levels, from beginner to advanced. No experience or partner is required to start.

The studio is founded and led by Erica Millarc, a professional dancer from Argentina who specialised in International Standard. Over 13 years she trained with renowned coaches and competed nationally and internationally at the highest level, including at Blackpool Dance Festival, the International, and the UK Open. She was ranked among the top 12 dancers in the United States, earned 2nd place nationally in the Classic Show Dance division, and represented the U.S. at the World Championship in Leipzig, Germany.

The instructor team brings international competitive experience and national titles. Trevor Guthrie, from Idaho, holds five US National Championship titles including Theater Arts, American Style Smooth, and West Coast Swing, most earned with his wife Emily. He was part of the BYU formation team that won British national championships in both Latin and Ballroom. Trevor and Emily represented the US at the World Latin Show Dance Championship in 2021 in Russia. Emily earned the highest honour in Dance Proficiency Examinations in both Ballroom and Latin, performed with a top touring ballroom company, and leads group classes for Breaking Boundaries, a non-profit providing free dance lessons to those with disabilities. Darinka Divljak, a nine-time National Champion from Serbia with over 30 years of competition experience, relocated to Charlotte in 2011 and remains a consistent international competitor, including at Blackpool. Paul Montagnese, from Melbourne, Australia, is accredited with DanceSport Australia and competed professionally across the world, winning the South Pacific Dancesport Championship in Amateur Standard and the Australian Professional 10-Dance Championship. Jake Davies, from South Africa, is a professional Latin and rhythm dancer competing nationally and internationally, including at Blackpool and British championships, and has appeared on Dancing With The Stars in Istanbul and London. Alyona Kalinina, from Ukraine, graduated from the National Academy of Dance in Kiev and ran her own successful dance studio from 2003. She holds American Rhythm Blackpool Champions, is a two-time British National Professional Showdance Champion, and competed as a World Showdance Finalist.

The studio offers private lessons, wedding dance choreography, progressive 8-week group series for couples and singles, children's programmes, and custom private group classes where you bring friends or colleagues and the studio supplies the instructor, studio space, wine and cheese. A first-time dance consultation costs $50. The studio is open 7 days a week by appointment, with phones answered 10am–8pm. It offers venue rental for events.

Your first visit starts with a $50 consultation where you'll meet your instructor, learn a few basic steps, and discuss your dance goals so the instructor can create a structured plan for your dance journey. Classes run 7 days a week by appointment in a ballroom located in Midtown Charlotte.

The studio is led by founder Erica Millarc, a former International Standard competitor who represented the U.S. at the World Championship in Leipzig. The teaching team includes Trevor Guthrie (five US National Championship titles, BYU formation champion); Emily Guthrie (highest honour in Dance Proficiency Examinations, leads Breaking Boundaries classes); Darinka Divljak (nine-time National Champion from Serbia); Paul Montagnese (South Pacific Dancesport Championship and Australian Professional 10-Dance Championship winner); Jake Davies (international Latin and Rhythm competitor, appeared on Dancing With The Stars); and Alyona Kalinina (American Rhythm Blackpool Champion, two-time British National Professional Showdance Champion).

No experience necessary and no partner required; the studio teaches people of all levels from beginner to advanced in group or private settings.