Palm Harbor Fred Astaire Dance Studios 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 high standards; passing is not good enough. All instructors must receive Highly Commended marks in their dance tests.  Carol & Fletcher Elliott Directors of Palm Harbor Fred Astaire Dance Studios. They have a combined 36 years of experience of teaching people the joy and passion of dance. Both have competed professionally, have won some of the top awards in the dance world and have developed top students and champion professional competitors.  Frankie Siefert Frankie joined the Fred Astaire Dance team in 2003 after dancing a few years as a student. She felt inspired to become a teacher watching how Ballroom Dancing positively influenced and often dramatically improved and enhanced the lives and levels of happiness of the students around her. Frankie started competing professionally her first year teaching and has done well both regionally and nationally, receiving three Florida Freddy awards for top performance as a teacher and in September 2009 performed in the DWTS Tampa bay  JJ Harrison JJ was born in the rugged Northwest of Alaska. At an early age he moved down to sunny California where he spent most of his childhood. Growing up in the country of small town awarded him the opportunity of enjoying many outdoor activities such as hiking, back packing, mountain biking, kayaking, 4-wheeling, and fishing. He moved to Florida several years ago for a new adventure as a dance instructor. After only a few months in the business, he competed in his first professional competition and took first place. JJ’s up beat and resistible personality makes him an excellent teacher.    Gigi Ellis Born in Lafayette, LA, Gigi was instantly involved with music and dance. From the Spanish influence of her Mother and her Father’s love of classical Jazz and musical theatre, Gigi was destined to be involved in the arts. When her family moved to Delaware she began her formal training in Ballet and studied at some of the top schools for ten years. She then moved to Florida and began taking Ballroom lessons and fell in love with this form of Dance. Her Goal as a teacher is to share her passion and long love of dancing with as many people as she can. Ebony Lopez Ebony is our Dancing Receptionist. She will always greet you with a smile and a song in her voice.