NR Dance

to achieve great results in improving and fine-tuning his students’ dancing abilities. His expectations are high and demanding but are tempered by his outstanding skill, expertise and a “fab” sense of humor. Nelson began his career as a professional dancer in Baton Rouge, LA. As a Professional Ballroom Dancer, he has reached high levels of excellence in teaching, competing, choreography, and professional demonstrations. Throughout his career, Nelson has both managed and taught at independent dance studios and with the Arthur Murray organizations across the country. In the Professional Ballroom Competition circuit, he finished fourth in the Theatre Arts Division at the FLORIDA GRAND NATIONALS in Miami in 1992; was an American Smooth U.S. Rising Star Finalist at the ATLANTA OPEN DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIP in 1993. Nelson's professional accomplishments in the dancesport circuit include:

finishing 32nd of all instructors in the nation, in THE SUPERBOWL DANCESPORT CIRCUIT of 2002
12th place top teacher, out of a field of 400 instructors, at the OHIO STAR BALL in 2002
2nd place top teacher at the VOLUNTEER STATE DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2002
5th place top teacher at the HERITAGE CLASSIC DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2002
2nd place top teacher at the ATLANTA OPEN DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2002
2nd place top teacher at the VOLUNTEER STATE DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2003
4th place top teacher at the HOLIDAY CLASSIC DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2003
3rd place top teacher at the HERITAGE CLASSIC DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2004
4th place top teacher at the ATLANTA OPEN DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2005
4th place top teacher at the HERITAGE CLASSIC DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2006
3rd place top teacher at the VOLUNTEER STATE DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2006
2nd top teacher at the ATLANTA OPEN DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIP in 2007
Winner of the DISNEY WORLD ANIMAL KINGDOM "DANCING WITH THE STARS" holiday edition in 2007
5th place top teacher at the ORLANDO DANCE CHALLENGE in 2011
2nd place at the "DARE TO DANCE" Kidney Foundation Charity Event in 2011

Nelson's professional accreditation's include membership in the National Dance Council of America. He holds Licentiates with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in both the Ballroom and Latin American branches. As the ballroom coach for Covenant College in Chattanooga Tn, since 2004, his students have placed high at the many amateur and collegiate competitions that they have attended. For his area of expertise, Nelson’s students excel in the latin and rhythm divisions. Known for his wit and patient demeanor in his approach to teaching children and young adults, Nelson has taught in the school system of many elementary and high schools through out Georgia and Tennessee for the past 10 years. Some of the the schools include McCallie High School and GPS(Girls Preparatory School) in Chattanooga,Tn; Dalton High School, Christian Heritage School, Gordon Lee High School, and Dalton Middle School in Georgia; Cleveland High School in Cleveland,Tn. Nelson is the affiliated ballroom teacher for the Southeastern Junior Cotillion of Dalton, which is headed by Ms. The program just completed its 8th year. Junior Cotillion is designed to give young people instruction and practice in the courtesies that make life more pleasant for them and those around them; to give them thorough training in standard ballroom dance; and to provide opportunities to practice and enjoy these skills at memorable parties, balls, dinners and events, complete with decorations, refreshments, favors and prizes. Bringing activity and socilizing to their membership, he has taught private and group classes at the Fairyland Country Club, at the top of Lookout Mountain in Tn, for 9 years. "As owner of two dance studios for over 20 years, in Cleveland,Tn and Dalton,Ga, I am always in the never-ending pursuit of keeping the beautiful art of Ballroom dancing up-to-date, affordable, fun and challenging. How fortunate I have been to be able to find a career that is my passion and allows me to share my expertise with others in such a fun way."