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Rhythm & Shine Dance Company is dedicated to offering you the best of ballroom and latin dance instruction in the north carolina triangle area. Our passion is music and dance and we want to share it with you! Whether you are a beginner or seasoned dancer, Rhythm & Shine offers quality dance instruction in a fun, down-to-earth atmosphere.
We are a fresh, new, independently run dance company that offers private dance lessons, semi-private (you and your friends) workshops, group classes, coaching, choreography, performances and parties (dance socials) in cary. Whether you prefer sultry Latin beats, Big Band Swings, steamy Salsas or smooth jazzy Foxtrots, we promise to inject a new pulse into your dance exploration.
Our mission is to create a positive dance atmosphere to guide you toward your dance goals so that you may become a better and more confident social dancer. We will custom design a dance program to suit your needs and fit your lifestyle. We teach american style ballroom, latin social dancing and prepare dancers for competition.
We offer dance lessons in: Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, quickstep, Rumba, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, bolero, West Coast Swing, Salsa (on 1 and 2), Samba, Mambo, Merengue, Argentine Tango, Bachata, Kizomba and Hustle.
Ali and Juan both had aspirations of competing professionally. they met in 2018 and decided to get together and practice, with the condition that they wouldn’t kill each other. they have not stopped dancing since. They began to prepare their choreography for american style rhythm and debuted in their first professional competition in january 2020 at Nasheville starz, followed by the Heritage classic in asheville. they have begun to work on their choreography for american smooth. their goal is to become champions and rule the dance world.
Rhythm & Shine Dance Company received awards for top student and top dance studio at the river city ballroom competition in richmond in 2019.
Ali Ahearn was born and raised in the finger lakes region of upstate NY. She began dance lessons at the tender age of 3 at Kathy Fenti’s school of dance where she learned ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance. Being on stage for yearly dance recitals and high school theatrical productions lit her creative flames. after graduation, she attended SUNY College in Fredonia as a Dance Major. She graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance. She began auditioning for various dance companies and cruise lines throughout the east coast. She ended up settling down in Raleigh and answered a wanted ad from a local Arthur Murray dance studio. She was immediately hired and began to learn the basics of social dance. along the way she was able to bond and grow with a fantastic bunch of students. She loves teaching and sharing her love for dance.
Juan’s love for dancing began in the summer of 1984 in Queens, NY when a Manhattan bboy was teaching his next door neighbors how to break dance. The bboy’s attention focused on the agile and eager Juan, who was quickly mimicking and executing the moves. That day was the birth of Juan’s indefatigable love for dance. Juan has been doing hip hop dance and bboying since that unforgettable summer day. In 1992, Juan began training to become a ballroom dance instructor and started teaching that year. Juan has travelled throughout the East Coast, training, teaching, performing and competing. As President of Swoon Unit Crew (North Carolina’s longest running break dance group), he has served as an ambassador, promoting breakdancing throughout the state. Juan has served as organizer, performer and adjudicator in over 200 break dance events. Although Juan is a seasoned instructor, he is continually training and refining his craft. He is known as the “last instructor out,” continuously working on choreography, amalgamations and the dance syllabus and being the last instructor to leave the studio. Juan balances his passion for breakdancing and ballroom dancing and sees them at times as highly contrasting dance styles but at the same time sees the commonality in movement and uses them both to stay inspired. Juan has recently been turning heads for his dynamic and versatile choreography. In October of 2011, Juan received the Top Teacher Award in the Raleigh Dance Challenge. Most recently in September of 2012, Juan received the Top Instructor Award at the Myrtle Beach Dance Sport Challenge. Juan teaches beginner to competitive students. Juan’s goal as an instructor is not to just teach students steps or patterns, but rather to help them feel the music, connect with their partner and allow their creativity and artistic expression to shine through.
Ali Ahearn and Juan Matta are DANCE VISION CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS. They are continously working on their higher level certifications in dance education.
