The instructors at Maine Ballroom have a strong commitment to helping students meet all their dancing goals and are eager to share their love of dancing.  Staff members have received training from Mandy Ball, Licentiate, USISTD, founder and former owner of Maine Ballroom, as well as many high-level visiting coaches, including Edward Simon, Michelle Officer, Esther Don, and Christine Harvey.

Debra Roy (owner)

Debra Ann Roy fulfilled a lifelong dream when she became a professional ballroom dancing instructor in 1993.  She co-owns her own studio, Maine Ballroom Dance with Guy Nowlan, her lifelong partner in her native Portland, Maine.  Debbie has trained with famous professionals including Mandy Ball, Edward Simon, Jean-Marc Genereux, and Esther Don.  She performs fluently in both American as well as International Styles of ballroom dancing.  Every summer, she serves as advanced instructor for Ballroom Vermont - a dance teaching camp specially designed for adults.  She travels extensively, sharing her love of dancing through adult education programs at schools and colleges throughout the state.  She indulges in any style of dancing but Waltzes, Tangos, Sambas, and Cha-Chas have remained her favorites over the years.

Wendy Edwards

Wendy began dancing in 1997 at Maine Ballroom Dance. She quickly went from 1 to 3 classes per week as her affection for this 'hobby' escaladed. In 1999 she was asked to began teaching. She has trained with several professionals, as well as attending Ballroom Dance Camps. In 2000 her love of dance began to focus on Salsa. Wendy has since attended multiple Salsa Congresses in New York and Boston. She has been active helping to promote Latin dance in the Portland community and is part of a local performance group called the "Salsa Angels". The Salsa Angels have been performing 4-6 times per year for the past three years, including a show at the Boston Salsa Congress.

Daniel Moore

Daniel has been teaching ballroom dance at Maine Ballroom Dance since 2002.  Daniel is particularly enthusiastic about  Salsa, Argentine Tango and all types of Swing dance. He organizes monthly Argentine Tango workshops taught by guest instructors from Boston, New York City and Argentina.  Daniel is actively involved in the dance scene in Portland and is a founding member of the board for the Mainiac Swing Dance Society.  You’ll find Daniel teaching not only at our studio but also at local swing dances and at festivals such as the Downeast Country Dance Festival.
 

Colleen Reynolds

Colleen started her teaching career right here at Maine Ballroom Dance in 1993. She directed the Portsmouth Ballroom for several years and retuned to the Portland area in 2005. She has worked with many top professionals from around the world: Many Ball, Edward Simon, Michelle Officer, Russell Monk, Mario Robeau, Bill Cameron and others. She is an accredited member of the Imperial Society of Teacher’s of Dance (American Style), and a member/ trainer for the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston (Ballroom Division). She continually feeds her hunger for knowledge in dance and you will find her traveling all over New England to learn and teach. She specializes in West Coast Swing and Rhythm style social dancing, yet teaches the gamut of American and International Styles both Modern and  Latin. Her favorite dances are West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango and improvisation.

Larry Ricci

Larry has been avidly ballroom dancing since 1997.  He met his wife Laurel at Maine Ballroom in 1998.  They competed  for several years as amateurs throughout New England in International 10 dance at the Bronze and Silver levels.  He has been an instructor at Maine Ballroom since 2003 and loves to teach both American and International styles of dance.  He has studied with many top professionals throughout the United States and Canada. His favorite dances are American Hustle and International Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Viennese Waltz.

Elizabeth Richards

Elizabeth has been dancing since 1991, first in Boston and  then since 1993 at Maine Ballroom.  When it became apparent she was going to hang around indefinitely, the studio trained her as an instructor.  She began teaching in January of 1999.  Elizabeth has taught all ages, from children to adult, and also teaches Latin and Country Line Dancing.  She loves sharing the joy and fun of dancing with others.

Ann Smith

Ann Smith has been dancing since she was three years old.  She trained in ballet, tap, and jazz as a child and then in funk, modern dance, and Lindy-hop swing during college.  Ann returned to Maine in 1998 and started dancing at Maine Ballroom Dance that same year.  Soon after, she became an instructor at Maine Ballroom.  Ann enjoys teaching wedding couples their "first dance" and helping people learn to have fun on the dance floor.  She especially loves dancing the Rumba, Cha-cha, Salsa, and Samba.