Since 2008, DF Dance Studio has helped adults in Salt Lake City build confidence, connection, and community through dance. From Salsa and Bachata to West Coast Swing, Country Swing, Ballroom, Hip Hop, and wedding dance, DF offers a welcoming place to begin, improve, and stay involved.
DF was built to make social dance more approachable for adults while still offering serious coaching, clear progress paths, and a real studio community. Whether you are brand new, preparing for a wedding, looking for private lessons, or wanting a long-term dance home, DF offers structured ways to start and keep growing.
Many programs are designed so adults can get started without a partner or prior experience. Clear onboarding, intro options, and supportive teaching help new students feel welcome from day one.
Clear Progress
Structured Ways to Grow
Students can start with intro classes, continue into level-based classes, add socials and labs, and grow further through privates, dance teams, and specialty training.
Real Community
Classes + Social Connection
DF is not just a place to take a class. Weekly socials, events, and practice opportunities help students meet people, build confidence, and stay motivated beyond their regular lessons.
Our Story
Built to Make Dance Easier to Start
DF Dance Studio opened in 2008 with a simple idea: make social dancing easier to begin and more rewarding to continue.
Over time, the studio expanded into multiple social and partner dance styles while keeping a strong focus on a warm, organized environment where new and returning students can feel comfortable learning.
Today, DF serves beginners, social dancers, wedding couples, performers, teams, and students looking for long-term development in a supportive adult dance community.
Our Mission
Accessible, Professional, Community-Driven
DF aims to make dance accessible, welcoming, and elevating for adults. Every class is designed to be clear, encouraging, and practical so students can build skills while actually enjoying the process.
Welcoming instruction for brand-new adult students
Professional coaching with real progress paths
Community events that make practice more enjoyable
Multiple ways to keep growing after the beginner stage
Founder Spotlight
Maria Ivanova
Studio Owner & Founder • Community leader • West Coast Swing coach • Longtime Salsa On2 educator
Founded DF in 2008
Salsa On2 since 2005
West Coast Swing since 2019
Competitive All-Star
Maria Ivanova founded DF Dance Studio in 2008 and has been a driving force in Utah’s social dance community ever since. She was one of the first people to bring New York Style Salsa to Utah and helped shape a studio culture built on welcoming adults, developing dancers, and creating real community around social dance.
Over the years, Maria has trained deeply across multiple partner dance styles, including Argentine Tango and Salsa On2, before shifting her competitive and coaching focus to West Coast Swing in 2019. She is now a West Coast Swing Competitive All-Star who continues to travel, train, and compete while directing the overall growth and long-term vision of DF Dance Studio.
Maria’s teaching philosophy centers on body mechanics, the anatomy of movement, and the technique of creating connection. Her goal is not just to teach patterns, but to help dancers understand how movement works, how to create better partnership, and how to build skills that transfer from the classroom to the social floor.
In addition to teaching, Maria has helped build teacher training programs, dance teams, and weekly socials that give Utah dancers more ways to learn, practice, connect, and stay involved for the long term.
Salsa • Bachata • West Coast Swing • Country Swing • East Coast Swing • Waltz • Rumba • Foxtrot • Cha Cha • Tango • Nightclub Two-Step • Hip Hop • Wedding Dance • and more
Intro classes to help new students start confidently
Level-based training for long-term development
Social events that make practice enjoyable and low-pressure
Private lessons for students who want extra support
How We Teach
Clear Curriculum
Step-by-step progressions, level pathways, and consistent language help students understand what they are learning, what their next step is, and how to keep moving forward.
Coaching That Cares
Our instructors focus on timing, technique, connection, mechanics, and confidence with feedback students can actually use both in class and on the social floor.
Community First
Socials, labs, teams, and events help students practice more often, build friendships, and develop a stronger sense of belonging in the local dance community.
Leadership & Lead Instructors
Meet the DF Dance Studio Team
The team below gives students a clearer way to understand who teaches what at DF. Each card leaves a reserved photo area so you can add real instructor headshots later without redesigning the page.
Add Lindsay N. headshot Recommended ratio: 4:5
Salsa Team Director
Lindsay N.
Lindsay teaches Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Kizomba, Country Swing, West Coast Swing, and wedding choreography. She started in Jazz at a young age before finding her passion in social dance, and she has been part of DF since 2008.
Known for adapting her teaching style to the learning style of each student
Brings warmth, clarity, and long-term student support
Strong fit for students who want clear instruction in both Latin and social partner styles
Add Ridicia L. headshot Recommended ratio: 4:5
Salsa On2 Specialist
Ridicia L.
From local stages to international podiums, Ridicia brings both performance and competition experience to DF. She has performed at congresses nationwide and trained with world-class dancers from Mexico, Germany, Costa Rica, and Italy.
Proud Salsa On2 specialist
Teaching at DF since 2026
Great for students who want stronger Salsa training and competitive development
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Salsa • Bachata • Flamenco Background
Barbara M.
Barbara is a passionate dancer and instructor with a rich background across multiple styles. She began teaching Flamenco at 16, later deepened her work in Salsa and Bachata, and is known for blending artistry with strong technical coaching.
1st place results at The Summit Championship and Las Vegas Ultimate Dance Competition 2025
Conri Style Certified Bachata Instructor
Great for students who want both technique and expression
Add Yuka F. headshot Recommended ratio: 4:5
Ballroom + Bachata Coach
Yuka F.
Yuka is an accomplished Ballroom and Latin competitor with a BS in Dance from UVU and lifelong classical dance training. She is also one of the most sought-after Bachata follow teachers in Utah.
Specializes in coaching Ballroom and Bachata teams at DF
Teaching at DF since 2023
Strong fit for students who want polished movement and competitive growth
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Bachata & BachaZouk
Marvin S.
Marvin supports DF’s Bachata and BachaZouk offerings with a style-focused approach that helps students refine body movement, musical feel, and partner connection.
Focused on Bachata and BachaZouk development
Great for students who want more movement detail and modern partner styling
Strong addition for dancers growing beyond the basics
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Bachata + Salsa
Byron F.
Byron teaches Bachata and Salsa and brings a technical lens to partner work, especially for students who want to clean up their lead-and-follow skills and modern Bachata vocabulary.
Conri Style Certified for Bachata
Teaches both Bachata and Salsa
Great for students who want refined Bachata technique with social dance application
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Bachata & BachaZouk
Misael S.
Misael brings additional strength to DF’s Bachata and BachaZouk instruction, helping students develop smoother body action, clearer connection, and more confidence in social partner movement.
Supports DF’s Bachata and BachaZouk training path
Great for students who want to build comfort and flow in partner work
Strong fit for dancers growing into more expressive movement
Add Luis P. headshot Recommended ratio: 4:5
Salsa & Sensual Bachata
Luis P.
Luis supports Salsa and Sensual Bachata training at DF with a partner-focused approach that helps students build stronger timing, comfort, and musical connection.
Teaches Salsa and Sensual Bachata
Helpful for students building confidence in social Latin partner work
Strong fit for dancers wanting more fluidity and connection
Add Luis P. headshot Recommended ratio: 4:5
Ballroom • West Coast Swing • Salsa
Luis P.
Luis also contributes across Ballroom, West Coast Swing, and Salsa, giving students support in both social foundation and more polished partner movement.
Works across Ballroom, West Coast Swing, and Salsa
Good fit for students who want versatility across styles
Useful for dancers building broader partner dance skills
Ready to Start Dancing?
Whether you want to try your first class, compare pricing, work with a specific instructor, or find the right next step, DF Dance Studio offers a clear way to begin.
DF Dance Studio
2978 S State Ste B, Salt Lake City, UT (801) 466-0490
