MEET CANDELA’S TEACHING TEAM!
Jay Kaneholani and Kat Greene / Hālau Hula 'O Nuku 'Āina
Jay and Kat run Hālau Hula 'O Nuku 'Āina (A Passage in the Land), a Hula school (Hālau) that started in Grants Pass in 2011 under Kat’s direction. Since then, haumana (students) of all ages have been coming together to explore the music, dances and traditional crafts of Hawaii and Polynesia. Kat & Jay’s goal is to share the Hula experience throughout the Rogue Valley for enjoyment, education and the support of cultural diversity. For more information, visit www.HulaKat.com
Maryann McClard / Line Dance Instructor
I have been a Line Dance instructor for over 20 years. My first class was held in my home, and soon I began to make a name for myself in Kansas and Missouri as a Line Dance instructor. I attended conferences sponsored by National Teachers Association for Country Western Dancing, and became a certified beginner and intermediate instructor. I soon began taking classes in West Coast Swing, Salsa, Country Cha Cha, Country Waltz, Nightclub 2-Step and Country 2-Step, which I began teaching in Topeka, Kansas, along with Line Dance.
I moved to Oregon in July of 2012 and felt so very out of place, with no dancing to help me cope with isolation. I found a place to learn Bachata, and later met Melissa and Candela, and soon my world of dancing was whole again. I have been the Line Dance instructor for Candela since 2014 and am proud to continue to be a member of the Candela family. Since then, I have taught Country 2-Step, Nightclub 2-Step and assisted Melissa with West Coast Swing.
Monasha Goree / Turn Up Instructor
Monasha is a great dancer, full of fun and positive energy - Check out her Turn Up class on Sunday mornings!
Shawn Bellenbaum / West Coast Swing Instructor
Shawn Bellenbaum was raised in Grants Pass. He graduated from Grants Pass High School and followed his father’s footsteps into the construction business and later entered the painting industry.
Shawn began his dance career in 2017 at Candela. At his first West Coast Swing class, he met his wife Lauren, who also was attending her first class. They started to practice together, fell in love, then got married, and now they have a daughter named Carter. Shawn’s older daughter Luxely has been along the dance journey with her dad since the start and loves dancing. Shawn is a competitive West Coast Swing dancer and enjoys several other types of dance.
One of Shawn’s other passions has been sports coaching. Shawn loves giving back to the community by being a positive role model to young athletes. Shawn also enjoys playing various sports, long-distance running and spending quality time with his friends and family.
Melissa McRobbie-Toll
Candela owner / West Coast Swing & Salsa Instructor
When I was 18, my Dad started ballroom dancing and bought me a gift certificate for a Salsa class. I was hooked. A few years later, I joined Bay Area Salsa company Salsamania and trained with them. I continued my training with several other groups.
I dance salsa “On 1,” or L.A.-style, and “On 2,” New York-style. The numbers relate to the beat on which you change direction in your footwork. It’s a subtle difference but it changes the feel of the dance.
I lived in Brooklyn, New York, for a year and would take the subway to Manhattan in a snowstorm to get to my favorite mambo venues. It was there that I got “On 2” mambo in my bloodstream. There was nothing better than walking into Jimmy Anton’s social at Dance Manhattan on a Sunday afternoon, where the dancing was so fierce that beads of sweat would fly off spinning dancers’ hair and hit you as you entered the room; it was electric.
I never thought I could love any dance more until I saw some champion West Coast Swing dancers perform at a convention in Reno. I switched gears and began to study this intriguing dance style, where improvisation, connection and musicality are valued above all else. I appreciated the creativity and spontaneity, and the space for followers to express themselves.
I also loved the variety of music; WCS can be danced to many genres, including blues, Motown and Top 40 hits. I began competing and attending conventions all over the West Coast, and now compete in the "Advanced" division. I teach weekly West Coast Swing classes at Candela, and it is a great feeling to see new dancers getting hooked on WCS the way I did!
Christine Lazina / West Coast Swing Instructor
Christine grew up in rural North Carolina. Her first introduction to partner dancing was two-stepping at rodeos and staff dances while working in New Mexico during her college summers. When she first moved to Oregon in 2015, one of those fellow dancers said "You're moving to Oregon? They've got an amazing West Coast Swing culture there! You've gotta try it!" She started taking lessons at the Evergreen Ballroom, and was completely hooked.
Since then Christine has enjoyed growing her WCS skill set and dabbling in other dance styles. She's incredibly happy to contribute to the amazing Candela community, and to help others experience the joy and connection of dancing.
Jarita Irvin /Belly Dance-Bollywood Instructor
Jarita Irvin brings her style of Bollywood flair to Southern Oregon. She was born in Kolkata, India, adopted as a baby in '83 and brought to the U.S. where she grew up in Grants Pass. After traveling & living elsewhere as a young adult she moved back with her family to Grants Pass in 2016. She has been pleased to grow with the community.
Jarita blends various dance styles including Belly Dance, Tribal Fusion, Latin Styles, West Coast Swing, Hip Hop, and Burlesque. She has always had a passion for music. College is where she began to be further involved in the dance part of musical expression, having been involved with gymnastics & Acros, and a performance dance group. Intermittently she joined friends for West Coast Swing at the Evergreen Ballroom and assisted in teaching beginning classes. Jarita became involved in performing with a WCS group under the instruction of Tina Ferris. Since then she continues to expand her knowledge and teaching styles. Jarita began taking belly dance with Sarah Jane at ClubNW 5 years ago and teaches there currently. Her goals include to “never limit myself to try something new.”
Jarita's passion for connection with her birth country was re-kindled while at a theatre production produced by DJ Prashant and Jai Ho Dance Troupe "A Bollywood Dream," at the Hult Center in Eugene. She’s excited to share Bollywood with this community and eager to continue to evolve as an instructor and dancer while showing appreciation of both her heritage and upbringing through our ever expanding dance family.
Jenifer Torres-Brown / Zumba Instructor
Jenifer Torres-Brown is a licensed Zumba Instructor, fitness professional, and proud Colombian-American passionate about helping people discover the joy of movement. She holds certifications in Zumba B1, Zumba Lift+, SH1FT Cardio, SH1FT Lift, and CPR/AED.
Known for her high-energy classes and welcoming atmosphere, Jenifer combines Latin rhythms, international music, and easy-to-follow choreography to create workouts that feel more like a celebration than exercise. Her mission is to help participants improve their health, confidence, and well-being while having fun and connecting with others through dance.
Whether you’re new to fitness or a seasoned dancer, Jenifer’s classes are designed to be inclusive, supportive, and enjoyable for all fitness levels.
Viktoria Belova Soto / Ballroom Instructor
Viktoria Belova Soto is an internationally accomplished ballroom dance professional originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. After beginning her training as a competitive ice skater at age three, she transitioned to ballroom dance at thirteen and rose to become part of one of the top amateur ballroom dance couples in Russia. At age twenty-two, Viktoria moved to the United States, where she continued her professional career with partner Eddie Stutts. Together, they became two-time United States 10-Dance Champions and two-time World 10-Dance Finalists, earning top placements at prestigious national and international competitions. Since 2008, Viktoria has dedicated herself to teaching, coaching, Pro-Am competition, and judging. Recently relocated from Houston, Texas to Jacksonville, Oregon, she looks forward to sharing her passion for dance with the local community.
Paul Diffendaffer / West Coast Swing & Nightclub 2-Step Instructor
Paul has been moving to music since the 80's, when he was a certified aerobics instructor, but he came to dance later in life. Although he began with no rhythm in his feet but plenty of music in his soul, over the past 16 years he's become skillful in social dancing, learning everything from West Coast Swing to Viennese Waltz.
He has been an active member of Myles and Tessa's SwingLiteracy.com program since its inception. His favorite dances are West Coast Swing because of the opportunity for follower play, and Night Club Two Step because of the beautiful, romantic songs.
He believes that if HE can dance, anyone can. He focuses on safety, having fun, and the social experience in partner dancing. To him, social dancing is a wonderful part of being human that everyone should experience. Paul teaches West Coast Swing and Nightclub 2-Step.
