Nazar Batih & Mariko Cantley
Ballroom Dance
Dance Lessons and Workshops
Performance and Mentality Coaching
In Person and Online
For Ballroom Dance Students
We primarily teach competitive ballroom dancers of all ages and levels. Each student is taught with respect and individual attention. We prioritize technique, partnering skills, competition preparation, and performance skills. Positive reinforcement, trust, and mutual respect are fundamental to our approach. We like to build lasting relationships with a limited number of students, whether they are professionals, pro/am competitors, or amateurs.
For Performance Coaching Students
Nazar Batih and Mariko Cantley offer competition and performance coaching for athletes, dancers and anyone who would like to perform better under pressure.Their interest in coaching for performance comes from the impact mental training hand on their own career as professional competitive ballroom dancers. Although they have won various National and International titles, their greatest accomplishments are learning to walk their own path and take both success and disappointment with grace. They are most influenced in this by George Mumford and Rocky Aliberti, with whom they worked for several years during their competitive career. Other significant influences are their students, nature, literature, and each other.Mariko and Nazar work as a team, and prefer to develop lasting personal relationships with clients. As a result they work intensely with a limited number of people.
About
Nazar is from Lviv, Ukraine. He started dancing at five and was the Juvenile Western Ukrainian Champion in Ballroom and Latin, Ukrainian Youth Bronze Medalist in Ballroom, and a youth and amateur finalist in competitions throughout Europe. Nazar moved to New York City where he taught at Fred Astaire Dance Studios, performed during Vegas Week of So You Think You Can Dance, and was featured on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" Christmas Spectacular with Regis and Kelly.In 2009 Nazar was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Since then it has been his intention to encourage other dancers and athletes struggling with chronic disease.Mariko was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She started dancing at age five, studying classical ballet at Boston Ballet, Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, and the American Academy of Ballet. She earned her Bachelor's Degree at Harvard University where she served as the Captain of the Harvard Ballroom Dance Team.Mariko and Nazar began their partnership in 2012. They trained extensively in Italy with William Pino and Alessandra Bucciarelli, as well as with the best coaches in the world in NY, the UK and Europe. Mariko and Nazar developed a love of the Ballroom Showdance category, as it demands skills in performance, storytelling, lifts, and acting.Mariko and Nazar worked closely with Sports Psychology coaches George Mumford and Rocky Aliberti, and incorporate their wisdom into their work with students. They strongly believe in the importance of solid technique combined with understanding of motivation, stress, strategic planning, and personal expression.Nazar and Mariko are five time United States Ballroom Showdance Champions, two time World Ballroom Showdance Silver Medalists, two time World Ballroom Showdance Bronze Medalists, and five time World Ballroom Showdance Finalists. Other results include Canadian Open Professional Ballroom Champions, US Open Professional Ballroom Finalists, Eastern United States Professional Ballroom Champions, Eastern United States Showdance Champions, World Masters Showdance Champions, Yankee Classic Showdance Champions, US National Professional Rising Star Ballroom Finalists and British Open Professional Rising Star Ballroom Finalists.Mariko and Nazar are Licentiate members of the American International Dancers Association and members of the National Dance Council of America. They teach at various studios in the Boston area and online.With their students Nazar and Mariko have won the following titles:
World Pro-Am Senior Standard Champions
United States National Pro-Am Senior Standard Champions
Ohio Star Ball Pro-Am Senior Standard Champions
Ohio Star Ball Pro-Am Senior Standard Vice-Champions
United States National Gentlemen’s Silver B Standard Champions