About

Ivana

Professional Latin and Ballroom Dance Coach. Certified Vinyasa Yoga Instructor specializing in Yoga Therapy.

ABOUT

Born in Croatia, Ivana has built her career around dance, movement, and the study of human connection through partner dancing. Her journey has taken her from Switzerland and London to New York City, where she has established herself as a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and studio manager.

Ivana began her dance training in Latin and Ballroom at an early age before pursuing professional contemporary dance training at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, England. Her training included the Martha Graham technique, which shaped her approach to movement, musicality, and expression.

She later moved to New York, where she studied Dance, Psychology, Fine Arts, Art History, and Choreography. Her work focused particularly on partnering and choreography, with a strong interest in the communication and dynamics between two dancers.

After graduating with a BA focused on Dance Psychology and Choreography, Ivana continued her professional development through performance and teaching, including an internship with the Isadora Duncan Dance Company and teaching Ballroom at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in New York City.

Her career eventually brought her to Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine, Rhythm World Champion, renowned dance coach, Ballroom judge, and industry leader. Working under his mentorship significantly expanded her approach to dance instruction, coaching, discipline, and performance. She developed a particular interest in helping dancers understand movement not simply as technique, but as communication between two people.

Today, Ivana combines her background in dance, psychology, choreography, and teaching with her role as Manager of a Midtown Manhattan dance studio. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the studio while continuing to teach and work with dancers.

Her approach is grounded in the belief that partner dancing is a conversation—one that requires awareness, timing, physical intelligence, trust, and the ability to respond to another person in real time.

Through teaching and studio management, Ivana continues to focus on creating an environment where people can develop confidence, discipline, physical awareness, and a deeper understanding of movement.

My achievements

~ BA in Dance and Psychology from Sarah Lawrence College in Westchester, NY
~ 200 hr Yoga Teaching Certification from the Abhyasa Yoga Center in Brooklyn, NY, specializing in Yoga Therapy
~ 15 years of experience in learning from the best in Ballet Floor Barre, Pure Barre, Physique 57 and Pilates
~ 20 years of experience in dance performance

Aside from teaching dance and yoga (and dance fitness), I also manage a small dance shop in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn ~ Grand Prix ~ All for Dance.

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Why me?

My approach is holistic, where I teach the person first and a dancer second and professional, where I patiently help create the dancer one wishes to become. You can be prepared to be challenged but also discover a passion you never knew you had. Whether you are coming in for only a few lessons or you find that this might be a hobby you would like to pursue, I will support your dance experience with great enthusiasm.

Topnotch instruction

I am a professional Latin and Ballroom dancer with extensive dance teaching experience, including several years in some of the most prestigious Ballroom dance studios such as Arthur Murray, Fred Astaire etc.

Best rates in Manhattan

Independently owned (for classes, I rent out space in Midtown Manhattan as well as Brooklyn, all rates included in the price of the lesson).

Personalized attention

I take a very personal approach to my lessons. I don't have a cookie-cutter approach to my teaching — I design a very specific program for each student. Your happiness and satisfaction is vitally important to me.

Q & A

In my own words

A few questions I get asked most often — how I work, where I trained and who I teach.

Every person is different and has their unique way of learning so my approach is adaptable to the client's needs. I try to learn as much as I can, about the person I am working with, their goals and aspirations. Whether their vision is short-term or long-term, I build a lesson plan that best suits their individual needs and will help them reach their potential.

I have a passion for dance and movement and passion should be shared. I believe that helping individuals develop physical, mental and emotional skills either through partner dancing, yoga or dance fitness programs can change their lives. I am intuitive and patient and can anticipate my client's needs. My dance background is extensive: I was Ballet trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, England and I have a BA in Dance and Psychology from Sarah Lawrence College. I also have a 200 hr Yoga Teaching Certification from the Abhyasa Yoga Center in Brooklyn, NY, specializing in Yoga Therapy.

I have worked with children, single men who wanted to learn how to dance with anyone, couples as well as wedding couples, homosexual couples and single women. I have also worked with perfectly healthy individuals as well as some with difficult health conditions such as cancer and muscle atrophy.

The most important thing is to understand what kind of a dance experience you would like to have and what your goals are.