Alec Lazo -
Owner |
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Alec Lazo is a unique Ballroom Dance-Sport professional whose career has spanned over thirty years of performing, coaching, and instructing competitive Dance-Sport. His first competitive highpoint came when he became the US Rising Star Latin Champion in 1990 and continued through 20+ years on the Dance-Sport circuit, establishing himself as a top level exponent of professional Dance-Sport. In addition, Alec competed in the American Smooth and Rhythm divisions of the US Championships and became the US Nine-Dance Champion.
Alec has captured several titles in many Dance-Sport styles and has appeared numerous times in television and theater in various capacities. He travels across the United States judging competitions, lecturing, coaching, consulting, and performing. Alec has also successfully transitioned into the world of broadcast media as a spokesperson, guest host, and artist. He hosted several national PBS specials including “WXEL Presents,” “Tango: The Spirit of Argentina,” and “Fiesta at the Philharmonic.”
Alec is happy to be back where his career started: on the beautiful island of Palm Beach as the owner and managing director of the grand and majestic Paramount Ballroom. Alec’s passion for teaching youth led him to found the Paramount Ballroom collegiate team , where he teaches college students how to dance like the stars and gives them the opportunity to engage in real Dance-Sport competition.
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Titles: U.S. International Rising Star Latin Champion, U.S. Nine-Dance Champion, U.S. Grand Finalist, U.S. Rhythm Finalist, Seven U.S. Latin Top Ten Finishes, Ohio Star Ball Latin Rising Star Champion, Texas Challenge Rising Star Grand Champion, Heritage Classic Rising Star Latin Champion, Sunshine State Rhythm and Smooth Champion, Grand National Rhythm and Smooth Champion, Northwest Star Ball Rhythm and Smooth Champion, Northwest Star Ball Nine-Dance Champion, Southern States Open Rhythm Champion, Top Teacher: Dance Heat U.S.A. 2009, etc.
Credentials:
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.Fellow: NADTA
Licentiate: ISTD
Dual Master Examiner: World Professional Dance Teachers Asc,
Examiner: International Dancers
Association (DIVDA),
Registered Adjudicator N.D.C.A.: A+B+C+,
Registered Championship Adjudicator, N.D.C.A.
| Janelle Figueroa-
Instructor/ Receptionist
|  | | | | Ross Parris-
Instructor  | Ross Parris is a man of many arts who has dedicated his time to singing, acting, and
dancing his way into the world of musical theater and ballroom dance.
His deep rooted passion for performing has led him to the stage and
dance floor with productions such as Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Annie,
and the Pajama Game.
As a dance instructor Ross's passion is for teaching beginners and wedding couples and sharing the wonderful gift of ballroom with his students and friends.
He as enjoyed being part of Paramount
Ballroom's cast of dance instructors as an intern for the past year, and cannot wait to see what's in store for him as he continues to pursue his dream. | |
| Benjamin Castellano - Instructor |
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| Benjamin is an advanced dance instructor and trainer of teachers. He and his wife Stephanie compete professionally in the American Rhythm style. Benjamin started dancing in 1998 and became the IDO World Swing Dance Champion in November of 2000. In that same year Ben started his ballroom career and was mentored by US Nine-Dance Champion Alec Lazo. Since then Ben has become a successful competitor in the Pro and Pro/Am categories, as well as winning many national awards. Benjamin is also a life long student of the martial arts and has been teaching since he was fourteen. Benjamin loves to teach people how to move and control their body and give them the confidence that goes with it. Paramount Ballroom is proud to offer him in our lineup of teachers. Benjamin is certified and a member of the NDCA. |
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Titles: Sunshine State Open Rhythm Champion, Yankee Classic Rising Star Rhythm Champion, Grand Nationals, Millennium, Florida State and Wisconsin Open Rhythm Finalist, Semi-finalist of the United States Rising Star Rhythm, Pro/Am Silver Medalist in Argentina at the World Pro/Am Ladies A Championships, United States Dance-Sport Championships Finalist in Ladies A Rhythm, and Ohio Star Ball Nine-Dance Rising Star Finalist. |
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Greg Kranz-
Instructor/Manager |
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| Greg was taken to his first dance studio in Georgia (formerly U.S.S.R.) at the age of 7. He danced in Georgia until the age of 12 when he then moved to Russia to further his dance training. Greg achieved high success in International Standard and Latin. He then took his passion of dance to Germany where he earned the classification of Vice-National Master in 10 Dance Category. He has also won many championships, as well as being named to Team Germany. Greg also brings with him a high standard of Salsa and Argentine Tango. He is excited to be in the United States to pass along his great knowledge of dancing. "I am honored to have the opportunity to work here, with all its talented instructors and students, and to pass on all that I have learned!" |
| Alexander Lazo - Instructor |
 
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Alexander Lazo is a native to South Florida and part of a dancing dynasty. He has been a part of the ballroom dance world since early childhood by virtue of his parents. In 2009, Alexander graduated from the Paramount Dance Teacher’s College and began his professional teaching career. He specializes in beginners, wedding couples, and collegiate Dance-Sport instruction. He has won first place in Goldcoast Ballroom American Rhythm Full Bronze, and the St. Petersburg Classic Intermediate-Bronze competitions, as well as at the Majestic Dance-Sport Competition in Delray Beach, Florida. |
Sarah Dias - Instructor/
Receptionist |
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Sarah
has always had a love for all kinds of dance, training in ballet, jazz,
and modern. Her passion for ballroom began when she took her first
lesson at 15. She has been a part of the Paramount Ballroom collegiate
team for the last 2 years, learning and growing through rigorous
practice and competition. She became a Paramount student intern in the
summer of 2011 while studying to obtain her DIVIDA teacher's license.
She has competed in
various competitions across the state, winning the overall Top Youth
title in the Majestic Dance-Sport Competition in Delray Beach, Florida.
She also won first place in the Goldcoast Ballroom's American Rhythm
Full Bronze division, along with 1st place titles in tango, east coast
swing, rumba, cha cha, waltz, foxtrot and hustle in the Orlando Ballroom
Blitz and St. Petersburg Classic. |
Elizabeth DeMarco - Instructor/
Receptionist
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Elizabeth
has studied ballet, jazz, and tap at Palm Beach Atlantic and Steps
Broadway Dance. While she is passionate about theatre she has always
loved and had a desire to learn ballroom dancing. She has been dancing
at Paramount for the last year, loved every minute of it, and can’t wait
to learn more. She competed with the Palm Beach Atlantic Ballroom Dance
Team at the St. Petersburg Classic and placed first in Intermediate
Bronze Swing, Rumba, and Hustle.
Jeremiah Dias - Webmaster/
Videographer |
Jeremiah Dias is our webmaster/videographer and is partially responsible for keeping our internet resources up to date. Jeremiah is a professional filmmaker with plenteous experience in the world of entertainment, media, and electronics.
Jeremiah has worked on various sets in film/video and concert events, and has won several awards including a Gold AVA award for cinematography. He has shot live concert videos and promos for music artists such as Tenth Avenue North, Shaun Groves, and Shawn McDonald. He is also a certified AVID editor who has won numerous honors for his series of YouTube sketches.
As a student of the Paramount Ballroom, he has learned to dance at the level of Intermediate Bronze and has won awards at several competitions including first in swing, hustle, and waltz at the St. Petersburg Classic. | |
