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SILKE HELEINE
"You can dance"
Latin Ballroom Dance Instructor
Choreographer and Performer
Reach your highest dancing potential
in a personally enriching environment. Silke's private students
have often commented that her nurturing way of teaching allows
them to reach levels of dancing proficiency they never would
have imagined possible.
Silke is a well-known International Style Latin dancer, trained in the
European tradition in both Germany and England. Examples of her
accomplishments include the 1998 Southwest Regional, San Francisco
Open and California Professional International Latin Rising Star
Championship and the 1998 International Grand Ball Professional
Open International Latin Championship.
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Silke
Heleine
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How it all begun
In my very early childhood I kept improvising different dances until my parents finally signed me up for some instructed Jazz Dance classes at age 8 .
As a Teenager I studied with some Musical Schools in Germany, where I was born and raised.
Unfortunately those schools all closed down after a while which lead me into my new direction for life: Latin Dancing.
My biggest inspiration at that time was the movie "Dirty Dancing" And "Salsa".
After a few Mambo and Salsa competitions, spotted by a Professional, I joined a Ballroom Dance Club and found an amateur dance partner.
We practiced hard, 6-7 days a week and within a year, we had danced ourselves to the highest rank in Germany and entered competitions nationwide as well as in the UK.
This partnership ended in 1996 due to different goals and I was left hungry for more.
Professional Dancing
I decided to take it all the way and scouted for a new partner.
My coach, Nadia Eftedal from the US connected me with Tytus Bergstrom from California who was as ambitious as me to fulfill our highest dance potential.
Within 2 weeks after meeting with him I moved from Germany to California, left all my family, friends and school/work to live my dream and DANCE.
Tytus and I won several competitions in the US.
One of my most exciting experiences was being invited to attend a televised competition in Taiwan and achieving the semi-final in one of the biggest competitions in the world in the UK.
Unfortunately Tytus had a severe knee insury which set us back for one whole year.
We seemed to be unable to advance our career after that year of abstinence from competitions and I decided to dance with a guy from Russia in 2001, Alex Kovalev Harnicholas.
Alex and I only competed within the US and had some great placements in finals with increasingly tougher competition.
The level of Ballroom Dancing had definitely reached its peak in the US and we were faced with making a decision about moving closer to our coach in LA or enjoy dancing at a more casual level, sticking to show performances.
In December of 2004 Alex and I mutually ended our business partnership due to a loss of interest in dancing on his side.
He discovered his next passion and moved to France to get into the business of selling Antiques.
Until today we remain great friends and I am thankful for the wonderful dance experiences we've shared.
I am very gratefulhaving had him as a partner and friend.
Retired from Professional competition
In 2003 I've decided to retire from competition to dedicate my skills and creativity fully to performing, choreography and teaching.
Showtime
As much as a dancer ever will be able to settle down, I could not imagine my life without it.
I kept teaching and rehearsing for shows on big stages, like the SJ center of performing arts and the Dean Lesher Regional center for the Arts in walnut Creek.
I am now very happy to dance with my new partner HEINTJE SOREANO.
We have many shows lined up to come!
With the competitive pressure off,
dancing has never felt better to me.
To dance from my heart and truly inviting my audience to enjoy what I've worked and lived for all my life!
Check my updates for future events and keep on dancing!
Other studies
-Salsa, Merengue, Mambo
-Hip Hop
-Belly Dance
-Sensual Dance (modern Burlesque)
(former training in Jazz, Musical Dance, minor Ballet, Tap, Flamenco)
Other physical activities:
-wakeboarding
-cardio kickboxing
-rock climbing
-rollerblading
-Yoga
Why do I dance?
Something just takes over when I dance and I feel most alive and in the moment.
I love music and expressing the sound with movement.
It reminds me what joy is and why I was born.
It is my greatest passion and what I live for with all my heart.
Why do I teach?
It gives me great happiness to be able to inspire people and show them what they are able to accomplish, often beyond their own beliefs.
To watch them transform to become the best dancer they can be is the most rewarding gift to me.
I have helped people to overcome depression, low self esteem issues and helped them to find joy through dance.
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