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Benji Smith began teaching ballroom and Latin dancing while in College at UNC-Wilmington .
Always with Fred Astaire Dance Studios, he has taught ballroom dancing in Asheville,
Greensboro, and Wilmington, NC. In 1991, he came to Memphis in a
make-or-break career move. In his first few days, he realized he would
be a successful dance instructor in Memphis. With hard work and dedication, Benji became
the top dance teacher and, with his wife Beth, a top ballroom dance competitor. He has also
taken many students to various dance competitions; teaching even
brand new students how to be top performers.
Always looking to the future, Benji strived to learn
every detail of the dance studio business, so that one day he would have his
own. August of 2000 the doors opened for DanceSmiths' Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Working on his own dancing and
teaching, he has received his teaching certification in Bronze, Silver,
and Gold American Style dancing, including an Associate level
Professional diploma.
In business he has received many Top Teacher honors: Most
lessons taught, most guests (referrals), and most lesson sales. None of
which would have been possible without the training of Fred Astaire
Dance Studios, and by gaining the trust and respect of his
dance students.
Beth Smith began dancing at age 5 in
Crown Point, Indiana. After moving to Memphis in the fourth grade she
continued to dance through out her child hood, taking lessons at
Patricia Williams School of Dance. Beth began doing Country Western
dancing in 1990, focusing mainly on line dancing. She was first
introduced to ballroom and Latin dancing when her mother invited her to
a Guest Party at Fred Astaire Dance Studio. She began taking ballroom lessons,
then finally decided that ballroom dance would be a career choice. She had two
very different options in mind: 1. Teach at Fred Astaire Dance Studio
or 2. become a dancer for Disney in Orlando. Luckily for us all, ballroom won and Disney
did not get her.
Beth worked furiously at getting her teaching
credentials in order, completing the Fred Astaire American Style
Syllabus in only 2 years. She also holds an Associate level
Professional Diploma. It was during that time that she began competing
professionally in ballroom dancing with Benji.
In 1999 and 2000 Beth became the only teacher in the entire Fred
Astaire Dance Studio organization to be the Top Guest Getter (most referrals) in 5
consecutive quarters! An amazing feat, that will likely never be topped. Beth has also achieved Top
Teacher awards for lesson sales, a key indicator of student
satisfaction. She is the key trainer for new instructors at Dancesmiths' Fred Astaire Dance Studio.
In addition to her dance credentials, Beth has a B.S.
in Nutrition and Food Science( From the University of Tennessee), as well as a Masters Degree in Fitness
and Wellness from Memphis State.
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