Team M


Monica Serpa
Owner & CEO

Specialties: Building supportive communities, managing beautiful studios, and hosting fun events.

Monica began social dancing as a child in her home country Brazil. After moving to the United States in 2011, she began competing in Ballroom Dance. Her years of competition taught her the many benefits of dance and fitness. Quick to smile and with a passion for dance, Monica's dream has always been to build the premier dance facility in Silicon Valley. When the opportunity came to open a studio of her own, she seized the chance to share her love of dance with an extended family. And so, Studio M Ballroom Club was born. Welcome and let’s dance!

Artem Shmigeljuk
Latin International Director I Instructor

Specialties: International Latin, American Rhythm, Standard Ballroom, Smooth Ballroom, and Kids Ballroom

Artem Shmigeljuk started dancing at the age of seven and won a number of competitions in his home country Estonia. In the United States, he was a finalist in many amateur and professional dance championships. Artem has coached many Pro-Am students and takes pride in their success. He is a dedicated instructor whose teaching techniques and creative choreographies bring out the best in his students. Artem teaches Intl Latin, American Rhythm, and Kids Ballroom, as well as private lessons.

Stefano Di Brino
Ballroom Director | Instructor

Specialties: International Ballroom, and Peabody

Stefano Di Brino, born in Italy, started dancing at the age of 5 in a style called Italian Smooth.  He transitioned into Ballroom at the age of 11 and trained under one of the most renowned studios in Milan, “Danze Milano”. Numerous times he achieved the title of Italian National Champion in the junior, juvenile and youth divisions. Once Stefano finished his studies, he moved from Milan to Livorno, where he trained for 10 years with 9x World Champion, Mirko Gozzoli. He went on to become the Italian Amateur Ballroom Vice-Champion and a finalist in the European Championships. In 2014, Stefano moved to the United States and turned professional. He has since become a finalist in all major Open Professional events and champion of many Professional RS events. With his partner, Bianka Zubrowska, they became the U.S National Professional Rising Star and U.S. Professional Ballroom RS Open to the World Champions, Blackpool International and UK professional Rising Star finalists as well as 5 times undefeated world Peabody champions. Stefano then joined Studio M Ballroom where he teaches International Ballroom and Peabody.

Bianka Di Brino
Ballroom CO-Director | Instructor

Specialties: International Ballroom, International Latin, and Peabody

Bianka Żubrowska was born in Krakow, where she began dancing at the age of 5. After 6 years in ballet school, “Social Ballet School Music Association”, she started ballroom dancing in the dance sport club “TK”. After 3 years of training she obtained the highest international class “S” in Latin American style. In 2007 she went to Austria where she was the 4x undefeated Austrian 10 Dance Champion, Austrian Ballroom Champion and Vice Champion in Latin American dances, and represented Austria in World and European Championships and World and European Cups. In 2011 she took part in the Polish version of “Dancing with the Stars”. In 2012 after winning 2nd place in Polish Championships in Ballroom she went to Italy to continue her dance study with the 9 times World Champion Mirko Gozzoli. There, she met her partner Stefano Di Brino with whom she won the title of 2nd vice Champion of Italy. Upon moving to the USA in 2014, they started a professional career. Since then, they have become US Professional  Ballroom Rising Star champions, and Open finalists. Abroad, they became UK, Blackpool, International Professional Ballroom Rising Star finalists. Bianka and Stefano are also the current 5 times undefeated world professional Peabody champions. Bianka then joined Studio M Ballroom where she teaches International Ballroom, International Latin and Peabody.

Alexia Galaxia
Marketing | Instructor

Specialties: Brazilian Zouk, Samba de Gafieira, Forró, Bolero, and Soltinho

Alexia, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, started dancing in 2009 at 14 years old. She learned all five Brazilian styles of partner dancing at Jaime Arôxa Dance School, where she joined the teacher program in 2015. She then moved to the US in 2019 and started hosting Zouk events and teaching Brazilian dances to the Bay Area dance community. She has taught at SFSBK Congress, as well as multiple Brazilian Zouk Weekenders.

Ngoc Huynh
Instructor

Specialties: Bachata Fusion, Latin Heels and Contemporary

Ngoc Huynh grew up in the United States and started dancing in high school. In 2013 she started training in heels, contemporary, pole fitness and bachata. She trained under various Bachata instructors before she started competing in 2018 and teaching in 2020. She placed 1st in the Bachata Amatuer Couple Caberet Division at the World Latin Dance Cup in 2019.

Evgenia Florinskaia
Instructor

Specialties: International Latin

Evgenia started her dance career in her hometown of Saint-Petersburg, Russia at the age of 8. She graduated from the State University of Physical Education, Sports and Health in 2019, where she earned a Master's degree in Sports and became a Ballroom Dance teacher. She has been teaching International Latin since 2012. Evgenia has become a finalist and won many competitions, including Junior, Youth and Adult Champion of St. Petersburg, finalist of the Russian Youth Championship, Champion of Russia in youth U21, and Finalist of the World Youth Championship U21. With her current partner Vladimir, they became California 2018 and 2019 Amateur Latin Champion, and USA Dance WDSF National Champion in Amateur Latin. They moved to the Bay Area in summer 2020 with the aim to spread the art of Ballroom Dancing to American culture, exposing the beauty and athleticism that DanceSport offers to children and adults of all ages. They believe that everybody can dance, and they joined Studio M with the mission to help people find strengh and beauty in themselves.

Vlad
Instructor

Specialties: International Latin

Born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, Vlad started dancing at early age. He has been teaching International Latin since 2012. With his current partner Evgenia, they became California 2018 and 2019 Amateur Latin Champion, and USA Dance WDSF National Champion in Amateur Latin. They moved to the Bay Area in summer 2020 with the aim to spread the art of Ballroom Dancing to American culture, exposing the beauty and athleticism that DanceSport offers to children and adults of all ages. They believe that everybody can dance, and they joined Studio M with the mission to help people find strengh and beauty in themselves.

Bumchin Tegshjargal
Instructor

Specialties: International Latin

Born in Mongolia, Bumchin Tegshjargal moved to Oakland, California in 2010 where he started ballroom dancing. His dance journey led Bumchin to becoming a 3-Time US National Champion, 2-Time US National Vice Champion, 2-Time World Semi-finalist, and winner of many major championships worldwide in Latin American ballroom dancing. As a teacher and mentor he prioritizes the importance of musicality and individuality in a dancer's development, while still placing a strong focus on the fundamentals and mechanics needed to ensure a strong base. Bumchin enjoys working with dancers of all ages and skill-levels and truly believes that anyone with a desire to move to the beat can learn to be a great dancer. Today, Bumchin continues to actively train, teach, and travel for competitions and believes that with the right mindset one can achieve anything they set their mind to. Together with his partner Michelle, they hold 3 National titles, 2 Vice-Champion National titles and are currently one of the top-ranked couples in the US in Adult latin.

Michelle Klets
Instructor

Specialties: International Latin

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Michelle started her ballroom dancing journey at 4 years old, and intense competitive training around 10. Michelle trained and competed in both International Latin and Standard Ballroom, but she chose Latin as her specialty due to its high-energy and individualistic styling where she feels she can truly shine. She now holds 4 US National Champion titles, 2 US National Vice Champion titles, is a 2-Time World Semi-finalist, and winner of many major championships worldwide in Latin American ballroom dancing. Michelle enjoys coaching students of various levels and ages, but especially loves being a part of a student’s very first steps into the ballroom world. Michelle continues to actively train and travel for competitions. Together with her partner Bumchin, they hold 3 National titles, 2 Vice-Champion National titles and are currently one of the top-ranked couples in the US in Adult latin. She believes that anyone with the drive to succeed can do it being undeniably themselves.

Stephen Ward
Instructor

Specialties: Hustle and Cali Mix

Stephen Ward, born in Vietnam and later moved to the United States, started dancing at the age of 13 in 1984 with Breakdancing and Freestyle. In 1991, he learned Country Western, Line Dancing, and West Coast Swing from Jay Byam & Tyoni Busch in Bakersfield, CA. In 1996, he learned Hustle from Raul “Big Daddy” Ante & Bobby Concepcion in the SF Bay Area and started competing and teaching Hustle in 1997. Over time, he learned Salsa, Social Ballroom, Classical Ballet, Argentine Tango, and also added lifts & drops into his dancing repertoire. A highly-talented dancer and instructor with a diverse background, Stephen is a devoted Hustle dancer and is wholly dedicated toward the preservation, promotion & growth of Hustle dancing in the SF Bay Area.

Whitney James-Heskett
Instructor

Specialties: Bachata, Salsa, American Rhythm, Nightclub Two-Step, Social Ballroom

Whitney is an avid dancer and choreographer born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA. She has over 25 years of dance and performance experience in many styles including Ballet, Musical Theater, American Rhythm, and social dance styles. As a teacher, Whitney is very good at seeing exactly what students need to do to improve their movement and articulating those things in a way even students with no dance background can understand. One of Whitney’s greatest joys is sparking a love for dance in her students and watching them improve.