Michael Scott - Owner/ Founder/ Master Instructor
Michael discovered his love of dance as an adult. He had no dance experience before discovering ballroom at the age of twenty-two. Excelling as a student he was quickly invited into the training program to become a teacher at The Ballroom Dance Center in Augusta, GA.
Since founding Strictly Ballroom Dance Studio in 2002, he has competed as a Professional on a national stage and trained the worlds top competing amateurs, all while providing locals with the best possible environment for starting a dance journey.
He is a member of the Imperial Teachers of Dance and has extensively studied DVIDA, ISTD, NADTA, Arthur Murray, and Fred Astaire implementing and combining the structure of the syllabus with the fire of competition, and the enjoyment of social dancing in his studio.
His latest endeavors include advancing his dance studies for judging credentials in Competitions, expanding the local youth community, as well as the Aerial Silks program.
Michael is a multi-decade National Championship American Smooth finalist, multi-decade top teacher award winner, and Pro/Am championship and scholarship winner. He is currently competing in the Professional American Smooth category and continues to develop his dancing with world champion coaches which he also brings to the studio to develop his students.
His many achievements in the Ballroom dance community ranks his expertise and studio as one of the top in the nation.
Strictly Ballroom is also proud to be the home of Central Virginia Ballroom dance teacher college taught by Michael himself.
He enjoys coaching many successful competitive students and is thrilled to provide a friendly and inviting space for dancers of all ages and at any level.
Michael’s conviction is “If you can breathe you can dance!” He understands that everyone takes their first steps and wants to make sure it’s fun.
TeRay Bingham - Staff Instructor
TeRay is a native Virginian. At seven years old he asked to try a hip hop class from which his mother quickly removed him. She will light heartedly share with you that he was terrible.
Soon TeRay found himself falling in love with music from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. He decided to research and find out what people would dance to such music. He discovered ballroom. He was intrigued by the contrast of strength and elegance of the top gentlemen. After the hip hop experience it took him two years to convince his mother to try dance again with the requirements that he find a studio that is in the area and affordable.
At fourteen years old his search led him to Strictly Ballroom. He started with a six week beginner American Rumba session, and immediately enrolled into the host program, a youth development program offered by Michael Scott.
TeRay has since competed at amateur level in American Rhythm and Smooth, as well as completing the Dance Teacher College to become a certified teacher. He runs the kids classes as well as the host program, and teaches group lessons, private lessons, and wedding dance lessons.
Heidi Boyd - Staff Instructor
Heidi was born in Munich, Germany. She has trained in dance since she was 4 years old starting with ballet. She played sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, and ran track throughout high school; and came back to dance in her twenties studying musical theatre. Her background experience includes jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and modern.
Upon moving to California she stumbled into ballroom, fell in love with it, and went on to compete for eight years. She competed in all categories Latin, Standard, American Smooth, and American Rhythm before deciding to focus on American Smooth exclusively. She achieved ranking in the top six in the nation at the highest amateur level - Open American Smooth at the Florida State Dancesport Championships. Heidi has worked with various world champion coaches from all of the nation as well as Blackpool, England to develop her dancing.
Heidi moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, in February to live close to her family and is thrilled to bring her expertise to Strictly Ballroom and work with the many wonderful students here.
She expresses her gratitude for this opportunity - “Thank you for dancing. It is my privilege to get to dance and work with you and share my love of dance.”
Heidi’s conviction is “Dancing is just fancy walking!”
Our Host Program
As a member of the Host Program with Strictly Ballroom Dance Studio, you are an important member of our studio and act as a representative of the Studio to our guests and students and to the community at large. Kids from 12-18 can participate and then graduate to an internship.