Today we’d like to introduce you to Shorena Gachechiladze.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shorena. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My husband Gocha and I are originally from Georgia former USSR, our journey as competitive ballroom dancers started at a very young age. By the age of 5 years old we had dedicated countless miles to the dance floor. It was not until 7 years later that we would come together as partners and the rest is history. In Georgia, we were known as the dance power couple. Our chemistry, energy, and charisma on the dance floor was and still is something that spectators talk about. In Georgia, we claimed the title of seven-time Latin Standard and TEN Dance Undefeated Champions. Due to political changes in Georgia, the arts took a turn for the worst. There would be no more talk of ballroom dancing or any other type of creative path. Leaving everything behind we moved from Georgia to the United States to pursue our craft. Within a few years of our arrival and countless hours back on the dance floor, we were the first “rookie” couple in history to ever place in the top three in a national professional competition. Our career as competitive Ballroom Dancers took off in the Unites States. We were honored to represent the United States in the Dancesport World Championships. Further to winning many North American Championships and competitions.
Today we are now retired from competitive dancing but travel the world as adjudicators, mentors, and head judges to many prestige ballroom dance competitions. Gocha had the opportunity co-produce Dancing with the Stars Georgia for six seasons and serve as head judge while I premiered as a special guest in semi-finals. In the U.S. we were part of a Ballroom Bootcamp series that was premiered on TLC.
Our overflowing love for our craft motivated us to open our very own Studio. One that embodied not only our creativity but one that would spark creativity in others. In 2008, we opened Gocha Shorena Center of Ballroom Dance in Dallas Texas. The dance studio is known for the quality of instruction.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We encountered many obstacles along the way. The most prominent were the fact that we did not understand one word of English nor could we communicate it. None the less, we were too optimistic to let such a thing get in the way of our passion for dance. As young adults of 18 and 19 making it on your own is tough enough, add a language bearer and no friends or family, to say it was tough would be an understatement. Yet dance kept our focus and our motivation alive. We took any opportunity that crossed us to make ends meet and to pursue our passions.
Eventually, we were offered a job at a dance studio working 7 days a week 12 – 16 hours a day with minimal pay. Looking back at it today, it was all worth it, just a pebble in our path. For the hardships are what sculpted us into who we are today.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Gocha Shorena Center of Ballroom Dance is more than a ballroom dance studio. It is an oasis of creativity where we strive to stimulate confidence and self-expression in our students. Our studio welcomes dancers from all walks of life with little to no experience. We understand the power dance has to transform lives and we continually nurture our students in becoming the best that they can be, on and off the dance floor. Seeing our students transform into great dancers and happy healthy people is what makes us proud. The quality of dance equals quality of life in our book. We hope to see you on the dance floor.
What were you like growing up?
The love for dance came naturally to me at a very young age. Self-expression was magical to me and I could never get enough. I would choose dance over any and all social activities. Dance gave me great discipline and focus and opened my eyes to fashion and travel which are still my passions today.
Pricing:
- GS Ballroom Introduction Package – 4 Private Lessons for $295
Contact Info:
- Address: Gocha Shorena Center of Ballroom Dance
2507 Knight Street Dallas, TX 75219 - Website: gsballroomdance.com
- Phone: 214 526 9100
- Email: gsballroomdance@gmail.com
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