Carrie Babcock, co-owner with Kostadin, has been with the Fred Astaire Organization since 1997.   Carrie began dancing tap, jazz, ballet and musical theater at the age of ten, and choreographing for adult and children's community theater at 14.   She holds a B.S. in Dance from S.U.N.Y. Brockport. Carrie is a 2006 United States Grand Finalist, 2006 Professional World American Smooth Finalist is the 2005 United States Open Professional Theatrical Ballroom Champion, a 2005 World American Smooth Finalist, the 2004 United States Open Professional Theatrical Ballroom Champion, the 2002 United States Open Professional Theatrical Ballroom Champion, the 2002 United States Rising Star Professional Theatrical Ballroom Champion, and the 2002 United States Rising Star American Ballroom Champion. They are also the undefeated Fred Astaire Dance Studios Undefeated American Smooth Champions 2001-2005. Kostadin Bidjourov, co-owner,  graduated from Montclair State with a B.S. in Economics.  Kostadin has been award top teacher in Upper Montclair and the state of NJ at least six out of the eight years he's been with the company. Kostadin, together with Carrie,  is  a 2006 U.S. Grand Finalist, 2006 Professional World American Smooth Finalist,   2005 U.S. Open Professional Theatrical Ballroom Champion, a 2005 World American Smooth Finalist, the 2004 United States Open Professional Theatrical Ballroom Champion, the 2002 United States Open Professional Theatrical Ballroom Champion, the 2002 United States Rising Star Professional Theatrical Ballroom Champion, and the 2002 United States Rising Star American Ballroom Champion. They are also the undefeated Fred Astaire Dance Studios Undefeated American Smooth Champions 2001-2005. Kostadin has also won the following pro-am titles: Blackpool Dance Festival American Smooth Champion(Marika), Heritage Classic Scholarship and Championships, ladies a (Katie Karpf, 2006, smooth and standard) Ladies c (2006, Charlotte Carey, standard) and ladies b (2005, Marika). He also holds the United States Pro-Am Theatrical Championship title for ladies b with Deborah (Gina) Gianelli.   With Michelle Officer, Kostadin was 4th in the 2007 US Professional Smooth. He is also a Bulgarian National Kayaking Champion.  Jay Brancato - our manager, has been on staff at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Upper Montclair for the past six years.  In that time he has completed more levels of professional examination than any other teacher, competed professionally in American Smooth, won Top Teacher honors at competitions, and was awarded NJ's Top Teacher for 2007.  He is dedicated to providing the best quality instruction possible to all of his students regardless of skill level or age and works to ensure that the Upper Montclair Studio maintains it's stature as the finest dance studio in the state of New Jersey. In addition to his extensive ballroom experience, Jay came to  the Fred Astaire  Dance Studio from the College of New Jersey where he majored in Vocal Music. An accomplished actor, singer and dancer, Jay has been invited to sing live for the entire Fred Astaire Organization, and his accomplishments as a stage performer contribute to his student's success in showmanship, emotion and expression.    Vesko Matakov was inspired to dance in 1988 after viewing the hit movie, Dirty Dancing, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey and he’s been dancing ever since! Even while earning a degree in Economics and Management at Plovdiv University, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Vesko was a dance instructor at several Bulgarian Dance Sport Clubs, including “Bourgas 75” and “Alex.” Vesko has been an extremely successful dancer, in International Latin and International Standard, and under the tutelage of such coaches as: Louka Apostolov, Andrei  Todorov, and Ekaterina Lapaeva, he has achieved the highest level in Dance Sport, level “S.” In addition to his many titles, Vesko is the winner of the 1997 European Dance Sport Cup and the 2004 European Dance Sport Cup held in Paris, France. He has also won the IDSF Athens Cup in Athens, Greece in 2008. Vesko is very excited to be continuing his dance career here in the United States and to be part of the Fred Astaire teaching staff. Ly Nguyen graduated from the London School of Commerce, in England, with an MSC. Instead of pursuing a career in the field of science, Ly decided to follow her dream of becoming an excellent Ballroom dance instructor. Under the masterful hand of Jullian Cook, one of the top UK professional ballroom dance coaches, Ly was an extremely successful Ballroom dancer, competing for London University’s Dancesport Team from 2004 to 2006. During this time, Ly was an extremely successful dancer, winning the coveted title of “Champion” in International Standard and finishing third in the 2006 International Latin division of the UK Intervarsity Dancesport Championship. Ly was also one of the finalists in the Intermediate Ballroom and Latin divisions in the United Kingdom’s Stars of the Future 2006 Dancesport Championship. When she returned to her native country of Vietnam, Ly continued her career as a ballroom dancer by teaching and coaching the Vietnam Dancesport Team and giving instruction to children and adults. She currently holds the title of Vietnam National Runner-Up Ballroom Champion. Ly decided to move to the United States in order to pursue her study of dance and won the Pro-Am International Latin Division in the Kings Ball Dancesport Championship in 2007. She also teaches Ballroom dancing to senior citizens at various senior centers in Manhattan. Ly is very grateful to join the Fred Astaire Dance Studio’s teaching staff, where she hopes to be extremely successful as both a teacher and as a competitive dancer. Andrea Mariscal Andrea joined the Fred Astaire team back in 2005 when she was a student with us.  She interned with us during her senior project, working as a receptionist and studying a Bronze Honors Program, which is a teacher training program.  After High school, Andrea took her teacher certification exams and became  a teacher with us.  She then ventured off to California to explore the wild wild West.  Andrea is back!  Her warmth, charisma and enthusiasm for dance, as well as her excellent training and raw talent make a perfect combination for a dance teacher, and we're thrilled that she's returned to us! Kelley Blessing As a front desk manager, who could ask for anything more! Kelley has been a student of Fred Astaire since high school, graduated from Drew with a dual major in theater and dance, and is the best front desk manager we could ask for!  She's recently been accepted to the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies to study movement theory, and will graduate in May with a Masters Degree in Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis!  Kudos Kelley, and welcome aboard!

Fred Astaire Upper Montclair Ballroom Dance Studio
604 Valley Road
Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043
(973) 783-8999