Suzanna Persa

Cofounder of DanceWorks, Suzanna started her dancing career as a small child doing Polka and Waltz with her parents. She then danced with a Romanian troupe for a short period of time.

Suzanna is certified as a Silver instructor and has been teaching for over 15 years. After being put on a waiting list to go to nursing school she answered an ad to teach dance at Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Milwaukee, WI. After taking third place in her first national competition she decided this was what she wanted. For the next ten years she taught and danced Pro/Am competitions with her students. During this time she competed professionally and was a National Champion as well as holding regional and Canadian titles. She also held Top Teacher nationally and top in customer service regionally. Though many of her students took first places, the most rewarding times were when her students accomplished something they thought they couldn't.

She has danced in many performances doing show tunes as well as doing choreography for many routines. Her recent choreography credits include Tango Specialist in the play "Victor Victorio" performed at the Second Story Repertory. She and Scott Franklin also finished working on an in-house video for Microsoft called "Windows of Choice" a spoof of Fat Boy Slim's "Weapon of Choice". She also performed in an independent film called "Capistrano" doing a salsa dance scene.

She especially enjoys Salsa and W.C. Swing, whether dancing socially or participating in workshops herself.

"Dancing has given me the opportunity to meet people I might never had a chance to. I have grown by every encounter of each student and feel blessed to have known each and every one of them. I've always known that dancing can be a great stress reliever but until recently I had not appreciated how dancing can alter your mood. I am so thankful I have my dancing."