Our Staff

Mike Kelley

Mike has been a popular DJ for 18 years. He lives in the Maryland area, but travels for Country and Ballroom events. He is also an excellent competitive dancer with the UCWDC, and is a three time World Champion.

Sam & Denise Miller

We are movement and body energy analysts. We teach partnering through energy and physical connections. Creating efficiency of desired movement by means of energy, body isolation, and imagery. Through action- reaction, we create the motivation which is translated into desire which creates harmony within a partnership.

Connie Baker

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Connie graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in 1992 and an M.S. in ‘94. From 1994 through 1999, she was head athletic trainer for John Burroughs School in St. Louis. After moving to Nashville, Connie met Danny and Charlene at Dance Connection where she began studying – and then teaching – ballroom dance. In 2001, she also became a licensed massage therapist through Cumberland Massage School.

After helping Danny and Charlene build the original Dance World, she has had the honor of both teaching dance and doing massage therapy full-time at the studio. Connie’s understanding of the human body and the way it moves is helpful in explaining to students the concept of movement through dance.

Over the last 10 years, Connie has been involved with many dance camps and dance competitions, and has taught on five different cruises (the last three with Mary Etta and Dale). “I have been so blessed that I can’t say thank you enough to Danny, Charlene, Mary Etta, and Dale for the opportunity to work Dance Escape.”

Danny Baye

Born and raised in New Orleans, Danny’s dance career started in 1985 at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Moving to Nashville in 1987, he taught for a while before going on to own and partner in two studios. In 2002, he and his wife opened Dance World, one of the largest teaching facilities in the Southeast.

Danny teaches almost all styles of partner dancing, including ballroom (both American and International), Latin, swing, and country. He also covers the full spectrum of instruction, i.e. group classes, social dancing, and competition level.

Being seen by many people as ‘Mr. Personality’, one of Danny’s biggest assets is that he has the ability to make anyone feel comfortable in the learning process, whether they’re a newcomer or an advanced student.

Mary Etta O’Day

Mary Etta has been teaching dance for 20 years. Early in her career, she focused on Country Western, and was in many competitions nationwide through the United Country Western Dance Council. She won many titles before reaching a World National Title and then retired from the competition circle. She still travels when possible, and teaches workshops at various events.

She became very interested in West Coast Swing, and was one of a few people in Nashville that started a West Coast Swing Club that she was president of for several years. She became teacher certified for West Coast Swing through Skippy Blair, and still considers it a favorite dance for her.

One of her ventures is a dance cruise business that she shares with her partner, Dale Kehrer.  Seadancer cruises is in it’s 4th year of providing an annual dance cruise with professional instructors teaching many hours of workshops while enjoying a leisurely vacation at sea. Please go to Seadancercruises.com for more info.
Mary Etta teaches full time at Dance World Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.  She has had extensive training in ballroom and is now qualified to teach Country, Swing, and Ballroom.

She is very excited about Dance Escape Week, and is looking forward to seeing her extended dance family again.