About Werner Figar

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Werner Figar is an International Latin dancer who is 3 times Austrian Champion and has placed in the top 30 Professional International Latin dancers of the world!

Werner started as a gymnast at the age of 5, but was inspired to dance by the movie Dirty Dancing at the age of 8.  He started competing with his sister, with whom he was 3 times Austrian Champion!  When he was 18, he decided to take a break from ballroom dancing and he danced modern, ballet and jazz.  He performed in musicals all over Europe and Asia including West Side Story in Germany, then he was accepted at Alvin Ailey in New York City!  After completing the program at Ailey, he was invited to join the Elisa Monte Dance Company and toured all around the globe.  In 2009, he came back to competitive ballroom dancing and continues to push the boundaries in Latin ballroom! Since then, he has been a professional and featured performer on Dancing With The Stars Austria and on Nike's Dancing with the Reps! For more about Werner's dance history, click here.

About Shimkiri

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Shimkiri is an International Latin dancer who is the undefeated Edison Ballroom Champion, Vice-Champion of the NJ Open Rising Star Latin and finalist in many US competitions.

Shimkiri was an inspired dancer at the age of 3! Throughout her childhood, she took ballet, tap and gymnastics. She fell in love with ballroom dancing when her grandparents gave her video tapes of America’s Ballroom Challenge from PBS! Shimkiri has trained with many world-renown coaches and champions, especially Shirley Ballas, Maria Manusova and Colin James. She is the undefeated Edison Ballroom Champion and finalist in many national competitions. Since moving to New York and partnering with Werner, they have been Vice-Champions of the NJ State Open, Rising Stars of the Dancing A La Carte and they look forward to continuing to compete and teach in the Tri-State area. Shimkiri is a certified dance instructor and loves teaching all styles of partner dance, including competitive ballroom, latin, social and wedding dances.