Chris Johnston

Chris Johnston

CO-FOUNDER & INSTRUCTOR

  • Co-Owner/Founder of SuperShag Productions, LLC and the SuperShag Mega Dance Complex
  • World Class Adjudicator
  • United Kingdom Alliance Certified Member
  • Latin Ballroom Dance Instructor

 

Chris Johnston brings to his dancing and dance instruction a focus on athleticism, speed, and musicality, based both on his natural dance talent and on his years of dance training in the British DANCESPORT tradition, studying with such renowned dance coaches as Donnie Burns, Robert Richey, Margaret Redmond, and Walter Laird.

Chris Johnston began his Ballroom and Latin dance training at 11, studying International Style Ten Dance Ballroom and Latin in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, at the same time as he was active in a number of sports, including soccer, hockey, golf, and tennis. The path of his dance career starts with a successful dance competition focus and expands to recognized success in the business end of dancing and entertainment.

Won All Ireland Under-16 Latin Championships three times at ages 13,14 & 15.

Won All Ireland Amateur Latin Championships at age 16, distinguishing himself by being the youngest winner of this Championship.

Won, with a new partner, European Under-21 Amateur Latin Championships in 1982.

Won United States Open Amateur Latin Championships in 1987.

Finalist in Amateur Latin Division of the United Kingdom, International, and European Championships in 1988 and in 1989.

Finalist in British Open Championships at Blackpool in 1989.

Made Dancesport history in 1989 as first British couple to sign a major commercial sponsorship deal in an agreement with British Aerospace.

Appeared on television’s British Come Dancing series 22 times in 1982-92.

Won, with new partner, Finnish Amateur Latin Championships in 1992, following which he turned professional.

Moved to Boston, America, to work for Fred Astaire Dance Studios in 1993.

Acquired the Boston franchise for Fred Astaire Dance Studios in 1994.

Danced for the prestigious, New York City-based American Ballroom Theater Company in 1997, broadening his dance expertise by giving exhibition dances in the ballroom theater style of exhibition dance.

Trained and competed with three first-place winners in Pro-Am Latin at the 1997 Ohio Star Championships, America’s biggest and most publicized ballroom championship.

Formed, in 1998, SuperShag Productions to expand proven record of dance training, dance business management, and entertainment production to extend well beyond the established and highly successful franchised studio customer base.

In June 2005 Chris and his student Joan Goddard won the Inaugural Blackpool Pro/Am Challenge in Rhythm and Latin.

In 2005 Chris became the official Latin dance coach for Harvard University of Boston, MA.

August 2005, Chris and his student Joan Goddard became the Inaugural World Pro/Am Rhythm Champions this was followed by wins in the Pro/Am Rhythm and Latin Championships at the Ohio Star Ball in November of 2005.

Chris Johnston was named World Class Adjudicator by the National Dance Council of America in 2003. Mr. Johnston is also qualified to teach and to adjudicate standard and Latin dance by the United Kingdom Alliance Ballroom Dance Society, and to teach and adjudicate American style smooth and rhythm dance by the National Dance Council of America. Currently he is qualified as; National Judge, World Class Judge, World Dance DanceSport Council Registered Adjudicator #43 – 2004.

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