Our Story: Part 1
Our Story: History of Briora Ballroom Dance Studio in Redmond, WA
Discover the inspiring history, design concept, and mission behind one of Seattle’s premier ballroom dance studios.
Briora Ballroom Dance Studio was founded in Redmond, Washington in 2012 by professional ballroom dancers Jessica and Slava Stefanov. Their dream was to create a beautiful, welcoming space that combines world-class dance instruction with a vibrant, supportive community. More than a decade later, Briora continues to transform lives through the joy of ballroom dancing in the greater Seattle area.
We recently moved from our original Overlake location to a spacious new facility in north Redmond, offering even more room to dance, connect, and grow.
What Does “Briora” Mean? The Story Behind Our Name
Choosing the perfect name for our ballroom dance studio was important. “Briora” comes from the Italian word “brio”, meaning vigor, vivacity, energy, and enthusiasm. It beautifully captures the fun, confidence, joy, and sense of togetherness that ballroom dancing brings to every student.
Our Design Concept: Creating an Elegant Escape
A great ballroom dance studio should feel like an escape from everyday life — elegant, spacious, light-filled, and full of warmth and friendship. That vision guided every detail of Briora’s interior design.
Our design concept draws inspiration from cherished cultural memories of ballroom dance:
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in glamorous Art Deco ballrooms
Fairy-tale moments like Prince Charming and Cinderella
The sparkle and excitement of Dancing with the Stars
Joyful family gatherings where parents and grandparents danced together
To bring these memories to life, we chose:
Art Deco-inspired tile — honoring the golden Hollywood dance era
Elegant crystal chandeliers — evoking grand European ballrooms
Warm, spicy color palette — reflecting the passion of Latin dances like tango, cha cha, rumba, and samba
The result is a stunning, inspiring space where dancers of all ages and levels feel welcomed, motivated, and at home.
Our Signature Logo: Handcrafted with Passion
In summer 2012, we revealed our iconic logo, designed by Slava’s cousin, talented Bulgarian artist Aleksandrina Stefanova. The logo features two dancers forming the shape of the Briora “B” — a modern, hand-drawn design paired with graceful, feather-quill script. It perfectly represents our brand: fun, unique, and elegant.
Our Mission at Briora Ballroom Redmond
To inspire and nurture our dancers by building a joyful community that fosters fun, connection, and personal growth through ballroom dancing.
We offer:
Private and group ballroom dance lessons (singles and couples)
Wedding dance choreography
Social dance parties and events
Competition training
Performances and more
Serving dancers throughout Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Seattle, and the Eastside.
Join the Briora Community Today
From our humble beginnings in 2012 to our beautiful new north Redmond studio, Briora Ballroom has remained committed to excellence, elegance, and community. Whether you’re a complete beginner, preparing for your wedding, or a seasoned dancer, we create a supportive environment where you can build confidence, improve fitness, and make lasting friendships on the dance floor.
Ready to experience the Briora difference?
Explore our class schedules, book a private lesson, or join our next dance party!
— Jessica & Slava Stefanov, Founders of Briora Ballroom Dance Studio