our Staff

Our instructors are certified ballroom dance teachers. They teach students of all ages and levels and are also available for Pro/Am competition and to perform at special events. Please contact info@briora.com or 425.641.5123 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Jessica McMorrow Stefanov, Founder and CEO

Jessica created Briora Ballroom together with her husband and dance partner, Slava, with the vision of building a joyful community that fosters fun, togetherness and personal growth through dancing. 

Jessica is a successful competitive dancer with a career spanning 20 years in the dance industry. She is a United States National Professional Finalist, ranking among the top 6 couples in the United States, in both the Rising Star Smooth (2015) and 9-Dance (2008 and 2009) divisions. Over the course of her competitive career, she has won numerous titles, including:

• International Grand Ball Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion (2019)

• Emerald Ball Rising Star Smooth Professional Vice Champion (2016)

• Holiday Dance Classic Rising Star Professional Smooth Vice Champion (2016)

• California Open Rising Star Professional Smooth Vice Champion (2015)

• San Francisco Open Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion (2015)

• Ballroom Beach Bash Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion (2015)

• United States National Professional Rising Star Smooth Finalist (2015)

• Heritage Classic Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion (2013)

• Open Professional Smooth Champion, Seattle Star Ball (2013)

• Rising Star Professional Rhythm Champion, City Lights Ball (2010)

• Hollywood Dancesport Rising Star Professional Rhythm Champion (2009)

• Autumn Dance Classic Rising Star Professional Rhythm Champion (2009)

• United States National Professional 9-Dance Finalist (2008, 2009)

• Volunteer State Dance Challenge Rising Star Professional Rhythm Champion (2008)

• Open Professional Rhythm Champion, Seattle Star Ball (2007, 2008)

• Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion, Seattle Star Ball (2008)

Internationally, Jessica and her husband Slava were ranked among in the top 12 couples in the World in Professional American Smooth, winning placement as a Semifinalists in the World Professional Open Smooth Championships at Embassy Ball (2014, 2015).

Jessica is a certified dance instructor with DVIDA and the U.S. Terpsichore Association in all styles of ballroom dance, including Smooth, Rhythm, Latin, Standard and Theater Arts.  She enjoys teaching students of all levels and seeing the joy dance brings into their lives.

Jessica has been dancing since the age of seven and is experienced in a variety of dance forms. Her early dance experience was in classical ballet, and she trained intensively as a ballet major at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts conservatory program. In addition to her dance training, Jessica holds a BA in History summa cum laude from the University of Washington, where she was named the Outstanding Graduating History Major and was awarded a Dean’s Medal in the Social Sciences. She was born and raised in the Seattle area.

Slava Stefanov, Co-Founder and Dance Director

Slava co-founded Briora Ballroom together with his wife, Jessica, and is the creative genius behind Briora’s endeavors.   

Slava began dancing at eight years old in his native Bulgaria, and for many years he represented his home country at ballroom dance competitions domestically and abroad.  He achieved great success in the International Ballroom division, culminating in winning the Bulgarian National Professional Standard Championship.  Other highlights of his professional Standard career include placing as a finalist in the US Open Professional Rising Star Standard Championship, 16th in the European Professional Standard Championship, and 18th in the World Professional Standard Championship.

After meeting his future wife, Jessica, in Orange County, California, Slava began competing the in the Professional American Smooth division, where he also achieved great success. Slava and Jessica are United States National Professional Rising Star Smooth Finalists, placing among the top 6 couples in the United States in this division.  Together, Slava and Jessica won numerous titles, including:

• International Grand Ball Rising Star Professional Smooth Champions (2019)

• Emerald Ball Rising Star Smooth Professional Vice Champions (2016)

• Holiday Dance Classic Rising Star Professional Smooth Vice Champions (2016)

• California Open Rising Star Professional Smooth Vice Champions (2015)

• San Francisco Open Rising Star Professional Smooth Champions (2015)

• Ballroom Beach Bash Rising Star Professional Smooth Champions (2015)

• United States National Professional Rising Star Smooth Finalists (2015)

• Heritage Classic Rising Star Professional Smooth Champions (2013)

• Open Professional Smooth Champions, Seattle Star Ball (2013)

Internationally, Slava and Jessica were ranked among in the top 12 couples in the World in Professional American Smooth, winning placement as a Semifinalists in the World Professional Open Smooth Championships at Embassy Ball (2014, 2015).

Slava is a successful Pro/Am teacher and competes regularly with his students, many of whom are champions in their divisions. He enjoys teaching students of all levels and is an expert at finding tools to help them achieve their personal best in dancing.  He is certified in all styles of ballroom dance with DVIDA.  In addition to his love for the traditional ballroom dances, Slava is passionate about Argentine Tango and the authentic partnering skills embodied in this dance.

diane jarmolow, master instructor

Diane Jarmolow is an innovator in the field of ballroom dancing whose passion is providing the resources people need to become outstanding professionals and dance studio owners. She founded the Ballroom Dance Teachers College in 1992,which offers Teacher Training, Certification Preparation and Business Consulting to aspiring and working ballroom dance professionals at all levels. Her program, the Ballroom Dance Teachers College Curriculum is her greatest accomplishment to date – a 300-hour ballroom teacher training program available to dance studios, teachers and dance enthusiasts.

Diane is the author of Teach Like a Pro: The Ultimate Guide for Ballroom Dance Instructors, a book for both new and experienced dance teachers. She co-created (with Kasia Kozak) the Move Like a Champion training, book and DVD for all ballroom dancers to help them better understand how their bodies work so they can “operate” their own bodies to produce beautiful movement. trained hundreds of teachers, including U.S. and International dance champions. She is the founder and former owner/director of the renowned Metronome Ballroom, San Francisco’s “Best Place to Learn to Dance.”

Anissa tafoya-BARRETO, receptionist

Anissa was born and raised in Sunny California before moving to Washington State in 2017. While not a dancer she has an immense appreciation for the skill and determination ballroom dancing takes. She’s the first point of contact here at the studio and always ready to help with anything our clients may need.

You can reach her directly by E-mail at:

• reception@brioradance.com