Slava Stefanov

Slava co-founded Briora Ballroom together with his wife, Jessica, with the vision of creating a joyful community that fosters fun, togetherness, and personal growth through dancing.   Slava is an experienced teacher with more than 20 years of experience, and enjoys teaching students of all levels. His specialty is training high level Pro-Am competitive dancers, and his students have won many championships.

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. Highlights of his professional ballroom career include:

• Bulgarian National Professional Standard Champion. 

• US Open Professional Rising Star Standard Finalist

• 16th in the European Professional Standard Championship

• 18th in the World Professional Standard Championship

After meeting his future wife, Jessica, in Orange County, California, Slava began competing 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 the top 12 couples in the World in Professional American Smooth, winning placement as Semifinalists in the World Professional Open Smooth Championships at Embassy Ball (2014, 2015).

Slava is certified in all styles of ballroom dance with Dance Vision.  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.

When not dancing, Slava enjoys lifting weights, customizing his Mustang, and spending time with his wife and two young sons.