Katrina Volgina is an accomplished dance professional with over 30 years of experience in the industry. As the Founder and Head Coach of Volga Dance Academy, she has dedicated her career to promoting excellence in dance education and developing dancers of all ages. Her extensive background in competitive ballroom dancing, judging, and coaching has earned her recognition both nationally and internationally.

Professional Experience

• WDSF “A” License Judge – International adjudicator for the World DanceSport Federation.
• National Judge (A+, B+, C+, D+) – Certified judge for USA Dance.
• President, American DanceSport Federation (ADF, CSIT) – Leading the development of DanceSport in the United States.
• Vice President of DanceSport, USA Dance – Supporting the growth of competitive dance across the nation.
• CEO, Volga Sculpt – Combining fitness and dance to promote physical wellness and performance.

Competitive Dance Career
Katrina’s competitive career began in Russia, where she represented her country at numerous international events, including the 1998 Olympic Asian Games. With 20 years of competitive experience, she has honed her skills as both a performer and a coach, bringing that expertise to her students.

Global Teaching Experience
Katrina’s passion for teaching has taken her worldwide, instructing children and adults in countries such as Korea, China, Macau, and Hong Kong. Her international experience has helped shape her holistic approach to dance education, blending fitness, gymnastics, and dance to help students reach their full potential.

Volga Dance Academy
Since founding Volga Dance Academy in the United States in 2007, Katrina has built it into one of the nation’s leading competitive dance programs for children. Under her guidance, the academy has produced some of the country’s top junior, adult, and pro/am dancers, known for their technique, artistry, and competitive success.

Philosophy and Mission
Katrina believes that dance is more than just movement—it’s a way to build confidence, discipline, and a lifelong passion for the arts. Her mission is to inspire and support dancers at every level, creating an environment where students can grow both as performers and individuals.

Professional Experience

• International WDC (World Dance Council) Judge.
• Member of FNDL (highest category) in Ukraine.
• Top-category coach in ballroom dancing.
• Head of the ballroom dance ensemble “Harmony”.
• Master’s degree in Ballroom Choreography, graduated from Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts named after M. Poplavsky.
• Shares his knowledge, skills, and expertise in ballroom choreography, conducts training seminars, masterclasses, and coaching sessions for athletes and trainers.
• Regularly invited as a judge for major national and international competitions.

Achievements of his students

• Multiple-time champions of Ukraine.
• Finalists and champions of the WDC World Championships (Paris, the Netherlands).
• Winners of Blackpool Dance Festival (England).
• Winners of the International Championship (England).

Coaching approach
Develops determination, discipline, honesty, responsibility, and perseverance in his students.
Uses an individualized approach to training, adjusting workloads based on athletes’ physical and psychological characteristics.
Pays great attention to educational work, fostering confidence and strong personal qualities in students.
An open, conflict-free, and supportive mentor, always ready to assist students and colleagues.

Currently, Dmytro works at Volga Dance Academy, where he continues to nurture a new generation of talented athletes, preparing them for new victories on the national and international stage.

Occupation:
WDSF Adjudicator

Formal Education:
Bachelor Degree from the Far Eastern State Institute of Culture and Arts, major: choreographer.

Dance Experience:
15 years of competitive dancing. In the past, the repeated champion of the Far East of Russia in three programs. I brought up several world champions, Russian champions, winners and prize-winners of Blackpool, GOC of other major international competitions. Some of the most known couples are Evgenii Nikitin and Dana Spitsyna (3 times WDSF World Youth and Under 21 Champions) and Danila Mazur and Anastasia Polonskaya (WDSF Junior 2 World 10 Dance Champions). Now I am involved in the process of preparing the leading couples of the Russian Far East, other regions of Russia and abroad.

Dance Education:
I have passed, from the first try, all the needed exams for obtaining, confirming, and prolonging my WDSF and National licenses (including Absolute Judging System).
At least every second year attendance of the WDSF Congress in Stuttgart (6 in total). Besides, all the national congresses in Russia were attended for the last 15 years and so were all the mandatory WDSF congresses since 2013.

Judging Experience:
19 years of Judging experience in the Russian Federation and 7 years of the judging experience abroad, including 5 years of judging WDSF competitions, such as WDSF World Championship, many WDSF World Open and WDSF International competitions, many national championships of Russia, Kazakhstan, Norway and others.

Education
Kharkiv Professional Higher College of Arts, speciality – Choreography
Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, spesiality – Physical Education (Bachelor’s Degree)
Fithess Academy Ukraine – Stretching (2 Training Courses)
Fithness Academy Ukraine – Barre (1 Training Course)

Dance performer
2015-2020 Several cities in China.

• Xingjian Grand Theater
• Haichang Polar Ocean World
• Hengdian World Studios

Performed in a large and small scale dance and dance theater shows.
Participated in multiple dance productions and parades.

Coaching
Fitness Centre «Gim4Fit», Ukraine 2021-2022, Stretching coaching.

Coaching approach
In my work with children, I apply my knowledge and international experience as a dancer. My inspiration and creative vision allow me to stage productions in various dance styles, contributing to the comprehensive development of my students dance skills.

Ballet, Acrobatic, and Stretching Conditioning Specialist

Irina Zhukova is a highly experienced gymnastics coach with a bachelor’s degree and the highest coaching category. With over 44 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to training and choreographing floor routines at the highest level.

In Russia, Irina worked as a floor routine choreographer for the national gymnastics team.

Since 2003, she and her husband have been coaching gymnastics in Georgia, USA, helping numerous athletes achieve remarkable success. Many of their students have earned college scholarships, qualified for the national team, and won state and regional championships.

Today, Irina continues to choreograph floor routines for gymnasts while focusing on her primary role as a ballet, acrobatic, and stretching conditioning specialist at Volga Dance Academy. Her expertise and dedication help students refine their technique, flexibility, and strength, ensuring they reach their full potential.

Bringing Passion, Experience, and Dedication to Volga Dance Academy

We are thrilled to introduce Coach Liza, a talented and dedicated dance professional who has been part of the Volga Dance Academy family since she was just six years old. With a lifelong passion for dance, Liza has achieved remarkable success in her competitive career and is now excited to share her knowledge and love for dance with the next generation of performers.

Achievements
5-Time National Champion – A testament to her talent, discipline, and hard work.
World Championship Competitor – Represented the USA on the global stage, showcasing her skills and passion for dance.

Coaching Philosophy
Liza is not only an accomplished dancer but also a passionate and caring coach. Known for her warm and approachable personality, she creates a supportive and inspiring environment where every child feels valued and motivated. Her love for teaching is evident in the way she connects with her students—children adore her, and she has a natural ability to make learning both fun and effective.

Dedicated and Hardworking
Liza is committed to helping each student reach their full potential through discipline, encouragement, and personalized guidance.

Trusted Mentor
With her years of experience and competitive success, Liza understands what it takes to excel, and she is eager to pass on her knowledge to the next generation of champions.

Don’t miss the chance to train with Coach Liza and be inspired by her passion, expertise, and dedication to helping every student shine. We are proud to have her as part of the Volga Dance Academy team!

Elita Rothman is one of the rising young talents of the American competitive ballroom dance world. At just 17 years old, she has already built an extraordinary career with over 12 years of intensive training, performance, and international competitive experience.

Elita began her dance journey at Volga Dance Academy as a young child and has been part of the Volga family for more than 12 years. Growing up inside the academy’s highly disciplined and artistic environment, she developed not only exceptional technical skills, but also a deep understanding of performance, teamwork, leadership, and the art of ballroom dance itself.

Throughout her career, Elita has achieved remarkable success on both national and international stages. She is a 5-time USA Dance National Champion, a finalist of the World Championship in Austria, a World Cup finalist in Italy, and a semifinalist at the US Nationals. She has also represented the United States as a World Championship qualifier in Kazakhstan, Belgium, Germany, and Romania.

Beyond her competitive accomplishments, Elita is passionate about inspiring and mentoring the next generation of dancers. As an instructor at Volga Dance Academy, she brings years of elite-level experience, discipline, patience, and professionalism into the classroom. Her ability to connect with children, motivate students, and lead by example makes her not only an outstanding dancer, but also a trusted and respected teacher.

Elita represents the values that Volga Dance Academy stands for: excellence, dedication, artistry, and strong character. Having grown up within the academy herself, she understands the journey of every student and is committed to helping young dancers build confidence, achieve their goals, and fall in love with the art of dance.

Jordan Palmer is a 16-year-old Youth International 10-Dance competitor from Milton, Georgia, recognized as one of the top young ballroom dancers in the United States. Specializing in all five Standard dances—Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, and Quickstep—as well as all five Latin dances—Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive—Jordan has built an impressive reputation through exceptional versatility, artistry, and technical excellence on the dance floor.

A six-time National Champion, Jordan has proudly represented the United States of America at more than ten World Championships, competing against the highest levels of international youth ballroom talent. With ten years of dedicated training and competition experience, Jordan has developed a strong passion not only for performing, but also for mentoring the next generation of dancers.

In addition to competing, Jordan teaches ballroom dancing to Preteen and Junior competitors, helping younger athletes strengthen their technique, confidence, and performance skills. Jordan trains at the prestigious Volga Dance Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, where a commitment to discipline, athleticism, and artistic expression continues to shape a successful and inspiring dance career.

Mason Palmer is a 16-year-old Youth International 10-Dance competitor from Milton, Georgia, known for his strong technical skill, competitive drive, and dedication to the art of ballroom dance. Competing in all five Standard dances—Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, and Quickstep—as well as all five Latin dances—Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive—Mason has established himself as one of the nation’s accomplished young dancers in the Youth category.

A four-time Standard National Champion, Mason has represented the United States of America in several World Championships, gaining valuable international experience while competing among the world’s top youth ballroom athletes. Having trained and competed for ten years, he continues to refine his technique, musicality, and performance quality through rigorous preparation and competition.

Beyond his own competitive success, Mason is passionate about helping younger dancers grow in the sport. He teaches ballroom dancing to Preteen and Junior competitors, sharing his experience and encouraging the next generation of athletes to develop confidence, discipline, and strong fundamentals. Mason trains at Volga Dance Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, where he continues to pursue excellence in both Standard and Latin ballroom dance.