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Ray Bugnosen Founder of the Ballroom Dance Company was owner and Dance Director of the former STARS Dining, Theatre, and Dance in Rockville, MD. Ray has been a professional performer (actor/singer/dancer/musician) for more than 20 years, a former American Rhythm Dance Champion, and a professional dance instructor & choreographer for over ten years. In his competitive career, Ray and his students have won ballroom championships in MD, VA, and DC in practically every division and age category.

In 1997, Mr. Bugnosen founded the Ballroom Dance Company (BDC) who became the STARS' resident professional dance company and instructors in 1999, and then became a registered not-for-profit organization when STARS closed their doors in April of 2000.

Since then, Mr. Bugnosen has created many successful dance programs in several cooperative dance studios and other satellite locations including health clubs, country clubs, private social clubs, schools, community centers, and even houses of worship - wherever people want to learn to dance! The BDC are the exclusive dance instructors for the DC region of BALLY Total Fitness clubs, exclusive instructors of the partner/social dance programs at the American Dance Institute in Rockville, MD as well as all official Dance Central locations in DC, MD, & VA - and serving the entire Greater Washington area.

Above: BDC Founder Ray Bugnosen

Ray Bugnosen continues to perform, teach at every level, and coach competitive couples and teams while appearing regularly with BDC's "ambassadors of dance" in shows and exhibitions throughout the DC metropolitan area. He is the DanceSport Coach for Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and Capitol College in Laurel, MD - and still competes regularly with his student partners in National Pro/Am competitions while continuing as Executive Director for the Ballroom Dance Company. In 2001, the BDC was recognized as the largest dance instructional organization in the greater Washington area because of their large number of programs and locations. Ray, himself, was dubbed "DC Salsa King" in 2002 (noting the BDC's 1600+ weekly Salsa, Nightclub, & Social Ballroom students) by a forum of fellow professional dance performers and presenters at the Metro DC Dance Awards that year.

The BDC continues to be the largest proponents of all 'partnered' dance styles in the Greater Washington. Future goals include providing more youth-oriented programs and developing the competition team and performance troupe to a nationally recognized standard. Ray's vision includes a BDC chapter in every major city and producing shows highlighting the 'Ballroom' style of dance.

For private lessons, competitive coaching, or more information on setting up a dance program at your school, or club, Ray can be reached at RayBugnosen@BallroomDanceCompany.org, or call (301) 294-1797.