Marcus Tasanasanta - Licensed Zumba® Instructor
I live for dancing. If I'm not at school, sleeping, or eating, I'm usually at the dance studio. I am typically here six days a week. I started dancing after I moved with my family from Michigan back home to Washington. My dad, an instructor located in Seattle, signed my brother and I up for dance classes the summer we settled in. He told us to stick with it for a year and then we could stop if we wanted to. Now, nine years later, you'd have to break my leg to stop me from dancing; even then I might be inclined to dance in the cast! I started with the basics, attending group classes and the occasional dance party, later adding private lessons. Now I'm dancing every day, teaching group classes, private lessons and having a blast at every dance party. Dance isn't just a hobby for me, it is a lifestyle. I'm currently enrolled at WWU, majoring in computer science and minoring in mathematics.
I have learned from Zumba® creator Beto Perez, Tanya Beardsley, Gina Grant, Ali Pellito-Ramirez, Roger Yamat, Tony Witt, Maria Padilla-Browning, Barbara Klontz, Jani Roberts, Priscilla Sartori, Fabio Barros, Portia Lange, Kyle Redd, Sarah Vann Drake, FJ Abaya, Catherine Abaya, Valentina Weiss-Kostenko, Ron Montez, Diane Jarmolow, Natasha Thayer, Myles Monroe, Tessa Cunningham, Alex Krebs, Tony Fan, Ilana Rubin, Sara Thomsen and others. I love meeting new coaches and taking new classes. Learning is a lifetime goal for me and I never want to stop improving my dancing abilities! You can also find me up at WWU where I teach PE 120 Beginning Social Dance in the Physical Education Dept.
Zumba® Fitness Licenses
- Zumba® Basic 1 License April 2009
Licensed by national trainer Roger Yamat - Zumba® Basic 2 License September 2009
Licensed by national trainer Tanya Beardsley - Additional training at 2009 National Zumba® Convention in Orlando, FL
- Zumba® Basic 1 License November 2009
Licensed by national trainer Roger Yamat - Zumba® Aqua License August 2010
Licensed by national trainers Tony Witt and Maria Padilla-Browning - Additional training at 2010 National Zumba® Convention in Orlando, FL
- Zumba® Toning License July 2011
Licensed by national trainer Jani Roberts - Additional training at 2011 National Zumba® Convention in Orlando, FL
Ballroom Certifications & Achievements
- DVIDA Associates of Dance Certification, American Smooth 2008
Received Honors tested by Diane Jarmolow - DVIDA Associates of Dance Certification, American Rhythm 2007
Received High Honors tested by 7-time Latin Champion Ron Montez - Quest for the Best 2/2009:
Adult Amateur Open Novice Rhythm Champions - Quest for the Best 11/2008:
Adult Amateur Bronze & Silver Rhythm Champions - Northwest Dancesport Championships 2008:
Adult Amateur Bronze & Silver Rhythm Champions
Adult Amateur Bronze & Silver Smooth Champions - Seattle Star Ball 2008:
Adult Amateur Bronze, Silver & Open Novice Rhythm Champions
Dances Styles and Classes I Teach
Fitness Classes:
Zumba® Fitness
Zumba® Aqua Fitness
Zumba® Toning Fitness
American Smooth:
Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz
American Rhythm:
Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo, Samba
Club Dances:
West Coast Swing, Salsa, Nightclub 2 Step, Argentine Tango, Merengue, Hustle, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, Charleston
