Yolanda Ortiz
Flamenco • Ballroom/Latin
Yoli has 62 years experience in dance education. She opened her first dancing school in Puerto Rico when she was 13. By the time she was 18, she had 6 schools around the island and a TV program centered around her dancers. Her agent booked her and her sister’s dance duo on a one year tour throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean and Miami, before relocating to Maryland. The duo broke-up and she joined the Arthur Murray School of Dance, where she was distinguished by Arthur Murray himself in an award trip to NYC. She trained and received her Teacher’s Diploma from Jay Dash in Philadelphia where she operated her dancing school. In 1978, after returning to Puerto Rico again, she opened what she thought would be her last dancing school in Carolina, operating for 28 years, until she “retired” at the end of 2006 to move to GA and enjoy her grandchildren. During her time in P.R., she was the regional director for Puerto Rico and Caribbean for Dance Educators of America, her school was the city’s representative dance company, as Ballet de Carolina, in countrywide parades and government functions. She received numerous awards throughout the years, and was honored in 2005 for her lifetime dedication towards the artistic development of Puerto Rican children. Although she thought she was ready to retire, she has realized that she is not, and is very excited to continue sharing her gift at ALL STARS.
(Yes; Yoli is Victoria’s mother)
