DANCING IS FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING YOU.
PARTNER DANCE INSTRUCTION FOR LGBTQIA+ ADULTS & YOUTH IN PORTLAND, OR.
Hi, I'm Milla!
I am a partner dance instructor and event organizer based in Portland, OR.
My work focuses on making partner dance enjoyable and accessible for as many people as possible, namely young folks and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I believe strongly that partner dance is a powerful tool for cultivating deeper connection with ourselves and with others and I love sharing the joy of that with you!
My goal as an instructor is to create containers for you to feel safe in connecting, playing, and exploring movement in new ways. I’ve developed a curriculum that integrates the essential movement basics of partnered connection while growing real-life communication and confidence skills. I use a lot of movement-based games & exercises to integrate our learning concepts into our bodies, leading to deeper long-term learning and satisfaction.
Classes & Workshops
Partner Dance for Teens (ages 15-18)
A 4-week series crafted just for teens as a fun introduction to the basics of partnered dancing.
Thursdays, 4-5:30pm @ Portland Dance Studio
May dates: 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30
$90-$150 sliding scale
In this series, we’ll explore the fundamental aspects of partnership connection through Fusion, a popular improvisational partner dance. Fusion focuses on the foundational movements that bridge & connect styles, so each week we will be learning concepts from various partner dances like Blues, West Coast Swing, and Argentine Tango.
Classes will focus not only on growing dance experience, but also on cultivating self-confidence, communication skills, consent practices, and tools for meaningful self-expression and connection with others through movement.
This is a LGBTQIA+ welcoming container, and all students will get the chance to learn both the follow & lead roles.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are the ideal way to create an experience that is tailored just for you.
For couples: $65-95/hr
For individuals: $55-$85/hr
Desiring a private container to gain confidence in your basics? Great!
Have a specific trouble spot in your dancing you want to put attention on? Perfect!
Want to take your sweetie on an adorable, unique date night? I’ve got you!
All of my private lessons are sliding scale to create greater accessibility options for those who need it.
Lessons are available in my rental studio in SE Portland, or in your home for a small travel fee.
Queer Beat
Queer Beat is a bi-monthly lesson & social dance for LGBTQIA+ folks.
Select Sundays, 6:30-9pm @ 2127 N Albina Ave
5/12, 5/26, 6/9, 6/23
Lesson: 6:30-7:30pm,
Social Dance: 7:30-9pm
Drop in, $10-$15 sliding scale
Queer Beat is a relaxed container for queer folks to learn and practice partnered dance with their peers & friends! Everyone on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum is welcome. Every 1hr introductory lesson teaches a different set of fundamentals skills and focuses on connecting you deeper to your body and your dance partners through playful and thoughtful exercises. After class, we hold a 1.5 hr social dance where you can try out what you learned with new folks, socialize in our cuddle area, or solo dance to your hearts content.
No partner necessary, and everyone will get the chance to learn both the follow & lead roles.
Fusion Practicas
A lightly facilitated practice space for dancers with a foundational+ Fusion skills.
Sundays, 4:30-6pm @ 2127 N Albina Ave
5/12, 5/19, 5/26, 6/2, 6/9
Drop in- $12
3 Practica Pass- $30
5 Practica Pass- $45
These practices are for any and all Fusion dancers looking for a space to practice & train with others. Every week, we will explore a different theme through a half hour guided exercise before moving into open practica time for another hour. This time is a chance to experiment, refine, and integrate what you’ve been learning at your own pace and with partners of your choosing!
We highly encourage you to bring your friends and favorite dance partners but no partner is required.
“I’ve hired Milla as a dance instructor for two of my teen programs, and they are incredible! I’ve never seen a teen group (any group?) go from zero to happily functional in partner dance with such speed. They created a very welcoming space that also delivered hard skills. I highly recommend Milla for anyone seeking a high-quality, enthusiastic partner dance teacher.”
-Blake Boles, Founder & Director of Unschool Adventures
“I had the privilege to be in several of Milla’s dance classes last year and I thoroughly enjoyed their laid-back and friendly style of teaching, as well as the accepting and empowering atmosphere they created. Milla has a wonderful ability to see where people are at, and meet them with exactly the kind of support and encouragement they need.”
-Cori S.
“Milla is an amazing dancer and a patient, skilled, and fun teacher. They have a fantastic ability to put themselves in your shoes and work through moves with exactly the pace and teaching style you need to really feel the flow of the dance.”
-Oscar W.
“My experience learning from Milla was amazing! They are a very kind and patient teacher, and their passion for dance shines through quite clearly. They manage to create a simultaneously friendly and serious atmosphere when they teach, and I have received some incredible advice from them about my dancing. Milla is the reason I started partner dancing, and I think only they could have convinced me it was worth it. I strongly recommend dancing with them to anyone who has the opportunity!”
-Miriel O.
More about Fusion...
Partner dance is an art-form found all over the globe in countless variations, each with its own history, culture, and music. Fusion is a newer, improvised partner dance that emerged in the US in the early 2000s when Blues, Tango, and Lindy Hop dancers came together at house parties and asked each other, “What happens if we try to dance together across styles?”
Through this exploration, it became clear that foundational building blocks of partnered connection exist and can bridge styles, so this new frankenstein dance took off! Today, Fusion scenes are growing and thriving in the US & Europe. It is often danced to modern music- the kinds of tracks you would hear on the radio or on your favorite discover weekly Spotify playlist- which makes this dance easily transferable to weddings, kitchen dance parties, and social dances.
The biggest benefits of starting with Fusion are:
- Its emphasis on connection & improvisation make it an approachable and fun gateway into the world of partner dance. This means you’ll feel confident enough to go out social dancing after a few classes and let’s be real, we all love a bit of instant gratification when we can get it!
- Its value of consent culture is really high! We embody that by normalizing verbal communication and practicing reading non-verbal cues.
- Its commonplace for anyone to lead, follow, or even switch dance roles regardless of perceived gender.
- As an improvised dance, you spend more time focusing on concepts and principles of connection over memorizing sequences or patterns. This leads to quicker integration and deeper understanding of how your body (and the moves) actually work!
- Its origin as a Frankenstein dance means you have the opportunity to learn foundational elements from many other dances like Argentine Tango, West Coast Swing, Blues, Zouk, and more!
Have questions?
Send me an email!
Please allow 48-72hrs for a response.
Thank you!