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About BALLROOMDANCECINCINNATI.COM
Our History
Established in 2000 BALLROOMDANCECINCINNATI.COM has been dedicated to providing quality dance education for over 20 years. Bonita Brockert has trained hundreds of dancers of all ages and levels, professional and amateur, for over 35 years
About BALLROOMDANCECINCINNATI.COM
Professional Bio
Bonita started her classical training with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under Marcia Dale Weary, danced in the Afro Cuban Dance Company, Harrisburg Performing Arts Company, directed by former Alvin Ailey dancer, Richard Wilson, and received a scholarship in dance with a secondary major in theater from the Pennsylvania Fine Arts Program for Gifted Students. There she studied under Shirley Mordine (Mordine and Company) and Betty Lowe (Ballet Russe). She continued to study jazz and ballet at Ballet Met, jazz at Debbie Reynold's Studio in North Hollywood, Flamenco at Dame Libby's summer studies in Chicago, and belly dance with Conchi Madson.
She started her ballroom career at age 19 and went on to win the United States National Silver medal in smooth and the Bronze medal in rhythm as well as both championship titles at the prestigious La Classique du Quebec with Chuck Bannister. She and Bannister represented the American Smooth professional division in the United States Grand National Championships. Bonita was also a finalist in the United States Smooth Championship with David Hamilton. She won the Boston cup three times with two partners in three different styles. With David Vanderzell she was a U.S. Open semifinalist in the Standard and Latin Championships and won the Rising Star Standard at the Ohio Star Ball.
During her years with Arthur Murray International, Bonita’s career spanned all aspects of the dance industry from teacher to dance director, supervisor, to examiner, adjudicator, franchisee, and member of the International Dance Board. She trained teachers as the Northeast Regional Dance Chair, and co-wrote the professional technical manuals from Silver through Gold Bar. She served on the creative team for the exhibition syllabus Gold and Gold Bar and was featured in the professional training videos with Chuck Bannister and Sam Sodano.
Her choreography has been seen on PBS’s “Evening of Championship Dancing” numerous industrials, and Cincinnati’s Dancing For The Stars since it's inception in 2006, the area’s largest fundraiser, raising scholarship funds for students in the arts. More recently she has prepared local contestants for the NEST Learning Center's Dancing Stars event since it's creation in 2019.
She was the coach of the Ohio State University Competitive Ballroom Team for the seven years she was based out of Columbus.
Bonita received ACT Cincinnati' s Orchid Award for Excellence in Dance Execution and Excellence in Choreography for her work in the Drama Workshop’s production of “Swing"
Ms. Brockert was a featured dancer with her partner Chuck Bannister in the international tour of Peter Maxwell’s “Dancing Nights”, including performances in Tokyo & Osaka, Japan, The Spoleto Festival, and Symphony Space, New York, as well as multiple cities across the U.S. She appeared in the American Express/ Arthur Murray collaborative video series “Private Dance Lessons” with Bill Sparks. She performed with the Cincinnati Pops and danced in the collaborative concert, “A Tribute to Vienna” with members of the Joffrey Ballet and Chicago Symphony Orchestra partnering Allen Desterhaft. Bonita partnered Greg Underwood for many years in swing and theatrical productions (including “Ballroom” and “Swing”) In “Tango Des Parada” and it's reprise Bonita danced with Francesco Guerra and Gene Brockert. She danced in numerous opening numbers for PBS Championship Ballroom Dancing with David Butcher and Chuck Bannister.
Bonita is a National Championship Judge and holds a Fellow certification in Standard, Latin, Ballroom, Rhythm, and Theatrical Dance styles.
Her articles and reviews have been published in Dance Beat, Dance Notes, Dance Week, American Dancer, Dance Spotlight, and The Christ Hospital’s Performing Arts newsletter. She has judged, lectured, certified teachers, and taught seminars throughout the United States as well as Canada and France.
She taught elementary and high school students in Cincinnati Public Schools through the Families Forward Program under the United Way.
She is a member of the North American Dance Teachers Association and the National Dance Council of America.
Bonita is based in Cincinnati and is available for local students in addition to judging and coaching outside the area. She currently dances with the Middle Eastern Dance troupe, El Hambra.
Private Lessons
Bonita Brockert is an independent dance professional in the Cincinnati area and teaches private lessons at Mahogany Hall Ballroom, a private space located on the second floor of Story Book Kids Gift Shop in Evendale. On Tuesdays she is in the Columbus Area at Emerald Ballroom.
Private lessons are available at your convenience by appointment with payment at the time of your lesson. There are no contracts outside of judging jobs or special events.
If you would like to arrange for group lessons to be held on location at your community center, place of business, or church those services are available.
Bonita has many years of experience teaching beginners as well as professional dancers, wedding dances, social and club dances, and choreographed numbers for special occasions or stage work. Your lessons are tailored to your needs and goals.
Cincinnati offers many opportunities for social dance and has many live bands offering swing, Latin, and ballroom dance, as well as a local club that holds monthly dances. Your private instruction will prepare you to enjoy these dance options.
Special
Do you have a group who want to do a special presentation for an event? Or a stage number that needs to be choreographed and directed? Maybe the whole wedding party would like to dance swing or waltz on your special day.
A surprise belly dance class for a birthday party or shower is always a fun time. A salsa lesson before your dinner party or at a corporate event is a great ice breaker.
Community engagement through dance offers many benefits and provides a fun way to get people into a relaxed and social frame of mind.
Specialty Classes
Beginner Belly Dance Sat. 11:00 A.M.
Beginner Flamenco Sat. 12:00
International Ballroom Academy/Dance Fix 9514 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
Next to Blue Ash Sleepy Bee
Register at IBA
Ballroom/Social Dance Classes
Beginner Monday 6:30
Intermediate/Advanced Monday 7:30
International Ballroom Academy
9514 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242
Next to Blue Ash Sleepy Bee Cafe
Register at https://www.internationalballroomacademy.com/