Full Name
Briana Suakjian
Job Title
Studio Owner
Institution Name
Fred Astaire Laguna Hills
Speaker Bio
Kris Suakjian - Ballroom Formation Coach and American Smooth Instructor
As a child and teen, Kris trained and excelled in football, soccer, baseball and track, giving him the athleticism and coordination necessary to continue into the artistic arena of dance. He captured the attention of a Fred Astaire representative during a school dance, who convinced him to audition for a teacher training program. Passing with flying colors, he continued on to teach and compete with his students in American Smooth and Rhythm. At the same time, he attended college and earned his degree in Psychology, making the decision to become a full-time independent Ballroom professional after graduation. He started competing with his professional Rhythm partner in 2004 and became a United States Rising Star Finalist in 2007. Taking advantage of his strength and agility, he also taught theatre arts and achieved the US and World Pro/Am Theatre Arts titles in 2005, 2006, and 2007. He continued his training in International Ballroom and Latin and by 2010, he and his professional partner had earned the US Professional Rising Star American Smooth title and became a World Open Professional American Smooth Finalist. He has choreographed and assisted on the show ""So You Think You Can Dance"" with Toni Redpath and Toni Meredith, and has also worked on ""Dancing With The Stars"" helping Donnie Osmond and Kim with Heather Smith.
Briana Suakjian - Ballroom Formation Coach and American Smooth Instructor
With her natural rhythmic aptitude and musicality, she started formal dance classes at the age of 2 1/2 and continued on with training in classical ballet, jazz, tap, modern/contemporary, hip-hop, musical theatre, pas de deux, pointe, and musical theater. Having received the title of Miss Teen Dance in 1999, and Miss Dance of Southern California in 2002, she continued on to complete her degree in dance. As a principle ballerina for Ballet Repertory Theater, she performed in the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and many others. She then continued her training in International Ballroom and Latin, as well as American Smooth and Rhythm. In 2010 she won United States Pro/am Closed Silver Championship title, United States Pro/am Open Smooth Championship title, United States Pro/am Grand Championship title, World Pro/am Rising Star title, and World Pro/am Open Smooth Championship title. Since turning professional in 2011, she has continued to teach and choreograph assisting in shows such as ""So You Think You Can Dance"", and the stage production of ""Where's My Money".
As a child and teen, Kris trained and excelled in football, soccer, baseball and track, giving him the athleticism and coordination necessary to continue into the artistic arena of dance. He captured the attention of a Fred Astaire representative during a school dance, who convinced him to audition for a teacher training program. Passing with flying colors, he continued on to teach and compete with his students in American Smooth and Rhythm. At the same time, he attended college and earned his degree in Psychology, making the decision to become a full-time independent Ballroom professional after graduation. He started competing with his professional Rhythm partner in 2004 and became a United States Rising Star Finalist in 2007. Taking advantage of his strength and agility, he also taught theatre arts and achieved the US and World Pro/Am Theatre Arts titles in 2005, 2006, and 2007. He continued his training in International Ballroom and Latin and by 2010, he and his professional partner had earned the US Professional Rising Star American Smooth title and became a World Open Professional American Smooth Finalist. He has choreographed and assisted on the show ""So You Think You Can Dance"" with Toni Redpath and Toni Meredith, and has also worked on ""Dancing With The Stars"" helping Donnie Osmond and Kim with Heather Smith.
Briana Suakjian - Ballroom Formation Coach and American Smooth Instructor
With her natural rhythmic aptitude and musicality, she started formal dance classes at the age of 2 1/2 and continued on with training in classical ballet, jazz, tap, modern/contemporary, hip-hop, musical theatre, pas de deux, pointe, and musical theater. Having received the title of Miss Teen Dance in 1999, and Miss Dance of Southern California in 2002, she continued on to complete her degree in dance. As a principle ballerina for Ballet Repertory Theater, she performed in the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, and many others. She then continued her training in International Ballroom and Latin, as well as American Smooth and Rhythm. In 2010 she won United States Pro/am Closed Silver Championship title, United States Pro/am Open Smooth Championship title, United States Pro/am Grand Championship title, World Pro/am Rising Star title, and World Pro/am Open Smooth Championship title. Since turning professional in 2011, she has continued to teach and choreograph assisting in shows such as ""So You Think You Can Dance"", and the stage production of ""Where's My Money".
Speaking At
