Eugene Swing Dance Club
Staff
Instructors
Marcus Sterling
Marcus Sterling began his dancing journey in 2007 while an undergrad at Oregon State University. Drawn to social dance, he dove headfirst into dances like Night Club 2 Step, Country 2 Step, Hustle, and of course, West Coast Swing. He now teaches in the Portland area, coaching social dancers and competitive students alike. He enjoys helping people increasing not only their practical ability, but their knowledge about the dance as well.
Andrew Sunada
Andrew Sunada has been dancing his entire life, but it was West Coast Swing that truly captured his passion 13 years ago at Oregon State University. He quickly dove into competing, late-night dancing, and classes, drawn by the incredible freedom this dance offers for individual expression. Andrew is particularly fascinated by the art of entering and re-entering the swing, a dynamic he constantly explores and pushes.
As an international All-Star competitor, Andrew has performed two Rising Star routines with his partner Leilani Nakagawa, including one at the prestigious US Open. He’s recently ventured into teaching, finding immense joy in showing how fundamental West Coast Swing techniques empower dancers to unleash their unique inner rhythm. While competitive dancing is a close second, Andrew’s heart truly belongs to social dancing. Don’t hesitate to ask him to dance!
Joy Rosenthalhassis
Joy Davina loves to dance and WCS is one of her favorite styles for it is rich in rhythm, connection and creative expression for both roles. She has been studying WCS since 2010 and thrives on continuing to learn and hone her craft. She competes, performs and travels to host workshops all over the country. Her passion is teaching and she feels that dance is a huge gift in her life. She is excited to share with all of you.
Brett Granstrom and Keri Pilgrim
With over 16 years of dancing and teaching experience, Brett Granstrom and Keri Pilgrim are a dynamic partnership dedicated to elevating dancers of all levels. While they are trained Ballroom Professionals, their primary passion and focus is West Coast Swing. They are active, high-level competitors in this style, currently competing in the Advanced division on the global World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) circuit.
Their teaching style is uniquely enriched by their professional backgrounds outside the studio. Brett’s education in the performing arts translates into a strong emphasis on musicality, creative expression, and captivating performance quality. Keri, a school teacher with an extensive background in anatomy, provides an unparalleled understanding of body mechanics, allowing her to break down complex movements safely, efficiently, and intuitively.
Passionate about their students' success, Brett and Keri have directed performance teams and consistently coached West Coast Swing dancers to competition finals. To ensure their curriculum remains at the absolute cutting edge, they regularly train and collaborate with world dance champions, bringing the latest modern techniques directly back to their students.
Equally important to them is the heart of the dance: the social floor. Beyond competitive training, Brett and Keri love working with social dance students to enhance their pure joy of the dance. They focus heavily on connection, communication, and helping students comfortably meet their personal social goals—whether that means gaining the courage to ask someone to dance or feeling confident enough to dance all night.
As the driving forces behind Spark Up Dance in Oregon, Brett and Keri are deeply committed to fostering a thriving, welcoming, and highly educated West Coast Swing community. They regularly organize local social dances to provide a supportive space for dancers to connect and practice, in addition to hosting larger events like Rhythm on the Coast. Whether they are running a workshop, hosting a social dance, or working one-on-one, they focus on helping every dancer find their own unique spark and confidence on the floor.
