MEET OUR PROFESSIONALS

Wilson Barrera
World Dance Champion
World Class Adjudicator
President of Wilson DanceSport International Studio, Inc.

Wilson Barrera has over 25 years of experience as a professional, performer, competitor, coach and choreographer in the world of DanceSport. His solo performances have been acclaimed worldwide by audiences and critics alike. Wilson knew when he was just 16 years old that dancing would be his life. Born in Colombia, South America, Wilson began to attract the attention of the dance world when he performed as lead dancer in his own Folkloric Dance Company in Miami. This led to his close association with other celebrated dancers around the world, as he became a champion competitor in competitions worldwide.

“I want every student to feel good, look good and discover themselves all over again,” says Wilson enthusiastically. His high energy permeates the studio atmosphere and proves that these are not merely empty slogans. There is a palpable joy for dance that he shares with every student who walks through the door.

With his former wife and dance partner, Margaret Burns, Wilson came to Sarasota in 1996 and founded Ballroom DanceSport Theatre as a professional, non-profit arts organization. This group established an educational dance program in Sarasota and Venice Middle and High schools as a credited activity. Three years later, in 1999, Wilson opened his own Wilson's DanceSport International, Inc. studio offering dance events, lessons and competition-level instruction in a variety of dance styles.

As a four-time World Champion, Wilson brings to his studio accomplishments and experience found nowhere else in southwest Florida. His lifetime love for dance is reflected in all aspects of his life!

Elizabeth Cartier
Dance Instructor and Studio Manager

Elizabeth Cartier and her partner, Max Lototskyy, are the top currently competing professional dance partnership in residence at Wilson’s DanceSport. Elizabeth moved to Sarasota in 2000 to train under the guidance of Wilson Barrera and continues to travel the world training, dancing, and absorbing the wisdom of the world’s top coaches. She herself is now a master teacher and her students consistently receive top rankings in competitions in the U.S. and Europe.

“It’s a misconception that ballroom dancing is only for women,” says Elizabeth. “I see the strength, grace and enthusiasm of my students grow every day just like what we see on Dancing with the Stars.”

As studio manager she has both a high profile in the community as well as a close relationship with all those who train at the studio.

Margaret Burns
World Dance Champion
World Class Adjudicator, Dance Instructor, and Coach

Margaret Burns doesn’t talk much about her ten years of glory and red carpet treatment in international DanceSport. From 1987 through 1996, she and her partner, Wilson Barrera, were the darlings of the dance world winning championship titles and performing on tour to rave reviews all over the world. Together they were Exhibition World Champions, U.S. Ten Dance Champions, and U.S. Latin finalists. Margaret is the only American dancer to win three British championship titles.

Margaret has been dancing over 30 years and now devotes her time to teaching, coaching and, as a World-class Adjudicator, going to competitions. As a teacher in the studio she works with beginning through professional level students. “People might say they have left feet, but I always answer that I have a collection of right feet”, says Margaret. “I specialize in giving students the right feet!”

Maksym “Max” Lototskyy
Dance Instructor

Hailing from the Ukraine, Max Lototskyy searched the world over for the perfect dance partner. When he and Elizabeth began exchanging video clips and communicating online it was the beginning of what is expected to be a star-studded partnership. Max received the highest level of training in International Standard and Latin styles before winning and placing in competitions in Europe and Russia. He also had an active studio and teaching career in Kiev before making the move to Sarasota in 2006.

Max, like all the professionals at Wilson’s DanceSport, is a bit of a perfectionist and brings out the best in each of his students.

Luis Peña
Dance Instructor

“Every hour I have a different key to open a new world for my students,” shares Luis as he delights in finding the right words to express his own joy of teaching and dancing. “Every dance gives you a different character and range of emotions to express. And that’s what people want to learn – how to express themselves through dance.” Drawing on his years of Karate training, he observes, “In dance you spread your feelings through your body unlike any other sport. Karate places your body and mind against an opponent. Dance is communicating with your partner and often exploring fears and coming to a deeper self-awareness.”

Luis traces his dancing roots to the folk traditions of his native Colombia. When he came to Sarasota in 1998, he began teaching folk dancing to children in the Colombian community instilling not only pride in heritage, but love of dance as well. Needless to say the Latin dances of salsa, samba, cha cha, merengue come naturally to him, but Luis has polished his ballroom form as well. As for his teaching, let’s just say he was named Top Teacher at the 2006 Millennium Dancesport Championships.