OUR INSTRUCTORS

Jonthan Stangel - Director

- bio not available

Amanda Stangel - Executive Secretary

Amanda has been with the Arthur Murray Studio of Glastonbury for over 5 years and is the "go-to" girl for all important information. She is happy and friendly and ready to help with all of your non-dancing needs.

Ilker Ozbelli - Staff

- bio not available

Yvette H. Chung - Studio Manager

For Yvette, a life of music and dancing was apparent early. Growing up in Southern California, Yvette started dancing at the age of two. Later she started to explore her vocal abilities. At the University of Redlands, Yvette excelled in her singing and graduating with a Bachelor of Music and Vocal performance with emphasis in classical opera. This same love for music led to the Hart School of Music in Hartford, CT. Here she earned her Master’s of Music in vocal performance. After school Yvette was looking for a way out at the food service industry that got her through school. She was referred to the Glastonbury Studio by Frank Rende at the Arthur Murray of New Britain Studio. She immediately realized that she found a home. Yvette’s smile and energy have become a defining characteristic of the Glastonbury staff as she spreads her joy of music and dance with all around her.

John Gonzales- Instructor

After football was no longer an option, John was invited to a social dance class while attending Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. After leaving Ricks his new found love for dancing led to a spot on the Song and Dance team, a musical review team, at Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah. John then left school to work multiple sales jobs. After moving to Connecticut with a marketing firm, John came into contact with studio director Jonathan Stangel on routine sales calls. After discovering his love for dancing and people skills, John was offered a position. Six months later he accepted and has been teaching since.

Kelly Simon - Instructor

Kelly Simon’s personal mission is to share the gift of dance with everyone. Her ability to communicate and teach others demonstrates the passion with which she executes her true calling.  She began her dance training at age three studying ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, step, and tap.  Since 2001, she has been teaching dance to students of all ages all over Connecticut. Academically, her credits include a B. A. in Fine Arts/Dance with a minor in Physical Education from Eastern Connecticut State University.  She has received numerous National and World championship awards competing with such groups as East Coast Intensity and Celebrity Allstars. In 2009, she was asked to share her relentless drive and unwavering enthusiasm with the staff of Arthur Murray to teach the world to dance… or at least, the people in the Greater Hartford area.

Josh Kassoy - Instructor

As a high energy individual, Josh has always been a person on the move, with a personality and smile that could charge a city. After high school he pursued his passion for the arts, through theater productions, however was still yearning for more. One day while serenading and speaking with funny accents in the drive-thru of his previous job, Amanda Stangel, the Executive Secretary of Arthur Murray, happened to come through and was blown away by the personality that shined through the speaker. She then mentioned how Arthur Murray was looking for instructors and thought I would be perfect. Soon after Josh made his way down the staircase into what he now calls a safe haven of laughter and fun. Being a place full of likeminded people whose goal is to spread positive energy and change people’s lives through dancing, it was just the opportunity he had been waiting for. Currently Josh is dancing his way into the hearts of all his students. Making a difference is his drive, entertaining and educating is his goal.

Andrea Mancini - Instructor

I was raised in Connecticut by an Italian family where dancing and music was a big part of our everyday lives. The moment I witnessed my cousins first dance recital at age 5, I was hooked. The audience sat quietly watching each performance as I stood in the aisle emulating each step and wishing it was me that was on the stage. Needless to say the following week I was enrolled in dance lessons. My dance training background consists of jazz, hip hop, ballet and lyrical. At 18 I moved to New York City and continued my training part time while pursuing my college degree. Once adulthood approached responsibilities and job opportunities brought me home to CT and forced the brakes on my long loved and inspiring hobby. As fate would have it a good friend of mine brought dancing back into my life with an opportunity to both learn and teach the art of ballroom and the rest is history.