our Staff

Our instructors are certified ballroom dance teachers. They teach students of all ages and levels and are also available for Pro/Am competition and to perform at special events. Please contact info@briora.com or 425.641.5123 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Jessica McMorrow Stefanov, Founder and CEO

Jessica created Briora Ballroom together with her husband and dance partner, Slava, with the vision of building a joyful community that fosters fun, togetherness and personal growth through dancing. 

Jessica is a successful competitive dancer with a career spanning 20 years in the dance industry. She is a United States National Professional Finalist, ranking among the top 6 couples in the United States, in both the Rising Star Smooth (2015) and 9-Dance (2008 and 2009) divisions. Over the course of her competitive career, she has won numerous titles, including:

• International Grand Ball Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion (2019)

• Emerald Ball Rising Star Smooth Professional Vice Champion (2016)

• Holiday Dance Classic Rising Star Professional Smooth Vice Champion (2016)

• California Open Rising Star Professional Smooth Vice Champion (2015)

• San Francisco Open Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion (2015)

• Ballroom Beach Bash Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion (2015)

• United States National Professional Rising Star Smooth Finalist (2015)

• Heritage Classic Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion (2013)

• Open Professional Smooth Champion, Seattle Star Ball (2013)

• Rising Star Professional Rhythm Champion, City Lights Ball (2010)

• Hollywood Dancesport Rising Star Professional Rhythm Champion (2009)

• Autumn Dance Classic Rising Star Professional Rhythm Champion (2009)

• United States National Professional 9-Dance Finalist (2008, 2009)

• Volunteer State Dance Challenge Rising Star Professional Rhythm Champion (2008)

• Open Professional Rhythm Champion, Seattle Star Ball (2007, 2008)

• Rising Star Professional Smooth Champion, Seattle Star Ball (2008)

Internationally, Jessica and her husband Slava were ranked among in the top 12 couples in the World in Professional American Smooth, winning placement as a Semifinalists in the World Professional Open Smooth Championships at Embassy Ball (2014, 2015).

Jessica is a certified dance instructor with DVIDA and the U.S. Terpsichore Association in all styles of ballroom dance, including Smooth, Rhythm, Latin, Standard and Theater Arts.  She enjoys teaching students of all levels and seeing the joy dance brings into their lives.

Jessica has been dancing since the age of seven and is experienced in a variety of dance forms. Her early dance experience was in classical ballet, and she trained intensively as a ballet major at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts conservatory program. In addition to her dance training, Jessica holds a BA in History summa cum laude from the University of Washington, where she was named the Outstanding Graduating History Major and was awarded a Dean’s Medal in the Social Sciences. She was born and raised in the Seattle area.

Slava Stefanov, Co-Founder and Dance Director

Slava co-founded Briora Ballroom together with his wife, Jessica, and is the creative genius behind Briora’s endeavors.   

Slava began dancing at eight years old in his native Bulgaria, and for many years he represented his home country at ballroom dance competitions domestically and abroad.  He achieved great success in the International Ballroom division, culminating in winning the Bulgarian National Professional Standard Championship.  Other highlights of his professional Standard career include placing as a finalist in the US Open Professional Rising Star Standard Championship, 16th in the European Professional Standard Championship, and 18th in the World Professional Standard Championship.

After meeting his future wife, Jessica, in Orange County, California, Slava began competing the in the Professional American Smooth division, where he also achieved great success. Slava and Jessica are United States National Professional Rising Star Smooth Finalists, placing among the top 6 couples in the United States in this division.  Together, Slava and Jessica won numerous titles, including:

• International Grand Ball Rising Star Professional Smooth Champions (2019)

• Emerald Ball Rising Star Smooth Professional Vice Champions (2016)

• Holiday Dance Classic Rising Star Professional Smooth Vice Champions (2016)

• California Open Rising Star Professional Smooth Vice Champions (2015)

• San Francisco Open Rising Star Professional Smooth Champions (2015)

• Ballroom Beach Bash Rising Star Professional Smooth Champions (2015)

• United States National Professional Rising Star Smooth Finalists (2015)

• Heritage Classic Rising Star Professional Smooth Champions (2013)

• Open Professional Smooth Champions, Seattle Star Ball (2013)

Internationally, Slava and Jessica were ranked among in the top 12 couples in the World in Professional American Smooth, winning placement as a Semifinalists in the World Professional Open Smooth Championships at Embassy Ball (2014, 2015).

Slava is a successful Pro/Am teacher and competes regularly with his students, many of whom are champions in their divisions. He enjoys teaching students of all levels and is an expert at finding tools to help them achieve their personal best in dancing.  He is certified in all styles of ballroom dance with DVIDA.  In addition to his love for the traditional ballroom dances, Slava is passionate about Argentine Tango and the authentic partnering skills embodied in this dance.

sequoia nelson, dance instructor

Sequoia’s love of movement began at a very young age. She danced as a child and at the age of 13 she found Yoga. She has been teaching since she received her teaching certification at 18. Years later Sequoia found partner dancing and has been hooked ever since! Sequoia trains in Smooth, Rhythm, Country Western, and West Coast Swing. She is a 2x world champion in the UCWDC circuit, and a regular finalist in the advanced division of West Coast Swing. Sequoia also loves to study the biomechanics of movement and dance which she uses to inform her teaching.

When she is not dancing or learning, Sequoia loves to garden, cook, and hike with her pup.

mehman mehdiyev, dance instructor

Mehman Mehdiyev is originally from Azerbaijan. He has a higher education, having graduated from the Customs University in his home country, but chose to dedicate his life to dancing. He feels this is the best decision he has ever made, because dancing is what makes him most happy.

Mehman has been dancing since childhood. He is a Certified Teacher of Ballroom and Latin Dancing with more than 20 years experience teaching. His career has been accomplished and varied and he has won awards at championships in his country. His early career includes being the Silver medalist in Latin American Dancing in his country, and the Gold medalist among universities in Show Dance. As a Professional, his credits include appearances on "Azerbaijan's Got Talent", and being a choreographer for the opening and closing ceremonies at the "Azerbaijan Formula 1 Grand Prix." Mehman is a Certified Adjudicator in Azerbaijan, and has been designated a "Master of Sport in Ballroom Dancing" by the Government of Azerbaijan. He speaks fluent English, Russian, and Turkish.

Mehman says, “I think people who dance are very different from others. Dancing gives pleasure and brings happiness. Therefore, I call everyone to attend my classes, I will teach you how to dance and at the same time I promise a lot of positive vibes.” Photo coming soon.

vi ha, dance instructor

Dr. Vi Q. Ha, with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut, joyfully combines his love for engineering with his passion for dance. Specializing in motion dynamics, Vi uses his in-depth understanding of 3D kinematic and physics to make learning dance an enlightening experience. His approach simplifies the concepts behind dance movements, making it accessible and engaging for students of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced.

Vi has taught salsa and bachata since 2022, bringing energy and enthusiasm to every class. His commitment to dance education is highlighted by his dedication to traveling across America to attend numerous salsa and bachata congress workshops, consistently enhancing his skills and teaching methods. Vi’s journey through these workshops enriches his understanding and appreciation of salsa and bachata, allowing him to bring fresh, innovative ideas back to his students. His classes are characterized by a warm, inviting atmosphere where dancers of all levels are encouraged to explore their potential and embrace the joy of dance.

In addition to his passion for dance, Vi is an enthusiastic fitness advocate and has been an active competitor in Smooth, Rhythm, Standard, and Latin dances at the amateur level since 2016. His involvement in ballroom dancing has not only refined his skills but also broadened his understanding of performance dynamics and the scientific role of body motions in achieving artistic excellence. Beyond his achievements on the dance floor, Vi has made significant contributions to academia as a teaching assistant during his engineering graduate studies and continues to foster a love for mathematics as a math teacher.  Vi is originally from Vietnam and grew up in Connecticut. He speaks Cantonese fluently, along with English. Photo coming soon.

diane jarmolow, master instructor

Diane Jarmolow is an innovator in the field of ballroom dancing whose passion is providing the resources people need to become outstanding professionals and dance studio owners. She founded the Ballroom Dance Teachers College in 1992,which offers Teacher Training, Certification Preparation and Business Consulting to aspiring and working ballroom dance professionals at all levels. Her program, the Ballroom Dance Teachers College Curriculum is her greatest accomplishment to date – a 300-hour ballroom teacher training program available to dance studios, teachers and dance enthusiasts.

Diane is the author of Teach Like a Pro: The Ultimate Guide for Ballroom Dance Instructors, a book for both new and experienced dance teachers. She co-created (with Kasia Kozak) the Move Like a Champion training, book and DVD for all ballroom dancers to help them better understand how their bodies work so they can “operate” their own bodies to produce beautiful movement. trained hundreds of teachers, including U.S. and International dance champions. She is the founder and former owner/director of the renowned Metronome Ballroom, San Francisco’s “Best Place to Learn to Dance.”

Anissa tafoya, receptionist

Anissa was born and raised in Sunny California before moving to Washington State in 2017. While not a dancer she has an immense appreciation for the skill and determination ballroom dancing takes. She’s the first point of contact here at the studio and always ready to help with anything our clients may need.

You can reach her directly by E-mail at:

• reception@brioradance.com