Our Team
CULTIVATING EXPRESSION, NURTURING ARTISTRY AND INSPIRING A LOVE FOR DANCE
Svetlana Timmerman
Svetlana Timmerman is an international Ballroom and Latin American champion, teacher and judge, as well as experienced ballet teacher.
She first loved athletics and figure skating until she ‘tried out’ dancing at age 12 in one of the cultural palaces in Kovrov, Russia. At 13 she won her first gold medal.
Inspired by her dance coach, she studied for 4 years at the Vladimirskiy Regional College for Art & Culture.
She graduated in 1993 having passed all 33 subjects including the teaching of Classical Ballet, Ballroom and Latin-American dance, Jazz and National Dance, choreography, psychology, history of dance, music, anatomy, pedagogy and practical teaching.
Svetlana is exceptionally well versed in the Vaganova training system. However, it made sense to open a school in Ballroom & Latin American as she was well known and highly accomplished.
After six years of teaching, she met and married a South African businessman and moved to Johannesburg in 2000. While raising her four sons (aged 5, 13, 16, 26), she worked in a variety of different management and administrative jobs.
In 2019 Svetlana joined RSB to train a few of the younger age groups. However, when Yana or other teachers are away, she competently manages classes all the way to Level 6. She is highly motivated to study again soon.
“I understand what it takes to run a competitive dance school, so I admire Yana’s tremendous drive. She is a very experienced teacher dedicated to the discipline, getting results and seeing kids grow. I value the high professional standard at RSB, it is what I am used to and I can also see the results of my contribution.”
