Meet The Staff: Dance Instructors and Support Staff

Among our staff, your will find teachers who have or are currently:

• Competing locally, nationally and internationally
• Coach other teachers nationally and internationally
• Appear on television
• Choreographed for Disney World
• Train teachers for professional exams
• Certified judges who have officiated at regional, national and world events
• Taught on cruise ships
• Serve as Chairman of Judges at competitions
• Create Professional competitive choreography
• Receive top teacher awards at various competitions
• Have students who have won world titles
• and the list goes on!

Randy Deats is Co-Director of the The Dancing Feeling.

Learn more about Randy…

Rachael Mooney kind, patient, and a joy to work with. She loves helping her students grow through private lessons where she balances fun with technical information. Rachael has an extensive knowledge of both the American and International styles of ballroom dance as well as country dancing. She teaches both social dancing and competitive dancing. Many of her students enjoy performing in The Dancing Feeling studio showcases where they can add some flare to the dancing! Rachael enjoys competing with her students in both country and ballroom where her students have won top student awards, national championships, and world championships! Rachael is the recipient of many top teacher awards. She welcomes new students to join her no matter what level you may be!

Josh Morgenstein combines years of experience with patience and good humor. He cares deeply for his students and strives to help them meet all of their dancing goals. Josh teaches both American-style and International-style Ballroom as well as Country dancing. He trains students in everything from social dancing to Showcase performances to high-level, competitive dancing.

Maureen Ford  joined The Dancing Feeling with an extensive background in education. She spent many years as a school teacher specializing in Physical Education, where she incorporated ballroom-dance lessons into her high-school curriculum. Maureen loves teaching social, American-style dancing and specializes in Lindy Hop and Charleston. She also enjoys performing with her students at studio showcases and she is known for choreographing amazing formation pieces

Deborah O’Donnell has been teaching for over 25 years. She teaches both ballroom (American Style) and Zumba. Debbie has certification from Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston and the Zumba Association.   In addition, Deborah has danced, taught and performed for various events such as: Newport Preservation Society, Festival Ballet Fundraiser, Water Fire in Providence, Swarovski National Corporate Gala and many more.  Debbie has coached Sammy Morris of the New England Patriots who competed in a Dancing With The Stars fundraiser where he danced to a perfect score victory! She is also one of the few Zumba teachers with a Latin dance background in the various latin dances that Zumba embraces, which helps to make her Zumba classes extra special! Debbie has a great sense of energy which will help you get you on the dance floor with confidence and style!   Come join one of her classes or take a private!

Anthony Scalzi began ballroom dancing in 2009 while attending Rhode Island College. Anthony served as President of the Rhode Island College Ballroom Dance Club and co-founded the Rhode Island College Annual Collegiate Ballroom Competition. Anthony has a great style of teaching where people feel comfortable and learn at a pace that is exactly right for them while having fun! Anthony enjoys teaching both social and competitive dancing including American and International style. He also has a background in country dancing.

Anthony is a former professional competitor in the American Smooth style in the NDCA Professional Circuit. He and his partner were finalists at various competitions across New England. Anthony’s students continue to place at the top of their categories, including various scholarship and championship divisions, while always enjoying the fun of competition. Anthony will help you to become the best you can be, whether a social dancer or a competitor!

Noah Carsten  started dancing in college where he was the president of the ballroom club. He enjoys teaching several styles of dance. These include: ballroom, latin, country, swing, and line dance. Once he started dancing, he quickly realized how great ballroom dancing is for everyone and decided to pursue a career as an instructor. His students enjoy lessons that are always fun while learning just the right amount of technique to become excellent dancers. Noah competes with students at both ballroom and country competitions where they placed at the top of their field. Noah enjoys teaching group classes, private lessons, and lessons for those getting married. Noah also recently won an UCWDC World Title in line dance. Whether you are interested in social or competitive dancing, Noah will design lessons to help you be the best you can be. In addition, Noah is also the studio manager. If he is not on the dance floor you can find him working hard on our social media, marketing, website, event planning and so much more! 

Derrick Powers – Derrick began dancing when he joined the Rhode Island College Ballroom Club. During his tenure at the club, he was not only a team member but held office and a seat on the executive board.  After enjoying collegiate competitive success, he realized how great ballroom dancing is for everyone and decided to join the staff at The Dancing Feeling. His students enjoy competing at local competitions and performing studio showcases. Derrick enjoys teaching private lessons, group classes as well as lessons for those getting married. Derrick is kind and humorous when he teaches and helps people feel comfortable and gain confidence on the dance floor. 

Daniel Koch – Daniel was born in Alabama however grew up in Germany where in 1993 he began dancing. Upon returning to the United States, he studied American Style Rhythm and Ballroom and began teaching these styles of dance. Daniel has enjoyed competing in both Rhythm and Smooth. Over the years he has helped many people to see how easy and fun learning to dance can be. He enjoys introducing singles or couples to the world of ballroom dancing whether it be for social fun or preparing for that special first wedding dance. Daniel also enjoys preparing his students to dance in studio showcase performances where they can add some flair to all they have learned. Daniel is patient and has a fun style of teaching which will have you feeling confident on the dance floor before you know it!

Tracie Scotti has served in public education since 2005.  She taught in Rhode Island and Virginia and currently works for Warwick Public Schools.  Aside from teaching middle school mathematics, Tracie has taught ballroom dancing at The Dancing Feeling in Warwick, RI and country line dancing in Staunton, VA.  Other interests include spending time with her husband and two boys, Zumba, reading, and rooting for the Patriots.  Tracie hopes to someday RV across the country with her boots in tow.  In the meantime, she is looking forward to sharing her love of country line dancing with you.

Jayne Pawasauskas began her ballroom dance journey in college, where she joined the ballroom dance club and hasn’t stopped since!  As an amateur dancer and competitor, she won numerous awards at USA Dance and NDCA competitions in American Smooth and 9-dance events.  She became certified as a competition scrutineer and later coached college dance teams.  She enhanced her dance skills as a professional cast member in a weekly 1920’s themed show in Newport, Rhode Island, for several summer seasons.  She currently teaches private lessons with competitor training, and competes in Pro-Am events at local, regional, and national competitions.  When not dancing, Jayne is a Clinical Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy.