Kathy St Jean
Kathy’s lifelong passion has been dance, and she finds immense joy in sharing that passion with her students. For her, the true reward lies in helping others grow in skill, confidence, and love for dancing. When you combine Kathy’s enthusiasm with her extensive experience and qualifications, it’s easy to see how she creates a fun, supportive environment that inspires dancers to reach their full potential.
Kathy St. Jean is a nationally and internationally recognized dance professional with a lifelong dedication to excellence in both ballroom and performing arts. She holds certifications as a championship ballroom judge with the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) and as a master-level judge with the United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC). She also serves as an Educator and Examiner for the UCWDC Judge Certification Program and frequently trains judges around the world, having taught across Asia and Europe.
Kathy is the Chairman of Judges for various NDCA ballroom and collegiate competitions and brings decades of experience to every event she supports. She is currently the President of the United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC), where she leads with vision, integrity, and a commitment to growing the country dance community worldwide.
Her professional affiliations include the National Dance Council of America, the North American Dance Teachers Association, the Dance Teachers Club of Boston (with dual memberships in both ballroom and performing arts), and Dance Educators of America.
In addition to her judging and certification work, Kathy is also an accomplished coach and teacher. She has served on the faculty of the Rhode Island College Dance Department for eight years and currently leads as the Head Coach of the Brown University Ballroom Team. Her students have achieved exceptional results, including nine world titles, countless top placements, and consistent recognition at the highest levels of competition. Kathy herself has received numerous Top Teacher awards in both ballroom and country circuits.
Her performance résumé includes appearances on the NBC-TV series Dance Fever and with her students in the Samsung “Dancing with the Stars” Road-Tour Pre-Show. Kathy’s performing arts dance company has earned top awards and had the honor of performing at Disney World.
She is also the Co-Event Director of the New England Dance Festival, one of the premier dance events in the region. With unmatched expertise, a passion for developing dancers, and a commitment to artistic excellence, Kathy continues to be a powerful force in the dance community, both on and off the floor.
Randy Deats
Randy Deats is the Co-Director of The Dancing Feeling and one of the most respected figures in the dance community. A sought-after coach and renowned teacher, Randy brings decades of experience and deep technical knowledge to his work with dancers of all levels. His comfortable and encouraging teaching style helps students feel relaxed, confident, and eager to learn—whether they are stepping onto the social dance floor for the first time or competing at the national level.
Randy is certified as a championship-level judge with the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) and a master judge with the United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC). He serves as Chairman of Judges for both NDCA and collegiate competitions and is a familiar presence as Master of Ceremonies and adjudicator at regional, national, and world-title events across the United States.
He is a professional member of the North American Dance Teachers Association, the Dance Teachers Club of Boston (DTCB), and the UCWDC, and he has served as an officer for DTCB, the NDCA, and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD). Randy also coaches the Brown University Ballroom Team, where he helps collegiate dancers thrive in both performance and competition.
A former Latin Champion as well as a finalist in Standard and Smooth, Randy’s competitive background is matched by his creative achievements. His instructional TV series Dancing Disco earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Instructional Programming. He is also a respected choreographer and competitive coach.
Randy currently serves as Co-Event Director of the New England Dance Festival and Director of the Patriot Dance Festival. He remains deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of The Dancing Feeling and plays an active role in training both staff and students.
With his unique combination of patience, expertise, and passion, Randy has built an outstanding reputation in the dance world—one student at a time.