Marina Martynenko | Owner, Head Teacher

Marina is a certified teacher in both Standard (Ballroom) and Latin under the internationally recognized Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and is a member of the Canadian Dancesport Federation (CDF). She continuously strives to expand her dance knowledge and experience through training with top Canadian dancers, coaches and past champions.

Marina’s dance career was set in motion at the age of 6 in Estonia where she began her training in Rhythmic Gymnastics. From there she moved to Israel where her training took her to competitions across the country as well as to Europe. Since moving to Canada Marina has completed a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) in Rhythmic Gymnastics, and over the years has participated in classes and workshops in Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop, eventually adding Ballroom & Latin to the list.  In 2009 Marina registered Pure Dance Ottawa as an independent school and in September 2011 she opened the doors to her first studio.

As owner and head instructor of Pure Dance Marina’s goals are to continue her training professionally in both the American and International styles of Ballroom & Latin and to obtain the best knowledge possible to pass onto her students. She is passionate about dancing as she is about teaching and hopes to bring quality and more awareness to Ballroom and Latin dancing in Ottawa. She welcomes both male and female students of all ages to Pure Dance and aims for a pleasant, memorable, and rewarding experience with whatever path in dancing her students may choose.