Our Studio

Jim-and-MicheleJim and Michele Gray
Specializing in Standard and Latin styles of dance
Jim and Michele Gray are Oregon’s premier teaching duo. Their dedication to training and extensive competition experience guarantee that you are learning from the best!

Jim and Michele began training and competing together in 2007.  They are thrilled to be working with Charlotte Jorgensen, and Paul Richardson and Olga Rodionova, and they continue to pursue a higher level of mastery of their sport.




Jim GrayMore about Jim Gray
Jim’s love of dance also began in his childhood. Introduced to square dancing by his father, he soon added round dancing and then ballroom dancing to his repertoire. First a social ballroom dancer, Jim decided to turn to competitive ballroom in order to master a higher level of technique and skill. His decision paid off. He and his first partner rose to a 2nd place ranking in the US in amateur International Standard before he turned professional. Along the way, he placed first nationwide in bronze, silver, gold, novice and prechampionship levels at the US National Championships.

Together with Michele, Jim is having fun mastering new skills in both International Latin and Standard as they travel for lessons and competitions across the US.  He has been featured in Premier Magazine (2003), The Portland Tribune (2004), The Chinese Times (2006 and 2008), InStep Magazine (multiple times 2006-2009), and Portland Family Magazine (2010).

He has trained with many amazing teachers, including Charlotte Jorgensen, Jonathon Wilkins, Katusha Demidova, Ieva Pauksena, Augusto Schiavo, Kristina Rihanoff, Kenny and Marion Welsch, Christopher Hawkins, and Michael and Vicky Barr.

Jim’s expansive experience is an invaluable asset to his teaching career, which began in Portland several years ago. He enjoys the challenge of teaching dancers at all skill levels and loves passing his knowledge and skills on to others.


Michele_HagglundMore about Michele Gray
Since age five, Michele has been dancing, performing, and competing in many dance styles. Her experience encompasses both Latin and Standard ballroom dance as well as ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and contemporary styles of dance. Michele actively receives coaching from the world's top coaches, and is thrilled to compete across the U.S with partner Jim Gray.

While attending Biola University in Los Angeles, Michele made her teaching debut. She taught tap, jazz and ballet for a non-profit community outreach program. After returning to Oregon, she coached cheerleading at Westside Christian High school, her alma-mater. Driven to expand her dancing experience, Michele turned to ballroom dancing, and instantly fell in love. Ballroom dancing has become the joy of her life, a joy that she loves to share with others, by teaching everyone from beginners to competitors. She has and continues to train with ballroom legends such as Charlotte Jorgensen, Corky Ballas, Kristina Rihanoff, Ieva Pauksena, Katusha Demidova, Paul Richardson and Olga Rodionova, Hazel Newberry, and Craig Shaw.
Michele has been featured in: The Chinese Times (2008), InStep Magazine (multiple times 2006-2009), and Portland Family Magazine (2010).


leilaniLeilani Nakagawa
Specializing in West Coast swing, American and social dances, and Wedding choreography
Leilani loves ballroom dance because of the beauty and fitness one is able to create through this art form. Leilani has been ballroom dancing for 9 years. In the beginning of her dance career, she focused on the fun and lively Swing dance. She was honored with the opportunity to lead the swing club at Tigard High School where she choreographed, taught, and then performed at both school and community functions. Leilani’s later ballroom experience includes: training under Jim and Michele Gray, and the World class coaches that they bring in for their own training, participating in the Nationally Recognized DVIDA Teacher Training Program, competition in International Dancesport, and teaching group and private lessons.

At UpTown Ballroom, she strives to create enjoyable classes that produce top-notch dancers. Leilani loves see her students reach a sense of personal accomplishment and confidence through their dancing on both mental and physical levels. Always passionate about her sport, Leilani continues to enhance her own personal skill through continued training and competitions.