You have seen the moves, style, and excitement. Ballroom dancing is no longer your grandparents’ dancing or a debutante dance class. It’s striking in-tandem movement, breathtaking choreography, eye-catching, dazzling wardrobe, incredible athleticism, beautiful bodies, and overall perfection that are the result of years of practice, study, and competition.
Founded by Mindy Meads, who makes her home in Sun Valley, Idaho, Sun Valley Ballroom returns for a second year at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum, Idaho. With an accomplished retail career in C-suite roles, including serving as CEO of Land’s End, Victoria’s Secret Direct, and Aeropostale, Meads has also shared her expertise on numerous boards, including serving as the board chair of the Sun Valley Culinary Institute when the school first opened.
Meads caught the dancing bug early in life and took lessons at the Fred Astaire studio while living and working in New York City. Although she seldom competes, her love for the sport is endless. When Meads learned that there was a competitive dancing coach in Boise, Vasily Golovin, she reached out to him to ask whether he could teach her in Ketchum.
“Vasily is so precise in how he has me hold my fingers, hands, and feet, and in how I move,” she said. “Dancing is magical, and the dance floor is a place to escape. It’s hard work, but the mind-body connection and staying sharp while aging are undeniable.”
She added, “When I discovered Vasily’s connection with the world’s top competitive dancers, I wanted them to come perform in Idaho. It’s exciting to have the world’s best take time away from competition to come to Sun Valley. Four of the couples performing placed in the top ten percent at the Blackpool Dance Festival in England, the most prestigious in the world.”
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Vasily Golovin began training at age nine with some of the world’s top ballroom coaches. He competed internationally for more than 20 years, winning titles including Russian National Champion, European Champion, and Latin World Champion. Golovin has also won the Top Teaching award in several California competitions and is among the most highly acclaimed ballroom coaches in California. In addition, he is internationally recognized as a Professional Latin Champion representing the United States.
When Golovin and his wife, Alexis, visited Idaho on vacation, they fell in love with the state and moved to Boise in 2023. Today, he teaches dance in Boise and Ketchum. Golovin grew up and was educated in Russia, where he discovered dancing and a desire to become a professional dancer. At one point, he competed in 56 competitions in a single year.
“Since teaching, I have had students ranked first and second in the world, and a few years ago I was ranked sixth among 5,000 instructors worldwide,” said Golovin. “When you love what you are doing, it becomes your life.” He added, “I am friends with many dancers, and out of respect, I reached out to a few to come last year. This year, they all wanted to return because they enjoyed the show so much, and new couples are coming. I also have students from Boise joining the show who came last year.”
For 2026, returning dancers include Arina Grishanina and Alexander Chernositov, as well as Tatiana and Yegor Novikov. New this year, Sun Valley Ballroom welcomes three additional international champions, Austin and Liza Joson, Tal Livshitz and Ilana Keselman, and Curtis Collins and Beverly Durand.
Each duo, unique and mesmerizing, will perform international Latin dances, including the flirtatious cha-cha, the exotic samba, the passionate rumba, the dramatic paso doble, and the energetic jive, as well as classic ballroom dances such as the waltz, tango, and foxtrot. In partnership with The Spot, Ketchum’s nonprofit performing arts theater, proceeds from this year’s Sun Valley Ballroom performance will benefit the theater’s renovation and expansion for 2027.
“We are thrilled to partner with Mindy Meads and Sun Valley Ballroom for this extraordinary evening of dance,” said Yanna Lantz, Spot co-founder. “Ballroom is bold, technical, glamorous, and fearless—exactly the artistry we love celebrating at The Spot! We can’t wait to introduce these world-class performers to our community for a night of elegance and full-out showmanship.”
Sun Valley Ballroom will take place on August 22 at 7:30 pm at The Argyros in Ketchum. To purchase tickets at several levels, including a special pre-show cocktail and dessert experience, visit sunvalleyballroom.com.