Our Principals & Directors
EXTENSIVE TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Harry and Marie Raiend, the Directors and Principals of UCan2 Dance Studio, have many more than 60 years of combined experience in teaching all forms of dance from ballet to folk dance, dancesport to hip hop and tap, the Raiends have turned their passion for movement and gift for teaching into a successful business. They travel internationally regularly to adjudicate, to teach and to attend training camps and congresses to ensure that they are as up to date in their teaching methods as possible.
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From just-at-school age to post-pension stage, from beginners to the most advanced, Harry and Marie are committed to teaching people to be the best dancers they can be.
Harry Raiend
Principal / Director
FNZFATD (examiner), MNZFDT
Dance Master Degree Europe
WDSF & WDSF PD International Adjudicator
Harry has a Dance Masters Degree from Europe, has Licentiate level qualifications in Ballroom, Latin American & New Vogue and holds an International Adjudication licence. Having danced competitively in Europe and been trained by the best he brought with him a wealth of international experience and expertise in his field.
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With a natural gift for inspiring, motivating and coaching, Harry has been extremely satisfied to watch as his beginners turn into international quality competitive dancers. He appeared as a judge on TV3's "So You Think You Can Dance" in 2006.
Harry was delighted to be invited to join the adjudication panel at the WDSF Grand Slam Ballroom and Latin American in Chengdu, People's Republic of China in July 2011. It was an inspiring experience. (The WDSF Grand Slam can be likened to the Golf Majors!) 2012 had a great start when he was invited to go back to his homeland (Estonia) and join the panel of Adjudicators at the Old Thomas Trophy in Tallinn. This was a 3 day event and included WDSF International Opens in all ages.
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In September, 2012 he went to Schladming, Austria to judge the WDSF World Youth Ballroom and then in November he went to Oslo, Norway to judge the WDSF World 10 Dance. Fabulous dancing!
2013 included judging the WDSF World under 21 Latin American in Platja d'Aro, Spain - a four day competition including WDSF International Open events and also including Wheelchair Dancesport. It was an inspiring 4 days!
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2014 got off to a great start with an invitation to judge the WDSF Grand Slam in Estonia (the first time Estonia has hosted one of these). This was 3 days of wonderful dancing from many of the world's very best dancers - Standard and Latin American. In November he had a quick trip to Vancouver where he judged the WDSF World under 21 Ten Dance, WDSF World Senior 2 Ballroom and other WDSF and local events. In December he judged the WDSF Open Latin American in Australia.
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2015 - WDSF World Amateur Latin American in Vienna. WDSF Open Latin American in Australia. WDSF Open Latin American in Melbourne, Australia
2016 - WDSF World Senior IV Ballroom in Belgium. WDSF Grand Slam Standard & Latin American in Hong Kong. WDSF Open Standard and Latin American in Melbourne, Australia.
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2017 - WDSF Grand Slam Standard & Latin American in Wuhan, China. Lecturer WDSF 2.1/3.0 Congress, Wuhan. Trofeo Columbo Star Championship in Bologna, Italy. BD Dance World Superstars Dancesport Championship in Singapore. WDSF World 10 Dance and WDSF PD World 10 Dance in Marseilles, France. WDSF World Junior II Latin American in Bucharest, Romania. WDSF Open Latin American in Melbourne, Australia.
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2018 - Trofeo Columbo Star Championship, Bologna, Italy. Star Cup, Ravenna, Italy.
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Marrie Raiend
Principal / Director
FNZFATD (examiner), FNZFDT, RAD RTS
WDSF & WDSF PD International Adjudicator
Trained in New Zealand with a 20 year Ballet teaching career under her belt, Marie turned to Dancesport where she is constantly increasing her teaching skills and knowledge as she travels to the major competitions and congresses around New Zealand, Australasia and the World. She was the Ballroom & Latin American choreographer on TV3's "So You Think You Can Dance" in 2006.
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In 2011 she was very happy to be a part of the adjudication panel for the WDSF event in Christchurch and the WDSF International Open and Asian Pacifics in Australia.
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In 2012 she enjoyed adjudicating the WDSF World Junior II Standard in Moscow and the WDSF International Open in Melbourne.
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In 2013 she went to Riga, Latvia to judge the WDSF World Junior II Ten Dance. It was exciting to see so much really excellent dancing from ones so young.
2014 was the opportunity to judge the WDSF Grand Slams in both Ballroom and Latin American in Wuhan, China followed by the WDSF World Showdance in Chengdu in both Ballroom and Latin American. This was a really wonderful experience with the opportunity to spend a little time in China instead of the normal fly in/fly out! In December she adjudicated the WDSF Open Standard in Australia.
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2015 - WDSF Grand Slam Ballroom and Latin American in Hong Kong. WDSF World Junior II Ballroom in Moldova. WDSF Open Standard in Australia.
2016 - WDSF PD World Standard and WDSF World Standard in Aarhus, Denmark. WDSF Grand Slam Finals both Standard and Latin American in Shanghai, China.
2017 - WDSF World Senior I Standard in Kistelek, Hungary. WDSF Open Standard in Melbourne, Australia.
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2018 - WDSF PD World Latin American, Shijiazhuang, China
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Marie holds fellowship degrees with the NZFATD - with whom she is an examiner - and the NZFDT. Her lifelong mission has been to teach the world to dance!
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