About CDC Studios
CDC Studios opened its doors on October 15, 2022, and has quickly become one of the largest dance studios in the Valley. Spanning 8,000 square feet, it features a 4,000 SF professional ballroom dance floor and a 640 SF junior ballroom. It’s also the only studio in the Valley with its own beer and wine bar—offering a fun and welcoming dance experience.
Our Mission
At CDC Studios, we couldn’t be more excited to share our passion for dance with you. As a team of dedicated instructors, performers, competitors, and social dancers, we bring together a wide range of expertise and experience from across the dance industry—all with one goal: to create a vibrant, welcoming community where everyone feels at home.
Our mission is to foster a culture of respect, trust, and open communication, where dancers of all levels can grow not only in their dance skills but also in confidence, creativity, and connection. We believe dance should be inclusive, inspiring, and fun—free from elitism or division. Instead, we celebrate diversity, encourage exploration across styles, and challenge one another to reach new horizons.
Whether you’re stepping onto the floor for the first time or refining your artistry as a seasoned dancer, our team is here to support, guide, and inspire you on your journey. Because at Creative Dance Collective, we believe dancers are lifelong learners—and together, we’re building something truly special.
Welcome to the family. Welcome to Creative Dance Collective.
Bonnie Yuen
Hi, I’m Bonnie Yuen! I was born in Hong Kong and moved to the United States when I was 6 years old. My dance journey began in high school, where I studied and performed ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, and contemporary. At 18, I had the amazing opportunity to dance for the WNBA Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad and the AFL Arizona Rattlers Sidewinder team. From there, I expanded into teaching and competing in hip hop and Brazilian Samba, while also enjoying a professional career as an aerialist.
In 2009, I discovered ballroom dancing—and I fell in love with it. Since then, I’ve been teaching and competing in American Rhythm and Smooth with both students and professional partners. Over the past 17+ years, I’ve been honored to receive awards like Top New Student Specialist, Top Competitive Student Teacher, Top Regional Teacher, and Top Customer Service. In my professional career, I’ve earned titles including Rising Star American Rhythm Vice-Champion, National American Smooth Finalist, Regional American Smooth Champion, and others that I’m so proud of.
Today, as the director of Creative Dance Collective, my passion is creating a welcoming and inclusive space where everyone feels at home on the dance floor. Dance has shaped my life in so many ways, and it’s my joy to share that same excitement, confidence, and connection with our community at CDC Studios.
Aleksandr Tarasenko
I was born and raised in Chernihiv, Ukraine, and began dancing when I was just 6 years old. Only a few months after starting, I competed in my very first event—and proudly took 2nd place!
By the time I was 13, I had not only gained respect as a dancer but also began teaching juniors at my home studio, all while training over 35 hours a week with my partner. At 14, my dedication paid off when I won my first national championship. Soon after, I had the honor of becoming a finalist at some of the most prestigious competitions in the world, including the Blackpool Dance Festival and the Dutch Open.
My passion for dance also inspired me to pursue higher education, and I went on to earn my Master’s Degree in Sport Physiology at the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine. While studying, I taught full-time and managed one of Ukraine’s most respected dance studios, Shans.
In 2018, I moved to the United States and began teaching at several studios across Arizona. Today, I’m thrilled to share my experience, knowledge, and love for dance with the students of CDC Studios, helping each one grow in confidence, skill, and joy on the dance floor.
Lauren Arrazola
Movement has always been my favorite way to connect—with myself, with music, and with others. I first discovered dance in high school through jazz, ballet, and contemporary, and from that moment it became a lifelong passion. In college, I spent most of my days training and performing with my hip hop crew, Unity Dance, an experience that shaped my love for both community and expression through movement.
After earning my degree in Hospitality Management, I found the perfect way to blend my love for people and dance—by teaching ballroom and partner styles. Helping students build confidence and connection on and off the dance floor has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. One of my favorite memories as a coach was helping a single businessman gain the confidence to dance. Not only did he meet his future partner at a country bar, but I also got to travel with him to Hawaii for his first ballroom competition!
Beyond teaching, I’ve choreographed and performed at Arizona’s largest EDM festivals, bringing high-energy movement to some of the biggest stages in the state.
For me, dance is more than just steps and rhythms—it’s a language. My greatest joy is teaching others how to “speak” that language, to feel music in their bodies, and to experience the magic of moving together here at CDC Studios
Alexie Malone
Dance has always been my epicenter of joy. As a small child, my mother would carry me in her arms and sing, “Because we like to… Dance and Sing and Dance and Sing and play all day!” I can confirm this left a lasting impression as I do still in fact love to dance, and sing, and play all day. I started dancing bachata and cumbia after attending my first Quinceanera when I was 15, and that is how I found a love of learning how to dance, and move my body to many different types of music. I have been blessed to experience music from a cultural lens thanks to my closest friends, and that drove me to want to learn how to dance with partners.
After completing my master’s degree in Oregon (Sco’ Ducks!), I moved to Arizona and picked up Hip Hop. Still having the itch for partner dancing, I branched out to ballroom and found a real passion for dancing, helping other fellow students on their dance journey, and competing. I did my first competition 8 months into ballroom dancing, and I came home with two gold medals and one bronze. I realized that my passion and skill for dancing could go beyond the role of a student, and thus I have started pursuing dance from a teaching perspective.
Ready to start dancing at CDC Studios?
There’s no better time to start dancing than right now! Whether you’re brand new to the dance floor or returning after a break, our New Student Special is the perfect way to begin. You’ll get personalized instruction tailored to your goals, a warm and welcoming community, and the chance to discover the joy, confidence, and connection that dance brings. Take the first step today—your dance journey starts here at Creative Dance Collective!