Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul & Alina Haddad.
Paul & Alina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Dance has been a part of Alina’s life since she was a little girl. She began training and competing at a young age in ballet, jazz, tap, and other styles, quickly falling in love with both the artistry and discipline of dance. As she got older, that passion naturally evolved into teaching, where she discovered how meaningful it was to help others build confidence, joy, and connection through movement.
Later, Alina found ballroom dance and instantly fell in love with the unique combination of technique, partnership, storytelling, and community that makes ballroom so special.
Paul’s story began in Lebanon, where he grew up immersed in ballroom dance from a young age in his family’s dance studio. Ballroom was always a part of his life, and he developed a deep passion for both competing and sharing dance with others. Seeking greater opportunities in the ballroom world, Paul moved to the United States, eventually landing at a dance studio in Charlotte, North Carolina.
That studio is where Paul and Alina met.
What began as a professional dance partnership eventually grew into something much more. As they trained, competed, and taught together, they realized they shared the same dreams and aspirations—not only to continue growing as professional competitors, but to expand the ballroom community and create spaces where others could experience the same joy and connection that dance had brought into their own lives.
Today, Paul and Alina compete professionally together and are proud professional finalists, while also dedicating themselves to building a welcoming dance community through teaching and studio ownership. After falling in love with Hilton Head Island for its warmth, charm, and sense of community, they knew it was the perfect place to share their passion and help others discover the confidence, joy, and connection that dance can bring.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like any meaningful journey, it certainly hasn’t been without challenges. Building a business, growing as professional competitors, and balancing life as both partners and business owners comes with its fair share of obstacles. There have been moments that tested us, pushed us outside of our comfort zones, and challenged us to grow both individually and together.
However, we truly believe those experiences have been some of our greatest teachers. Every challenge has strengthened our partnership, improved how we communicate, and deepened our shared vision for what we want to create—not only for ourselves, but for the community around us.
One of the most rewarding parts of the journey has been watching those experiences shape the environment we’ve built. We are incredibly proud of the welcoming, supportive, and joyful dance community that has grown around our studio. In many ways, the challenges made us stronger and gave us an even greater appreciation for the impact dance and connection can have on people’s lives.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Fred Astaire Dance Studio Hilton Head, our mission is to create a welcoming ballroom and social dance community where anyone—regardless of age, experience, or background—can feel at home. We teach a wide variety of ballroom and partner dances, from social styles to competitive ballroom, and work hard to offer something for everyone.
Whether someone wants to feel more confident dancing in their kitchen with a glass of wine, prepare for a wedding or special event, or pursue amateur competition and perform under the lights, we believe dance should be accessible, enjoyable, and tailored to each person’s goals. From beginners taking their very first steps to dedicated competitors, we love helping students grow at every level.
As professional competitors ourselves, we actively train and compete in multiple ballroom styles, which allows us to stay sharp on evolving technique, continue growing as artists, and bring that knowledge back into our teaching. We are passionate about constantly improving—not only for ourselves, but so we can continue giving our students the best experience possible.
What we are perhaps most proud of, however, is the community we’ve built. One of the things we hear most often from new students is how welcoming and connected the environment feels. Many of our students have formed meaningful friendships through dance, and watching people find connection, confidence, and joy has been incredibly rewarding.
What truly sets us apart is that we believe dance is about so much more than learning steps. While students certainly come to us to dance, they often leave with so much more—greater confidence, improved health and movement, relief from stress, stronger social connections, and sometimes even the courage to step outside of their comfort zone. We strive to create an experience that positively impacts our students both inside and outside the studio.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that growth happens much faster when you surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you. In the dance world, mentorship has played a huge role in our journey—through coaches, teachers, fellow professionals, and studio owners who have shared their knowledge and experiences with us over the years.
Our advice for finding a mentor is to look for someone whose values, work ethic, and character you genuinely admire—not just someone who has achieved success. The best mentors are the people who challenge you to grow while also encouraging you to stay true to your vision.
Networking has also been incredibly valuable in our industry. Ballroom is such a relationship-driven community, and many of the opportunities, friendships, and growth we’ve experienced have come through competitions, events, and simply building genuine connections with others who share the same passion.
Most importantly, we believe it’s important to stay teachable. No matter how much experience you have, there is always something to learn, and remaining open to growth has been one of the most valuable parts of our journey as dancers, teachers, and business owners.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fredastaire.com/hilton-head
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@fadshiltonhead
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@fadshiltonhead
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fadshiltonhead
