
Liza is a friendly, patient, and talented dance instructor who has been choreographing and teaching wedding dances and a variety of social dances in San Diego for twenty-five years. She was professionally trained as a ballroom dance instructor at Mac Vitties Dance Studio where she taught for a few years and then branched out on her own furthering her training with experts in the field. The daughter of an accomplished international folk dancer, Liza has been dancing all her life.
Her favorite things about dance are: how it lifts your spirits, musicality, being sociable, and performing. Liza just started competing in dance in her 40's and has won awards in the genres of West Coast Swing and Country Two-Step. See her list of awards below. She is also a DJ at Country DJ Events.
Liza earned a bachelor's degree in social science with an emphasis in cultural anthropology from SDSU and is currently pursuing a dance degree from Grossmont College to sharpen her skills.
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Mark is an enthusiastic, kind, and gifted dance instructor and choreographer who brings out the best in his students. He has been teaching with Liza for 5 years but has over twenty-five years of dance experience. A Hawaiian native, he loves to laugh and enjoy life and will make learning to dance a joy!
His favorite things about dance are: creating unconventional movement and choreography, musicality, connecting socially and energetically on the dance floor, and teaching body mechanics and connection. As he loves to say to our new students: "Welcome to the dance world!"
Mark's expertise is in Hip Hop, West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango, Bachata, Salsa, Cha Cha, Merengue, Country Two-Step, wedding dance choreography and basic social dance. He has been competing in West Coast Swing for over 20 years and is an All Star Champion dancer who is on staff at the High Desert Dance Classic and San Diego's Dance Diego parties. He has worked with some incredible dancers over the years and has even coached participants on So You Think You Can Dance! However since he is so humble and down to earth, you'd never know all of his accolades. He's just grateful to be doing what he loves and will be there for his students whether there is 1 or 100 in the class.

Liza has been teaching at Vernetta's Dance Studio in North Park in the heart of San Diego for 15 years. She just became the owner of the studio in March 2025 and is looking for trustworthy and reputable dance or yoga instructors to rent private studio space. All types of shoes are allowed. There is an excellent sound system. Parking is available in the studio lot. The rental fee is $20 per hour. Fill out the form below if interested.
Dance With Liza 3927 Utah St San Diego, CA 92104 US

Mark Pablo & Kira Kalliomaa compete in All Star/Champion West Coast Swing Jack & Jill at Paradise Swing and Country Dance Festival 2023.
Liza wins 3rd place in Novice West Coast Swing Jack & Jill with partner Brenda Shatto at Mountain Magic Dance Convention 2025.
Mark Pablo competes in the All Star/Champion division at the Paradise Country Dance Festival 2022 with Dimitri Hector.
Liza wins first place in Novice Country Two Step Jack & Jill with partner Angie Bryan at Mountain Magic Dance Convention 2025.
Liza and Mark practice lyrical west coast swing together.
Mountain Magic Dance Convention 2025 Partner Angie Bryan
Ultra Dance Fest (aka San Diego Dance Festival) 2024 Partner Scot McKay
High Desert Dance Classic 2024 Partner Bradley Webb
Paradise Dance Festival 2023 Partner Eli Webb
Mountain Magic Dance Convention 2025 Partner Brenda Shatto
Arizona Dance Classic 2025 Partner Chase Warford
Paradise Dance Festival 2023 Partner Adam Sumilong

Liza is featured in The Jewish journal
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