INSTRUCTORS

Aiko Austin photography

Coco Ballantyne

Coco started her dance career in her 20s, performing with the hip hop troupe Culture Shock Oakland. She then moved to Los Angeles and performed with the Sahlala Dancers, training with renown choreographer Jillina Carlano. After relocating to New York, Coco performed with Bellyqueen and launched a teaching career, working as a dance fitness instructor at NYC clubs and gyms. Coco began her martial arts journey in 2019, learning self-defense at Steve Sohn’s Krav Maga in Scarsdale. She has a blue belt in Krav Maga and is currently training in boxing and taekwondo. She studies multiple dance styles, including salsa, belly dance, and shuffling.

Creator of Dance Defense