Christy Byers

Christy has an Arthur Murray background and has been a ballroom dance instructor at Blair's Ballroom in Louisville since 1998.  She has been awarded the prestigious title of "Top Teacher of the Year" for 3 years in a row by the United States Pro/Am Dance Championships and has been awarded Top Female Teacher every year since 2003 at the United States Pro/Am Dance Championships held in Louisville. Christy is also an Ice dancing coach and member of the Professional Skaters Association.

Her ballroom dancing passion has taken her and her dance partner Andy Blair to visit numerous countries for competitions, and to discover the essence of various indigenous dances. This included: Samba in Brazil, Viennese Waltz in Austria, Paso Doble in Spain, Polka in Germany, etc. Her initial trip in 1999 to Buenos Aires to study Argentine Tango changed her life and her dance desires. Since her first trip to Buenos Aires, she has returned to Argentina over 35 times to study under numerous tango masters. Christy and Andy created the Louisville Tango Society to bring the authentic dance to Louisville. They organize monthly milongas in at various locations throughout the city. Since their first trip to Buenos Aires, they have held a tango class and practice every Wednesday at Blair’s Ballroom. From 2008 to the present, she and Andy have choreographed and performed Argentine tango for the World Fest in Louisville. Over the years Christy has also performed for several Louisville events such as the Governor’s Ball, Pink Ball, Bourbon Ball, Organization of Chinese Americans New Year’s Gala, and Dancing with the Stars Fund Raisers for the Louisville Orchestra. Christy and Andy take students on guided tours of Buenos Aires to study tango, the Argentine culture, and dance at the milongas. Some of the more noted milongas they frequently attend are: Salon Canning; Maldita, Milonga Confitería Ideal, La Viruta, Sunderland Club, La Milonga de Los Zucca, La Catedral , La Glorieta, El Beso, and Gricel, to name a few.

The primary school in Buenos Aires that Christy has attended since 1999 is Escuela Argentine Tango (EAT), now known as Neuvo Escuela Argentine Tango. Her instructors in Argentina have been many and include the following: Mingo & Ester Pugliese, Facundo & Kely Posadas, El Norberto, Jorge Firpo, Aurora Lubiz, Angel Coria, Claud Murga, Hugo Daniel, Damian Gracia, Orlando Scarpelli, Paula Franciotti, Rosalia Gasso, Alejandro Barrientos, Nora Robles, Pedro Calveyra, Frank Obregon , Jenny Gil, Alberto Sendra,  Fernanda Japas,  Juan & Heide Mateos,  Fabian Camardelli,  Bettima Vitale, Raul Bravo, Gachi Fernandez, Oscar & Cedilia Gauna, Elina Roldan, Natlia Reyo, Junior Cervila, Gabriela Elias, Eduardo Perez, Susana Rojo, Alejandro Beron, Veronica Vazquez, Milena Plebs, Marta Anton & El Gallego Manolo, Rodolfo & Maria Cieris, Juan Carlos Copes, Maria Nieves & Rego Barrionueva. 

For the love of tango Christy is the primary organizer for the Louisville Tango Festival. She continues to teach and dance both ballroom and Argentine Tango every day.  Her dance philosophy is based on a firm belief that dancing is not only a great deal of fun, but is also a life skill that promotes good health and brings contentment to the spirit!

Andy Blair

Andrew (Andy) Blair started dancing at Arthur Murray Studio in 1980, and has been a self-employed dance instructor and studio owner since 1989. He received a Bachelor’s of Art Degree in Theater and Theater Lighting Design from the University of Louisville. From 1982 to 1984 he toured with the Blue Angels Dancing Troup in France. Andy has been awarded the title of "Top Teacher of the Year" numerous times by the United States Pro/Am Dance Championships. In addition to teaching ballroom dance and Argentine tango, Andy is also an ice dancing coach and member of the Professional Skaters Association. His other passion is fencing, and he has medaled over 20 times in the yearly Bluegrass State Fencing Games. He excels at sabre and is a three time Kentucky Sabre Champion.

Andy has visited numerous countries for dance competitions, and to discover the essence of various indigenous dances. He has been to Argentina over 40 times to study under several notable tango masters. He and his dance partner Christy Byers created the Louisville Tango Society to bring the authentic dance to Louisville. They organize monthly milongas in at various locations throughout the city. Since their first trip to Buenos Aires, they have held a tango class and practice every Wednesday at Andy’s studio, Blair’s Ballroom. From 2008 to the present, Andy and Christy have choreographed and performed Argentine tango for the World Fest in Louisville. Over the years Andy and Christy have taken students on guided tours of Buenos Aires to study tango, the Argentine culture, and dance at the milongas. Some of the more noted milongas they frequently attend are: Salon Canning; Maldita, Milonga Confitería Ideal, La Viruta, Sunderland Club, La Milonga de Los Zucca, La Catedral , La Glorieta, El Beso, and Gricel, to name a few.

The primary school in Buenos Aires that Andy has attended since 1999 is Escuela Argentine Tango (EAT), now known as Neuvo Escuela Argentine Tango. His instructors in Argentina have been many and include the following: Mingo & Ester Pugliese, Facundo & Kely Posadas, El Norberto, Jorge Firpo, Aurora Lubiz, Angel Coria, Claud Murga, Hugo Daniel, Damian Gracia, Orlando Scarpelli, Paula Franciotti, Rosalia Gasso, Alejandro Barrientos, Nora Robles, Pedro Calveyra, Frank Obregon , Jenny Gil, Alberto Sendra,  Fernanda Japas,  Juan & Heide Mateos,  Fabian Camardelli,  Bettima Vitale, Raul Bravo, Gachi Fernandez, Oscar & Cedilia Gauna, Elina Roldan, Natlia Reyo, Junior Cervila, Gabriela Elias, Eduardo Perez, Susana Rojo, Alejandro Beron, Veronica Vazquez, Milena Plebs, Marta Anton & El Gallego Manolo, Rodolfo & Maria Cieris, Juan Carlos Copes, Maria Nieves & Rego Barrionueva. 

Andy continues to teach and dance both ballroom and Argentine Tango every day. 

in 1999, Christy Byers and Andy Blair founded the Louisville Argentine Tango Society which is well known in the Louisville dance community.  As well as several years of Ballroom experience, both have formal training in the passionate dance of Argentine Tango. Their frequent trips to Argentina include extensive training at the premier Escuela Argentina de Tango, located in the heart of Buenos Aires.