Rick Soppa

Education

4 years of architecture - UWM

Professional/Future Goals

For Greenfield to be top in the FADS franchise

Accomplishments

Years of Top Teacher awards

Hobbies

Woodworking, chess

Favorite Fred Astaire Moment

Seeing the look on my students' faces when they "got it."

Hometown

Milwaukee (southsider der hey)

Favorite Quotation

Talent is hitting a target nobody else can hit. Genius is hitting a target nobody else can see.

Role Model

Sam Malook, Albert Einstein, Mikhail Tal, Simon and Garfunkel

Favorite Holiday

Any holiday where food is present

The Perfect Dessert

Crème Brulee

Best Place to Spend a Saturday

Anywhere with my wife and daughter, or my woodshop

Favorite Dancer

Slavik Kryklyvy

Something nobody knows about you

I was the clutziest kid in the world

Bio

Rick Soppa is the co-manager of Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Greenfield. Born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee, Rick attended UWM in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning. After taking a few semesters of ballroom at UWM, Rick had just finished his fourth year when he found Fred Astaire. He realized he could have a fulfilling career while enriching the lives of many people. "Honestly, I can't believe I get to do this for a living," he says. Since diving head-first into the dance industry in January of 1999, Rick has received countless regional Top Teacher awards, eleven coveted Freddy awards, and in 2009, was ranked Runner-up Top Teacher in the entire Fred Astaire franchise. "The most important job a teacher can do is to fuel the burning desire within us through positive discovery," he says. " Ballroom dancing is the most amazing hobby in the world. Let us show you." Rick competed professionally for many years with the love of his life, Vanina Soppa. Together they captured many titles, including 2006 Fred Astaire CCDC Rising Star Rhythm Champions, as well as 2008 Wisconsin State Rising Star Rhythm Champions.