Calla Smith-Dowling was born in Plano, Texas and raised in Richardson, Texas. Calla has always loved music and currently sings and plays instruments in a folk band. Her love of music led her to dance, as Calla has been exposed to a variety of diverse dances, from Breton to Hungarian Folk to Contra. The diversity of the dances Calla has tried make her a well-rounded instructor.

Calla started dancing socially doing Swing, Two Step, and Waltz in 1998. Her love of dance led her to take a Go Dance instructor training course in 2009. After adding more dances to her repertoire, she became a Go Dance instructor in 2011. Calla's favorite dances are now West Coast Swing and Blues for their musicality and Polka for its consistent energy and turns. Calla currently competes, and she also enjoys performing fun routines in Showcase!

When I first started following, I felt like I was on the most amazing roller coaster ride. Good dances are still that unpredictable and exciting. I love sharing that excitement with my students.

When she isn't teaching at Go Dance, Calla is a professional librarian. Her experience as a librarian makes her an expert at organizing complex information; thus, she knows how to introduce dance movements to students in a logical, concise, and clear order so that by the end of a lesson, all of the elements come together to make a complete picture. Calla is a fun, friendly, patient, humorous, and enthusiastic instructor who loves sharing dance and music with her students. You can count on always seeing Calla with a sweet smile on her face!

Dances taught: Bachata, Merengue, Salsa On1, Cha Cha, Country Waltz, Nightclub, Polka, Triple Two, Two Step, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Jitterbug, Lindy, and Blues.

Specialties: West Coast Swing and Country Western.

Private Lesson Rates: Standard