GoDance partners with the certified staff at Fred Astaire Dance Studio - Fort Wayne to provide adaptive ballroom dance lessons to people with disabilities. FADS-FW staff have been certified by the Paralympic Committee in Germany to dance with people in wheelchairs. FADS-FW staff have also had an adaptive dance program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in partnership with Easterseals for 15+ years which includes groups in Fort Wayne, Columbia City, and Angola. Please read more about the FADS-FW staff below.

Patric Didier

Owner

Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Patric has been dancing since his youth. He has been featured in TV commercials, and performed on stage for such acts as the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. He is the two-time winner of the Indiana Classic, and has placed as high as 6th in the Professional American Rhythm category. Patric has taught over 30,000 lessons, trained professional competitors and is sought-after for his technical expertise and effective communication style. He has consulted and taught classes at a variety of universities, including adjudicating at the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University. He has performed at countless charitable events, shows and exhibitions in and around the Fort Wayne area. He helped found the first Special Olympics ballroom dance competition in the country and similar programs in Pittsburgh and Detroit.

Carmen Schlatter, LCSW

Director of Operations

Carmen is a graduate of Huntington University and IUPUI with a Master’s degree in social work. Music has always been a large part of her life. She has performed in numerous musicals, dance recitals and choir performances throughout her high school and college careers, which provided her the opportunity of working with professional choreographers. Carmen was also a dance captain for the Fort Wayne Freedom arena football team. She began her instruction in ballroom dancing in high school and began instructing ballroom herself during her undergraduate work at Huntington University. Carmen continues to enjoy sharing her love of ballroom dancing with others, and helping her students reach their goals as they continue to develop their ballroom dance skills.

Dylan Wolf

Specialist Instructor

Dylan is a graduate of IPFW with a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering. Dylan began his interest in music at a young age continuing all the way to present day. Currently, he plays the drums and bass guitar. Linking music to body motions began during his high school marching band career, lasting all four years at Snider High School. Dylan’s background in music, and especially marching band, is an asset for him as a ballroom dance instructor. Dylan was introduced to ballroom dancing by his mother. He instantly loved it and realized how beneficial dancing is. Dylan has been dancing at Fred Astaire for three years now. He looks forward to welcoming you to the studio and sharing his knowledge of rhythm and kinesthetics.