Walter “Bear” Hartell, began dancing at the age of 3 learning Tap, Ballet and Jazz. At the age of 16, Bear was already teaching Tap, Ballet, and Jazz in his first dance studio (Hartell’s Dance Studio) in Brooklyn Center, MN. At the age of 18 he was the youngest male judge at the Minnesota Tap, Ballet, and Jazz Dance Competition. After earning his degree majoring in Theatre Arts and Speech, he began his career with the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At the age of 24 Bear had passed the American Style Bronze, Silver, Gold and Supreme Gold Plus Theatre Arts and Exhibition certifications and became the Regional Dance Director and Adjudicator for the states of Washington, Nebraska, Canada, and Oregon. At the age of 26 Bear opened his first independent ballroom dance studio in the twin cities. Within a year he franchised it into a Fred Astaire Dance Studio. At the age of 28 Bear became the Area Franchisor for Fred Astaire Dance Studios for the State of Minnesota. By the time Bear was 30 he had 5 franchised Fred Astaire Dance Studios operating in Minnesota and was the President of 4 corporations.

Bear’s belief is that Ballroom Dancing is an art and like any art it is infinite. The dance floor is the canvas, the music is the infinite selection of paint colors, our bodies are the brushes and our emotions, heart and spirit control the strokes of the brush on the canvas – our spirits are infinite thus our dancing is infinite. Our choreography of dance is the creation of letting our heart, emotions and spirit “Dance Outside the Box”.

During his 45+ years of working in the dance industry “Bear” has:
Instructed and coached in International and American style Ballroom Syllabus.
Mastered curriculum tests from Bronze to Supreme Gold, plus Exhibition and Theatre Arts Syllabus in the American Style
Been a former Fred Astaire Dance Studio Manager, Owner, Franchisee, and Adjudicator
Operated as Area Franchisor for Minnesota Fred Astaire Dance Studios for over 10 years
Core values: “Passion for dance, joy of teaching, advancement in instruction, service to others, making a difference.”