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Biography

Patsy (Patty) Laverne Holden
 Born in Muskogee, OK
February 10, 1971 
 

*Studied organ and classical/gospel piano for 12 years, from ages 5 to 17.
Also proficient in trumpet, French Horn, melophone and alto saxaphone.

*Proud alumni member of the Pride of Broken Arrow, 
a nationally recognized high school marching band. 

*French Horn in the Tulsa Youth Symphony
1988.

*Keyboards and vocalist in Branson, MO
(Country Music Show Palace) 
1989.

*Began ballroom dancing in senior high school, 1989.
Worked at FADS in Tulsa, New Orleans, Oklahoma City   

*Moved to Orlando in 1992

1990 - 1992
*Professional Theatre Arts competitor
 
*Certified in the Bronze, Silver, Associate, and Associate Dance Director levels by Fred Astaire Dance Studio Inc.  (FADS) between 1992 and 1993.

*Dance Director for the Winter Park
Fred Astaire Dance Studio Inc. 

*Married to William Gillooly in May, 1994-99

*Daughter Victoria Gillooly born October, 1994

*Opened the Paradise Ballroom in 1998

  *Professional American Rhythm  dance partnership with nationally recognized Top Teacher
Herb Vasquez, 2001 - 2003.  

*Inducted into Phi Theta Kappa Society
International Scholastic Order of the Two-Year College in 2003

*Transferred to UCF in 2004

*Inducted into the Burnett Honors College program in 2006.

  *Reluctantly closed the Paradise Ballroom during the summer of 2006 to better focus on the demands of writing an undergraduate thesis entitled "Civilized Dancing: The Evolution of Ballroom Dancing from African Trance and Folk Dance," part of which was published.  
    
*2007 - Bachelor in Humanities/Religious Studies Track

*2008 - Inducted into Delta Epsilon Iota
Academic Honor Society 

*2009 UCF archaeology field season in the jungle of Belize for 5 weeks digging for ancient Maya ruins.

 *2009 - Master in Anthropology/Maya Studies Track 

  
*Orlando Ballroom Dancing Examiner 
*National Ancient Maya Examiner 

*Spring 2011 to present - Professor of Ballroom Dance at the University of Central Florida 

*2011 to present - Re-opening of Paradise Ballroom in Kissimmee FL.

2011 to present - Ballroom instructor at Harmony High School

*2011 to present - Ballroom dance organizer for the
Orlando Jazz Orchestra

*Daily - Alkaline Diet enthusiast and counselor
Creator of Gourmet Alkaline recipe blog site