Meet Your Instructor
Mario Robau
Mario Robau is the most decorated WCS instructor in Houston, Texas. With a competitive career spanning 3 decades, he has over 30 national titles in all styles of competition, including multiple national wins in Classic, Showcase, Strictly Swing, and J&J. Mario has been inducted in three different Halls of Fame including Dallas Dance and the World Swing Dance Council. He has choreographed more U.S. Open championships (over 20) than anyone else.
In his words . . .
Mario has been dancing for as long as he can remember. Family gatherings in his Cuban community of Houston, Texas always involved dance and, since most of the husbands were reluctant to dance, Mario routinely took their place (whether he wanted or not). He began break dancing when he was eight because “it was cool” and at the age of sixteen, his father introduced him to Swing.
When Mario’s father won the first Novice Traditional Division offered in the Southwest Regional Dance Championships, it was then that he saw his two all-time favorite dance heroes – Robert Perez and Gary Long. He still vividly remembers that night. “Watching Robert dance was like watching smoke rise… smooth from the word ‘go’. Gary came out on the floor and DEMANDED your attention, something I have never forgotten. Gary later told me, ‘If they’re not watching, how are they going to give you a standing ovation?’ Gary was the most influential person in my teaching style for partner dancing and he is probably the most charismatic teacher I have ever seen.”
Mario has fond memories of his early dance training: “I was very fortunate to work with the “old timers” from Dallas and Houston – people who did not do things by the numbers, but by feel. While most people won’t recognize the names, people like Robert Perez, Gary Long, Rose Marie Mallady, Jack and Joyce Wells, Truman McCullough, and Joe Comstock from Dallas, Weldon Petit, Gilbert and Trish Huron, and Jack Scalise showed me more than I could have ever hoped. It is to these people that I am truly indebted.”
Elegant Occasions is honored to host Mario Robau at The Event Center in Moorpark. We are thrilled to bring his knowledge, skill and fun personality to the local West Coast Swing community.