Meet Daric & Nastia

World Champions. Life Partners. Dance Teachers.

Daric and Nastia dancing

Our Story

Our story began the way all great dance stories should – on the dance floor.

2006, Moscow: Daric, already a Vice World Champion and multiple Swiss Champion in Discofox, was invited to Russia to give workshops. There he met Nastia, a rising star of the Russian hustle scene who was developing her own distinctive style.

They were from different worlds – he from the French-speaking part of Switzerland with a physics degree from ETH, she from Moscow with a gymnastics background. But on the dance floor, they spoke the same language.

2012: At the WCS French Open, after years of friendship and connection, they decided to become partners – in dance and in life. That November, they entered their first competition together at WestieFest. They won.

Since then, they’ve built a life around their shared passion: winning Swiss Championships together, climbing to the top of the West Coast Swing world as All-Stars, and most recently, becoming World Champions in 2025.

But their greatest joy isn’t the trophies – it’s the students they’ve helped discover the magic of partner dancing over 15+ years of teaching across Europe.

“We found each other through dance. Now we help others find connection through dance too.”

Daric Lion teaching

Daric Lion

Switzerland | Physics meets artistry

Daric’s path to dance was unconventional. While studying physics and nanotechnology at ETH Zürich, he started ballroom dancing. Then in 1994, a friend bet him he couldn’t compete in Discofox in just three weeks. He taught himself, entered – and won.

From 1995 to 2006, he won every Swiss Championship he entered. His analytical mind helps him break down dance into teachable elements, while his passion ensures technique serves expression.

Highlights

  • World Champion 2025
  • 7x Swiss Champion (1995-2016)
  • Vice World Champion (2005, 2006, 2024)
  • Euro Dance Festival instructor (7+ years)

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Nastia Lion-Lokshina

Nastia Lion-Lokshina

Russia → Switzerland | Gymnastics to dance

Nastia grew up in Moscow with a gymnastics background, which gave her exceptional body control and flexibility. At 20, she discovered hustle (Russian discofox) and fell in love with partner dancing.

She quickly developed her own distinctive style, becoming a 2-time Russian Champion and co-owner of two major dance schools in Moscow before meeting Daric. Today she’s a WCS All-Star – the highest competitive level.

Highlights

  • World Champion 2025
  • 2x Russian Champion Absolut (2009, 2010)
  • WCS All-Star Dancer
  • Professional wedding photographer

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What Makes Us Different

🔬

Science + Soul

Daric’s physics background meets Nastia’s artistic instinct. We explain the WHY behind every movement, then help you feel it.

🌍

Two Cultures

Swiss precision and Russian passion. European discofox tradition and Russian hustle innovation. We bridge dance worlds.

💑

Real Partners

We don’t just dance together – we live together, teach together, compete together. We understand partnership from the inside.

🗣️

4 Languages

English, French, German, Russian. We teach across cultures and make dance accessible to everyone.

Our Journey Together

2006
First meeting in Moscow. Daric as Vice World Champion, teaching workshops where Nastia was already a star.

2012
At WCS French Open, became partners. November: won WestieFest Intermediate in first competition together.

2015-16
Swiss Champions in Discofox – twice! Building dance community in Lausanne.

2017
International success: Italian Open, French Open, Swing Dance America top placements.

2024
Vice World Champions at IDO World Discofox Championships in Frankfurt, Germany.

2025
🏆 WORLD CHAMPIONS at IDO World Discofox Championships in Poland!

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Dance With Us

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced dancer, we’d love to share our passion with you.