Hana Ries

was born and raised in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). In young age she was trained in ballet, figure skating, rhythmic gymnastics, and later in ballroom and aerobic dance. How about line dance?

After getting her Master’s degree in Cybernetics and Bachelor’s degree in Education, she moved to Australia to study English as a second language. After completing all her studies, she went on a quest to explore the beautiful land. While backpacking the continent, she came across line dancing in a small town called Broome in Western Australia. She said: “People were so friendly, and inviting, the atmosphere was fantastic. I absolutely loved it, and I told myself I would definitely do it again.” But it wasn’t for another 5 years until she walked into a country bar in the USA named Beach Wagon in Myrtle Beach, SC to line dance again. She knew right then that she found herself a home. 😊 In 2007 she became the Beach Wagon line dance instructor, and even though the place doesn’t exist anymore, she hasn’t stopped line dancing since.

She has been a fitness instructor for more than 30 years. She currently teaches both fitness and line dance in the Myrtle Beach area, at workshops around the United States and Europe, and on line dance cruises and vacations. In 2023 she became the director of an established line dance workshop Dance In The Sand. Hana has choreographed many dances, some of her most known are Knockin’ Boots, Float, Happy Does (Stretchy Pants), Vagabond, Damn (contra), Celebrate, Keep Up If You Can, Blessed, …etc.

She said: “I have met so many wonderful people thanks to my job, thanks to line dancing. I can’t imagine my life without it! I genuinely love what I do- teach and dance with people I call my friends.”