Paul Pellicoro

Paul Pellicoro (born 1956) is a professional ballroom dancer, instructor, and choreographer. He has owned and operated New York City's largest ballroom dance studio, Paul Pellicoro's DanceSport, since 1985, which is currently located in its new (as of November 2006) home next to the Empire State Building in Manhattan in New York City (the studio was located in the Upper West Side neighborhood in Manhattan until November 2006). Renowned for his work in films, he has extensive film experience both as a performer and as a choreographer.

He first came to national attention in the early 1990s as the dance choreographer for the film "Scent of a Woman", where he trained Academy Award winner Al Pacino for the notable (and arguably, most memorable) scene of the film where he dances the Argentine Tango with actress Gabrielle Anwar.

In addition to managing his New York dance studio, Paul is a full-time dance instructor there, teaching Salsa/Mambo, the Hustle, and Argentine Tango. Formerly a ten-dance competitor, Paul also teaches International Latin American and Standard along with all of the American Style dance as well. He is one of the few living only experts in both "authentic style" dancing as well as the competitive styles. Among his notable students is Marilyn Cole.

In 1995, he co-founded the Partner Dance Educational Fund, a not-for-profit organization with a stated mission to bring partner dancing to a wider public. Currently, the Fund sponsors free dance workshops in New York City public schools and private spaces.