Former Jefferson City resident finds her niche dancing professionally

January 2, 2011 at 5:44 a.m. | Updated January 2, 2011 at 5:44 a.m.

Professional ballroom dancer and Jefferson City native Larinda McRaven talks with a reporter at Capital Ritz studio. McRaven currently is a private instructor for competition-level students.
Professional ballroom dancer and Jefferson City native Larinda McRaven talks with a reporter at Capital Ritz studio. McRaven currently is a private instructor for competition-level students.

Larinda McRaven's students dance with a star. McRaven, a former Jefferson City resident, is a professional ballroom dancer.

She has amassed nearly 200 professional wins and championship titles, teaches at a studio in Newton, Mass., judges competitions and performs shows.

After graduating from Jefferson City High School in 1989, she attended Southwest Missouri State University - now Missouri State University - in Springfield, where she received a bachelor of fine arts degree in theater and stage performance in 1993.

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