Raz has had a passion for dance and music his entire life. Coming from a family of musicians, he was introduced to the arts at a very young age. He developed a love for percussion and guitar, quickly becoming quite talented in both. He later decided to concentrate on vocals which lead him to a very successful career within the Persian/Armenian community; producing five CD’s and performing at numerous concerts.

In his later years, he decided to turn his attention toward ballroom dancing and having been involved in music his whole life, it became clear from the get-go that he had a natural talent. He was coached by 6-time world salsa dancing champion Liz Lira for 2 years, with an emphasis in Salsa, Cha-Cha and the Argentine Tango. He continued his education at Arthur Murray Dance Studio where he focused specifically on Ballroom dancing for four years, and graduated at a Silver level. Aside from Ballroom and Latin styles, he is also proficient in modern and contemporary dances.

His talent and experience has led him to top finishes in major competitions such as the World Dance-O-Rama in Las Vegas, the Unique Dance-O-Rama in Irvine, and the Diamond showcase in Los Angeles. He joined the teacher training program at Ballroom Dance Academy Los Angeles in August of 2009 and successfully completed both Rhythm and Smooth American Style Bronze level dances with Honors. He is currently assisting the academy in teaching different classes and further improving his dancing skills with Natalia Lind.