"It's been one of the best things that has happened here," said participant Brandon Boggs, 24. "Jeff is God-sent. When the monthly calendar comes out, I start his ballroom-dancing class. He makes exercising fun and gets the me out of me."

Stein said his "happiest lessons of the week" are the ones in which he works with special-needs students. For him, it's a spiritual experience.

"When I look into the eyes of those kids, I feel God is looking back at me. They are so innocent and full of goodness," he said.

Stein said he can relate to the feelings of being left out or being different from other children.

"I was always the kid left behind in things," he said.

Because of that and his faith in God, Stein says he does what he can to help the less fortunate.

In addition to his work at Dreamshine, 8644 Porter Central Road in Sunbury, Stein teaches a special-needs class on Sunday afternoons at his Dublin studio. The studio is at 6759 Dublin Center Drive, in the Dublin Village Center.

"I'm ready to cut some rug," Pickerington resident Thomas Timura declared at a recent class.

"I'm his best student," said the 39-year-old Timura, who has Down's syndrome. "The cha cha slide is my favorite dance."

Timura's driver, Dora Kern, who works with him at Kroger Marketplace in Pickerington, admires Stein's work with her friend.

"Jeff is really good with Thomas," Kern said. "He's very encouraging and knows how to instruct them without tearing them down. That helps with confidence."

Washington Court House resident Donna Hill drove 50 miles so her daughter Caitlyn, 17, could attend Stein's Sunday dance session.

"He's got the patience of Job," Hill said of Stein. "It takes Caitlyn a little while to catch on."

Hill said her daughter had seizures as a child that caused "a short in her brain."

After finishing her dance lesson with the cha cha slide, Caitlyn flashed a big smile.

"It's wonderful," she said. "I couldn't ask for a better teacher."

At Stein's studio, business has gotten a boost from the success of the television show, "Dancing with the Stars."

"The majority of my business is now couples who get to spark their romantic relationship, which can sometimes get pushed aside by children and careers," said Stein, who has won five national championships. "Ballroom dancing adds to the magic of people's lives. I'm fortunate to have a business and career where I get to help people live a more exciting life."

The studio has a number of clients who compete in ballroom-dance competitions in Pro-Am categories, where amateurs dance with professionals. Last year, two students won the "triple crown" championship -- an accumulation of points over a three-competition circuit -- in their respective age classifications. Many of his students are preparing for the Virginia State Championships in July.

Triple-crown winner Debbie Wheeler, a UBS Financial Services manager, started dance lessons seven years ago after a divorce.

"All I did was work and work out," she said. "I wanted something more social. Once I tried it, I was hooked."

Wheeler, 58, currently lives in Chicago, but continues to train with Stein when she travels to Columbus on business.

"Jeff pushes you to be the best you can be while still making it fun," said Wheeler, who has enjoyed traveling with the group to such places as Las Vegas, New Orleans, Orlando and Puerto Rico for competitions.

"Before I started doing this, I wasn't taking vacations," she said.

A recent expansion doubled the size of the Dublin studio, where Stein employs four instructors and rents space to five private instructors.

The studio hosts group lessons nightly and a dance party from 8 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday.

For additional information on classes, call (614) 946-3120 or visit www.emeraldcityballroom.com.