OUR PRIVATE LESSONS INSTRUCTORS
Darria Chance
Darria joined our swim instructor team in 2019. She is a group instructor and coach with more than 4 years of experience. She is a former swimmer, Basic Life Support Certified and has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Chinese Language and Culture.
Language: Mandarin/English
Hobby: Triathlon training
Student age preference: 4 years old and up
Aquila Pinnix
Aquila joined the Triangle Aquatic Center in 2016 teaching group lessons and then coaching for our TITANS team. She has been coaching and teaching since 2008 in different organizations and towns in North Carolina. Coach Aquila is a former swimmer and had a scholarship through college.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology & master’s degree in Biological & Biomedical Sciences, however her career is a certified personal trainer and she is working on a Nutritionist certification to further impact the lives of athletes of all fitness levels & ages.
Languages: Poquito Spanish/English
Hobbies: swim/bike/run training in hopes of completing a Half Ironman
Student age preference: 5 years old and up
Mariana Pulgarin
Mariana joined the Triangle Aquatic Center in 2018. She started teaching back in her home country of Colombia in 2007. Currently, Mariana teaches group classes and is the Programs Manager in the facility. She is a former competitive swimmer and also practiced Finswimming and Underwater Hockey.
Languages: Spanish/English
Hobbies: Camping, swimming and biking
Student age preference: 3 years old and up
Ahmed Bali
Ahmed is the most tenured instructor at Triangle Aquatic Center. He started teaching when the facility was open back in 2007. However his first experience as an instructor began in 2002. He is Adult and Child CPR certified and Water Safety Instructor Certified.
Languages: Arabic/French/Un poco Spanish
Hobbies: Soccer and traveling
Student age preference: 4 to 13 years old
Millie Volpitto
Millie joined TAC at the beginning of 2021 and has been teaching swim lessons for 4 years. She currently works as a pool manager in Durham, NC and is a certified Lifeguard, Lifeguard Instructor, Water Safety Instructor, and Pool Operator. She graduated from the University of Memphis in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently working toward becoming a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher.
Languages: Some Spanish/English
Hobbies: Running, yoga, hiking, and spending time with her dog
Student age preference: 3 years old and up
Claire Heins
Claire joined the Triangle Aquatic Center in 2018, since then, she has been teaching group and private lessons. Claire is Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certified. She also is attending her last semester at Meredith College.
Languages: Some Spanish/English
Hobbies:
Writing, reading, hiking and basketball
Student age preference: 4 to 10 years old