Dancers Shine At Fred Astaire National Competition

By Armando Martin, Fred Astaire National Dance Director

With 11,000 entries and over 70 studios attending, the 2008 Cross Country Dancesport Championships on April 16-20 was the biggest, most exciting competition we have ever had as a company, and I think it's only the beginning. CCDC was also - to my knowledge - the second biggest competition in the US this year, second only to Ohio.

I have been with Fred Astaire Dance Studios for 27 years, and I don't remember a time when there was so much growth, camaraderie and excitement at every event we have. All the programs that the corporate office is putting together - from the business manuals to the dance manuals and new curriculum videos - are all culminating into the National goals that our President and Stockholders set out to meet just a couple of years ago.

CCDC was a complete success. The Pro-Am competition was so well attended that there were hundreds of heats that required first rounds (first heats must be run when there are more than 30 couples entered in one category). The Friday night professional competition was not only huge but it featured some of the best couples in the United States, making the overall standard of dancing extremely high.

Friday night also featured a professional show by one of the world's best Latin couples, Ricardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagoruychenko. Their dancing dazzled the audience, who gave them a standing ovation after every dance. I’m happy to say that Ricardo, who is with no doubt on his way to becoming the World Champion with his beautiful partner, has joined the Fred Astaire Council of Dance.

If Friday night was not enough, all of our students and staff were treated to “An Evening On The Nile,” one of the best Saturday night shows we have ever had. Steven Knight, our Assistant National Dance Director, outdid himself with a very well thought-out and choreographed show that brought the house down; the entire show was done to Arabian music that must have taken him tens of hours to find and pick. I would like to thank him and all the professionals that took part in the show for a fantastic evening.

The Luxor Hotel could not have been more cooperative and the food and overall service was excellent. We will be back there next year when the entire hotel will have completed a $50 million renovation. To those of you who attended, I would like to extend my thanks again for your incredible support; to those who could not make it this year, we look forward to seeing you in 2009!