Tony Dovolani In Belmont, MA Studio

From the Belmon-Citizen Herald:

Belmont, Mass. - Dance partners Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko will be guest instructors at the Belmont Fred Astaire Dance Studio from 1:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Besides appearing in ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” together they are the national and world dance champions in the American Rhythm category.

Dovolani, born in Kosovo, is a member of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio company and eight-year Fred Astaire Champion. In the hit movie “Shall We Dance,” Dovolani played an amateur, Latin bad-boy dancer with attitude who competes against Richard Gere’s character.

Before finishing high school, Grinenko had already become a world-semifinalist in Latin dancing, and her native Russia’s champion in the 10-Dance category. Since then, she has appeared in Broadway’s “Latin Fusion” and has been semi-finalist in such prestigious competitions as Blackpool and the World Cup.

Both have appeared in ABC’s blockbuster “Dancing with the Stars” series, in which ten professional dancers train and perform with dance-novice celebrities. Grinenko appeared in the third and fourth seasons, while Dovolani has danced in six of the seven seasons, dancing with such celebrities as Jane Seymour and Susan Lucci. They have also appeared on PBS “America’s Ballroom Challenge.”

“Our students are extremely excited,” said studio director, Earl Batol. “Having a lesson with Tony or Elena is going to be a huge boost to their confidence and enthusiasm, not to mention how much it will improve their dancing skills.”