NDC Orlando - Day Five: The last waltz

All good things must come to an end; this year's NDC is no different. It's been invariably described by many attendees as the best competition yet — everything from the venue, to the ballrooms' decorations, to the incredibly spirited performances by the students and professional competitors have made these championships wildly successful. 

Saturday's matinee session kicked off with the Smooth Proficiency, Smooth Open Single Dance Championship, Smooth Multi Open Dance Championship, Smooth Open Scholarship, Argentine Tango, International Latin Closed and Open Single Dance, and International Latin Multi and Scholarship Divisions. The energy of the past four days continued on with the dancers showing no signs of fatigue leading up to the awards and champions showcase. Of course the party in the evening right on the heels of Halloween was spectacular! 

NDC judges (and friends) in their finest costumes

Spooky music, witches casting spells, and the jumbo video screens ablaze created the perfect atmosphere for the high energy pro show choreographed by Joe Trovato. 

Co-National Dance Board Director, Stephen Knight makes a pretty princess.

 

NDC Orlando - Day Four: A pictorial

Another busy day, another busy matinee session as competitors vied for top placings in the American Smooth Bronze Closed Single Dance Divisions, American Smooth Bronze Closed Championships and Scholarships, American Smooth Silver and Higher Closed Single Dances, and Silver Closed Multi Dances and Scholarship Divisions. 

The evening capped off with the Proficiency International Ballroom Divisions, International Ballroom Closed and Open Single Dance Divisions, International Ballroom Closed and Open Multi and Scholarship Divisions, Pro/Am Cabaret Division and the highly anticipated Professional Divisions. 

A new award named for Linda Joy who recently passed.

 

Galina and Misha Zharinov, winners of the Linda Joy American Smooth award.

(Front) Chris Germain and Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North

 

Cathy Goshorn of Sarasota receives a massage.

Linda Gill and Ruslan Meshkov, Ft. Lauderdale

(L-R) Chris Simon, Elizabeth Ragacion, Leona Hatz, Debbie Dietrich, Pamela Baden, Ann Sanders, Daniel Blain, back row, Phillip Gutierrez of Houston Memorial.

  

Tim Duffy and Ria Valenzuela, Chicago North. Tim, his wife, Bette Anne, and his son, Kevin, are all competing at NDC this year. 

Pamela Baden and Phillip Gutierrez, Houston Memorial

NDC Orlando - Day Three: In the pink of things

It's amazing to watch dancers start at 8 AM and sustain an incredible amount of energy to keep going till nearly midnight for nearly five full days.
In honor and in support of the Breast Cancer Society, competitors in today's matinee sessions are sporting a touch of pink.

What does the ballroom floor look like mid-morning? Something like this — with a touch of pink.

The morning began with competitors taking their proficiency dances, allowing them to warm up for the upcoming open and multi-dance rounds.

Warming up for the long day ahead.

Partial Heat Results for Thursday Matinee

Heat 597: L-B #42  American Rhythm Bronze Closed Championship (C/R/SW)

1st #217 L-B Karen Odom/Sasha Tsyhankov, Greensboro, NC

2nd #348 G-B Dr. Chris Wilson/Emilia Goldberg, Milwaukee Central, WI

3rd #139 L-B Lori Chowanec/Ken Hansen, Red bank, NJ

4th #103 L-B Suzanne Niedland/Sergh Aliev, W. Palm Beach, FL

5th #171 L-B Linda Gill/Ruslan Meshkov, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

6th #187 L-B Susan Schmitt/Kurt Roberts, Pewaukee, WI

Heat 598: L-A #42  American Rhythm Bronze Closed Championship (C/R/SW)

1st #223 L-A Angela Fuller/Dmitriy Volodko, Greensboro, NC

2nd #221 L-A Julia Napolitano/Ilya Velednitsky, Milwaukee Downtown, WI

3rd #143 L-A Sarah May/Yuriy Herhel, Tarrytown, NY

4th #163 L-A Debbie Winston/Jhondarr Lopez, Houston Woodlands, TX

5th #310 G-A Stephen Dorsett/Stephanie Schlueter, Houston Woodlands,TX

6th #180 L-A Yuliya Gaukhman/Tim Pennenga, Sarasota, FL

Heat 599: L-C #42  American Rhythm Bronze Closed Championship (C/R/SW)

1st (1/1/1) #171 L-C Linda Gill/Ruslan Meshkov, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

2nd (2/2/2) #180 L-C Valerie Alston/Tim Pennenga, Sarasota, FL

3rd (6/3/3) #219 L-C Mary Early/Marko Urosevic, Trumbull, CT

4th (3/5/5) #103 L-C Marie Romano/Sergh Aliev, Jupiter, FL

5th (4/4/6) #195 L-C Jan Robertson/Ben Seifert, Houston Woodlands, TX

6th (5/6/4) #178 L-C Susan Gulzeth/Robert O'Bryant, Willoughby, OH

7th (7/7/7) #145 L-C Joanne Gilliam/Roger Howell, Birmingham, AL

Heat 598: AC-B #42  American Rhythm Bronze Closed Championship (C/R/SW)

1st (1/1/1) #344 AC-B Amarik Singh/Shveta Singh, Burr Ridge, IL

2nd (2/2/2) #331 AC-B Mark Lesczcewicz/Susan Lesczcewicz, South Barrington, IL

Heat 599: G-JR #42  American Rhythm Bronze Closed Championship (C/R/SW)

1st (1/1/1) #312 G-JR Kevin Duffy/Chloe Obrzut, Chicago North, IL

Heat 600: L-B #44  American Rhythm Silver Closed Championship (C/R/SW)

1st (2/1/1) #195 L-B Annette Monks/Ben Seifert, Houston Woodlands, TX

2nd (1/2/3) #135 L-B Nicole Haufe/Ronald Guillen, Ft. Walton Beach, FL

3rd (3/3/2) #102 L-B Lynn Magnesen/Caleb Aleman, Burr Ridge, IL

4th (4T/4/5) #104 L-B Diana Best/Alosha Anatoliy, Greensboro, NC

5th (6/5/4) #308 G-B Bob DeMarco/Jacqueline Rodriquez, West Palm Beach, FL

6th (4T/6/6) #189 L-B Katyusha Schaffer/Andrei Rudenco, Ft. Meyers, FL

Heat 601: L-C #44  American Rhythm Silver Closed Championship (C/R/SW)

1st (1/1/1) #151 L-C Susie Rugg/Nikolay Karchev, Milwaukee North, WI

2nd (2/2/2) #139 L-C Linda Fischer/Ken Hansen, Red Bank, NJ

3rd (3/3/3) #200 L-C Dawn Morehead/Yuriy Simakov, Durham, NC

4th (4/4/4) #135 L-C Vicki Mackarvich/Ronald Guillen, Ft. Walton Beach, FL

5th (5/5/5) #340 G-C Van Rojas/Tiana Ramirez, St. Petersburg, FL

6th (6/6/6) #198 L-C Dr. Gloria Halverson/Slash Sharan, Milwaukee, Central, WI

Heat 603: L-B #48  American Rhythm Open Championship (C/R/SW/B/M)

1st (1/1/1/1/1) #194 L-B Vicki Barbera/Jonah Schneider, Indianapolis, IN

2nd (2/2/2/2/4) #226 L-B Deborah Muzio/Evan Wellemeyer, Glastonbury, CT

3rd (3/3/4/3/3) #215 L-B Lynn Magnesen/Mark Thomas, Burr Ridge, IL

4th (4/5/3/4/2) #195 L-B Annette Monks/Ben Seifert, Houston Woodlands, TX

5th (5/4/5/5/5) #187 L-B Susan Schmitt/Kurt Roberts, Pewaukee, WI

6th (6/6/6/6/6) #129 L-B Bette Anne Duffy/Chris Germain, Chicago North, IL

NDC Orlando - Day Two: There's a buzz going on

Wednesday's matinee session at the spectacular Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort venue was the first full day of dancing starting at 8 AM sharp. If the dancers were groggy with sleep, it was impossible to tell by the collective buzz in the room.

Ballroom lobby, Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort

Of course the vendors were already up and prepared to do business.

Anything a dancer might need: beautiful costumes, hair accessories, jewelry, make up and more!

Because NDC falls around Halloween time, the ballroom is thematically decorated, and this year it has a super hi-tech medieval castle vibe going on. 

A view of the ballroom.

The beautifully decorated and spacious ballroom has an extra floor to practice on, an absolutely dazzling lighting and sound system, and a spacious VIP lounge and area. Despite the ballroom's enormity, it feels very comfortable. Everyone's incredibly excited and happy to be here this morning. Today's matinee program (American Rhythm Bronze Closed Single Dance Divisions & American Rhythm Open Single Dance Divisions) was jam packed and fast paced.

Professional Closed Rhythm heats

The evening's Pro-Am competition in the open divisions, and in the closed Pro divisions were filled with some incredible dancing — a true testament to the hard work of the students, teachers and this entire great dance organization.

Our guest blogger for the duration of NDC Orlando is Mark Smith of Fred Astaire Dance Studios/Indianapolis South

NDC Orlando - Day One: Off and dancing to a glorious start

 

 

 

This year's National Dance Championships (NDC) at Orlando's Hilton Bonnet Creek is off and dancing to a glorious start! Over the next few days you'll get the flavor of one of the most prestigious dance championships in the U.S., through our blog postings of pictures, videos and commentaries. 

Dancers, both pro and amateur, from all over the country will either be competing for titles, or defending them. 

This event, much like the grace, passion and the incredible skills exemplified by our namesake, Fred Astaire, is the culmination of all those qualities, plus some hard work by our students, teachers, Judges, Examiners, choreographers, National competition organizers and coordinators, Co-National Dance Directors, Vice President, and President & CEO.

 

Dmitriy Kotsiyenko (Pro) and Selma McManus of Old Saybrook, CT. This is Selma's first national event and she's excited to compete and have fun.

Anna Kryvyk (Pro) and Larry Markowitz from Tarrytown, NY. He's attended two championships already this year!

Charles Kubelik of Deleware, OH with both his pro "buddy" teachers, Pam Robinson (L) and Gina Snyder (R).

Donna and Doug Fish are representing Bloomfield Hills, MI as an amateur couple. They're excited to compete in their first national event in 15 dances no less!

Tonight the audience was treated to roughly 100 routines in the Showcase, Solo and Novelty categories.

Kimber Petrucci (Pro) and Aidan Boutin of Middletown, CT, during his solo on "The King of Rock & Roll." 

Jade Benavides, along with dad, Jeff Benavides, cheer on mom, April Benavides.

 

 We're off to a great start. Stay tuned for more!

 

 

 

 

Our guest blogger for the duration of NDC Orlando is Mark Smith of Fred Astaire Dance Studios/Indianapolis South

Will You Be At NDC This Year?

On behalf of Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studios and the Competition Committee, we graciously extend to you, an invitation to this year's National Dance Competition in beautiful Orlando, FL. Come experience the passion, energy and magic of ballroom dance October 29 — November 2.