George Velasquez refuses to give up his dreams.
Velasquez, 55, who was born in New York City, attended Julliard and made his living in the theatre for several years, dancing in the off-Broadway show “A Chorus Line” and touring with the Andrea True Connection. He also started a Burlesque show in the Catskill Mountains for 15 years.
In 1988 he moved to Atlanta, Ga. and accepted a position as a dance instructor for Dance City Ballroom. But then on Aug. 1, 1994, George’s whole life changed. He was a victim of a hit-and-run accident that forced doctors to amputate his left leg below the knee. After months of anguish, pain, he found his way back to the dance studio and continued giving lessons, assisted by his prosthetic leg.
Due to recurring bone spurs and infections, George had to undergo additional surgeries that brought his leg to three inches from the hip. He also lost the tips of his toes on his right foot and parts of all his fingers as well. But George says life is like a game of poker. You play the hand that is dealt to you.
Even now, George continues to compete professionally. For more on his remarkable story, as well as video showcasing his participation in a recent competition, click on http://www.dancingoutofthedark.com/.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Bravo continues casting new reality show, ‘Step it Up’
According to an article on realitytvworld.com, Bravo has announced the creation of “Step It Up,” a new reality series that blends elements of “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Project Runway.”
Magical Elves’ producers Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth - the same people behind Bravo’s “Project Runway” and “Top Chef” - are producing “Step It Up.” It will follow a similar format to the aforementioned shows, combining competitions with behind-the-scenes footage of what it takes to make it in the professional dance industry.
"We believe there is an emotional, dramatic and visually exciting side of the dance world that has yet to be explored," said Lipsitz. "We are very excited to take the same organic and passionate approach to dance, as we do to cooking in ‘Top Chef’ and fashion in ‘Runway.’"
Dancers competing against one another in “Step It Up” will be put through a series of challenges that will have them auditioning for various roles, such as a music video or Las Vegas stage show. In addition, the challenges are designed to both showcase the dancers' moves and test their abilities, with contestants being eliminated and only one receiving the cash grand prize.
Those interested in attending one of “Step It Up's” upcoming open casting calls must be at least 18 years old as of Sept 1, 2007. Two casting calls remain – one in New York on Oct. 6 and one in Atlanta on Oct. 13.
Additional information, such as applications and further casting requirements, is available via Bravo's Web site.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
ABC takes the lead
ABC was one step above the competition during the season's first official week, beating CBS by fewer than 100,000 viewers.
ABC's win was helped along by three high-stepping editions of "Dancing with the Stars," plus the healthy premiere of the "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff "Private Practice," which ranked 12th.
The week's top-rated prime-time show belonged to CBS - the durable "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." But the premiere of “Dancing With the Stars” was hot on the crime drama’s heels, placing second in the Nielson ratings with 21.25 million viewers. The Tuesday night edition of “Stars” ranked fifth overall, with the Wednesday night results show securing the eighth spot.
ABC's win was helped along by three high-stepping editions of "Dancing with the Stars," plus the healthy premiere of the "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff "Private Practice," which ranked 12th.
The week's top-rated prime-time show belonged to CBS - the durable "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." But the premiere of “Dancing With the Stars” was hot on the crime drama’s heels, placing second in the Nielson ratings with 21.25 million viewers. The Tuesday night edition of “Stars” ranked fifth overall, with the Wednesday night results show securing the eighth spot.
Jane Seymour travels to England after the death of her mother
Jane Seymour travels to England after the death of her mother
Actress Jane Seymour did not attend Tuesday night’s “Dancing With the Stars” elimination round due to the death of her mother, according to E! News.
Her mother, Mieke Frankenberg, 92, died of complications from a stroke she had earlier this year.
It is unclear whether Seymour will return in time for the show on Monday. Even if she does, the limited amount of time she would have to practice would likely prove challenging. However, at the start of Tuesday’s show, host Tom Bergeron said Seymour does plan to continue on Monday.
"Jane got the devastating news her mom passed away in England. She's gone back to be with her family," Bergeron said on the show. "One of the main reasons why Jane decided to do the show was because her mom was such a big fan of the British version, which brought her a lot of joy while she was ill... We can reveal that once the votes were counted, Jane and Tony are safe to dance again next week. Furthermore, we're happy to say Jane has decided to stay in the competition in tribute of her mother's memory."Seymour’s partner, Tony Dovolani, understands all too well the speed bumps that can crop up along the “Dancing With the Stars” trail. Dovolani’s partner in Season 3, country singer Sara Evans, withdrew from competition during Week 6. It was later revealed that she was filing for divorce from her husband, Craig Schelske.
In the first two competition shows this season, Seymour and Dovolani started strong, scoring a 24 out of 30 with their foxtrot, followed by a 21 for their mambo.
Actress Jane Seymour did not attend Tuesday night’s “Dancing With the Stars” elimination round due to the death of her mother, according to E! News.
Her mother, Mieke Frankenberg, 92, died of complications from a stroke she had earlier this year.
It is unclear whether Seymour will return in time for the show on Monday. Even if she does, the limited amount of time she would have to practice would likely prove challenging. However, at the start of Tuesday’s show, host Tom Bergeron said Seymour does plan to continue on Monday.
"Jane got the devastating news her mom passed away in England. She's gone back to be with her family," Bergeron said on the show. "One of the main reasons why Jane decided to do the show was because her mom was such a big fan of the British version, which brought her a lot of joy while she was ill... We can reveal that once the votes were counted, Jane and Tony are safe to dance again next week. Furthermore, we're happy to say Jane has decided to stay in the competition in tribute of her mother's memory."Seymour’s partner, Tony Dovolani, understands all too well the speed bumps that can crop up along the “Dancing With the Stars” trail. Dovolani’s partner in Season 3, country singer Sara Evans, withdrew from competition during Week 6. It was later revealed that she was filing for divorce from her husband, Craig Schelske.
In the first two competition shows this season, Seymour and Dovolani started strong, scoring a 24 out of 30 with their foxtrot, followed by a 21 for their mambo.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Cheryl Burke’s star shines bright
Two-time Dancing With the Stars champion Cheryl Burke traded in her ballet slippers for a ballroom dancing outfit at age 11. Now she practices eight hours a day for her job as a dynamic and well-respected professional dancer on one of TVs most popular reality shows.
“Dancing With the Stars” has turned Cheryl Burke into a star in her own right. This season, she has been tearing up the floor with Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton.
Burke, 23, has become one of the biggest draws on ABC’s hit reality series “Dancing With the Stars.” The show, which is now in its fifth season, pairs professional ballroom dancers with celebrities and has them compete in the fox trot, tango, paso doble and other traditional routines. Its estimated weekly viewership of 20 million people last year was second only to “American Idol.”
The popularity of “Dancing With the Stars,” an import version of the international television hit “Strictly Come Dancing,” has surprised even executives at ABC, some of whom were reluctant to embrace the series when it started as a summer replacement in 2005.
For more about Cheryl Burke and “Dancing With the Stars,” read the full text of the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/arts/television/24danc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
“Dancing With the Stars” has turned Cheryl Burke into a star in her own right. This season, she has been tearing up the floor with Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton.
Burke, 23, has become one of the biggest draws on ABC’s hit reality series “Dancing With the Stars.” The show, which is now in its fifth season, pairs professional ballroom dancers with celebrities and has them compete in the fox trot, tango, paso doble and other traditional routines. Its estimated weekly viewership of 20 million people last year was second only to “American Idol.”
The popularity of “Dancing With the Stars,” an import version of the international television hit “Strictly Come Dancing,” has surprised even executives at ABC, some of whom were reluctant to embrace the series when it started as a summer replacement in 2005.
For more about Cheryl Burke and “Dancing With the Stars,” read the full text of the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/arts/television/24danc.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Want to Know Why Jane Seymour Joined Dancing with the Stars?
Want to know why Jane Seymour decided to join the cast of Dancing With the Stars? Interested to know what motivates her every time she enters the ballroom?
Those answers and more can be found by logging on to http://www.dancewithjane.com/, Jane Seymour’s official Dancing With the Stars blog. She offers visitors a number of links, including home movies, dancing clips and a special “Ask Jane” section.
According to the site, http://www.dancewithjane.com/ serves as the official showcase for Jane’s “lifelong love of dance.”
Jane, who has been paired with Tony Dovolani on this season’s Dancing With the Stars, wowed judges and fans with an elegant Foxtrot on last week’s season premiere. The show airs on ABC Monday nights at 8 p.m. EST and Tuesday nights at 9 p.m., EST.
Those answers and more can be found by logging on to http://www.dancewithjane.com/, Jane Seymour’s official Dancing With the Stars blog. She offers visitors a number of links, including home movies, dancing clips and a special “Ask Jane” section.
According to the site, http://www.dancewithjane.com/ serves as the official showcase for Jane’s “lifelong love of dance.”
Jane, who has been paired with Tony Dovolani on this season’s Dancing With the Stars, wowed judges and fans with an elegant Foxtrot on last week’s season premiere. The show airs on ABC Monday nights at 8 p.m. EST and Tuesday nights at 9 p.m., EST.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Leaving Las Vegas
The legendary Wayne Newton has left Sin City, at least temporarily. Just days before his first performance on “Dancing With the Stars,” Newton stopped at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island, New York, for a very special performance.
Before taking the stage to sing favorites like “Viva Las Vegas” and “Mack the Knife,” showgirls dolled up in skimpy white outfits, feather boas and elaborate headdresses worked the crowd; two animal handlers from the Staten Island Zoo showed off an American alligator and a black rat snake, and an Elvis impersonator twitched his hips.
"When we reopened four years ago, our goal was to have big, renowned artists, so we are so proud to have Wayne Newton," said Doreen Cugno, vice president of programming at the St. George Theatre. "He's a megastar."
For the full story, click http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2007/09/mr_vegas_brushes_up_to_dance_s.html.
Before taking the stage to sing favorites like “Viva Las Vegas” and “Mack the Knife,” showgirls dolled up in skimpy white outfits, feather boas and elaborate headdresses worked the crowd; two animal handlers from the Staten Island Zoo showed off an American alligator and a black rat snake, and an Elvis impersonator twitched his hips.
"When we reopened four years ago, our goal was to have big, renowned artists, so we are so proud to have Wayne Newton," said Doreen Cugno, vice president of programming at the St. George Theatre. "He's a megastar."
For the full story, click http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2007/09/mr_vegas_brushes_up_to_dance_s.html.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Jane Seymour gushes about ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Jane Seymour has gone from the studio audience to center stage on the hit show “Dancing With the Stars.”
"I've been offered (to participate as a celebrity contestant) a couple of times and I've always turned it down for various reasons," Seymour recently told realitytvworld.com. "Physically I didn't think I'd be capable of doing it because I have a fused spine and some back issues. I'm by far the oldest female contestant they've ever had."
While she's been "very careful" with her back, consulting her doctor and physiotherapist before joining the cast, in the three or four weeks she's been training with professional partner Tony Dovolani, Seymour said she's lost 14 pounds "without trying." "I'm in better shape then I was when I was 16, and I'm happier than I could possibly ever tell you," said Seymour, who credits the majority of her success to Dovolani.
Click on http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/jane-seymour-gushes-about-going-dancing-with-stars-5808.php for the full text of the article
"I've been offered (to participate as a celebrity contestant) a couple of times and I've always turned it down for various reasons," Seymour recently told realitytvworld.com. "Physically I didn't think I'd be capable of doing it because I have a fused spine and some back issues. I'm by far the oldest female contestant they've ever had."
While she's been "very careful" with her back, consulting her doctor and physiotherapist before joining the cast, in the three or four weeks she's been training with professional partner Tony Dovolani, Seymour said she's lost 14 pounds "without trying." "I'm in better shape then I was when I was 16, and I'm happier than I could possibly ever tell you," said Seymour, who credits the majority of her success to Dovolani.
Click on http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/jane-seymour-gushes-about-going-dancing-with-stars-5808.php for the full text of the article
Maksim Chmerovsky hosts dance camp at Chicago North
Following three days of coaching the students and staff at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Buffalo Grove, “Dancing With The Stars” professional Maksim Chmerovsky recently hosted a Dance Camp open to the public at the Chicago North studio. The lucky students had an opportunity to feast their eyes on one of America’s 10 most eligible bachelors while learning valuable dance skills.During Max’s meet-and-greet after the camp, one of the studio’s students - Mike Adamle (Channel 5 sports newscaster) - decided to toss Max up on his shoulders for a photo op! Max has joined “Dancing With The Stars” for its fifth season, but he guarantees that following the finale Nov. 24, he will be back to visit all of his newfound friends at Buffalo Grove.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Dancing with the Stars Week 1
First week's competition features men vs. women
In a “Dancing with the Stars” first, 12 celebrities - six men and six women - will attempt to out-swing, out-waltz and out-rumba one another in the hit show’s fifth season, which returns Monday, Sept. 24 (8-9:30 p.m. ET) on ABC.
This season’s cast - the largest to date - includes an Emmy Award-winning actress, a Vegas icon, an Indy 500 champion, a Spice Girl, a daytime soap star, a Cheetah Girl and a former resident of 90210. As an added twist, viewers get a chance to size up the male vs. the female stars, as each gender hits the dance floor on separate nights during the first week of competition.
The women will strut their stuff on Monday night, while the men show off their moves Tuesday, Sept. 25 (8-9:30 p.m. ET). One couple will be sent home the following night, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (8-9 p.m. ET) on “Dancing with the Stars: The Results Show.”
Can the women outperform the men, or will the men dance circles around the women?
To learn more about the 12 stars making their dancing debuts next week, click http://abc.go.com/primetime/dancingwiththestars/.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Plans heat up for World Dance Experience: Argentina
Head south of the equator for World Dance Experience: Argentina
Set in beautiful Buenos Aires, this premiere dance competition includes the 2008 World Pro-Am Championships, the South American Open Professional Championships and the South American Open Amateur Championships.
The Pro-Am, only in its second year, is quickly becoming the most prestigious pro-am competition in the world. In 2007, this event attracted an audience of 800, as well as commercial television exposure on 30 networks and articles in 40 international newspapers and magazines.
The 2008 World Pro-Am Championship will also include a cabaret featuring five of the world’s finest professional Latin dance couples, such as Slavik Kryklyvyy and Elena Khvorova, Andre Bouchik and Valeriya Bousheva, and Paul Richardson and Olga Rodionova.
Spectator tickets for this event, which will be held March 6-10, 2008, can be purchased from the local World Dance Council member, the Counseil Danza de Argentina, at http://www.conseildanza.com.ar/.
Packages are available through your dance studio or dance professional. For additional inquiries, e-mail anna@worldpromotionsinc.com.
Drew Lachey tapped to host new dance show
Drew Lachey, who took home top honors in the second season of "Dancing with the Stars," has been chosen to host a new talent competition, "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann."Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba, who serve as judges for ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," will be featured in the six-week series airing later this season. Open auditions are scheduled this month in cities across the nation.
To read the full text of the article, please click here
To read the full text of the article, please click here
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Jane Seymour discusses “Dancing With The Stars”
Legendary actress Jane Seymour always wanted to be a dancer. While knee problems kept her out of England’s Royal Ballet, at age 56, she now has the opportunity to don elegant costumes and glide across the floor as a contestant on the popular ABC show “Dancing With the Stars.”
In fact, she has more formal dance training than any other contestant in the five-season history of the show. Starting at age five, Seymour took her tutus very seriously. But ultimately, her dreams of becoming a prima ballerina were dashed.
In fact, she has more formal dance training than any other contestant in the five-season history of the show. Starting at age five, Seymour took her tutus very seriously. But ultimately, her dreams of becoming a prima ballerina were dashed.
Her decision to join “Dancing With The Stars” came during a particularly difficult time in Seymour’s life. Her mother had just suffered a stroke, and Seymour was commuting back and forth to England to be by her side. Seymour began suffering from depression, and packing on the pounds.
To combat her weight gain and rebuild her emotional strength, she opted to become the oldest woman ever to join the “Stars” cast. She will be counting on her partner, Tony Dovolani, to help her traverse the intricate dance routines she will learn at a frenetic pace over the next few months.
So You Think You Can Watch??
So you think you can watch? Craving the salsa and samba since the second season of “So You Think You Can Dance” came to end? Cheer up - you can still watch the top 10 performers recreate some of your favorite routines on this year’s nationwide tour.
From Jamie and Hok’s breathtaking hummingbird piece, to Sara and Pasha’s action-packed take on West Coast swing, fans can relive some of the season’s most spectacular moments as the tour stops in a town near you.
Tickets are available for the following tour dates:
Friday, Sept. 21
Times Union Center
Albany, N.Y.
Saturday, Sept. 22
Agganis Arena
Boston, Mass.
Sunday, Sept. 23
Hartford Civic Center
Hartford, Conn.
Tuesday, Sept. 25
Sovereign Center
Reading, Penn.
Wednesday, Sept. 26
Wachovia Arena
Wilkes Barre, Penn.
Thursday, Sept. 27
BlueCross Arena
Rochester, N.Y.
Saturday, Sept. 29
Theater at Continental Airlines Arena
E. Rutherford, N.J.
Sunday, Sept. 30
War Memorial at OnCenter
Syracuse, N.Y.
Tuesday, Oct. 2
Arena at Harbor Yard
Bridgeport, Conn.
Wednesday, Oct. 3
Cumberland County Civic Center
Portland, Maine
Thursday, Oct. 4
Verizon Wireless Arena
Manchester, N.H.
Saturday, Oct. 6
Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, N.J.
Sunday, Oct. 7
Wachovia Center
Philadelphia, Penn.
Tuesday, Oct. 9
Nassau Coliseum
Long Island, N.Y.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
First Mariner Arena
Baltimore, Md.
Friday, Oct. 12
Bryce Jordan Center
State College, Penn.
Saturday, Oct. 13
Big Sandy Superstore Arena
Huntington, W.V.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, N.C.
Tuesday, Oct. 16
Hampton Coliseum
Hampton, Va.
Wednesday, Oct. 17
Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Charlotte, N.C.
Friday, Oct. 19
St. Pete Times Forum
Tampa, Fla.
Saturday, Oct. 20
American Airlines Arena
Miami, Fla.
Monday, Oct. 22
Arena at Gwinnett Center
Duluth, Ga.
Tuesday, Oct. 23
BiLo Center
Greenville, S.C.
Wednesday, Oct. 24
Sommet Center
Nashville, Tenn.
Friday, Oct. 26
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Mo.
Saturday, Oct. 27
Sprint Center
Kansas City, Mo.
Sunday, Oct. 28
Target Center
Minneapolis, Minn.
Tuesday, Oct. 30
Schottenstein Center
Columbus, Ohio
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Wolstein Center
Cleveland, Ohio
Thursday, Nov. 1
Air Canada Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Saturday, Nov. 3
Joe Louis Arena
Detroit, Mich.
Sunday, Nov. 4
Conseco Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, Ind.
Monday, Nov. 5
United Center
Chicago, Ill.
Wednesday, Nov. 7
Bradley Center
Milwaukee, Wisc.
Friday, Nov. 9
U.S. Bank Arena
Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday, Nov. 10
Rupp Arena
Lexington, Ky.
Monday, Nov. 12
Nokia Theatre
Grand Prairie, Texas
Wednesday, Nov. 14
AT & T Center
San Antonio, Texas
Thursday, Nov. 15
Reliant Arena
Houston, Texas
Sunday, Nov. 18
Jobing.com Arena
Glendale, Ariz.
Monday, Nov. 19
San Diego Sports Arena
San Diego, Calif.
Wednesday, Nov. 21
Nokia Theatre
Los Angeles, Calif.
Friday, Nov. 23
Oracle Arena
Oakland, Calif.
Saturday, Nov. 24
ARCO Arena
Sacramento, Calif.
Sunday, Nov. 25
HP Pavilion at San Jose
San Jose, Calif.
Tuesday, Nov. 27
Rose Garden
Portland, Ore.
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Everett Events Center
Everett, Wash.
Friday, Nov. 30
Reno Events Center
Reno, Nev.
From Jamie and Hok’s breathtaking hummingbird piece, to Sara and Pasha’s action-packed take on West Coast swing, fans can relive some of the season’s most spectacular moments as the tour stops in a town near you.
Tickets are available for the following tour dates:
Friday, Sept. 21
Times Union Center
Albany, N.Y.
Saturday, Sept. 22
Agganis Arena
Boston, Mass.
Sunday, Sept. 23
Hartford Civic Center
Hartford, Conn.
Tuesday, Sept. 25
Sovereign Center
Reading, Penn.
Wednesday, Sept. 26
Wachovia Arena
Wilkes Barre, Penn.
Thursday, Sept. 27
BlueCross Arena
Rochester, N.Y.
Saturday, Sept. 29
Theater at Continental Airlines Arena
E. Rutherford, N.J.
Sunday, Sept. 30
War Memorial at OnCenter
Syracuse, N.Y.
Tuesday, Oct. 2
Arena at Harbor Yard
Bridgeport, Conn.
Wednesday, Oct. 3
Cumberland County Civic Center
Portland, Maine
Thursday, Oct. 4
Verizon Wireless Arena
Manchester, N.H.
Saturday, Oct. 6
Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, N.J.
Sunday, Oct. 7
Wachovia Center
Philadelphia, Penn.
Tuesday, Oct. 9
Nassau Coliseum
Long Island, N.Y.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
First Mariner Arena
Baltimore, Md.
Friday, Oct. 12
Bryce Jordan Center
State College, Penn.
Saturday, Oct. 13
Big Sandy Superstore Arena
Huntington, W.V.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, N.C.
Tuesday, Oct. 16
Hampton Coliseum
Hampton, Va.
Wednesday, Oct. 17
Charlotte Bobcats Arena
Charlotte, N.C.
Friday, Oct. 19
St. Pete Times Forum
Tampa, Fla.
Saturday, Oct. 20
American Airlines Arena
Miami, Fla.
Monday, Oct. 22
Arena at Gwinnett Center
Duluth, Ga.
Tuesday, Oct. 23
BiLo Center
Greenville, S.C.
Wednesday, Oct. 24
Sommet Center
Nashville, Tenn.
Friday, Oct. 26
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Mo.
Saturday, Oct. 27
Sprint Center
Kansas City, Mo.
Sunday, Oct. 28
Target Center
Minneapolis, Minn.
Tuesday, Oct. 30
Schottenstein Center
Columbus, Ohio
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Wolstein Center
Cleveland, Ohio
Thursday, Nov. 1
Air Canada Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Saturday, Nov. 3
Joe Louis Arena
Detroit, Mich.
Sunday, Nov. 4
Conseco Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, Ind.
Monday, Nov. 5
United Center
Chicago, Ill.
Wednesday, Nov. 7
Bradley Center
Milwaukee, Wisc.
Friday, Nov. 9
U.S. Bank Arena
Cincinnati, Ohio
Saturday, Nov. 10
Rupp Arena
Lexington, Ky.
Monday, Nov. 12
Nokia Theatre
Grand Prairie, Texas
Wednesday, Nov. 14
AT & T Center
San Antonio, Texas
Thursday, Nov. 15
Reliant Arena
Houston, Texas
Sunday, Nov. 18
Jobing.com Arena
Glendale, Ariz.
Monday, Nov. 19
San Diego Sports Arena
San Diego, Calif.
Wednesday, Nov. 21
Nokia Theatre
Los Angeles, Calif.
Friday, Nov. 23
Oracle Arena
Oakland, Calif.
Saturday, Nov. 24
ARCO Arena
Sacramento, Calif.
Sunday, Nov. 25
HP Pavilion at San Jose
San Jose, Calif.
Tuesday, Nov. 27
Rose Garden
Portland, Ore.
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Everett Events Center
Everett, Wash.
Friday, Nov. 30
Reno Events Center
Reno, Nev.
Dancing Through Life
A warm and encouraging self-help book that draws inspiration and motivation from ballroom dancing.Precisely because the dance floor stands apart from the everyday world, allowing dancers to play, experiment and take on new roles, it also serves as a stage for human behavior. Antoinette Benevento, a former national ballroom dancing champion and co-owner of Fred Astaire Dance Studios, has been a student of that stage for 25 years. She has discovered that getting out on the dance floor is a powerful and empowering metaphor for living fully in all realms of life.
Some of the tenets Antoinette Benevento lives, dances, and teaches by:
- Persistence is a form of beauty
- Give yourself permission to begin again--and again and again
- If you're not willing to risk falling, you'll never learn to walk (or dance)
- Desire is the energy that moves us forward in dance and in life
- To dance well and to live fully, body and soul need to work together
Building on the ballroom dancing craze that has swept the country, including the popularity of "Dancing with the Stars", this illuminating and highly readable book shows that what you learn on the dance floor can help you dance through life.
ANTOINETTE BENEVENTO is co-owner of and National Training Director for the Fred Astaire Dance Studios and a former national ballroom dancing champion.
You can purchase the book by clicking here!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Dancing With the Stars Cast Announced
- Mel B (Spice Girl) paired with Maksim Chmerkovskly;
- Sabrina Bryan (Cheetah Girl) paired with Mark Ballas;
- Hello Castroneves (race car driver) paired with Julianne Hough;
- Mark Cuban (businessman) paired with Kym Johnson;
- Jennie Garth (former 90210 actress) paired with Derek Hough;
- Josie Maran (supermodel) paired with Alec Mazo;
- Cameron Mathison (All My Children) paired with Edyta Silwinska;
- Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (boxer) paired with Karina Smirnoff;
- Wayne Newton (singer) paired with Cheryl Burke;
- Marie Osmond (singer) paired with Jonathan Roberts;
- Albert Reed (supermodel) paired with Anna Trebunskaya;
- Jane Seymour (actress) paired with Tony Dovolani.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wayne Newton to Join Dancing with the Stars
Although ABC hasn't officially announced the Dancing with the Stars celebrtities, there is a rumor going around that Wayne Newton will be joining the cast for the coming season.Judge Carrie Ann and Season 4 winner Apolo Ohno will announce the next lineup Aug. 29 on Good Morning America.
Stayed tuned to our blog for the rest of the cast list!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
NY/NJ Dance Sport Championships, Verona, NY,August 2007
Congratulations to Patti Williams-Gorman and Georgi Kanev of the Upper Montclair Fred Astaire. Patti and Georgi danced a showcase to "I AM ALDOLFO", a wonderful musical number from the Hit Broadway Show THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. Patti received 2 98%'s and was thrilled that "Tony Dovolani gave me 100%." Not only did Patti and Georgi win the highest score for top showcase and get a standing ovation, they were invited to dance their show again the following evening during Tony Dovolani and Eleana Grinenko's Professional Show, and with the winners of the professional events. Charlie Penatello, co-organizer, said it was the first time a student was asked to dance in the Professional showcase in years. Special Thanks to Bruno Collins for his award- winning choreography for this truly spectacular show.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Fred Astaire and Variety Charities
We are pleased to announce that FRED ASTAIRE DANCE STUDIOS has partnered with Variety to raise awareness, as well as dollars, for Variety’s National Mobility Program. Through the creation of a special edition Top Hat pins available for purchase at Fred Astaire Dance Studio, local area children with mobility challenges will receive the wheelchairs, walkers, and prosthetic limbs they so desperately need.
National Mobility Program
Variety has been serving children with special needs for over 75 years, and we have found that what these children want most is to be active members of their communities. In order to achieve this, they need what most of us take for granted: access. For children with disabilities, this means having the freedom to go where they want to, either on their own, or if they need assistance, reducing the impact they make on those helping them. With the advent of many new mobility technologies, this access is becoming available to more and more children.
Many of the local Variety chapters have seen this need, and have already been focused on providing children in their communities with prosthetic limbs, walkers, wheelchairs, and specially design adaptive bikes. In the coming year, these diverse efforts will be unified into a single national program, Variety’s National Mobility Program. And while it is a national program, it will still be true to our roots: enabling local communities to better serve their children with special needs.
Variety's Gold Heart Campaign
The Gold Heart Pin Campaign is Variety International's signature fundraising endeavor worldwide. Chapters throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Israel, Barbados, France and Canada participate in the campaign that begins in November and goes through the end of March, with the crescendo of sales revolving around Valentine's Day.
Like Variety itself, the Gold Heart campaign started simply and has since grown to become our signature fundraising initiative. It all began in England in 1991 with an idea from Variety International board member Marsha Rae Ratcliff, based on a children's storybook she had written. In 1999, through the dedication of Los Angeles Board member Clark Woods, who is now with MGM Pictures, the Gold Heart campaign was brought to the motion picture industry and has become a multi-million dollar campaign that raises money for children in need around the world.
To promote the Gold Heart campaign in the United States, Variety partners with major motion picture theater chains. More than 2000 theaters around the country sell the pins and display promotional posters, counter cards, in-theatre slides, film trailers and other materials. During the 2005-2006 campaign, the in-theater promotional materials were seen over 440 million times. This partnership between Variety and the motion picture industry has raised $95 million dollars worldwide. Additionally, many local radio stations and cable channels support their local chapters by airing Gold Heart pin public service announcements.
National Mobility Program
Variety has been serving children with special needs for over 75 years, and we have found that what these children want most is to be active members of their communities. In order to achieve this, they need what most of us take for granted: access. For children with disabilities, this means having the freedom to go where they want to, either on their own, or if they need assistance, reducing the impact they make on those helping them. With the advent of many new mobility technologies, this access is becoming available to more and more children.
Many of the local Variety chapters have seen this need, and have already been focused on providing children in their communities with prosthetic limbs, walkers, wheelchairs, and specially design adaptive bikes. In the coming year, these diverse efforts will be unified into a single national program, Variety’s National Mobility Program. And while it is a national program, it will still be true to our roots: enabling local communities to better serve their children with special needs.
Variety's Gold Heart Campaign
The Gold Heart Pin Campaign is Variety International's signature fundraising endeavor worldwide. Chapters throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Israel, Barbados, France and Canada participate in the campaign that begins in November and goes through the end of March, with the crescendo of sales revolving around Valentine's Day.
Like Variety itself, the Gold Heart campaign started simply and has since grown to become our signature fundraising initiative. It all began in England in 1991 with an idea from Variety International board member Marsha Rae Ratcliff, based on a children's storybook she had written. In 1999, through the dedication of Los Angeles Board member Clark Woods, who is now with MGM Pictures, the Gold Heart campaign was brought to the motion picture industry and has become a multi-million dollar campaign that raises money for children in need around the world.
To promote the Gold Heart campaign in the United States, Variety partners with major motion picture theater chains. More than 2000 theaters around the country sell the pins and display promotional posters, counter cards, in-theatre slides, film trailers and other materials. During the 2005-2006 campaign, the in-theater promotional materials were seen over 440 million times. This partnership between Variety and the motion picture industry has raised $95 million dollars worldwide. Additionally, many local radio stations and cable channels support their local chapters by airing Gold Heart pin public service announcements.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Fred Astaire National Dancesport Championships
Celebrate the magic of dance at our National DanceSport Championships held in Orlando, Florida on October 24-28. At this annual competition, you’ll dance with the best while being just steps away from the #1 tourist attraction in our country – Disney World! Don’t miss this great opportunity to challenge your dancing skills, strengthen your confidence and focus, and form life long friendships with other dancers! With its mix of fun social events, high-level competitive heats, and dramatic performances, the NDC is the perfect event for any dancer.Professional Night
See top-rated professional dancers whirl into action during Friday night’s Professional Division performances. You’ll be captivated by their daring choreography, dazzling technique, pitch-perfect musicality, and exceptional movements.
Awards
On the last night, a variety of awards and trophies will be presented to competition participants. In addition, a minimum of $15,000.00 will be rewarded to the top overall teachers from the three national competitions this year.
Disney Resort
Experience a world of fun at the Hilton Walt Disney Resort. The Hilton has 2 lavish swimming pools, 7 restaurants and lounges, and 5 championship golf courses. In addition, it’s located just steps away from Downtown Disney!
Local Attractions
When you’re not dancing, you can enjoy the Hilton’s complimentary transportation to the parks and the exclusive Extra Magic Hours when parks are opened early or closed later for Hilton guests. Other areas you might want to visit include:
- Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
- Magic Kingdom® Park
- Disney-MGM Studios
- Epcot®
- Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
- Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
- Downtown Disney® Area
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Benefits of Ballroom Dancing
Dancing isn’t just about the steps and music; it’s a perfect combination of physical activity, social interaction, and mental stimulation.
Dancing enhances your life in so many ways:
Health - When you dance, your cardiovascular system improves, your muscle tone increases, and you burn calories. This low-impact aerobic activity also increases flexibility, strength, and balance. Olympic athletes often dance as part of their training to sharpen their control, agility, and speed. Dancing is great exercise in a pleasant, fun atmosphere.
Confidence - Dancers possess an aura of self-confidence and an ability to enjoy themselves more in social situations. When you learn how to dance, your entire mental outlook will take on a fresh sense of creativity, motivation, and energy. This new self-confidence in your dancing abilities will transfer to other aspects of your life as well.
Self Expression - Dance provides an emotional outlet so that you can reflect your feelings through your body movements with passion and flair. Dancing will bring out, improve on, and strengthen your ability to permanently use these expressive qualities even when not dancing.
Social Life - Dancing lessons are an easy, low-pressure way to meet people. Fred Astaire Dance Studios provide weekly practice dance parties, nights out on the town, regional and national competitions, as well as fun trips to many different locations. Our lessons are the perfect place to rediscover romance – dancing your way to love!
Relaxtion - In today's fast-paced world, we sometimes forget to take a moment for ourselves. Dancing provides a temporary escape from your normal daily activities, a chance to relax, relieve stress, and concentrate on yourself.
Fun - Dancing is a great way to add excitement to your life. Although learning to dance takes concentration and dedication, you will be constantly surrounded by artistic, cheerful people who make learning a pleasurable and rewarding experience. So join us and have some fun!
Dancing enhances your life in so many ways:
Health - When you dance, your cardiovascular system improves, your muscle tone increases, and you burn calories. This low-impact aerobic activity also increases flexibility, strength, and balance. Olympic athletes often dance as part of their training to sharpen their control, agility, and speed. Dancing is great exercise in a pleasant, fun atmosphere.
Confidence - Dancers possess an aura of self-confidence and an ability to enjoy themselves more in social situations. When you learn how to dance, your entire mental outlook will take on a fresh sense of creativity, motivation, and energy. This new self-confidence in your dancing abilities will transfer to other aspects of your life as well.
Self Expression - Dance provides an emotional outlet so that you can reflect your feelings through your body movements with passion and flair. Dancing will bring out, improve on, and strengthen your ability to permanently use these expressive qualities even when not dancing.
Social Life - Dancing lessons are an easy, low-pressure way to meet people. Fred Astaire Dance Studios provide weekly practice dance parties, nights out on the town, regional and national competitions, as well as fun trips to many different locations. Our lessons are the perfect place to rediscover romance – dancing your way to love!
Relaxtion - In today's fast-paced world, we sometimes forget to take a moment for ourselves. Dancing provides a temporary escape from your normal daily activities, a chance to relax, relieve stress, and concentrate on yourself.
Fun - Dancing is a great way to add excitement to your life. Although learning to dance takes concentration and dedication, you will be constantly surrounded by artistic, cheerful people who make learning a pleasurable and rewarding experience. So join us and have some fun!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Fred Astaire Dance Studios on WGN News!
Fred Astaire Dance Studios will be featured throughout the WGN morning news Friday, July 27th between 7 and 9 AM at our National Competition, The Astaire Awards Championships, at the Westin North Shore! They will be celebrating our 60th anniversary as well as capturing demonstrations from the Fred Astaire dancers in the Chicagoland. There will be a special performance from our very own Jesse DeSoto and Jackie Josephs, Fred Astaire, United States and World Finalists!! Don't miss this opportunity to catch Fred Astaire Dance Studios in the news! Once again proving that Fred Astaire Dance Studios are the best in the city!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Ballroom Dancing in the Media
BALLROOM fever is set to strike schools across Manchester as the latest TV dance contest shimmies into the city. Following in the twinkle-toed footsteps of other hit primetime shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Baby Ballroom is the next show set to get the nation tangoing. This time the kids are the stars, with 28 under-12s battling it out to be crowned the junior Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Click here for the rest of the article.
ABOUT 500 people heated up the dance floor of the Hilton Kuala Lumpur grand ballroom as they showed off their salsa moves at the inaugural Salsa 101 party. The event started at 6pm with three salsa workshops: "Introduction to Guanguanco and Body Isolation Techniques" by Güpson Pierre of Attitude Dance Studio, Singapore, "Casino Rueda on Salsa Timba" by Pat Calzadilla of Ritmo Latino Studio, Kuala Lumpur, and "Newest Sexy Moves and Dips on Rumba Wena" by Malaysian Salsa Sam of Havana Estudio Kuala Lumpur. Click here to read more.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Blackpool 2007
By Armando Martin, former International & US Champion and the current Fred Astaire National Dance DirectorBlackpool, England is not a very nice place to vacation, having been built in the 20s and 30s and having had very little done to it since. It is a place that takes us back into time in a way that does not remind us of history or great architecture or beauty of any kind.
The very best food you can find in the entire town is Pizza and Fish & Chips. Order anything else at a local restaurant and you may be taking your taste buds to places they have never gone before!
When I arrived there on Wednesday after a 14-year absence, absolutely nothing had changed. I stayed at the very famous Imperial Hotel, which at one time hosted the English Royals. My room was so small I had to open the window to create some ventilation and to avoid feeling claustrophobic. My view was of a 100-year old alley, which housed tons of doves taking cover from the rain and cold.
So, after leaving my window open once, I returned to my room to find the birds and some presents they left me on my bed, chair, floor, etc. I had left my bathroom door open but they decided not to use it. Nice, ha?
Than I decided, after getting all settled in the Hotel, to go to the Winter Gardens where all the dancing happens. Walking in, listening to the music and watching the couples throwing themselves across the floor creating great shapes and superb rhythmical actions with their feet, bodies, and souls, I remembered why we all go to Blackpool - to watch the best dancers in the world battle it out for the most coveted tittles in DanceSport, the British Open.
Being there also brought me back to my youth, when Laura and I were one of those couples, trying to make a name for ourselves on an International dancing stage. It reminded me of all the hard work and sacrifices that all these kids have to make to get there, with no guarantee of success, but only the hope that some of the judges recognize their talents and continue to put them into the next round, then the next, then the next. Laura and I were one of those lucky couples to have made it onto the Blackpool dance floor with only 5 other couples. That meant that we had made the final and that we had reached the top of the mountain in DanceSport. That feeling was worth all that we had sacrificed to get there.
This year's Blackpool was no exception, mostly disappointed couples and a very few happy ones returned home after nine days of dancing. The people that have to be the most disappointed is the US and the US Team Match team. In the Team Match event, the US sends their very best dancers (2 Latin couples and 2 Standard couples) to dance against 3 other teams; three judges judge the event and, on this particular night, the politics and ironies of judging DanceSport were very obvious. The US had on paper the very best team in the competition - 2 world finalists in Latin and the same in Standard. By far the strongest team in the Team Match competition, they managed to finish LAST! How did that happen? Well, that's Blackpool.
Our Fred Astaire couples were a little unlucky too. Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian, with their sharp and strong dance styles, were only able to get a fourth place in the Cabaret, a style that is usually dominated by the US. In the Latin, we had Gabi and Vlady and Warren and Babette from Jupiter and Ilya and Nadia from Montville; all of these couples did not go as far as they should have, especially Ilya and Nadia who were in the Rising Star Latin Final last year. Tina and Plumen from the East Side NY studio went on to dance the 48 which they were very happy about.
The Amateur Latin featured a very strong field, and our TOP couple Eugene and Maria were disappointed to end up in 4th place since last year they were runners up in that category.
The Pro Latin was won by Brian and Carmen who retired that night to a very appreciative audience. Also making the finals in two dances were Max Kozhevnikov and Yulia Zagoruychenko from the US. This is a great achievement for a US couple; it has not been done in many years. Andre Gavriline and Elena Kryuchkova made the Semifinals in all the Latin dances - also a great feat for them and the US.
The Standard had a lot of good US couples. The eventual winners were Mirko Gozzoli and Alessia Betti from Italy. Jonathan Wilkie and Katusha Demidova from the US came in 2nd, which is by far the best that a US couple has done in that category. Also making the finals in 3 dances was Victor Fung and Anna Mikhed from the US. These couples are the epitome of class and great quality Standard dancing and everyone in the US should be very proud to be represented by them.
Over all it was a great week for the US and another exciting British Open Festival. I personally look forward to going back there again in 14 years.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Dancing Tips - Cuban Motion
By Stanley McCalla
Hello there! I hope everything is well with you & that you have made use of the exercises mentioned in the previous articles.
Today I want to talk to you about Cuban motion and how you can practice it.
Cuban motion is described as the lateral motion of the hips which occurs as a result of the flexing and straightening of the knees and never a conscious swing of the hips. You can use this technique in the Rumba, Bolero, Mambo, Cha Cha, Merengue, and Salsa, to name a few.
Stand with your back straight, your shoulders lined up over your hips, your center pulled toward your spine, feet together with toes turned out. You should feel that your weight is poised towards the balls of your feet.
Start by bending one knee at a time, and then straighten it. While doing this, you should control the movement through the center of your body. In order to feel your center, tighten your stomach muscles as well as your plexus muscle.
You should then feel the natural and lateral motion of your hips. If you don’t, then your posture is incorrect.
Once you feel the correct motion, try to use the same principle by taking a small step to the side with your L.F then slowly close your R.F to your L.F. All the while, remember the posture, the center and the bending and straightening of the knees one at a time.
Make sure that you confirm what you’re doing with your teacher.
Until next time, happy dancing,
Cheers,
Stanley Mc Calla
US Ten Dance Finalist
Fred Astaire National Smooth Champion
FADS National Dance Board Member Coach and Adjudicator
FADS Dance Board Examiner
jsmccalla@mindspring.com
Monday, June 25, 2007
Fred Astaire Dancer wins Accolades in Dancebeat
Congratulations to Charlotte Carey and Kostadin Bidjourov, of the Upper Montclair Fred Astaire studio!Charlotte has been dancing for years, and only came to find Kostadin after seeing him dance in a show with his professional partner, Carrie Babcock. After a few years of struggle, she decided to leave her former teacher (non-FADS) to study with Kostadin.
Charlotte has been dancing with Kostadin for 2 years now and here’s what DanceBeat magazine had to say about their performance at the EMERALD Ball:
DANCEBEAT – Edition 0607
Page 19
Emerald Ball Pro/Am C Open Standard Championships
Review by Didio Berrara
“Somewhat unexpected but very deserving of the honor of winning this competition was Charlotte Carey partnered by Kostadin Bidjourov. I have watched this lady dance now for many years and have always been a fan of her dancing. I always thought her energy was good and her understanding of the skill, high. On this occasion I think Charlotte has jumped way ahead of her teammates. I have never seen her dance the Standard so well. She was totally in a league of her own, miles away from the challengers. This was a geat win for Charlotte but even a greater win for her dancing.”
Congratulations Charlotte!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Dance Among the Stars
Manhattan's Fred Astaire Dance Studio will produce "Dance Among the Stars," its second annual dance benefit for the High School for Arts, Imagination and Inquiry.This year's guests will include Tony Dovolani of ABC's hit series "Dancing with the Stars" and his professional dance partner Elena Grinenko, international ballroom dance champions Darius and Jolanta Mosteika, and dancers from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio and the Dance Club of the High School for Arts, Imagination and Inquiry.
Dance Among the Stars 2007
to benefit the
High School for Arts Imagination and Inquiry
122 Amsterdam Ave (entrance at 66th street)
Thursday June 28th
Reception 7:30pm
Show starts at 8:15pm
For more infomation please stop by the New York West Side Studio or call 212-595-3200
Friday, June 15, 2007
Dancing with the Stars Rumors
Superstar actor, Al Pacino, told Time Magazine that he would consider going on Dancing with the Stars if he was asked.
He says, "Actually, I would consider it. All due respect and trying to be as modest as I can be, I am a dancer. "But I don't think I would be on Dancing with the Stars mainly because I would be too shy."
In other Dancing with the Stars news, Beverly Hills 90210 star Jennie Garth has confirmed that she will be appearing on the next season. According to her publicist "It's official!"
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Fred Astaire Studios Are Hopping
Studio owner, Evan Mountain, spent some time talking with the Detriot Free Press about how popular ballroom dancing is becoming since the start of Dancing with the Stars.
You can visit the Bloomfield Hills Dance Studio website here, and click here to read the rest of the article.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Fred Astaire Movie Clips
Here are some of our favorite Fred Astaire dances from his various movies.
ROYAL WEDDING
YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER
YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH
What are your favorite Fred Astaire Dance movies?
ROYAL WEDDING
YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER
YOU'LL NEVER GET RICH
What are your favorite Fred Astaire Dance movies?
Monday, June 11, 2007
Dancing with the Stars Fundraiser
We are proud to announce that our Fort Walton Beach Fred Astaire Dance Studio performed at the Emerald Coast Conference Center Friday night for Dancing with Desire 2007. The dance performance benefits Desire Street Ministries and Take Stock in Children scholarship program.
Among the list of dancers were Dancing with the Stars Tony Dovolani, Elena Grinenko, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and more. You can view a short video of the event below.
Young Girls Learning Ballroom Dancing
At Fred Astaire we have always said that ballroom dancing has no age limits. Everyone can learn to dance, and our Panama City dance studio proves it! Three girls take ballroom lessons two times a week for 45 minutes. Their ages range from 7 down to 5 and a half. To learn more, click here for the full article.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Lights, Camera, Action, Dance!
Houston professionals and amateurs are stealing a Houston stage Friday, June 15th, 2007. Talented students of the local, Fred Astaire Dance Studios are coming together to bring “Rhythm of the Night”, 2nd Annual Ballroom Dance Revue to the thespian enthusiast and average Houstonian alike. The Wortham Center won’t be big enough to hold this fantastic display of ballroom dance skill, talent and creativity. One does not have to be a judge on “Dancing with the Stars” to know good dancers when they see them and Houston certainly has their share.
Their ages and dance education all vary, however, each of their star quality is apparent with every step they take. Houston area students will be accompanied by their teachers to dance over 60 different musical routines to a variety of music for the Professional/ Amateur part of the show. The music will be a mix of fun oldies, ranging from the 1930’s and younger, to the popular music of today. This show has something for everyone. Nevertheless, Fred Astaire Dance Studio would not be an awesome host if they did not give the audience a taste of the professional star power in the Professional Act. This delightful act will be accompanied by the sounds of Disney. It’s a family treat for not only our hometown of Houston, but from afar as well. Make sure you pick up your tickets for this fantastic broadway musical dance revue from http://www.fredastairehouston.com/.
Their ages and dance education all vary, however, each of their star quality is apparent with every step they take. Houston area students will be accompanied by their teachers to dance over 60 different musical routines to a variety of music for the Professional/ Amateur part of the show. The music will be a mix of fun oldies, ranging from the 1930’s and younger, to the popular music of today. This show has something for everyone. Nevertheless, Fred Astaire Dance Studio would not be an awesome host if they did not give the audience a taste of the professional star power in the Professional Act. This delightful act will be accompanied by the sounds of Disney. It’s a family treat for not only our hometown of Houston, but from afar as well. Make sure you pick up your tickets for this fantastic broadway musical dance revue from http://www.fredastairehouston.com/.
For information on taking dance lessons contact your local Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studio and who knows, next year it could be you on the Wortham Center Stage.
Ridgefield Dance Studio Says Anyone Can Dance!
Fred Astaire Dance Studios would like to welcome it's newest member into our organization. We have a new studio located in Ridgefield Connecticut, and owners Martin and Gina Goethche say "If you can walk, you can dance. We can teach anyone to dance. Fred Astaire actually developed a teaching system 60 years ago when he opened his first studio in New York. It’s been modernized over the years, but the basic principles are still the same."
Congratulations to Martin and Gina and for more information read this article about their studio and you can visit the Ridgefield Fred Astaire Dance Studio's webpage here.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Dancing to Help Children
Tuscon Fred Astaire Dance Studio Owner, Blake Kish, is preparing choreography for an October fundraising show that will donate gifts to more than 200 children who wont be spending Christmas with their families.
The toys will be given to children living in Sunshine Group Homes, which operates 22 children's homes in Phoenix's western suburbs. All of the children have been abandoned, abused or neglected and have been placed in the homes by Child Protective Services, said Simon Kottoor, chief operating officer of Sunshine Group Homes.
This will be the fifth year he has participated in this event, and will prepare 40 different routines for his dancers to perform.
Click here for the rest of the article, and to learn more about studios in the Arizona region, please visit their regional website.
The toys will be given to children living in Sunshine Group Homes, which operates 22 children's homes in Phoenix's western suburbs. All of the children have been abandoned, abused or neglected and have been placed in the homes by Child Protective Services, said Simon Kottoor, chief operating officer of Sunshine Group Homes.
This will be the fifth year he has participated in this event, and will prepare 40 different routines for his dancers to perform.
Click here for the rest of the article, and to learn more about studios in the Arizona region, please visit their regional website.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Dancing With The Stars Tour - Summer 2007
The Dancing With The Stars tour is coming soon to a city near you! Cheryl Burke, Edyta Sliwinska, Julianne Hough, Louis Van Amstel, and Kym Johnson are some of the professional dancers joining this summer's tour. Celebrities include Joey Lawrence (Season 3), Drew Lachey (Season 2), Joey Fatone (Season 4), and Joey McIntyre (Season 1). Tickets are on sale now for these performance dates and locations:
06/20 Frank Erwin Cente, Austin, TX
06/22 American Airlines Center, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
06/23 Baton Rouge River Center Arena, Baton Rouge, LA
06/25 Amway Arena, Orlando, FL
06/26 American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
06/28 Colonial Center, Columbia, SC
06/22 American Airlines Center, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
06/23 Baton Rouge River Center Arena, Baton Rouge, LA
06/25 Amway Arena, Orlando, FL
06/26 American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
06/28 Colonial Center, Columbia, SC
06/29 Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, NC
06/30 RBC Center, Raleigh, NC
07/02 Giant Center, Hershey, PA
07/03 Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT
07/05 Wachovia Arena, Wilkes Barre, PA
07/06 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
07/07 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
07/08 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
07/10 Scotiabank Place, Ottawa
07/11 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON
07/13 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
07/14 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
07/15 Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL
07/16 Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
07/18 MTS Centre, Winnipeg
07/20 Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon
07/21 Rexall Place, Edmonton
07/22 Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary
07/24 GM Place, Vancouver
06/30 RBC Center, Raleigh, NC
07/02 Giant Center, Hershey, PA
07/03 Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT
07/05 Wachovia Arena, Wilkes Barre, PA
07/06 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
07/07 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
07/08 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
07/10 Scotiabank Place, Ottawa
07/11 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON
07/13 HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
07/14 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
07/15 Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL
07/16 Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
07/18 MTS Centre, Winnipeg
07/20 Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon
07/21 Rexall Place, Edmonton
07/22 Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary
07/24 GM Place, Vancouver
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
History Of The Waltz
The Waltz dates back to the country folk dances of Bavaria, more than 400 hundred years ago, but it was not introduced into society until 1812 when it made its appearance in English ballrooms. When the Waltz was first introduced, it was met with outrage! People were shocked to see a man dancing with his hand on a lady's waist! So different from the stately dances of the artistocracy, the Waltz was considered to be a wicked and improper dance! But it gained in popularity and quickly became one of the most popular of all dances. This easy and flowing dance is still commonly seen at weddings and other social events.The basic compoments of the Waltz are walking steps and side steps. Styling characteristics such as "Sway" and "Rise and Fall" highlight the smooth, lilting beauty of the Waltz.
2007 Astaire Awards Championships
Showcase your dancing and make memories of a lifetime at the next Fred Astaire National Competition - the Astaire Awards Championships (AAC) held on July 24-29, 2007! This year’s AAC will be held in a new location - the full-service Westin Hotel in Chicago’s prestigious North Shore district. With dramatic professional shows, gala dinners, fun parties, social dancing interludes, top competitive heats, a world-class judging panel, and generous cash prizes awarded to top teachers and students, the AAC is a premier competition that you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re a newcomer or have competed before, you’ll be amazed at how this thrilling competition will challenge you!Your time at the AAC will be well-spent. Summer in Chicago means non-stop events, from concerts and movies in the park to baseball games and street festivals. Explore Lake Michigan, Millennium Park, Wrigley Field, hundreds of restaurants, live music, and much more.
You’ll be staying and competing at the Westin Chicago North Shore. This newly opened hotel features luxurious guest rooms and suites, a fully-equipped business center, lounge, expansive fitness center, and indoor pool.
Talk to your dance instructor today about joining us at the AAC! Early Bird registration date is May 29th and Regular registration is June 12th.
Dancing Tips - Forward Walk in the Tango
By Stanley McCalla, a former US amateur champion in Latin, Standard and 10 dances; 4 times US representative to World Championships; Fred Astaire National Dance Board Member and Adjudicator; Fred Astaire Dance Board Examiner; Fred Astaire Smooth Undefeated Champion. Stanley can be reached at jsmccalla@mindspring.com or 845-304-9028.Hello and welcome back to Tip of the Week. In my last two articles, I mentioned how important it is to practice certain techniques that will improve your dancing. I introduced the Forward Walk exercise and the Back Walk exercise in the Smooth & Standard dances. Today, I’ll tell you about the forward walk in Tango.
Stand with the knees slightly more relaxed than in the other Smooth dances with weight on the R.F. Pick up the L.F slightly from the floor and place it in (CBMP) i.e. in front and in line of the R.F with a crisp action. The weight should be taken on the L. edge of the foot first, then the whole foot. At this point, pick up the R.F from the floor with a slight delayed action and place it forward on its own track with a crisp action, also with the L. edge of the foot and with a right shoulder lead. Repeat these two steps slowly making sure that you maintain your center balanced over the middle of your supporting foot.
The Tango is a different animal and a beautiful dance. It takes understanding and practice in order to capture its full characteristic. Next time I will introduce the backward walk of Tango.
Until then make sure that you practice your exercise. You will only get better.
Dancing With The Stars, Season Finale
By Armando Martin, a former US International US Champion and the current National Dance Director for The Fred Astaire Dance Studio chainMove over American Idol...Dancing With The Stars is here to give you a run for your money! Last night's competition was great but, tonight, the show is competing head to head with American Idol for an audience that - in my mind - would have a much better time watching the dancers than the singers.
I have been following both shows and I have to tell you that Dancing with the Stars has been the winner for me, with such interesting personalities as Laila Ali and Apolo Ono, who you have to tip your hat to for what they have accomplished in their own arenas and for the intensity and work ethic they bring to DWTS. Then you have Joey Fatone whose incredible likability and outgoing persona makes you can't wait to see what he's going to do next.
Simply put, there is a lot more meat to sink your teeth into with DWTS. Unfortunately, the winners of the dance competition will go back to their own lives, with the exception of Stacey Keibler who has done very well due to her appearance in the show, but the singers will go on to be Pop Stars and make millions of dollars.
So this judge's scores are: American Idol: 9; Dancing with the Stars: 10 - but maybe I am a little biased.
Tonight's first couple was Laila and Maks dancing the Paso Doble. She looked fantastic in her red dress, which complimented her body and her coloring. I found her performance very strong and focused with a very good interpretation of the fight that goes on in the Bull Ring. Her steps were strong and her footing was right on target.
I find that Laila does her best dancing when she is left on her own and has an opportunity to move her own body weight around the floor; when she gets in dance positions, she looks uncomfortable and tends to lose her posture and charisma.
Her free style was superb and very entertaining. I disagree with all three judges about her doing classic better than funky. This is a gorgeous lady who can look very classy when she wants, but who I believe to be more comfortable dancing to a good old Motown piece than to a Waltz any day. Good job! Again, the choreography left me wanting to see more - too simple and not very creative but not her fault. Total score after the Mambo: 85.
Next to take the floor tonight was Apolo and Julianne performing the Rumba. First of all - being a man - it was hard for me to watch Apolo at all. Julianne looked so fantastic in her custom, which I believe was Julianne imitating Christina Aguilera who was imitating Marilyn Monroe. Whatever the case - she was outstandingly beautiful and sensual.
I thought their Rumba was very impressive with lots of feeling and a great blend of choreography, technique, and romance. But the thing that I was the most impressed with was Apolo's partnering ability; he was the perfect partner supporting her and giving her all the room that she needed to shine like no one left in the competition can.
The Rumba also caused a bit of a fight between Len and Bruno. I must take Bruno's side on this one. I agreed with Bruno that their Rumba was very good, not too quick as Len said. I think that Len confused speed (which is a plus in dancing) with being too quick, which is not.
For their free style number, they performed a Hip-Hop that was even better than their Rumba. They did have some help choreographing this number but, wow what a number it was! Both Apolo and Julianne took to this number and this new tundra like they have been doing it forever. Great number, great energy, superb tricks and very very funky...by far the best dance of the night.
Apolo and Julianne are easily my winners for this season of Dancing with the Stars. Total Score after the Paso Doble: 88.
Last to dance tonight was Joey and Kym. Their first dance was the Cha-cha and it was not a good one. He really showed his size during this dance. I never thought that he looked big or slow even though he is not a small, thin dancer type but tonight he did. His footwork was sloppy and his movements very slow and heavy. The dance was full of tricks and not enough basics, which Len criticized him for, but I think had he put more real Cha-cha in it, it would have been worse.
In the free style part they chose a Disco number that received good comments from the judges, I think, because of Joey's exuberance and need to entertain at all times, but I thought the outfit made him look like a caricature of something out of the 70s. Besides the lifts, which they did very well, the rest of the dance was just OK. I think that Joey secured the third place in this competition with tonight's performance. Total score after the Tango: 86.
The finale proved the point that I made at the beginning of my article. I watched both the American Idol and Dancing with the Stars finales and the latter was much more entertaining and fun to watch.
All three couples performed one last dance on the final night. Apolo and Julianne danced their Paso Doble; Laila and Maks the Mambo; and Joey and Kym the Tango. All three couples were very good and showed why they were the finalists.
After all the scores were tabulated, Laila took home the Bronze and a lot of good memories and left us thinking what a beautiful and classy lady she is. Joey came in second place showing lots of class in defeat. We will never forget what a great entertainer and person he is. Apolo and Julianne became the new Dancing with the Stars winners and for the first time in the history of the show - the best dancers won the competition.
Now that the show is over the question is: What are we all going to do on Monday nights at 8 PM? I have an idea! We should all head over to our nearest Fred Astaire Dance Studio and learn to dance like a star!
Keep dancing everybody and have fun.
Armando Martin
I have been following both shows and I have to tell you that Dancing with the Stars has been the winner for me, with such interesting personalities as Laila Ali and Apolo Ono, who you have to tip your hat to for what they have accomplished in their own arenas and for the intensity and work ethic they bring to DWTS. Then you have Joey Fatone whose incredible likability and outgoing persona makes you can't wait to see what he's going to do next.
Simply put, there is a lot more meat to sink your teeth into with DWTS. Unfortunately, the winners of the dance competition will go back to their own lives, with the exception of Stacey Keibler who has done very well due to her appearance in the show, but the singers will go on to be Pop Stars and make millions of dollars.
So this judge's scores are: American Idol: 9; Dancing with the Stars: 10 - but maybe I am a little biased.
Tonight's first couple was Laila and Maks dancing the Paso Doble. She looked fantastic in her red dress, which complimented her body and her coloring. I found her performance very strong and focused with a very good interpretation of the fight that goes on in the Bull Ring. Her steps were strong and her footing was right on target.
I find that Laila does her best dancing when she is left on her own and has an opportunity to move her own body weight around the floor; when she gets in dance positions, she looks uncomfortable and tends to lose her posture and charisma.
Her free style was superb and very entertaining. I disagree with all three judges about her doing classic better than funky. This is a gorgeous lady who can look very classy when she wants, but who I believe to be more comfortable dancing to a good old Motown piece than to a Waltz any day. Good job! Again, the choreography left me wanting to see more - too simple and not very creative but not her fault. Total score after the Mambo: 85.
Next to take the floor tonight was Apolo and Julianne performing the Rumba. First of all - being a man - it was hard for me to watch Apolo at all. Julianne looked so fantastic in her custom, which I believe was Julianne imitating Christina Aguilera who was imitating Marilyn Monroe. Whatever the case - she was outstandingly beautiful and sensual.
I thought their Rumba was very impressive with lots of feeling and a great blend of choreography, technique, and romance. But the thing that I was the most impressed with was Apolo's partnering ability; he was the perfect partner supporting her and giving her all the room that she needed to shine like no one left in the competition can.
The Rumba also caused a bit of a fight between Len and Bruno. I must take Bruno's side on this one. I agreed with Bruno that their Rumba was very good, not too quick as Len said. I think that Len confused speed (which is a plus in dancing) with being too quick, which is not.
For their free style number, they performed a Hip-Hop that was even better than their Rumba. They did have some help choreographing this number but, wow what a number it was! Both Apolo and Julianne took to this number and this new tundra like they have been doing it forever. Great number, great energy, superb tricks and very very funky...by far the best dance of the night.
Apolo and Julianne are easily my winners for this season of Dancing with the Stars. Total Score after the Paso Doble: 88.
Last to dance tonight was Joey and Kym. Their first dance was the Cha-cha and it was not a good one. He really showed his size during this dance. I never thought that he looked big or slow even though he is not a small, thin dancer type but tonight he did. His footwork was sloppy and his movements very slow and heavy. The dance was full of tricks and not enough basics, which Len criticized him for, but I think had he put more real Cha-cha in it, it would have been worse.
In the free style part they chose a Disco number that received good comments from the judges, I think, because of Joey's exuberance and need to entertain at all times, but I thought the outfit made him look like a caricature of something out of the 70s. Besides the lifts, which they did very well, the rest of the dance was just OK. I think that Joey secured the third place in this competition with tonight's performance. Total score after the Tango: 86.
The finale proved the point that I made at the beginning of my article. I watched both the American Idol and Dancing with the Stars finales and the latter was much more entertaining and fun to watch.
All three couples performed one last dance on the final night. Apolo and Julianne danced their Paso Doble; Laila and Maks the Mambo; and Joey and Kym the Tango. All three couples were very good and showed why they were the finalists.
After all the scores were tabulated, Laila took home the Bronze and a lot of good memories and left us thinking what a beautiful and classy lady she is. Joey came in second place showing lots of class in defeat. We will never forget what a great entertainer and person he is. Apolo and Julianne became the new Dancing with the Stars winners and for the first time in the history of the show - the best dancers won the competition.
Now that the show is over the question is: What are we all going to do on Monday nights at 8 PM? I have an idea! We should all head over to our nearest Fred Astaire Dance Studio and learn to dance like a star!
Keep dancing everybody and have fun.
Armando Martin
Monday, May 21, 2007
Dancing With The Stars Season Finale Party In Chicago!
The Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Chicago are hosting a "Dancing With The Stars" season finale party benefiting Variety – the Children’s Charity of Illinois.Beginning at 6 PM. Tuesday, May 22 at EXCALIBUR, 632 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, the event kicks off with a series of high-energy ballroom dance demonstrations led by top dance professionals from Fred Astaire Studios’ Chicagoland locations, including our own world-ranked pros JESSE DeSOTO and JACKIE JOSEPHS.
At 7 PM, fans can catch every minute of Dancing With the Stars Season Finale action live on wide-screen TVs. Admission of $20 per person also includes a complimentary Stoli cocktail and light snacks, entry into a drawing for prizes, and a gift certificate valid for a complimentary dance lesson at any Chicagoland Fred Astaire Dance Studio.Proceeds benefit Variety’s Kids on the Go program which directly aids children by providing wheelchairs, walkers, and other adapted equipment to help kids be kids.
For more information visit our website at http://www.fredastairechicagonorth.com/ or call (312) 822-0660 to obtain tickets.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Dancing With The Stars, Week Nine
By Armando Martin, a former US International US Champion and the current National Dance Director for The Fred Astaire Dance Studio chainThe semifinal round started out with a bang this week on Dancing with the Stars. The audience at the studio seemed to be especially excited during the show - almost keeping the announcers, Tom and Samantha, from being able to do their thing.
By the way, I think that the two of them do a fantastic job. Tom, with his quick wit and clean cut humor, is awesome; I can't think of anyone that would do it better on TV today. Samantha fits the whole show like a glove. She looks like one of the Pro female dancers. She is a dancer herself and her interviewing style puts the contestants at ease while she asks the tough questions.
The first contestants tonight were Apolo and Julianne dancing the Quickstep with superb movement across the floor and a very nice top line but what was most impressive was the fact that he never lost body contact with Julianne and at the same time used his feet with absolutely perfect technique. My only advice for him would be to stay more focused with his eyes on where his body is moving towards because he sometimes looks like his chin is down into his chest.
Their Cha-Cha was great with the exception of his feet, which tend to turn in and give him an awkward look and a weak looking base; once you get past that, his interpretation was rhythmical, fun, and - most of all - very full. One of the things that judges look for in dancing is the ability for the couple to create lots of volume with their bodies and nobody does that better in this competition than Apolo and Julianne. Total Score: 59
In second position tonight was Ian and Cheryl dancing the Tango. Finally I was able to figure out what Ian does that makes him unable to compete with the others - he has the look, the body, and the drive but he dances by stepping out with his feet, which is wrong. Instead he needed to move his body and his center across the floor and have his feet follow that. Unfortunately for Ian, it is too late since he was sent packing after the Wednesday night show.
His Jive as Elvis was easily his best performance of the entire season but it was too little, too late. Total Score: 58
Dancing in the third spot tonight was Laila and Maks. Their rendition of the Quickstep was light, full of movement, and entertaining for the most part. I keep saying this about Maks, who I know very well and who is a great dancer: I do not think he is using Laila's skills to their full advantage.
Although they received all 10s, I think that the choreography was dull and it was more like a bad Samba than a good Quickstep. Maks physically pushed Laila too hard with his own body in trying to create big movement which caused her to lose her top line and balance at times.
Their Cha-Cha was again very good; she is very sexy and looks great but if they are going to stay in this competition they are going to have to be smarter about the material they use. Total Score: 60 (ridiculous)
Joey and Kym were the last to take the dance floor, dancing the Fox-Trot. In this dance, they truly captured the feeling of the American Style. They were strong but light, fun but showed great depth of technique, a little too tricky at times but this guy knows what wins competitions and they are not leaving anything out.
What can you say about their Jive? Last week, I was so impressed by Apolo's Paso Doble; this week was Joey's Jive! He showed great use of feet, legs, personality plus, and a great control and flexibility that I think only he can do. Great job!
I think that in the next show we are going to see Joey and Apolo duke it out for the TOP spot. They are better dancers and entertainers and their teachers know how to bring out the best performances in them every single week.
The only thing that truly disappointed me this week was the judges. To give 10s across the board like they did is a sign that they are being nice to all the contestants or that they don't care. In my mind, these so called "experts" need to guide the audiences with their opinion and knowledge. Most importantly, a judge's job is to make up their mind who should be first, second and third. By indiscriminately handing out perfect scores to four people during the same competition on the same night, they are copping out and not doing what they are getting paid to do - pick a winner.
I will be back in touch next week. Happy dancing.
Armando Martin
Friday, May 11, 2007
True Hollywood Story: Dancing With The Stars!
Premiering Saturday, May 19th at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT, The E! True Hollywood Story takes you behind the competition that launched a thousand steps, topped Nielsen ratings, initiated a North American tour and introduced its own DVD line. This show will feature Dancing With The Stars' champions Kelly Monaco (Season 1), 98 Degrees’ Drew Lachey (Season 2), former NFL star Emmitt Smith (Season 3) and former contestants Jerry Springer, Mario Lopez and Evander Holyfield, Ian Ziering ("Beverly Hills 90210"), Heather Mills, Billy Ray Cyrus and Leeza Gibbons. So waltz on over to your TV set and don't miss the "true story" behind this award-winning show!
Dancing With The Stars, Week Eight
By Armando Martin, former undefeated US International Champion and the current National Dance Director for the Fred Astaire Dance Studios chain.With the semifinals beginning next week, all the competitors put their best efforts forward last night on Dancing with the Stars, and what a night it was! It had all the ingredients of a good Soap Opera with controversy, drama, fun, bad dancing, great dancing, good looking, sexy people and a very touching moment when Laila performed for her father, Muhammad Ali, who looked on with pride and amazement in his eyes as she danced across the floor.
All the competitors had to dance two numbers tonight and you can tell by the quality of the dances that they are getting more comfortable with every week that goes by.
The first couple tonight was Ian and Cheryl. Their first dance was the Fox-Trot. Contradictory to the judges' opinions, I thought that Ian did a great job with this dance. His interpretation of the music he was given was right on cue, he was light and bouncy, looked great in his smooth suit, and looked like he was having fun. I thought that the two 7s he received from the judges were undeserved. Their second dance was the Rumba. In this dance, his posture was not very good; for a guy who is as young and in shape as he is, it looks to me that his core is weak and does not support the connection between his upper body and his legs as well as it should, creating some weak looking top and shoulder lines.
Next to take the floor was Joey and Kym. I was very surprised to see them in the bottom two this week. His Waltz was truly fantastic, he was soft, light and showed all the right characteristics of this dance. I was especially pleased with the way that he stayed in his side of the dance frame showing good control and an excellent ballroom silhouette throughout the entire number. Folks - this is very hard to do. Unfortunately for Joey, his Mambo was by far the worse number he has done the whole competition. The judges did not agree with my assessment on this one but what I saw was a lack of understanding about this dance from Kym (who is Australian and not familiar with the Mambo) when choreographing it. Again, I must disagree with Len about his comment regarding Joey dancing on the two beat because they never once during the dance hit the right beat. In my opinion, Joey faltered a bit when he started the dance and he never truly recovered.
Dancing the country Fox-Trot this week was the self proclaimed hillbilly Billy Ray. For a guy who is a very good singer and can obviously put a lot of feeling and emotion in his voice, when it comes to dancing that feeling gets lost somewhere between his head and his feet. He basically just walked around somewhat to the beat of the music with no technique to speak of. His Mambo, on the other hand, while still lacking any technical attributes was a lot of fun to watch and reminded everyone what has kept him in the competition this long. I think that Karina, being a smart choreographer, let him do his own thing to the music and used that in their routines instead of actually trying to make him do things he did not do well.
Laila and Maks danced a beautiful, soft Waltz tonight, which she dedicated to her Dad. As always, Laila showed great balance and control throughout her performance. Unfortunately, for me, the choreography lacked the beauty and risk factor that is so important at this stage of the competition; to Laila's credit, she did fantastic with what she was given. Her Jive also left me wanting more from her this week. She made good use of her boxing footwork during this dance with all the kicks, hops and flicks but her shoulders made her look a little heavy and her elbows must be closer to her body in order for her to look more centered and lighter. I also think that Randy, the costume designer for the show and a very talented guy, did not do her any favors with that black dress; in hindsight, if she had worn a dress that showed her outstanding physique a bit more, I would most likely not be talking about her elbows today.
What can one say about Apolo and Julianne other than - Bravo!!!! First of all, I have to give Julianne kudos for the incredible job that she is doing teaching this young man and choreographing his numbers. We must remember that she is only 18 years old and, although being a very experienced dancer, she has risen to a new level as a teacher and choreographer. Apolo did a great job dancing a Tango to Swing music, something that I think the judges did not take under consideration when giving their critiques. But who remembers that Tango after he danced the Paso Doble? In my mind, that dance put him in a level all by himself in this competition. This young man has true talent and I think has a very real possibility at a second career as a professional Rhythm competitor when he retires from speed skating. His footwork, feel, partnering abilities and incredible shapes made his Paso Doble the judges choice for the encore performance for Wednesday night when - once again - he did not disappoint us.
It was nice to see Tony and Elena dancing on the Wednesday night show - keeping us well aware of what real dancing should look like.
I'll be back next week to share my thoughts about the first week of the semifinals.
Happy Dancing,
Armando Martin
Next to take the floor was Joey and Kym. I was very surprised to see them in the bottom two this week. His Waltz was truly fantastic, he was soft, light and showed all the right characteristics of this dance. I was especially pleased with the way that he stayed in his side of the dance frame showing good control and an excellent ballroom silhouette throughout the entire number. Folks - this is very hard to do. Unfortunately for Joey, his Mambo was by far the worse number he has done the whole competition. The judges did not agree with my assessment on this one but what I saw was a lack of understanding about this dance from Kym (who is Australian and not familiar with the Mambo) when choreographing it. Again, I must disagree with Len about his comment regarding Joey dancing on the two beat because they never once during the dance hit the right beat. In my opinion, Joey faltered a bit when he started the dance and he never truly recovered.
Dancing the country Fox-Trot this week was the self proclaimed hillbilly Billy Ray. For a guy who is a very good singer and can obviously put a lot of feeling and emotion in his voice, when it comes to dancing that feeling gets lost somewhere between his head and his feet. He basically just walked around somewhat to the beat of the music with no technique to speak of. His Mambo, on the other hand, while still lacking any technical attributes was a lot of fun to watch and reminded everyone what has kept him in the competition this long. I think that Karina, being a smart choreographer, let him do his own thing to the music and used that in their routines instead of actually trying to make him do things he did not do well.
Laila and Maks danced a beautiful, soft Waltz tonight, which she dedicated to her Dad. As always, Laila showed great balance and control throughout her performance. Unfortunately, for me, the choreography lacked the beauty and risk factor that is so important at this stage of the competition; to Laila's credit, she did fantastic with what she was given. Her Jive also left me wanting more from her this week. She made good use of her boxing footwork during this dance with all the kicks, hops and flicks but her shoulders made her look a little heavy and her elbows must be closer to her body in order for her to look more centered and lighter. I also think that Randy, the costume designer for the show and a very talented guy, did not do her any favors with that black dress; in hindsight, if she had worn a dress that showed her outstanding physique a bit more, I would most likely not be talking about her elbows today.
What can one say about Apolo and Julianne other than - Bravo!!!! First of all, I have to give Julianne kudos for the incredible job that she is doing teaching this young man and choreographing his numbers. We must remember that she is only 18 years old and, although being a very experienced dancer, she has risen to a new level as a teacher and choreographer. Apolo did a great job dancing a Tango to Swing music, something that I think the judges did not take under consideration when giving their critiques. But who remembers that Tango after he danced the Paso Doble? In my mind, that dance put him in a level all by himself in this competition. This young man has true talent and I think has a very real possibility at a second career as a professional Rhythm competitor when he retires from speed skating. His footwork, feel, partnering abilities and incredible shapes made his Paso Doble the judges choice for the encore performance for Wednesday night when - once again - he did not disappoint us.
It was nice to see Tony and Elena dancing on the Wednesday night show - keeping us well aware of what real dancing should look like.
I'll be back next week to share my thoughts about the first week of the semifinals.
Happy Dancing,
Armando Martin
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
ABC's Dancing With The Moms Competition
In a take-off of ABC's hit show Dancing With The Stars, now Good Morning America presents the Dancing With The Moms Challenge! Videos of moms dancing are shown on Good Morning America from late April to mid May. Viewers will vote for their favorites over the weeks.The four moms who receive the most votes will be selected to come to New York City for six days in May to learn a variety of dances and perform them on the show. Each day, one couple will be eliminated. The final two dance pairs will compete for the championship before a panel of judges.
World Champion Teaches At Minnesota Studio!
The Fred Astaire Rochester, Minnesota studio will welcome 4 Time Italian National Standard and Latin Champion and 1 Time World Standard Champion Stefano Franceschi as a special guest teacher in their studio on May 29th through June 2nd. Franceschi, an Italian native from Venice, will teach private lessons and two workshops: Technique For Turns (5/30 at 7pm) and Introduction To Quickstep (5/31 at 7pm). Studio owners Andrea Mirenda and Patrick Ellner are very excited to host such a world-class dancer! For more information, please contact the studio at 507-282-9811 or rochestermn@fredastaire.comMonday, May 07, 2007
Fred Astaire Students Comment On Competition
Fred Astaire students Tara and Greg Figurski competed for the first time at the latest National Dance Competition in Vegas. For these hard working amateur dancers, the competition meant more than just their performance placement. Through their ballroom dance lessons, they've found an interesting hobby to share and a way to stay phsyically fit. Read more about their experiences at the Fred Astaire Cross Country DanceSport Championships.
No Reason To Fear Ballroom Dancing!
The Fred Astaire Dance Studio has turned up the music in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan! In this Oakland Press profile of the studio, Evan Mountain, co-owner of the studio, claims: "Everybody says they have two left feet, and we say that's OK because we have a roomful of two right feet!" Read more about this fun studio.
Dancing Tips - Backward Walk
By Stanley McCalla, a former US amateur champion in Latin, Standard and 10 dances; 4 times US representative to World Championships; Fred Astaire National Dance Board Member and Adjudicator; Fred Astaire Dance Board Examiner; Fred Astaire Smooth Undefeated Champion. Stanley can be reached at jsmccalla@mindspring.com or 845-304-9028.
Hello and welcome back to the Tip of the Week. In my last article, I mentioned how important it is to practice certain techniques that will improve your dancing. I introduced the Forward Walk exercise. Today, I’ll tell you about the Backward Walk in Smooth and Standard dances, except Tango.
Hello and welcome back to the Tip of the Week. In my last article, I mentioned how important it is to practice certain techniques that will improve your dancing. I introduced the Forward Walk exercise. Today, I’ll tell you about the Backward Walk in Smooth and Standard dances, except Tango.
Start with feet together, weight on R.F with the back straight, tailbone between feet, shoulders lined up vertically over hips.
Proceed by flexing the right knee and at the same time extending the left foot backwards from the hip, a normal length step, ball of foot first, then toe, then again on the ball of foot. At the extent of the stride, both legs will straighten slightly; the body should be balance between the ball of the L.F and the heel of the R.F.
Transfer weight back on L.F, taking care not to lower the left heel. Continue to move the body back to finish over L.F. At that point move the right foot back to the L.F and the left heel should lower instantly to the floor.
Continue this exercise extending the R.F back.
Answer to the question in the last article:
(What is CBM?)
This term is described as contra body movement (i.e.) your leading foot and your opposite shoulder are moving in the same direction. This term is usually introduced at the Bronze level. CBM is usually used to initiate turns. If you are a Bronze student and don’t know about it yet, sooner or later your teacher will explain it to you. More on that later, but meanwhile, practice your exercises; you will only get better!
This term is described as contra body movement (i.e.) your leading foot and your opposite shoulder are moving in the same direction. This term is usually introduced at the Bronze level. CBM is usually used to initiate turns. If you are a Bronze student and don’t know about it yet, sooner or later your teacher will explain it to you. More on that later, but meanwhile, practice your exercises; you will only get better!
Friday, May 04, 2007
Alley Faith and Russ Larson Dance Contest
Alley Faith from Milwaukee's Wes, Rahny, and Alley morning show struts her stuff with dance instructor Russ Larson from the Menomonee Falls studio.
Click here to view the video!
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