Rock the Reception

TLC's “Rock the Reception” reality dance show features a bride and groom - along with their wedding party - as they surprise their guests with an entertaining and energetic "first dance" routine created by professional choreographers.

Tony Dovolani in Who's Who In America 2009

Fred Astaire Champion Dancer and Dancing With The Stars professional dancer Tony Dovolani has earned a place in the commemorative 2009 edition of Who's Who In America. Since 1899, Who's Who has chronicled the lives and careers of America's most noteworthy men and women.

Hot Chick and a Guy!

Owner of the Fred Astaire Studio in Fort Myers, Florida, Andrea McCain is also part of an acoustic music duo called Hot Chick and a Guy that plays around southwest Florida. With guitarist Michael Pick, a martial arts teacher, Andrea is currently recording an original album called "Making Lemonade." Andrea and Michael play an eclectic range of musical styles, covering everything from Tom Petty to Nancy Sinatra to Rihanna. They can be heard from 5-9 p.m. every Saturday at The Sandy Parrot in Fort Myers Beach and from 5-7 p.m. on Thursdays at Nita's Sweet Bean Cafe in Fort Myers. Click here to read more.

Viva Las Vegas Benefit In Florida

Every year, the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Sarasota, FL dedicates a showcase event to a deserving organization. This year, they chose to perform a "Viva Las Vegas" show to benefit the Lakewood Ranch High School theater program on Sunday, June 29. The benefit featured amateur and professional dancing to the music of famous Vegas shows.

Tony Dovolani in West Palm Beach

Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko performed at the Grand Opening of the Fred Astaire Studio in West Palm Beach. Click here to view a video of Tony teaching a lesson.

Dancing Under The Stars In Florida

Representatives of the Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers, Florida will host a "Dancing Under The Stars" series every Thursday night through July 18th at the Pavilion in Market Place. Dance instructions are provided by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Marketing Director for Gulf Coast Town Center, Ashleigh Henry, was quoted in a recent news article as saying: "The instructors at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio are some of the area's finest and what better way to learn to dance than under the stars at Gulf Coast Town Center. We look forward to seeing everyone out at this exciting event." Click here to read more.

A Student's Perspective

Sixteen-year-old Savanna Michael is a dancer at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter, FL.

When did you start dancing?
5 years ago, in Ohio.

Why did you become a dancer at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter?
Two years ago, I came to Florida for a long vacation with my mom. I took a few lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter while I was on vacation. I liked it, actually loved it, so I decided to stay with this studio. I come to train here every other month and spend most of my time in the studio; I go back to Ohio. I spend one month in Florida taking lessons, and one month in Ohio practicing.

What did you want to become a dancer?
The movie “Dance with Me” inspired me to take lessons. I hated the first year because I felt I did not know anything, and then later I started to like it.

What goals were you hoping to achieve through dancing?
I started to set goals for the first time when I started to dance at this studio. I realized that I wanted to become a professional dancer and that I would like to open my own Fred Astaire Dance Studio when I am older.

How did dancing better your life?
It is keeping me in shape; it made me stronger, improved my posture, and I am not as shy as I used to be when I started. I am a lot more outgoing with my friends and I feel I became a better person.

Did your personal expectations for your dancing change since you started?
Oh yeah! The first year I hated it. I had no goals; I did it just for the exercise. Now I love it! I want to become a professional, I want to improve more and I want to have more understanding of the sport.

What kind of activities do you take part in at Fred Astaire Jupiter? I dance at regional and national competitions. My biggest success so far was becoming 2nd at the World Pro/Am Junior Standard Championships and 5th at the World Pro/Am Junior Latin Championships at Ohio Star Ball. I have taken Top Youth Student at many Fred Astaire Regional and National Championships. My biggest competition yet was the Cross Country Dance Championships in Las Vegas last April. I also love to do Showcases and I perform at studio events like Holiday Galas and at some Friday practice parties. I participate in most of the events.

FADS Spotlight Evening

Ilya Ifraimov & Nadia Goulina - America's Ballroom Challenge

Riccardo Cocchi & Yulia Zagoruychenko - Blackpool 2008

Spotlight On...Riccardo Cocchi

By Catherine Brill, Fred Astaire Corporate Copywriter

What do you get when the former World Amateur Latin Champion dances with the current US Latin Champion? A hot, new Latin partnership!

Riccardo Cocchi, the newest member of the Fred Astaire National Dance Board, and Yulia Zagoruychenko, have set the dance world on fire since forming their partnership in the fall of 2007. They have just returned from the Blackpool Festival where they placed 2nd in the International Latin division, winning second place in all dances – a remarkable achievement.

“We just started in September and already rank second,” Riccardo noted, “Yulia is the best and we’re happy to be dancing together.” Their preparation for Blackpool was intense and, at times, “a nightmare” but it was all worth it when they got on the dance floor. “Everything was great once we started dancing,” Riccardo said.

Born in Terni, Italy, Riccardo has been dancing since he was six years old at his parents’ dance studio. He began to compete in ballroom at the age of eight but didn’t become a Latin dancer until about ten years ago, when he partnered with Joanne Wilkinson. Riccardo and Joanne were two times World Amateur Latin Champions, ten times Italian Amateur Champions, Professional Italian Latin Champions, and Professional Grand Finalists at the UK, British and World Championships.

After this dynamic duo ended their professional partnership in 2007, Riccardo took a break to wait for the right person to be available. His wait was worth it when he found Yulia, one of the most successful and talented dancers in the world today. Dancing together less than a year, Riccardo and Yulia have already come in 1st at many major dance competitions around the world, including the Holiday Dance Classic, the BDF Star Championships, the Philippine Star Ball, the Indonesian Open Dancesport Championships, the 8th Singapore Asian Open, and the Emerald Ball. At Blackpool, Riccardo and Yulia helped the USA win its first-ever Team Match!

Riccardo recently moved to New Jersey but don’t count on him to stay still for very long! Riccardo and Yulia plan on representing the US around the world, performing and competing at various prestigious events. Upcoming events include the US Nationals, the National Capital DanceSport Championships in Australia, the Manhattan Dancesport Championships, and the International Championships in London. When not busy competing, Riccardo will be available for coaching; he will be at the Fred Astaire studio in Indianapolis on August 2-4, along with world-acclaimed coach, choreographer, and former World Champion, Shirley Ballas.

Fred Astaire Franchise Developer Dan Rutherford was instrumental in introducing Riccardo to our chain and helping him with the paperwork necessary to move to the United States. Dan met him about four years ago and was immediately impressed by his talent. “I knew I wanted to train with him on a regular basis.”

The future for Riccardo and Yulia couldn’t be more promising. With their magical chemistry on the dance floor, they are well on their way to becoming the first World Latin Champions from the United States! We are proud to have someone of such immense talent with the Fred Astaire organization.

The Dancing Life - Judging & Coaching In NY, FL, and AZ

By Stanley McCalla, US Ten Dance Finalist, Fred Astaire National Smooth Champion, FADS National Coach and Adjudicator, FADS National Dance Board Member

During a span of ten days, I judged a beginner’s competition in White Plains, spent a few days in Boca Raton, Florida coaching, and finally ended in Scottsdale, Arizona for Antoinette Benevento’s June competition. I’d like to share my experiences with you, which was nothing less than perfect… oh well, maybe close.

White Plains Beginner’s Competition

It has been awhile since I judged one of those and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. The students and their teachers were literally having a ball in a packed, spacious room full of rowdy spectators. The highlight of the day for me was the Trophy Ball where at least 10-15 students received their certifications after being showcased by their teachers. The Trophy System is, no doubt, at the core of our business. As a person who has gone that route, I strongly encourage all of our students to get their certification through the Trophy System as this will surely help improve their dancing.
This event was superbly organized. To Laura and Armando Martin, I say: “WELL DONE.”

Boca Raton, Florida

Coaching in Boca was like working in paradise, if there is such a thing. Although it wasn’t the first time that I’ve been to that spacious studio, I felt that my job was the best in the world as the owners, Jean-Marc and Pam Casanave, greeted and treated me like royalty. The teachers were very professionals and eager to learn, which is an excellent attitude for success. The students were like sponges…they wanted knowledge. I loved them all.

To the students there, I say: You belong to a great studio. Listen to your teachers and the managers as they will take you to the path of brilliance.

To the teachers and owners, I say: “Bravo.”

Scottsdale, Arizona

The Hilton Hotel, which housed the two-day dance competition, was by all standards a five-star hotel with amenities to boot. Antoinette Benevento, with the help of Tim Bohnett, did nothing but live up to her legendary reputation as an organizer and host. The competition itself was well run, even running ahead of schedule sometimes. I judged some very good talent within both the student and teacher ranks.

Saturday evening’s festivities included three Closed Professional competitions and a delightful show by a top United States Latin couple, Jurga Pupelyte & Vaidas Skimelis. I was personally floored by their rendition of passion (a medley of modern and Latin). To me, this competition was a great example of how Fred Astaire is taking the lead in the dance business industry, through personalities like Antoinette Benevento.

To Antoinette, Tim Bonhett, Bill - who incidentally did a great job MCing, the DJ, and many others not mentioned here, I say: I take my hat off to you (chapeau bas).

To the teachers and students, I say: Congratulations! Come and show your stuff at the National Competitions. The rest of the country needs to see what Arizona is made of.

West Hartford Instructor Teaches News Team

Clemens Lengenfelder, owner of the Fred Astaire studio in West Hartford, CT, taught the local FOX morning news team how to dance this morning. Check out the video by clicking on the photo below:

Save The Date For Colonial Classic Dancesport Championships

Students and teachers from Fred Astaire Dance Studios around the northeast will compete against each other at the 42nd Colonial Classic Dancesport Championships at the Marriott Hotel in Mystic, CT on August 7-9. Call your local Fred Astaire studio for more information.

Dancing With The Teen Stars in Memphis

Call today (901-753-2158) for teen classes at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Memphis, TN.

Nickelodeon Show Brings Dance To Kids

Dance on Sunset, Nickelodeon's first reality TV dance show, premiered in March and aired its last episode on Saturday, June 21. Each week, choreographer Tony Testa choreographed two dances for a group of 6 professional dancers, ages 14 to 20, to perform at the beginning and end of the show. Also, throughout the show, Testa and the "Nick 6" broke down an original dance in a simple and easy format, so the audience and viewers at home could follow along. According to a recent article on http://www.enterteenmentnews.com/, Testa got his inspiration from "tap dancers like Gregory Hines, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly."

In a recent New York Times article, the Executive Producer of Dance On Sunset Jane Lipsitz was quoted as saying, “Kids love to dance, and they always have...We wanted to give them something interactive that they can’t get from computers. And we wanted to keep it pure, to focus on the joys of being a kid and the joy of music.” Testa's choreography was refreshingly age-appropriate for Nickelodeon's pre-teen viewing audience.

Dance Shows On Television

FOX is currently airing the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance. Contestants have to perform a variety of dances – from hip-hop routines to the waltz – each week in order to move up in the competition. Tune in Wednesday nights at 8:00 p.m. EST for performances and Thursday nights at 9:00 p.m. EST for results.

MTV joined the dance competition craze with Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew. Now on its second season and hosted by Dancing With The Stars runner-up Mario Lopez, this show focuses on street and studio dance crews showcasing their fancy footwork each Thursday night at 10:00 p.m. EST.

Master of Dance is TLC’s new dance competition series airing on Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. EST. This show tests contestants’ moves and flexibility by changing the song in mid-performance. Hosted by another Dancing With The Stars celebrity alum, Joey Lawrence, the grand prize is $50,000.

Tribute To Cyd Charisse

We were very sad to learn of Cyd Charisse's death on Tuesday, June 17, at the age of 86. Charisse was famous for her magnificent dancing roles in many Hollywood musicals. She starred in 38 movies and made her Broadway debut in 1992 in "Grand Hotel." Her appearance in one of the most famous dance movies of all time, Singing in the Rain with Gene Kelly, established her as one of Hollywood's greatest talents. In later years, she enjoyed a successful song-and-dance partnership with her husband, Tony Martin, in nightclubs and on television. In 2006, President George W. Bush presented her with a National Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony.

She was one of Fred Astaire's most memorable partners in three movies: Ziegfield Follies (1946), The Band Wagon (1953), and Silk Stockings (1957).

Of Charisse, Astaire once said: "Cyd is a great girl, simply the most lovely-looking girl you could ever meet. She never changes, always looks the same. And the nicest-natured person...She's just beautiful, trained, very strong in whatever we did. When we were dancing, we didn't know what time it was."

In his autobiography, he wrote: "That Cyd! When you've danced with her you stay danced with."

During a 2002 interview with the New York Times, Charisse said that her husband could always tell which leading man - Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire - she'd been dancing with. "If I was black and blue, it was Gene. And if it was Fred, I didn't have a scratch." In a 1992 interview, Charisse remembered Astaire fondly, saying simply: "Fred moves like glass."*

Our condolences go out to Charisse's family and friends. The world has lost a legend.

* Quotes taken from International Herald Tribune article, June 18, 2008

Save The Date for Jersey Boys!

Fred Astaire Dance Studios in New Jersey are putting on a terrific show on Saturday, September 13th at the Bergen Tech School in Hackensack, NJ. "Jersey Boys" will feature pro/am solos, novelties, and showcases performed by staff and students of Fred Astaire studios in Montville, Morristown, Red Bank, Upper Montclair, Westwood, and Englewood, choreographed by Mr. Stephen Knight, and performances by the New Jersey staff, managers, and owners, choreographed by Bruno Collins.

Tickets are on sale now for $25 each. For ticket sales, please contact Brittany Matthews at the Red Bank studio at 732-741-4188.

Dancing With Desire Recap

Ft. Walton Beach studio's charity event on June 12th, Dancing With Desire, was a huge success! Featuring a host of celebrities from Dancing With The Stars, this program raised money for the Desire Street Ministries and the local YMCA.

After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Desire Street Ministries facilities in New Orleans, the Executive Director, Danny Wuerffel and his wife Jessica, wanted to put together a benefit to help displaced inner city youth get back into a permanent facility. Having taken dance lessons at the Fort Walton Beach studio, they turned to Fred Astaire for help. Luann and Bruno Collins were more than happy to help. According to Luann, tickets sold out early this year and they had to add chairs to accommodate all the calls for the show. They also had a “Make A Wish” family join the show as their guest!

Most of the guest dancers were longtime friends of the Astaire studio staff. Among the performers were Maks Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko, Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Fabian Sanchez and Marlee Matlin, Jonathan Roberts and Valentina Kostenko, Jesse DeSoto and Jackie Josephs, Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian, Ilya Iframov and Nadia Goulina.

“This was our biggest to date and the phones wouldn’t stop ringing,” said Luann Collins about the event.

Click here to read a recap about this exciting event.

Rhythm Comes To Texas In Dance Revue

Texas professionals and amateurs will steal a Houston stage on Saturday, June 28th, 2008 as talented students from the Fred Astaire Dance Studios come together to bring “Rhythm of the Night,” the 3rd Annual Ballroom Dance Revue, to the thespian enthusiast and average Houstonian alike. Held at Houston's Hobby Center, the night will be a fantastic display of ballroom dance skill, talent, and creativity. You don't have to be a judge on Dancing with the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance to know good dancers when you see them!

Houston area students will be accompanied by their teachers to dance over 80 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 1930s to the popular music of today. This show has something for everyone. Nevertheless, Fred Astaire Dance Studios would not be an awesome host if they did not give the audience a taste of the professional star power during the night's Professional Act. It’s a family treat for not only the hometown of Houston, but from afar as well. Make sure you pick up your tickets for this Broadway musical dance revue by clicking here.

Riccardo Cocchi & Shirley Ballas In Indianapolis

Acclaimed dancers Riccardo Cocchi and Shirley Ballas will be coming to the Fred Astaire studio in Indianapolis on August 2-4th. Riccardo Cocchi just came in 2nd in the International Professional Latin division at Blackpool. With his previous partner, Joanne Wilkinson, Ricardo was a finalist in all major professional competitions, as well as winning both the IDSF and IDU World Championships before turning pro. Shirley Ballas is the 3 times winner of the Open To The World British Latin Championships. She has held the following titles: 8 times United States Champions, 3 times British National Champions, United Kingdom Champions, European, 2 times International Champions and Dual of the Giants Champion, amongst others.

Coaching will be available for anyone that would like to come in. Both Riccardo and Shirley will do pro, pro/am and amateur couple coaching. Contact Dan Rutherford at 317-291-6500 for more information.

Save The Date for the DC Invitational on June 29

Celebrate with the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Washington, D.C. at their Invitational at the Washington Golf & Country club's President's Hall on Sunday, June 29. With exciting competitive heats, showcases, a buffet dinner, open dancing, and professional shows, this event is the place to be! If you don't want to compete, please join us as a spectator or for dinner! Click here for more information.

Never Give Up!

“Can’t act. Slightly bald. Also dances.”

This was one official's reaction to Fred Astaire's first screen test in 1933. He kept that memo over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home.

Fred Astaire once said: "When you're experimenting, you have to try so many things before you choose what you want, and you may go days getting nothing but exhaustion." But his perseverance paid off. “The higher up you go, the more mistakes you are allowed. Right at the top, if you make enough of them, it’s considered to be your style.”

Dads Love Dancing Too

In celebration of Father's Day (June 15), TiVo recently conducted a poll to find out which TV shows most fathers say they hate but secretly love. And guess which show came in first? None other than our favorite...Dancing With The Stars!

New Studio In Plymouth, MA

Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Plymouth, MA celebrated their grand opening on June 7th! Congratulations to Marsha and Jay Kane who won 15 lessons in the raffle: 5 private lessons, 5 group classes, and 5 practice sessions - wow, what a great prize! They arrived at the celebration early and were great sports about being two of the first people up on the dance floor.

One self-proclaimed "soccer mom," Ann Luongo, chronicled her time at the party in an article in the local paper. Searching for something to do with her husband, Anne and her husband arrived at the studio and found it overflowing with happy people smiling and dancing. Although they didn't stay long, they signed up for a lesson, inspired by the upbeat and uplifting atmosphere! Click here to read the full article.

Catherine (Casey) Baird and her manager Forrest Burke-Moran look forward to seeing everyone in the studio again very soon to teach the Swing, Foxtrot, Salsa, Waltz, Tango, or any other dance you would like to learn! Don't hesitate to call them at 508-732-6790 or email dance@fadsplymouth.com to book your lessons now.

California Studio Participates In Local Dancing With The Stars

To benefit the Tri-City Health Center, Bill Ranells, owner of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Santa Clara, participated in a local version of Dancing With The Stars on May 20th. Eight local celebrities learned the Salsa, Swing, and Tango while local dance instructors opened their hearts to teach them free of charge. The competition raised over $20,000 for the Center, which will devote most of the proceeds for school programs that combat teen pregnancy.

Ballroom Dancing In The Summer Olympics?

Is ballroom dancing an art or a sport?

Ballroom dancing is on the International Olympic Committee's 31-sport waiting list for a spot in the Summer Games. With ballroom dancing's world-wide audience (local versions of Dancing With The Stars air in 25 countries with 20 million viewers watching the U.S. version and an astounding 40 million viewers in China) promoters believe that ballroom has as much a claim to Olympic status as beach volleyball, a recent addition to the games.

Click here to read more.

Marlee and Fabian Haven't Stopped Dancing!

Fabian Sanchez, owner of the Fred Astaire Studio in Birmingham, Alabama, recently accompanied his former Dancing With The Stars partner, Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin, to raise money for the International Center on Deafness and the Arts in Northbook, Illinois. An inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled with any kind of disability, Matlin and Sanchez took sixth place in the latest season of DWTS. At the center, they gave students a brief lesson on the cha-cha and the mambo, also performing their Dancing With The Stars routines during a benefit for the center on the following day. Matlin once belonged to the center's Traveling Hands Troupe. Click here to read more.

Fred Astaire National Dance Competition Results

Results from Fred Astaire's Cross Country Dancesport Championships held in April 2008 include:

AMATEUR COUPLES
1. Andy Sage & Sara Sage
2. Cliff McCullough & Cathy McCullough
3. Michael Lahue & Robin Lahue
4. Tim Duffy & Bette Anne Duffy
5. Bruce Kennedy & Sharon Kennedy
6. Jim David & Maria David
7. Eric Nielsen & Jennifer Courtney
8. Ron Snyder & Sharon Snyder

TOP STUDENT
Gentlemen:
1. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
2. Andy Sage, Lake Park
3. Eric Nielsen, Belmont
4. Claude Carnahan, Norwalk
5. Andy Serio, Milwaukee Central
6. Tim Duffy, Chicago North
7. Jess Armitage, Scottsdale North
8. Sean Orr, Tarrytown

9. Steve Jamerson, Chicago North
10. Ken Euge, Phoenix North
11. Larry McNary, Daytona Beach
12. Fred Doeing, Albany
13. Andy Dopuch, Milwaukee Downtown
14. James Weathers, Chandler
15. Mike Urban, Milwaukee Downtown
16. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
17. John Scheuren, Ft. Walton Beach
18. Ed Rampacek, Milwaukee Central
19. Poxie Xumsai, Chicago North
20. Robert McComsey, Tarrytown
Ladies:
1. Patricia Becker, Jupiter
2. Gracelynn Tuoti, Buffalo
3. Sara Sage, Lake Park
4. Dawn Greenleaf, Norwood
5. Savanna Michael, Jupiter
6. Debbie Bates, Houston Woodlands
7. Sherry Ramsey, Mesa
8. Joyce Rampacek, Milwaukee Central
9. Marilyn Bailey, Phoenix North
10. Pam Swerdlick, New York East
11. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
12. Marilyn Derrick, Phoenix
13. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
14. Louisa Jornayvaz, Denver
15. Ashley Coles, Phoenix
16. Joan Hayner, Albany
17. Lois Springer, Scottsdale
18. Mary Mitchem, Houston Katy
19. Cheryl Anderson, Mesa
20. Lauren Bushman, Scottsdale

TOP NEWCOMER
Gentlemen:
1. Andy Sage, Lake Park
2. Steve Jamerson, Chicago North
3. Michael Lahue, Montville
4. Gary Adams, Indianapolis
5. Joe Gorman, Upper Montclair
6. Ed Rampacek, Milwaukee Central
7. Poxie Xumsai, Chicago North
8. Larry McNary, Daytona Beach
9. Jerry Roland, Westwood
10. Cliff McCullough, Mystic
11. Peter Couto, Chandler
12. Brian Hamilton, Chandler
13. Mike Urban, Milwaukee Downtown
14. Kevin Roland, Westwood
Ladies:
1. Sara Sage, Lake Park
2. Ashley Coles, Phoenix
3. Susan Padgham, Scottsdale North
4. Alyssa Patmos, Chandler
5. Dawn Morehead, Durham
6. Lauren Bushman, Scottsdale
7. Marian Swoboda, Madison
8. Patricia Becker, Jupiter
9. Alana Chester, Warren
10. Dyana Fonda, Mystic
11. Robin Lahue, Montville
12. Kristen Atienza, Red Bank
13. Barbara Barbarite, Mamaroneck
14. Debbie Gillis, San Antonio
15. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
16. Norma Hickey, Red Bank
17. Jasmine Fourquet, Red Bank
18. Joyce Rampacek, Milwaukee Central
19. Judi Duchossois, Chicago North
20. Mimi Dickerson, Norwalk

TOP BRONZE STUDENT
Gentlemen:
1. Andy Sage, Lake Park
2. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
3. Claude Carnahan, Norwalk
4. Tim Duffy, Chicago North
5. Andy Serio, Milwaukee Central
6. Fred Doeing, Albany
7. Larry McNary, Daytona Beach
8. Ken Euge, Phoenix, North
9. Jess Armitage, Scottsdale North
10. Andy Dopuch, Milwaukee Downtown
11. Jack Clifford, Scottsdale North
12. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
13. Joe Tafuri, Mamaroneck
14. Jim David, Washington,DC
15. Richard Bell, Mamaroneck
16. Mike Urban, Milwaukee Downtown
17. Ed Rampacek, Milwaukee Central
18. Steve Jamerson, Chicago North
19. John Scheuren, Ft. Walton Beach
20. Dr. Jim Murphy, Westerville
Ladies:
1. Gracelynn Tuoti, Buffalo
2. Patricia Becker, Jupiter
3. Dawn Greenleaf, Norwood
4. Sara Sage, Lake Park
5. Sherry Ramsey, Mesa
6. Debbie Bates, Houston Woodlands
7. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
8. Marilyn Bailey, Phoenix North
9. Marilyn Derrick, Phoenix
10.Chloe Hart, Ft. Myers
11. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
12. Pam Swerdlick, New York East
13. Joan Hayner, Albany
14. Joyce Rampacek, Milwaukee Central
15. Cathy Wheeler, Houston Kingwood
16. Dr. Roslyn Fretwell, Houston Katy
17. Connie Eskelson, Phoenix North
18. Kathy Kish, Tinley Park
19. Donna Gescheidler, Schererville
20. Jennifer Barbarite, Mamaroneck

TOP SILVER STUDENT
Gentlemen:
1. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
2. Eric Nielsen, Belmont
3. Ed Hammond, Durham
4. James Weathers, Chandler
5. Carl Gottlieb, Westwood
6. Andy Serio, Milwaukee Central
7. John Rogers, West Springfield
8. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
9. Michael Lahue, Montville
10. Harold Pfitzner, Westwood
11. Bob Rauch, Winston Salem
12. Ed Rampacek, Milwaukee Central
13. Richard Bell, Mamaroneck
Ladies:
1. Mary Mitchem, Houston Katy
2. Louisa Jornayvaz, Denver
3. Sarah Gillespie, Tarrytown
4. Kay Hammond, Durham
5. Janet Bruttell, Boca Raton
6. Susan Tringas, Ft. Walton Beach
7. Ellenor Shephard, Greensboro North
8. Savanna Michael, Jupiter
9. Margaret Mateeff, St. Petersburg
10. Margaret Norton, Greensboro North
11. Ann Sossamon, Greenville
12. Jan Polak, Nashville
13. Sharon Wells, Greenville
14. Suzanne Boivin, Milwaukee Wales
15. Elizabeth Aldridge, Greensboro North
16. Diane Howard, Columbus East
17. Lindsey Willis, Tarrytown
18. Deborah Johnston, Canton
19. Linda Faulkner, Hamden
20. Linda Hansen, Milwaukee Central

TOP GOLD STUDENT
Gentlemen:
1. Sean Orr, Tarrytown
2. Robert McComsey, Tarrytown
3. James Weathers, Chandler
Ladies:
1. Lindsey Willis, Tarrytown
2. Natasha Konon, Tarrytown
3. Randi Zedeck, St. Petersburg
4. Betsy Bell, Norwalk
5. Tina Broccole, Norwalk
6. Alaina French, Mesa
7. Alaina French, Mesa
8. Savanna Michael, Jupiter
9. Kay Hammond, Durham
10. Diane Howard, Columbus East
11. Josephine Howser, Memphis
12. Carol Koth, Denver North
13. Pam Swerdlick, New York East

Dancing In Canton, Ohio with Tony Dovolani

Dancing With The Stars professional dancer Tony Dovolani will oversee Latin dance workshops at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, June 4th, 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tony was teamed with Marissa Jaret Winokur on this past season of Dancing With The Stars. He has also partnered with Stacey Keibler, Sara Evans, Leeza Gibbons, and Jane Seymour in past seasons of the show. Recently retired from competing, Tony is the current undefeated United States Professional Rhythm Champion and World Professional Rhythm Champion.

Click here or call 330-453-4028 for more information.

More Blackpool Winners!

Congratulations to Fred Astaire professionals Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian for placing 3rd in the Exhibition division at Blackpool! Eric and Georgia are members of the Fred Astaire National Council of Dance and teach at the Fred Astaire Ft. Walton Beach studio.

Ricardo Cocchi Comes In 2nd At Blackpool!

We are pleased to announce that the newest member of the Fred Astaire National Dance Board, acclaimed dancer Ricardo Cocchi, placed 2nd at this year’s Blackpool Dance Festival, the most prestigious and largest dance competition in the world. With partner Yulia Zagoruychenko, Ricardo came in 2nd across the board in the International Professional Latin division. We are proud to have someone like Ricardo in our organization.

Dancing With The Stars Tony Dovolani Coming To Fred Astaire DC!

Save the date! Dancing With The Stars professional Tony Dovolani is coming to Fred Astaire DC on July 23-24, 2008 for private coachings and group classes. Reserve your space now! Signups will be on a first come, first serve basis! Click here for more information.

Fred Astaire Dance Instructor Sets New Record

By Caitlin Doldan

Thomas Radon, from the Buffalo, NY studio, finished his last lesson at 8:00 a.m. after teaching through the night. That was the end of a week-long marathon to raise money for Kids Create Hope, a pediatric cancer research fund. When Tommy’s student, Sari Zugermayr, heard that he wanted his marathon efforts to be for charity, she suggested one that she was personally involved with, and Tommy was eager to help. Kids Create Hope was founded by her sister in memory of Sari’s brother-in-law who passed away last year from cancer. When the last lesson ended, Tommy was tired but still smiling. “I’m a little sad that it’s over. I don’t know what to do with myself today,” he said, as he left the studio to take his one day off.

Tommy accomplished an amazing feat by teaching 212 lessons in one week! He was the previous record holder for lessons taught, with a total of 146 in 7 days. Last year, his record was broken by a gentleman who taught 150 lessons in 5 days. Tommy wanted to be the record holder once more, and this time, he decided to do it for charity. He allowed himself one 45 minute break within a 24 hour period when his schedule allowed, and taught with no sleep at all on Thursday and Friday in order to reach his goal. By the fifth day, he had broken the previous record by teaching 151 lessons, and continued his efforts for 2 more days to reach 212. Tommy’s schedule was booked from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 a.m. the next morning, and he had students coming in the middle of the night, giving him a tremendous amount of support and incredible amounts of food. All of his ladies were providing him with a constant supply of vitamin water and snacks to keep him going. “I wanted to beat the record for myself, but I wanted it to mean more this time. Raising money for charity made it a more worthy cause, and it kept me motivated.”

The most amazing part of the week was when he donated a portion of his paycheck to Kids Create Hope. In addition to the money from Tommy, the Buffalo Studio held a fundraiser that offered free group classes for children, face painting, and an array of desserts provided by one of Tommy’s students, Ann Lentsch. Many students also came to help with the children. It was an incredibly moving event when Tommy presented his check, and although he was exhausted, there was a tremendous amount of joy and satisfaction in his face. “The staff at the studio was really awesome. They encouraged their students to participate, and were constantly checking on how I was doing. I couldn’t ask for a better team to work with.”

At the end of the week, the Buffalo Studio had a champagne toast and many of the ladies came to the studio on their way to work just to congratulate him. The owners of the studio, Andrei and Anastasia Abrashin, were very excited for Tommy when it was all over. “When Tommy told us about how many lessons he wanted to teach, we thought he was crazy, but we knew he would do it. We are thrilled that he reached his goal, and so proud to have him in our studio. We love him.”

It was an incredible physical and emotional accomplishment for Tommy to dedicate so much effort to raise money for pediatric cancer, and the Buffalo studio is proud to work with him. One of the other teachers, Jessica, said, “As a new teacher at the studio, it was inspiring to see Tommy work so hard. He always gave 100 percent to all of his students, no matter how tired he felt, and that’s why they love him so much.”

After taking only one day off, Tommy is back to his regular schedule of 70 to 80 lessons per week, and looks forward to doing more charity work to raise money. “It was so rewarding during the fundraiser to see the staff of Kids Create Hope so appreciative of the event. I would love to do more.” In addition to teaching his busy schedule, he also does a summer program at the African American Culture Society, the YMCA, and several local schools. It is clear that Tommy’s ambitions are endless when it involves sharing the joy of dance. He is a talented and passionate man that has a rewarding future in the Fred Astaire Company, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.

Baby Boomers Hit The Dance Floor

Even though baby boomers are now entering their 60s, they show no signs of slowing down! Chris Cloud, owner of a Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Lancaster, Ohio, has recently noticed how baby boomers are getting out and taking to the dance floor. In his studio, he offers dance classes specifically for the Baby Boomer group. "They are getting to the point where they've worked hard and need some relief and some fun," Cloud said in a recent article about this dancing trend.

Dancing With Desire 2008

Fred Astaire Dance Studios is proud to present Dancing with Desire ‘08, a show featuring internationally acclaimed dance champions and guest celebrity performers, on Thursday, June 12, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. at the Emerald Coast Conference Center in Okaloosa Island, FL.


This unique "star-studded" night will feature dance performances by:

• Tony Dovolani & Elena Grinenko
  Professional Ballroom Dancers and Dancing with the Stars Celebrities


• Danny Wuerffel
  Former NFL Player and Heisman Trophy Winner


• Maksim Chmerkovskiy
  Former World Finalist and Dancing with the Stars Celebrity


• Valentin Chmerkovskiy & Valeriya Kozharinova
  World Youth Latin Champions


• Julianne Hough
  World Youth Latin Champion and Dancing with the Stars Celebrity


• Mark Ballas
  World Youth Latin Champion and Dancing with the Stars Celebrity


• Derek Hough
  World Youth Latin Champion and Dancing with the Stars Celebrity


• Fabian Sanchez
  World Mambo Champion and Dancing with the Stars Celebrity


• Ilya Iframov & Nadia Gulina
  World Rising Star Latin Champions

Special guest performances include World Cabaret Dance Champions Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian, and U.S. Dance Champions Joe and Tommie Trovato. Also performing are U.S. Cabaret Finalists Jesse Benedetti and Kimalee Piedad, and a special performance by the Desire Street Students.

Dancing with Desire ‘08 proceeds go to support the Desire Street Ministries (now located in Baton Rouge, LA) and also to support the local YMCA program. For more information, click here.

Hats Off To Tony Dovolani and Fabian Sanchez!

Congratulations to both Tony Dovolani and Fabian Sanchez for their star performances on this spring’s Dancing With The Stars! Tony Dovolani has been associated with the Fred Astaire organization for many years and Fabian owns a Fred Astaire Studio in Birmingham, AL.


Both Tony and Fabian remained on season 6 of Dancing With The Stars for many weeks. Fabian, with partner Marlee Matlin, made it to the quarterfinals and Tony, with Broadway actress Marissa Jaret Winokur, got all the way to the semifinals this season. We are proud to have such great dancers represent our organization!

Dancers Shine At Fred Astaire National Competition

By Armando Martin, Fred Astaire National Dance Director

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

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

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

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

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

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

If You Know 10 Steps, You Can Create 1000 Dances!

When Casey Baird wanted to open a new Fred Astaire Dance Studio, she knew who to ask to manage it - former coworker Forrest Burke-Moran. This young couple's shared passion for dance was recently highlighted in a local Plymouth newspaper.


Their new studio in Plymouth, MA opened on April 7th, and offers lessons to everyone - beginner to advanced students, singles as well as couples. Baird wants to make sure her students know that dancing is not just about steps. As she stated in this recent news article, "Steps are merely a foundation to learn how to dance. If you know 10 steps, you should be able to create thousands of dances." Burke-Moran enjoys seeing the confidence emerge in his students as they learn how to dance.

Don't Miss The Season Premiere of So You Think You Can Dance

Season 4 of the hit dance show So You Think You Can Dance premieres on May 22 at 8 p.m. ET. The two hour premiere will feature footage from open auditions held in Dallas, Charleston, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Washington, DC earlier this year. To be named America's best dancer, dancers perform a variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and ballroom.

Nigel Lythgoe and ballroom dancer Mary Murphy will continue to serve as judges again along with weekly guest judges, including Hairspray director Adam Shankman; choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon D'Umo; and Mia Michaels.

South Windsor Studio Participates In Relay For Life

Staff members of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in South Windsor, CT will participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life on June 13-14. This fun-filled overnight event runs for 24 hours straight where teams take turns walking or running laps with the goal of keeping at least one person on the track at all times. Cancer never sleeps so neither does the search for a cure! Thank you to the South Windsor studio for taking part in such a worthy cause.

Fred Astaire Dance Studio Shines In Local Version of Dancing With The Stars

Syracuse, New York had their own version of "Dancing With Our Stars" in April with local community leaders paired up with professional partners from dance studios around the area, including the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Fayetteville. Competing in the Grand Ballroom at the Hotel Syracuse, the competitors danced to a full house and kicked off the George & Rebecca Barnes Foundation's capital campaign to raise funds for the restoration of the Barnes Mansion. The evening netted more than $25,000. This event was not only a worthwhile cause but also introduced local "stars" to the exciting world of dance!

Congratulations to George Kilpatrick, of WCNY Connected, and Fred Astaire Dance Instructor Karina Ivanov for taking 2nd place in the event. They also took 2nd place in the individual dance category. Peggy Ogden, of the CNY Community Foundation and Fred Astaire Dance Instructor Roman Manolachi took third place in the swing competition.

Click here to access a slideshow of the event.

West Springfield Studio Dances For American Cancer Society

The Fred Astaire Dance Studio in West Springfield, MA used their dancing shoes to help the American Cancer Society fight cancer on May 17th. An eight member Dancing for Dollars relay team offered ten 30-minute private lessons during a six-hour window to raise funds during the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event.

Dancing With The Stars Pro Helps Young Student

Fabian Sanchez, US Mambo Champion, Fred Astaire studio owner, and a professional dancer on this season's Dancing With The Stars with actress Marlee Matlin, took time out of his busy schedule to help a fifth-grader with a school project. Read more here.

"Sole" Mates: On and Off the Dance Floor

Warren and Babette Brown, Scottish Professional Dance Champions and co-owners of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter, FL, are partners on and off the dance floor. Competing, managing a dance studio, teaching, and living together might seem like too much but this devoted couple have made it work! Click here to read more.

Birmingham FADS Hearing Impaired Student Inspired by “DWTS” Matlin

BY JULIE HINDS • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • April 21, 2008
Stepping confidently in her strappy black high-heeled sandals, Pamela Dangovian practices the quick moves of the cha-cha.

The 48-year-old mom and community volunteer from Birmingham keeps her eyes on the face of her instructor, Leonid Sidorenko, as they move around the roomy floor of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Hills.

She's reading his lips to follow his coaching, because, like current "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Marlee Matlin, she is deaf.

After seeing Matlin compete on ABC's ballroom dancing competition, she got in touch with the studio through the Michigan Relay Center, which helps hearing-impaired people, among others, communicate by phone.

She was inspired by watching Matlin do the cha-cha, waltz and quickstep. Now she's gliding smoothly along in her footsteps.

"I've seen her movies, her TV shows," says Dangovian. "When I saw her on the dance floor, I thought if she can do it, I can do it."

Click here to read the full text of this article.

Area Celebrities Prepare to Step Lively For Charity

Montgomery, AL. Fred Astaire studio partners with locals for good cause
Don't even try to tear Sherry Nath away from the TV during ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."
Just ask her husband, Chuck, who's not even supposed to talk to her unless there's a commercial break.

On Saturday, Nath will have a front-row view of the cha-cha, the tango, the hustle and more at Dancing with Celebrities, a fundraiser she organized to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. With help from Christa DeButts of the Capital City Club and others in the community, Nath convinced Montgomery area celebs to step in, learn new dances -- and perform in a competition.

"When my husband suggested it, I wasn't sure we could really pull it off," said Nath, a cancer survivor who is serving as the chairwoman of this year's Relay for Life. "But everybody has been so supportive, and it has been a lot of fun."
For weeks now, Fred Astaire Dance Studio instructors have worked with dancing celebs Charlie Colvin, Sieu Tang Wood, Nancy Shinbaum, Homer Horton, Richard Coats and Leslie Bailey, who will compete that evening, with José Barraza serving as DJ and Susan Woody as mistress of ceremonies.

During the event, which includes dinner, guests will vote on their favorite couples by making a donation. The celebrity with the most money wins.
Click here to read the full text of this article.

Dancing with the Stars Links

Last night’s premiere of “Dancing With The Stars” has already sparked a flurry of media coverage. Check out the links below to read some of the more compelling commentary.

“Dancing With The Stars”: The Men on the Los Angeles Times ‘Show Tracker’ blog.

'Dancing With the Stars': The Gute, the Bad, and the Ugly on EW.com.

'Dancing with the Stars' recap: Rating last night's male performances on Freep.com, the online version of Detroit Free Press.

‘Dancing:’ The parade of sequins begins on Boston.com’s ‘Viewer Discretion’ blog.

“Dancing With The Stars:” Guys on Newsday.com.

Week 1 'Dancing With The Stars' Pre-Show Interview With Jason Taylor on Starpulse.com’s ‘Entertainment News Blog.’

And be sure to visit the official Dancing With The Stars site for all the latest information on your favorite performers!

Tune in tonight for the second half of the season six premier3 to watch FADS’ own Fabian Sanchez and Tony Dovolani show off their moves on the dance floor.

Who Will Win "Dancing With The Stars"?

Don’t miss the Season 6 premiere of “Dancing With The Stars”, tonight at 8 pm EST/PST on ABC.

Who Will Win "Dancing With The Stars"?

See How This Season's Competitors Stack Up

(CBS) When the current crop of "Dancing With The Stars" competitors kicks off the show's sixth season Monday night, it won't just be a battle over who has the best moves.

Contestant ranking in this show is based on a combination of the judges' scores and the fan votes, so popularity counts just as much as skill.

That's what makes it tricky to predict which of the stars will make it to the finals and on to the ultimate prize: a tacky disco ball trophy.

This season's stars include several actors, an R&B singer, a few sports champions, and even an illusionist/comedian. Some of them have experience dancing, others benefit from the discipline of athletics, and all have performed in front of a crowd.

Click here to read the full text of this article.

Marlee Matlin Ready for `Dancing' Debut

Marlee Matlin had never danced before — well, other than at weddings and bar mitzvahs — but for the past two weeks, she's been cha-cha-ing and quickstepping for seven hours a day in preparation for her "Dancing With the Stars" debut.

Despite the unforgiving schedule and complaints of constant soreness from past contestants, Matlin, 42, says she's remained pain-free.

"Everyone asks if I'm sore," she said after a recent rehearsal at a nondescript dance studio northeast of Los Angeles. "Am I supposed to be sore?"

Perhaps not. She is, however, supposed to step, twirl, dip, smile, clap, spin, plant and jump — all imaginable types of body and facial movements, really — in time with the music. Never mind that the Academy Award-winning actress can't hear a single note, beat, or tempo change.

While none of this year's crop of "Dancing" hopefuls have ever danced professionally, Matlin has the additional challenge of being deaf. And that's not a problem, she said through her longtime interpreter, Jack Jason. Matlin relies on her professional partner, show newcomer Fabian Sanchez, to lead the way.

"He's my music," she said.

Click here to read the full text of this article.

Tony winner fought for her spot on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Like ships passing in the night two "Dancing With the Stars" competitors seemed to be on alternate planes of existence.

Marissa Jaret Winokur, 5 feet tall, was walking past the 6-foot-6 Penn Jillette.

"I said Hi' and he didn't say anything," Winokur recalls. "Then I realized: I was completely below his radar. Penn didn't even see me."

There might be a metaphor there; or maybe just a daydreamer. "I'm frequently lost in my thoughts," Jillette says.

But mostly, her story illustrates something basic: "Dancing With the Stars" - which has its first two eliminations Tuesday (March 18) - has extreme contrasts in:

- Age. Mario, a rhythm-and-blues singer, is 21; Priscilla Presley is 62.

- Size. Jillette, a magician, and Jason Taylor, a pro football star, are each 6-6; Winokur (a Tony winner) is 5-foot, Kristi Yamaguchi (an Olympic skating champion) is 5-1.

- Native country. Cristian de la Fuente, an actor, is from Chile; Monica Seles, a tennis great, is from Yugoslavia.

- And intangibles. For some, this will seem easy. They look athletic (Adam Carolla, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenberg); they really are athletes (Taylor, Yamaguchi, Seles). Others face major obstacles - particularly actress Marlee Matlin, who is hearing-impaired.

For an extreme contrast, however, meet Jillette and Winokur.

Click here to read the full text of this article.

Students find fun, inspiration at California’s only Fred Astaire Dance Studio

Friday Night series: Getting in step at Fred Astaire Dance Studio

POPULAR TV SHOWS MOVE MANY TO ASTAIRE STUDIO

The small sign tucked in the front window of California's only Fred Astaire Dance Studio quietly beckons: "Learn to Dance. Walk in, Dance out."

The handmade sign is just one of the homey touches that keep people coming to the unlikely dance studio in the far end of Mervyns Plaza Shopping Center on El Camino Real in Santa Clara, just down from a Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlor.

The "club night" parties hosted by owners Bill and Floy Ranells every Friday night make all the lessons worthwhile. They turn the lights down low, signal the band it's time and away they go. The samba, the fox trot, the cha-cha-cha.

"Dancing is coming back," said Bill Ranells, a fast-talking former saxophone player and "a pretty good tango dancer," who bought the franchise 20 years ago.

In another era, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers light-stepping on the big screen inspired would-be dancers to take lessons. These days, it's dance shows on TV.

Click here to read the full text of this article, and to see streaming video and photos of students kicking up their heels on a recent Friday night at FADS in Santa Clara, CA.

Mitchell, Berkley, Paterson and O'Meara Set for Bravo's "Step It Up & Dance"

Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell will mentor young dancers in the forthcoming Bravo Television reality program "Step It Up & Dance," which is set to premiere April 3.

The new series will be hosted by actress and dancer Elizabeth Berkley (Sly Fox, "Showgirls") and boasts judges Vincent Paterson, who has choreographed Broadway's Kiss of the Spider Woman, Madonna's "Blond Ambition" tour and Michael Jackson's "Bad" tour; and Nancy O'Meara, currently enjoying success with 'tween sensations "Hannah Montana" and the High School Musical tours.

"Step It Up & Dance" brings together dancers from around the country, challenging them to master dance styles from ballet and ballroom, to Broadway and burlesque. Press notes state, "Whether it's a music video one week or a Vegas spectacular the next, Bravo's new dance series will feature challenges in which the dancers audition for a range of parts, designed to showcase their versatility and moves. As the competition gets fierce and contestants are eliminated, only one person will get the final 'call back' and the chance to perform, with the ultimate dancer winning a cash prize."

Click here to read the full text of this article.

Fred Astaire’s Belmont, Mass. Studio Makes Headlines

At Fred Astaire Dance Studio, they are dancing to the stars

Belmont, Mass. - Sometimes all it takes to get a prospective ballroom dancer into a gown and onto her feet is a little taste of what’s to come.

On Friday night, the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Cushing Square did just that, with a dress rehearsal for the upcoming regional competition.

“The dress rehearsal gives the competitors a chance to feel comfortable moving in their dresses,” said instructor Michelle Montanez. “It also gives the new students a chance to see what a competition is like.”

The students of the studio gathered that night to dance in mock heats, or about one and a half minutes of a specialized dance, to perfect their moves and shake off some nerves before the 37th annual DanceSport Competition to be held later this month in Quincy.

Click here to read the full text of this article.

Tiger Electronics to Release U-DANCE Video Game

Unique System Lets Players Actually Step in to the Game

Interactive video games have always been a hit with kids of all ages, and it’s no surprise that the recent dance-craze permeating popular culture has inspired the gaming industry to add another dancing game to its repertoire (some of you may remember Dance Dance Revolution).

In fall 2008, Tiger Electronics (a Hasbro, Inc. brand) is set to launch U-DANCE, a completely wireless and dance-mat free game system that features motion sensing technology which allows players full range of movement and the ability to using their body to control game play. The U-DANCE system will feature popular dance music including Run It by Grammy-nominated pop artist Chris Brown.

Pop artist Chris Brown shows off his dance moves at the introduction of the U-DANCE gaming system at the Hasbro showroom at the American International Toy Fair in New York. by Ray Stubblebine, Hasbro

Glorious Debbie Reynolds, Stepping Out Again

A star in her own right, and currently the host of the hit stage show “Simply Ballroom”, actor and dancer Debbie Reynolds, reminisced about her career with a reporter from the Hartford Courant this month.

Debbie Reynolds knows what it's like to be a regular gal thrown into a situation where she is expected to dance like a dream — as well as a dynamo.

At 18 she was cast in the 1952 MGM movie musical "Singin' in the Rain," where she famously hoofed it up between such seasoned dancers as Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor.

As a plucky teenager starting out in the film business 60 years ago, she can identify with the anyone-can-do-it-if-they-work-hard spirit of such popular TV shows as "So You Think You Can Dance?" and "Dancing With the Stars."

Reynolds is in Hartford to rehearse the launch of the U.S. tour of the popular British show, "Strictly Ballroom," which she hosts. The show premieres tonight at 7 at Hartford's Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. It features more than a dozen professional ballroom dancers as well as a pair of "American Idol" singers: Anthony Federov and Vonzell Solomon.

Reynolds, who turns 76 next month, was perfectly coiffed, elegantly dressed (a stylish Technicolor jacket) and prepared to tell tales of old Hollywood last week at the Bushnell. With a career that goes back to the late '40s, the petite, poised, blue-eyed star is the queen mother of MGM's golden age of film, keeping movie memories alive with sharp-eyed, behind-the-scenes detail.

Click here to read the full text of this article.

The Hartford performance took place on March 2, 2008, but the show has U.S. tour dates booked through 2008. Click here to locate a “Simply Ballroom” performance near you.

Sox players shake their moneymakers, raise funds for charity

Jonathan Papelbon, of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, looked like he was trying out for a weekend gig at Club Cafe when he chose a black, see-through lace bodysuit to compete in World Series MVP Mike Lowell’s “Dancing with the Stars” benefit in Florida last weekend.
Pap, who merengued with professional dancer Teresa Kasler, didn’t win the competition, but he did take home the “Bringing Sexy Back” award.
The contest was judged by a number of Red Sox playes, including Javier Lopez, Jason Varitek, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Sean Casey.

Word from spring training is that Papelbon's unwashed lacy black number is headed for the charity auction block. At least Papelbon kept his shirt on. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was showing off his merengue moves when he suddenly ripped his shirt off to reveal “Daddy” painted in glitter on his chest.

“Pedroia is a moron. You can write that - he is a moron,” manager Terry Francona told the
Herald’s Michael Silverman after the event. “He was dancing, he looked like a puppet on a string. It’s funny because he’s such a little gamer but he’s looking over at us knowing we’re just crushing him. He’s drinking Red Bull, he’s exhausted, he’s trying to do these things with this girl, which he’s not strong enough to do. It was hilarious. I’m glad I went.”

Alex Cora, who has some major league moves, showed them off with the lovely Latasha. But it was Lowell - the host of the evening - who took home the “Golden Shoes” trophy for dancing a spicy salsa with dance queen Christine Lopez.

The “Stars” event was a private affair for Lowell's charity that assists low-income families in Miami and Boston struggling with cancer. The foundation also funds baseball programs for inner city kids.

For the full text of the article, click on http://news.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view.bg?articleid=1077304.

ABC reveals 'Dancing with the Stars' sixth-season cast

ABC has revealed the identities of the 12 celebrities and professional dancers who will be waltzing their way into primetime when “Dancing with the Stars'” sixth season premieres with a 90-minute performance episode on Monday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

The sixth-season celebrity cast announcement was made by a trio of former “Dancing with the Stars” second-season contestants, including tenth-place finisher Kenny Mayne, fourth-place finisher Lisa Rinna and runner-up Jerry Rice - during Monday night’s live “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” finale broadcast on ABC. The names of the professionals they would be paired with were released on Tuesday morning.

They are:
Fabian Sanchez with Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin
Louis Van Amstel with Elvis’ former wife, actress Priscilla Presley
Edyta Sliwinska with NFL all-star Jason Taylor
Derek Hough with actress Shannon Elizabeth
Julianne Hough with comedian Adam Carolla
Mark Ballas with Olympic gold medalist figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi
Johnathan Roberts with tennis pro Monica Seles
Karina Smirnoff with hip-hop artist Mario
Anna Trebunskaya with actor Steve Guttenberg
Cheryl Burke with Latin heartthrob Christian De La Fuente
Kym Johnson with comedian Penn Jillette
Tony Dovolani with Tony award-winning actress Marissa Jaret Winokur

Both Sanchez and Dovolani are members of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios family. This is Sanchez’s first time on the show; Dovolani has participated many times before, being paired last season with actress Jane Seymour."Talk about diversity," “Dancing with the Stars” judge and “Dance War” coach Bruno Tonioli said following the cast announcement. "Well that makes it more interesting," agreed fellow “Dancing” judge and “Dance War” coach Carrie Ann Inaba. "Because you never know what's going to happen. It's unpredictable that way." There was one popular professional dancer whose name was demonstrably absent from the list - Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy reportedly “needs a break” and is skipping “Dancing with the Stars'” spring 2008 installment.

Following” Dancing with the Stars'” March 17 premiere in its regular Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT time slot, ABC will air” Dancing with the Stars'” first sixth-season results show broadcast on March 25 at its regular Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT time.

Sean Hayes won't be 'Dancing with the Stars'

Former “Will & Grace” star Sean Hayes apparently won't be lacing up his ballroom shoes for “Dancing with the Stars'” upcoming sixth season.

Hayes' representative has refuted a recent report that the actor would likely be competing as a Dancing with the Stars' sixth-season celebrity participant, Entertainment Tonight reported recently.

A friend of the 37-year-old previously told In Touch Weekly that Hayes had been approached to appear as a “Dancing with the Stars'” sixth-season celebrity participant.

"He's probably going to do it," the friend told In Touch. "Sean can bust a move with the best of them."

Hayes received a 2000 Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series thanks to his Jack McFarland character on “Will & Grace,” which ran on NBC from fall 1998 to spring 2006. Hayes most recently co-starred in “The Bucket List” with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

“Dancing with the Stars 6” will debut with a 90-minute performance episode broadcast on Monday, March 17 in its regular Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT time period. ABC will then air “Dancing with the Stars'” first sixth-season results show broadcast on March 25 in its regular Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT time slot.

”Dancing with the Stars'” sixth-season cast will be revealed during ABC's live two-hour finale broadcast of “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” on Monday, February 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Maples, Hayes going 'Dancing?’

Marla Maples, the 44-year-old former Mrs. Donald Trump, has reportedly been cast as a “Dancing with the Stars” sixth-season celebrity participant, In Touch Weekly reported Friday.

"She's landed a spot on the hottest show," a friend of Marla's" told In Touch. "She's in great shape, so dancing is only going to make her look even better."

In addition, the friend told In Touch that “Dancing with the Stars'” producers are hoping “The Apprentice” star will appear as a member of the show's studio audience to watch his ex dance - a scenario that seems highly unlikely. Last summer, Maples appeared in ABC's “Ex-Wives Club,” a reality series that helped recent divorcees rid themselves of everything reminiscent of their former significant other in an effort to move forward with their lives. She appeared in the short-lived show with Angie Everhart - the secret saboteur of ABC's “Celebrity Mole Yucatan” - and the former Mrs. Kevin Federline, Shar Jackson. According to a December In Touch report, former “Will & Grace” actor Sean Hayes may also be a part of “Dancing with the Stars'” sixth season cast.

In addition, E! Online gossip columnist Mark Malkin reported last week that Elvis Presley's ex, Priscilla Presley, has "signed on, or is close to signing on" to the show's sixth-season cast. “Dancing with the Stars 6” will premiere Monday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. As in previous seasons, the network is not commenting on sixth-season casting reports. ABC is expected to formally announce the season's cast later this month.

Dancers prepare for Las Vegas competition

A Web site dedicated to the 2008 Cross Country DanceSport Championships (CCDC) is now available to the general public.

Log on to http://www.ccdcfredastaire.com/ to learn more about this prestigious competition, which will be held April 16 to 20 in Las Vegas. Dancers from around the world will gather in Sin City this year to compete at the world-renowned Luxor resort and casino, a visually stunning hotel that is contemporarily appointed with modern amenities.

From American Smooth to Open Cabaret, International Latin to Country Western, the ballroom will be filled with amateur and professional dancers all vying for top honors. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be part of this exciting event!

“America’s Ballroom Challenge” takes the floor

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 30, PBS began airing “America’s Ballroom Challenge,” an exciting series that brings together top dancers from around the world who compete across dance styles for the title of “America’s Best.” Dancers from within the Fred Astaire family are participating in the competition.

The series is returning for a third season with five one-hour episodes. Shot in high definition at the world’s largest ballroom dancing competition in Columbus, Ohio, “America’s Ballroom Challenge” airs Wednesday nights through Feb. 27 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET.

Hosted by actress and dancer Jasmine Guy and seven-time U.S. National Latin Dance Champion Ron Montez, the first installment of “America’s Ballroom Challenge” will feature the American Smooth competition. In coming weeks, the show will focus on American Rhythm, International Standard and International Latin.

The six finalists in each style will first compete as a group, performing the five standard dances in the category, with expert judges scoring their performances. Then the dancers will have an opportunity to shine, performing a show dance solo. Each program will end with the crowning of one couple, named champions in that style.

In the fifth and final program, the four champions will compete across dance styles for the coveted title, with each couple performing two pull-out-all-the-stops solos.