Week Four
By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer
This week, the couples danced either an Argentine Tango or the Rumba. They were scored separately for technique and performance with a combined perfect score of 60.
The Situation's Argentine Tango wasn't so interesting. Although Karina did a great job dancing around her partner, I didn't see what of anything he was doing. They were eliminated this week.
Their score was 28.
Bristol Palin danced the Rumba for a score of 32. I didn't understand her dance. It didn't look as if she was inside the dance at all. There was no emotion or expression. The Rumba requires a lot of connection between the partners and the music. Bristol needed better balance and also, more of an extension when she created her lines. I felt that her dance was empty and I just couldn't read anything in it.
Kurt Warner's Rumba was an improvement over last week but it wasn't a great performance. I did see some hip movement during the dance but he needs to work more on his technique. His feet need to connect more with the floor. He can't just walk through the dance. His pivots didn't look quite right. His score was 34.
Florence Henderson danced the Rumba also. The Rumba is a romantic and sensual dance. You can use some sharp accents but the dance really needs extensions and continuous movement. Florence's dance was too sharp and aggressive for me. She lost her balance and timing a few times during the dance. Her score was 35.
Rick Fox's Argentine Tango wasn't great this week. They are one of my favorite couples and I still think that Cheryl and Rick can have some great results on the show. But I didn't see him as much during this dance. Cheryl did all the work in this routine. They need to get more of a connection with each other. His score was 39.
Kyle Massey danced a Rumba and - as always - his performance was very interesting! His score was 40.
Audrina Patridge got a 46 for her Argentine Tango. In my opinion, their music just wasn't right for the Argentine Tango. It was closer to cha-cha music. In order to have a great performance, you need a real connection with the music . I think if they'd had a better song, they'd have had a better dance. Her score was 46.
I really liked Brandy's Rumba this week. She wore a beautiful costume. Her foot positions and steps looked clean and clear. The dance was lyrical. She had great hip actions. It was a powerful, grounded performance. Her score was 48.
Jennifer Grey got the highest score of the night. Her Argentine Tango was wonderful. Everything connected. I could read through the dance as if it was a question and answer dialog. They talked through their body language, without any words. Score: 56!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Dancing With The Chicago Stars
from examiner.com:
What does long-time Chicago Bears Quarterback Bob Avellini have in common with Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson? Illinois State Rep Mike McAuliffee share with Jersey Shore's Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino? The common link between former Chicago radio host Judy Markey and Bristol Palin?
Seems they've all slipped into dance shoes in the past few weeks, preparing to burn-up the floor with their ChaChas, Rhumbas, and Quicksteps.
While Henderson, "The Situation," and Palin hoof-it-up in Hollywood as contestants on this season's wildly-popular Dancing With the Stars, Avellini, McAuliffee, and Markey are learning to bust a move during private training sessions with pro dance instructors at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Buffalo Grove.
The studio, owned by Dancing With the Stars alum Jesse DeSoto, has partnered with the Northbrook-based Cancer Wellness Center for a ballroom dance competition featuring Avellini, McAuliffee, and Markey, each teamed with a pro dancer from Fred Astaire, to take place during the Center's 2010 Annual Benefit on Saturday, October 23 in the Grand Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton and Towers.
Each contestant is now training weekly at the studio, located at 404 West Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove. Keep checking the website for details to follow if you're interested in attending this special event.
What does long-time Chicago Bears Quarterback Bob Avellini have in common with Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson? Illinois State Rep Mike McAuliffee share with Jersey Shore's Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino? The common link between former Chicago radio host Judy Markey and Bristol Palin?
Seems they've all slipped into dance shoes in the past few weeks, preparing to burn-up the floor with their ChaChas, Rhumbas, and Quicksteps.
While Henderson, "The Situation," and Palin hoof-it-up in Hollywood as contestants on this season's wildly-popular Dancing With the Stars, Avellini, McAuliffee, and Markey are learning to bust a move during private training sessions with pro dance instructors at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Buffalo Grove.
The studio, owned by Dancing With the Stars alum Jesse DeSoto, has partnered with the Northbrook-based Cancer Wellness Center for a ballroom dance competition featuring Avellini, McAuliffee, and Markey, each teamed with a pro dancer from Fred Astaire, to take place during the Center's 2010 Annual Benefit on Saturday, October 23 in the Grand Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton and Towers.
Each contestant is now training weekly at the studio, located at 404 West Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove. Keep checking the website for details to follow if you're interested in attending this special event.
Friday, October 08, 2010
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Ballroom Dancing Legends Revealed!
from legendsrevealed.com:
BALLROOM DANCING LEGEND: Fred Astaire’s will stipulates that he never be portrayed in a film.
STATUS: True
In the decade or so leading up to his death, Astaire had been turning down requests for “official” film versions of his life, and in his will, Astaire stipulated that he never been portrayed in a film.
He felt that he should be judged by his life, and his life only, and not what some filmmaker may wish to say about his life in a film.
BALLROOM DANCING LEGEND: Jim Thorpe was a ballroom champion dancer.
STATUS: True
Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, Jim Thorpe won Olympic gold medals for the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon, played American football (collegiate and professional), and also played professional baseball and basketball. However, his athletic dominance was not reserved for the playing field. He also dominated in the ballroom! Thorpe was known as an excellent ballroom dancer and even won the inter-collegiate ballroom dancing championships in 1912!
BALLROOM DANCING LEGEND: Cyd Charisse’s legs were insured for a million bucks each.
STATUS: False
Cyd Charisse, a famed dancer who partnered with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, was known for her beautiful long legs. For years, rumors were flying that MGM insured her legs for a million dollars each. But Charisse said for years before her death that it was not true and just a product of MGM’s publicity machine. In fact, MGM internal documents about Charisse during that time make no mention of such an insurance policy.
BALLROOM DANCING LEGEND: Fred Astaire’s will stipulates that he never be portrayed in a film.
STATUS: True
In the decade or so leading up to his death, Astaire had been turning down requests for “official” film versions of his life, and in his will, Astaire stipulated that he never been portrayed in a film.
He felt that he should be judged by his life, and his life only, and not what some filmmaker may wish to say about his life in a film.
BALLROOM DANCING LEGEND: Jim Thorpe was a ballroom champion dancer.
STATUS: True
Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, Jim Thorpe won Olympic gold medals for the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon, played American football (collegiate and professional), and also played professional baseball and basketball. However, his athletic dominance was not reserved for the playing field. He also dominated in the ballroom! Thorpe was known as an excellent ballroom dancer and even won the inter-collegiate ballroom dancing championships in 1912!
BALLROOM DANCING LEGEND: Cyd Charisse’s legs were insured for a million bucks each.
STATUS: False
Cyd Charisse, a famed dancer who partnered with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, was known for her beautiful long legs. For years, rumors were flying that MGM insured her legs for a million dollars each. But Charisse said for years before her death that it was not true and just a product of MGM’s publicity machine. In fact, MGM internal documents about Charisse during that time make no mention of such an insurance policy.
“Live To Dance” Now Casting!
from cbs.com:
CBS will hold open casting calls for its new reality-competition series, “Live To Dance” in New York City on Thursday, Oct. 14 and Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 28. Paula Abdul, award-winning dancer/choreographer and multi-platinum recording artist, is executive producer and lead judge. She will also serve as coach, mentor and advocate for contestants during the performances and elimination process, sharing input and guidance while sharing her experience with hopeful contestants.
Dancers who want the opportunity to showcase their talents are encouraged to attend the open calls and show why they deserve to be a contestant on LIVE TO DANCE. The most talented and entertaining dancers will receive a callback to audition for Abdul and the panel of experts, all world-class dancers themselves. Callbacks will take place Saturday and Sunday after each open call date.
In one of the most inclusive talent searches on television, dancers with raw ability, in any age group from across the nation (either performing solo or in a group) can audition in any form of dancing - ballet to break dance, tap to tango, or show us something we've never seen before with your own unique fusion of styles - rock ballet, hip-hop clogging or contemporary mixed with capoeira. The most talented dancers who make it through the callback process will have the chance to perform live on CBS in the semi-finals and finals, where they will battle for the right to be crowned LIVE TO DANCE champion and be awarded a $500,000 prize.
• NEW YORK CITY, NY - Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Jacob Javits Convention Center of New York
655 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001
Check-in begins at 8:00 am
(Callbacks are Oct. 16 and 17, please plan accordingly)
• LOS ANGELES, CA - Thursday, October 28, 2010
Location TBD
CBS will hold open casting calls for its new reality-competition series, “Live To Dance” in New York City on Thursday, Oct. 14 and Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 28. Paula Abdul, award-winning dancer/choreographer and multi-platinum recording artist, is executive producer and lead judge. She will also serve as coach, mentor and advocate for contestants during the performances and elimination process, sharing input and guidance while sharing her experience with hopeful contestants.
Dancers who want the opportunity to showcase their talents are encouraged to attend the open calls and show why they deserve to be a contestant on LIVE TO DANCE. The most talented and entertaining dancers will receive a callback to audition for Abdul and the panel of experts, all world-class dancers themselves. Callbacks will take place Saturday and Sunday after each open call date.
In one of the most inclusive talent searches on television, dancers with raw ability, in any age group from across the nation (either performing solo or in a group) can audition in any form of dancing - ballet to break dance, tap to tango, or show us something we've never seen before with your own unique fusion of styles - rock ballet, hip-hop clogging or contemporary mixed with capoeira. The most talented dancers who make it through the callback process will have the chance to perform live on CBS in the semi-finals and finals, where they will battle for the right to be crowned LIVE TO DANCE champion and be awarded a $500,000 prize.
• NEW YORK CITY, NY - Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Jacob Javits Convention Center of New York
655 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001
Check-in begins at 8:00 am
(Callbacks are Oct. 16 and 17, please plan accordingly)
• LOS ANGELES, CA - Thursday, October 28, 2010
Location TBD
Inspirational Student Shows Us Nothing Is Impossible!
By Catherine Brill
Tao Porchon-Lynch isn’t your ordinary dance student. She is a former Hollywood movie and small screen actress, model, screenwriter, and documentary producer, and has been a Master Yoga teacher for more than 45 years. She has studied with yoga legends Indra Devi and BKS Iyengar and has made over 24 pilgrimages to India with her yoga students. She also frequently competes in Fred Astaire regional ballroom dance competitions.
Not too bad for someone who is 92 years old.
Tao actually met Mr. Fred Astaire in the 1950’s when they were both at MGM. “He was a very sweet and shy man. Everybody liked him,” she remembers. But she didn’t start ballroom dancing until seven years ago. “I always wanted to go to Argentina to dance the Tango!” Now she takes two to four lessons a week at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Hartsdale, New York.
Tao doesn’t let anything slow her down, not even hip replacement surgery! In April of this year, she kept dancing (with her hand in the air) after breaking her wrist. More recently, Tao injured herself in a fall and her doctors advised her to stop dancing for a month. She only took a week off before returning to the dance floor. “There’s so much to do in life and so little time,” she reflects.
At the most recent regional competition in Verona, New York, Tao performed 31 dances and three solos. Not surprisingly, she received a standing ovation for her performances. To celebrate her latest birthday, the studio threw her a big party where she danced the Jive, Samba, and Argentine Tango for her guests.
Her extensive background in yoga has helped her with her dancing. “Yoga makes you breathe and gives you more energy. Both yoga and dance get you in touch with the creation of life.”
“Dancing brought new joy into my life,” Tao believes. She is now practicing for another competition in New Jersey in November and a showcase in Tarrytown in mid-October. She is an inspiration to dancers and non-dancers alike, an extraordinary woman who has made the most out of life.
Dancing With The Stars, Season 11 Commentary
Week Three
By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer
This week was Story Week where each dance had to tell a story.
Margaret Cho was eliminated this week after performing a Samba. The beginning of her dance was OK but then she lost her timing as the dance progresses.
Bristol Palin performed a Foxtrot for a score of 19. Her dance last week was much better than this week's.
Florence Henderson received a 20 for her Waltz. I always enjoy watching her. She looks beautiful on the floor. Her dance was sweet and full of emotion. She had a nice presentation.
The Situation also received a 20 for his Foxtrot. His dance was entertaining but it needed more flowing action and style. He needs to concentrate on that.
My two favorites this week were Jennifer Grey and Audrina Patridge.
They had the most interesting performances for me. Jennifer performed a beautiful and complicated Samba. Her Samba Rolls were executed nicely and I enjoyed the story of her dance. Similarily, Audrina performed a beautiful Foxtrot. I am so proud of and happy for Tony Dovolani for teaching Audrina so well! Her memorable dance was smooth, elegant, and emotional.
One quick comment about Maks and Brandy. This week, there was some footage shown of Maks slapping Brandy as he taught her. I know that Maks is tough on his students but he needs to understand that these celebrities are not professional dancers. Our goal as teachers should be to have students feel confident and enjoy themselves. Yes, we should concentrate on the technique and style of each dance but we can't forget that dancing is also about having fun and enjoyment.
By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer
This week was Story Week where each dance had to tell a story.
Margaret Cho was eliminated this week after performing a Samba. The beginning of her dance was OK but then she lost her timing as the dance progresses.
Bristol Palin performed a Foxtrot for a score of 19. Her dance last week was much better than this week's.
Florence Henderson received a 20 for her Waltz. I always enjoy watching her. She looks beautiful on the floor. Her dance was sweet and full of emotion. She had a nice presentation.
The Situation also received a 20 for his Foxtrot. His dance was entertaining but it needed more flowing action and style. He needs to concentrate on that.
My two favorites this week were Jennifer Grey and Audrina Patridge.
They had the most interesting performances for me. Jennifer performed a beautiful and complicated Samba. Her Samba Rolls were executed nicely and I enjoyed the story of her dance. Similarily, Audrina performed a beautiful Foxtrot. I am so proud of and happy for Tony Dovolani for teaching Audrina so well! Her memorable dance was smooth, elegant, and emotional.
One quick comment about Maks and Brandy. This week, there was some footage shown of Maks slapping Brandy as he taught her. I know that Maks is tough on his students but he needs to understand that these celebrities are not professional dancers. Our goal as teachers should be to have students feel confident and enjoy themselves. Yes, we should concentrate on the technique and style of each dance but we can't forget that dancing is also about having fun and enjoyment.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Students dance the way to social skills
from the Winston-Salem Journal:
By Mary Giunca
Pierre Dulaine strides onto the stage at Forest Park Elementary School with a combination of Old World courtliness and drill sergeant snap.
“Feet together!” he commands a group of fifth-graders who stand around in various forms of slouch. “Hands out of your pockets.”
For the next 45 minutes, Dulaine, a professional dancer and the founder of Dancing Classrooms, alternately guides, cajoles and bullies another MTV generation through the rudiments of ballroom dance.
“Is this elegance?” he asks as he demonstrates the wide leg, hands-in-pocket stance of the students.
They laugh.
Yesterday was Dulaine’s first appearance at the school. The Dancing Classrooms program started last year at Forest Park, Cook, the Arts Based and Ibraham elementary schools.
Dancing Classrooms is a 10-week, 20-session program for fifth- and eighth-grade students that uses ballroom dancing as a tool to develop social skills, self-confidence and teamwork.
Ann Guill, a local dance teacher, works as the site director for the state pilot program, which got its start in Winston-Salem last year.
The program was founded in 1994. Last school year, it served 50,000 children in 525 schools in 16 U.S. cities as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Geneva, Switzerland. Dancing Classrooms inspired the film Take the Lead, in which Antonio Banderas played Dulaine.
The program works, says Sandra Gilmer, Forest Park’s principal.
Last year, people commented on how well-behaved the children were on field trips as the year progressed, and she credits the program for that.
Dulaine’s program incorporates many of the elements of a basic etiquette course, such as the proper way to stand, shake hands and hold partners when dancing.
He has advice for fifth-graders who are dubious about being paired off and told to hold hands: “He’s not going to be your boyfriend. She’s not going to be your girlfriend.”
The children laugh, and the session continues.
Dulaine said children know he is on their side and working with them.
“Many times we tell children how wonderful they are without being specific,” he says. “They need truth. They need answers.”
mgiunca@wsjournal.com
727-4089
By Mary Giunca
Pierre Dulaine strides onto the stage at Forest Park Elementary School with a combination of Old World courtliness and drill sergeant snap.
“Feet together!” he commands a group of fifth-graders who stand around in various forms of slouch. “Hands out of your pockets.”
For the next 45 minutes, Dulaine, a professional dancer and the founder of Dancing Classrooms, alternately guides, cajoles and bullies another MTV generation through the rudiments of ballroom dance.
“Is this elegance?” he asks as he demonstrates the wide leg, hands-in-pocket stance of the students.
They laugh.
Yesterday was Dulaine’s first appearance at the school. The Dancing Classrooms program started last year at Forest Park, Cook, the Arts Based and Ibraham elementary schools.
Dancing Classrooms is a 10-week, 20-session program for fifth- and eighth-grade students that uses ballroom dancing as a tool to develop social skills, self-confidence and teamwork.
Ann Guill, a local dance teacher, works as the site director for the state pilot program, which got its start in Winston-Salem last year.
The program was founded in 1994. Last school year, it served 50,000 children in 525 schools in 16 U.S. cities as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Geneva, Switzerland. Dancing Classrooms inspired the film Take the Lead, in which Antonio Banderas played Dulaine.
The program works, says Sandra Gilmer, Forest Park’s principal.
Last year, people commented on how well-behaved the children were on field trips as the year progressed, and she credits the program for that.
Dulaine’s program incorporates many of the elements of a basic etiquette course, such as the proper way to stand, shake hands and hold partners when dancing.
He has advice for fifth-graders who are dubious about being paired off and told to hold hands: “He’s not going to be your boyfriend. She’s not going to be your girlfriend.”
The children laugh, and the session continues.
Dulaine said children know he is on their side and working with them.
“Many times we tell children how wonderful they are without being specific,” he says. “They need truth. They need answers.”
mgiunca@wsjournal.com
727-4089
Monday, October 04, 2010
The secret of success for men on the dance floor
from independent.co.uk:
The secret of male dance floor success is all above the waist!
A study reveals upper body movement, not fancy footwork, is key to attracting women
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
The difference between a good and bad dancer - as rated by 35 heterosexual women for the Northumbria University study - lies in the movements of the upper body
We have all witnessed it – a packed dance floor of bodies gyrating perfectly to the beat suddenly being emptied by the unwelcome appearance of a man flailing his arms about wildly.
But for the millions of wannabe lotharios who find it impossible to dance without looking like a malfunctioning windmill, a solution may be at hand: psychologists claim to have discovered the key dance moves that make men attractive to women.
As the single most important arena where humans select their mates, the dancefloor can inspire terror and longing – but more often embarrassment and hilarity. Millions strut their stuff every night in venues across the country, but no scientific study of what makes a successful dancer has been made until now.
Researchers at Northumbria University identified differences between "good" and "bad" male dancers based on the responses they provoke in women. The results, which are surprisingly detailed, suggest that the speed of the right knee is critical, as is the size and variability of movement of the neck, trunk, left shoulder and wrist.
Women were most excited by men who danced vigorously, making large movements of their upper body and head, but who also varied their movements, showing creativity and flair. Head bangers were a definite turn-off. Those who lean towards folk dancing of the Riverdance kind face disappointment – Irish dancing, with its focus on leg kicking and a static upper body, is unlikely to set women's hearts racing.
Nick Neave, who led the research, published in Biology Letters, said: "This is the first study to show objectively what differentiates a good dancer from a bad one. Men all over the world will be interested to know what moves they can throw to attract women."
The researchers have posted videos of good and bad dancers on the web, so men keen to put the findings into practice can do so.
Male volunteers were filmed with a 3D camera system as they danced to a basic rhythm, and avatars – humanoid characters – were programmed to reproduce their moves so that 35 female volunteers could rate them for sex appeal without being influenced by their level of physical attractiveness.
Dr Neave said: "We now know which area of the body females are looking at when they are making a judgement about male dance attractiveness. If a man knows what the key moves are, he can get some training and improve his chances of attracting a female through his dance style."
But his own initial response had been more ambivalent, he confessed. "When I saw the good dancer I thought he was a bit of a show off. I thought 'What a pillock'. But he has got that flair and variability and creativity. If you had had a drink you might think 'He's interesting, I'll go and have a chat.'"
The bad dancer, walking around in a circle making the same stereotypical movements, was more obvious – small, tentative movements with little hint of vigour or variability.
The researchers added that movement plays an important role in animal courtship, with males performing elaborate courtship dances to attract females. Dance movements form "honest signals of a man's reproductive quality, in terms of health, vigour or strength".
The secret of male dance floor success is all above the waist!
A study reveals upper body movement, not fancy footwork, is key to attracting women
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
The difference between a good and bad dancer - as rated by 35 heterosexual women for the Northumbria University study - lies in the movements of the upper body
We have all witnessed it – a packed dance floor of bodies gyrating perfectly to the beat suddenly being emptied by the unwelcome appearance of a man flailing his arms about wildly.
But for the millions of wannabe lotharios who find it impossible to dance without looking like a malfunctioning windmill, a solution may be at hand: psychologists claim to have discovered the key dance moves that make men attractive to women.
As the single most important arena where humans select their mates, the dancefloor can inspire terror and longing – but more often embarrassment and hilarity. Millions strut their stuff every night in venues across the country, but no scientific study of what makes a successful dancer has been made until now.
Researchers at Northumbria University identified differences between "good" and "bad" male dancers based on the responses they provoke in women. The results, which are surprisingly detailed, suggest that the speed of the right knee is critical, as is the size and variability of movement of the neck, trunk, left shoulder and wrist.
Women were most excited by men who danced vigorously, making large movements of their upper body and head, but who also varied their movements, showing creativity and flair. Head bangers were a definite turn-off. Those who lean towards folk dancing of the Riverdance kind face disappointment – Irish dancing, with its focus on leg kicking and a static upper body, is unlikely to set women's hearts racing.
Nick Neave, who led the research, published in Biology Letters, said: "This is the first study to show objectively what differentiates a good dancer from a bad one. Men all over the world will be interested to know what moves they can throw to attract women."
The researchers have posted videos of good and bad dancers on the web, so men keen to put the findings into practice can do so.
Male volunteers were filmed with a 3D camera system as they danced to a basic rhythm, and avatars – humanoid characters – were programmed to reproduce their moves so that 35 female volunteers could rate them for sex appeal without being influenced by their level of physical attractiveness.
Dr Neave said: "We now know which area of the body females are looking at when they are making a judgement about male dance attractiveness. If a man knows what the key moves are, he can get some training and improve his chances of attracting a female through his dance style."
But his own initial response had been more ambivalent, he confessed. "When I saw the good dancer I thought he was a bit of a show off. I thought 'What a pillock'. But he has got that flair and variability and creativity. If you had had a drink you might think 'He's interesting, I'll go and have a chat.'"
The bad dancer, walking around in a circle making the same stereotypical movements, was more obvious – small, tentative movements with little hint of vigour or variability.
The researchers added that movement plays an important role in animal courtship, with males performing elaborate courtship dances to attract females. Dance movements form "honest signals of a man's reproductive quality, in terms of health, vigour or strength".
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Dancing With The Stars, Season 11 Commentary
Week Two
By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer
Michael Bolton was eliminated this week although I thought he got better since the week before. His dance was a strange interpretation of the Jive. The choreography wasn't good for him. Bruno was too mean and his comments were too tough. The problems with the dance wasn't Michael's fault. Chelsie created the choreography and it just wasn't a good idea.
"The Situation" danced a Quick Step for a score of 18. Compared to last week, he improved but he needs to work on his balance and musicality next week.
Margaret Cho danced the Jive for a score of 18. This style of dance worked better for her since personality plays a big part in the Jive. She seemed more relaxed and was much improved in general.
Florence Henderson danced the Quick Step for a score of 19. What a beautiful woman! She can really move and dance! She made the Quick Step look easy and elegant.
Three couples got the same score when they did the Jive: Brandy, Kurt Warner, and Eric Fox. Brandy's Jive was not as good as her dance last week. I was expecting more from her. Maybe "Latin" is not a good style for her. Her outfit was also a little strange. There are some technical points that she needs to work on, including pointing her toes. It seemed as if the Smooth style worked better for Brandy than Latin.
Kurt Warner performed better than he did last week. This dance was better suited for his style. It looked like he was having fun!
Eric Fox's Jive was good, an especially hard dance for a big guy. His dance was full of energy.
Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin both danced the Quick Step and both got a score of 22. I still don't see Bristol as a performer. She needs more confidence but she's working hard. Kyle is a great guy! He made this week's dance look awesome, just like last week. He has excelled in both styles of dance. Although his was not a classical Quick Step, it was still fun to watch.
Audrina Patridge's Quick Step (score 23) was lovely. She looks like a dancer.
Jennifer Grey is still in first place with a score of 24. Her Jive, which had difficult choreography, was incredible to watch. She looked amazing.
Looking forward to next week. Feel free to post comments and I will answer back!
By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer
Michael Bolton was eliminated this week although I thought he got better since the week before. His dance was a strange interpretation of the Jive. The choreography wasn't good for him. Bruno was too mean and his comments were too tough. The problems with the dance wasn't Michael's fault. Chelsie created the choreography and it just wasn't a good idea.
"The Situation" danced a Quick Step for a score of 18. Compared to last week, he improved but he needs to work on his balance and musicality next week.
Margaret Cho danced the Jive for a score of 18. This style of dance worked better for her since personality plays a big part in the Jive. She seemed more relaxed and was much improved in general.
Florence Henderson danced the Quick Step for a score of 19. What a beautiful woman! She can really move and dance! She made the Quick Step look easy and elegant.
Three couples got the same score when they did the Jive: Brandy, Kurt Warner, and Eric Fox. Brandy's Jive was not as good as her dance last week. I was expecting more from her. Maybe "Latin" is not a good style for her. Her outfit was also a little strange. There are some technical points that she needs to work on, including pointing her toes. It seemed as if the Smooth style worked better for Brandy than Latin.
Kurt Warner performed better than he did last week. This dance was better suited for his style. It looked like he was having fun!
Eric Fox's Jive was good, an especially hard dance for a big guy. His dance was full of energy.
Kyle Massey and Bristol Palin both danced the Quick Step and both got a score of 22. I still don't see Bristol as a performer. She needs more confidence but she's working hard. Kyle is a great guy! He made this week's dance look awesome, just like last week. He has excelled in both styles of dance. Although his was not a classical Quick Step, it was still fun to watch.
Audrina Patridge's Quick Step (score 23) was lovely. She looks like a dancer.
Jennifer Grey is still in first place with a score of 24. Her Jive, which had difficult choreography, was incredible to watch. She looked amazing.
Looking forward to next week. Feel free to post comments and I will answer back!
What To Expect...
What to expect at your first ballroom dance lesson
If you're new to ballroom dancing, you might be a little nervous about your first lesson at a Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Many questions will run through your mind. What will happen? How difficult will it be? What should you wear? Here's some information to help you prepare.
What to expect when you arrive
When you arrive at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios your instructor will quickly make you feel at home in the studio environment.
You'll be asked if you have an upcoming event or vacation, and what kind of music or dance styles you like as well as what your short-term dance goals are. If you aren't sure which specific dances you want to try, your teacher will choose a few for you.
Don't worry if you haven't had prior dance experience. Under the direction and guidance of your instructor, the lesson will never feel too fast or too slow and boring. The instructor will go at your pace.
If you partake as a couple, your instructor will give each of you your own responsibilities as the leader and follower so that you can succeed as a team on the dance floor.
By the end of your first lesson, you'll probably be amazed just how easy it was to get started and you'll already be dancing a few steps in several different dances.
Clothing
Wear comfortable clothes to allow easy movement. Dress in layers because as the session progresses, you'll get warm just as with any other exercise. You should wear shoes which fit securely on your feet. Sandal, slingbacks and flipflops are not good choices. If you usually wear high heels when going out, we suggest you wear a similar heel height on your lesson.
If you're new to ballroom dancing, you might be a little nervous about your first lesson at a Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Many questions will run through your mind. What will happen? How difficult will it be? What should you wear? Here's some information to help you prepare.
What to expect when you arrive
When you arrive at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios your instructor will quickly make you feel at home in the studio environment.
You'll be asked if you have an upcoming event or vacation, and what kind of music or dance styles you like as well as what your short-term dance goals are. If you aren't sure which specific dances you want to try, your teacher will choose a few for you.
Don't worry if you haven't had prior dance experience. Under the direction and guidance of your instructor, the lesson will never feel too fast or too slow and boring. The instructor will go at your pace.
If you partake as a couple, your instructor will give each of you your own responsibilities as the leader and follower so that you can succeed as a team on the dance floor.
By the end of your first lesson, you'll probably be amazed just how easy it was to get started and you'll already be dancing a few steps in several different dances.
Clothing
Wear comfortable clothes to allow easy movement. Dress in layers because as the session progresses, you'll get warm just as with any other exercise. You should wear shoes which fit securely on your feet. Sandal, slingbacks and flipflops are not good choices. If you usually wear high heels when going out, we suggest you wear a similar heel height on your lesson.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Burn The Floor
from the Sacramento Bee (CA):
'Burn the Floor,' in Sacramento through Oct. 10, turns ballroom dance on its head
qwong@sacbee.com
Published Monday, Sep. 27, 2010
It's been more than a decade since producer Harley Medcalf created "Burn the Floor," a Broadway dance production that makes its next stop Wednesday night in Sacramento. He remembers ballroom dance as a dusty art form the public rarely talked about back then.
"In 1999, when you mentioned the word 'ballroom,' people would look at you like you were crazy," said Medcalf.
Then professional dancers started stepping into the limelight, starring in reality TV shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With the Stars." Almost overnight, the buzz surrounding the dance genre had been reignited.
"It's the new rock 'n' roll," he said.
Premiering in Bournemouth, England, "Burn the Floor" has sold millions of tickets in more than 30 countries and 160 cities. The two-hour production takes audiences on a journey through the evolution of ballroom, from the Viennese waltz and fox trot to the cha-cha and samba. Two vocalists and two percussionists also perform throughout the show.
Directed by ballroom dance champion Jason Gilkison, the dance numbers are split into two acts and four segments. It starts with a comparison between traditional ballroom and what the company does, moves into the swing clubs and the Latin Quarter, and ends with current ballroom expression.
Medcalf said the show tries to step away from the predictability of a ballroom competition, making the dances more about each dancer's personality and unique form of expression.
"What we're looking for are the rebels of the ballroom dance floor," he said. "They're doing things outside the expected norms of a ballroom competition."
Seven of this production's dance "rebels" are from the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance." (The show forces dancers to perform outside of their genre.)
"It's a dance company, but no one is forced to be like the person next to you,' said Anya Garnis, a finalist on Season 3 of "So You Think You Can Dance." Garnis joined the Broadway production last year with dance partner Pasha Kovalev.
Also included in this year's touring production is Robbie Kmetoni, a contemporary dancer and winner of this year's "So You Think You Can Dance Australia."
The piece Kmetoni performs in the opening act of "History Repeating" with salsa dancer Janette Manrara is a fusion of cha-cha and contemporary dance.
"Some of the lifts and throws they do in that number are death-defying," Medcalf said.
"Burn for You," a rumba performed by Garnis and Kovalev, also puts a contemporary spin on the traditional ballroom dance style.
Garnis said there is no overall story line to the production; each number acts as a short story that's left up to the audience to interpret.
She said both the reality television show and "Burn the Floor" have opened up her mind about ballroom dance.
"It's ballroom reinvented," said Garnis. "We try to push boundaries."
'Burn the Floor,' in Sacramento through Oct. 10, turns ballroom dance on its head
qwong@sacbee.com
Published Monday, Sep. 27, 2010
It's been more than a decade since producer Harley Medcalf created "Burn the Floor," a Broadway dance production that makes its next stop Wednesday night in Sacramento. He remembers ballroom dance as a dusty art form the public rarely talked about back then.
"In 1999, when you mentioned the word 'ballroom,' people would look at you like you were crazy," said Medcalf.
Then professional dancers started stepping into the limelight, starring in reality TV shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With the Stars." Almost overnight, the buzz surrounding the dance genre had been reignited.
"It's the new rock 'n' roll," he said.
Premiering in Bournemouth, England, "Burn the Floor" has sold millions of tickets in more than 30 countries and 160 cities. The two-hour production takes audiences on a journey through the evolution of ballroom, from the Viennese waltz and fox trot to the cha-cha and samba. Two vocalists and two percussionists also perform throughout the show.
Directed by ballroom dance champion Jason Gilkison, the dance numbers are split into two acts and four segments. It starts with a comparison between traditional ballroom and what the company does, moves into the swing clubs and the Latin Quarter, and ends with current ballroom expression.
Medcalf said the show tries to step away from the predictability of a ballroom competition, making the dances more about each dancer's personality and unique form of expression.
"What we're looking for are the rebels of the ballroom dance floor," he said. "They're doing things outside the expected norms of a ballroom competition."
Seven of this production's dance "rebels" are from the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance." (The show forces dancers to perform outside of their genre.)
"It's a dance company, but no one is forced to be like the person next to you,' said Anya Garnis, a finalist on Season 3 of "So You Think You Can Dance." Garnis joined the Broadway production last year with dance partner Pasha Kovalev.
Also included in this year's touring production is Robbie Kmetoni, a contemporary dancer and winner of this year's "So You Think You Can Dance Australia."
The piece Kmetoni performs in the opening act of "History Repeating" with salsa dancer Janette Manrara is a fusion of cha-cha and contemporary dance.
"Some of the lifts and throws they do in that number are death-defying," Medcalf said.
"Burn for You," a rumba performed by Garnis and Kovalev, also puts a contemporary spin on the traditional ballroom dance style.
Garnis said there is no overall story line to the production; each number acts as a short story that's left up to the audience to interpret.
She said both the reality television show and "Burn the Floor" have opened up her mind about ballroom dance.
"It's ballroom reinvented," said Garnis. "We try to push boundaries."
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Dancing With The Stars, Season 11 Commentary
Week One
By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer
Opening night for the new season was a great kick off with 12 celebrities, ranging from actors and actresses, athletes, singers, and reality TV stars, performing, and this season looks like it will be much stronger than the last season!
After the show, I quickly divided up all the couples into three different categories based on their performances.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
I placed three couples in the "Needs Improvement" category: Margaret Cho, "The Situation," and David Hasselhoff.
Margaret Cho (along with partner Louis van Amstel) danced the Viennese Waltz to a very strong piece of music but she made it into a comedy and this wasn't good for the V. Waltz. Her dance wasn't smooth or elegant and I wouldn't be surprised if she was eliminated early.
"The Situation" (with partner Karina Smirnoff) did not have enough time to practice his dance. Although Karina, because she is such a strong professional dancer, can make anyone look good, "The Situation" needs to concentrate on his posture and focus on being a strong leader.
David Hasselhoff (with partner Kym Johnson) danced the Cha-Cha. He is a great actor but he needs to work more on his posture and concentrate on timing. Dancing is not just entertainment; there has to be some technique there as well.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
Six couples fall under the "Has Potential" category: Michael Bolton, Florence Henderson, Kurt Warner, Bristol Palin, Audrina Patridge, and Brandy. All of these dancers did a great job for the first week!
Michael Bolton (with Chelsie Hightower) has musicality but I was expecting more from him. We use a lot of his songs to dance to! His dance wasn't smooth and he did not have good posture. He also wasn't leading his partner.
Florence Henderson (with Corky Ballas) was very focused and is definitely a hard worker. It will be interesting to see what Corky, who is a very strong choreographer, will do with her since she is so willing to work hard.
Kurt Warner (with Anna Trebunskya) danced the Viennese Waltz. I didn't like his performance. He was too stiff. I didn't see any flow or elegance to his movement.
Bristol Palin (with Mark Ballas) had good hip movement in her Cha-Cha. She looked nice on the floor and not particularly stiff. She has a very strong professional partner so it'll be interesting to see how she progresses.
Audrina Patridge (with Tony Dovolani) was the first to dance last night. She performed well under a lot of pressure. I was happy to see that Tony has a much better partner than last season.
Brandy (with Maks Chmerkovskiy) danced the Viennesse Waltz. She seemed to be very focused. She looked fine and her lines were good but she wasn't as good as other couples performing the same dance.
STRONGEST
I put three couples in the "Strongest" category: Kyle Massey, Eric Fox, and Jennifer Grey.
Kyle Massey (with Lacey Schwimmer) is the youngest celebrity on the show this season. He had the best Cha-Cha. It was a fun performance and he had good musicality. I was also happy to see that he had good technique. It'll be interesting to see how he does in ballroom. I suspect that his Latin dances will be stronger for him.
Eric Fox (with Cheryl Burke) had great posture! He holds his himself very nicely and his lines and movement were very smooth. I thought it would be hard for him because of the difference in Eric's and Cheryl's height) but his dancing was elegant and nice. There was a huge difference between Kurt and Eric - the two athletes on the show! Eric and Cheryl are one of the strongest couples in the competition.
Jennifer Grey (with Derek Hough) performed an emotional dance to music from the famous movie, Dirty Dancing. Her dance was very lyrical. Jennifer and Derek are another strong couple in this competition. I predict that she'll do well in Latin also.
By Natasha Oreshkina, award winning ballroom dancer
Opening night for the new season was a great kick off with 12 celebrities, ranging from actors and actresses, athletes, singers, and reality TV stars, performing, and this season looks like it will be much stronger than the last season!
After the show, I quickly divided up all the couples into three different categories based on their performances.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
I placed three couples in the "Needs Improvement" category: Margaret Cho, "The Situation," and David Hasselhoff.
Margaret Cho (along with partner Louis van Amstel) danced the Viennese Waltz to a very strong piece of music but she made it into a comedy and this wasn't good for the V. Waltz. Her dance wasn't smooth or elegant and I wouldn't be surprised if she was eliminated early.
"The Situation" (with partner Karina Smirnoff) did not have enough time to practice his dance. Although Karina, because she is such a strong professional dancer, can make anyone look good, "The Situation" needs to concentrate on his posture and focus on being a strong leader.
David Hasselhoff (with partner Kym Johnson) danced the Cha-Cha. He is a great actor but he needs to work more on his posture and concentrate on timing. Dancing is not just entertainment; there has to be some technique there as well.
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
Six couples fall under the "Has Potential" category: Michael Bolton, Florence Henderson, Kurt Warner, Bristol Palin, Audrina Patridge, and Brandy. All of these dancers did a great job for the first week!
Michael Bolton (with Chelsie Hightower) has musicality but I was expecting more from him. We use a lot of his songs to dance to! His dance wasn't smooth and he did not have good posture. He also wasn't leading his partner.
Florence Henderson (with Corky Ballas) was very focused and is definitely a hard worker. It will be interesting to see what Corky, who is a very strong choreographer, will do with her since she is so willing to work hard.
Kurt Warner (with Anna Trebunskya) danced the Viennese Waltz. I didn't like his performance. He was too stiff. I didn't see any flow or elegance to his movement.
Bristol Palin (with Mark Ballas) had good hip movement in her Cha-Cha. She looked nice on the floor and not particularly stiff. She has a very strong professional partner so it'll be interesting to see how she progresses.
Audrina Patridge (with Tony Dovolani) was the first to dance last night. She performed well under a lot of pressure. I was happy to see that Tony has a much better partner than last season.
Brandy (with Maks Chmerkovskiy) danced the Viennesse Waltz. She seemed to be very focused. She looked fine and her lines were good but she wasn't as good as other couples performing the same dance.
STRONGEST
I put three couples in the "Strongest" category: Kyle Massey, Eric Fox, and Jennifer Grey.
Kyle Massey (with Lacey Schwimmer) is the youngest celebrity on the show this season. He had the best Cha-Cha. It was a fun performance and he had good musicality. I was also happy to see that he had good technique. It'll be interesting to see how he does in ballroom. I suspect that his Latin dances will be stronger for him.
Eric Fox (with Cheryl Burke) had great posture! He holds his himself very nicely and his lines and movement were very smooth. I thought it would be hard for him because of the difference in Eric's and Cheryl's height) but his dancing was elegant and nice. There was a huge difference between Kurt and Eric - the two athletes on the show! Eric and Cheryl are one of the strongest couples in the competition.
Jennifer Grey (with Derek Hough) performed an emotional dance to music from the famous movie, Dirty Dancing. Her dance was very lyrical. Jennifer and Derek are another strong couple in this competition. I predict that she'll do well in Latin also.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations to these Fred Astaire couples for their outstanding results at this year’s United States Dance Championships!
Open To The World Professional Cabaret Championships
1st place – Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
2nd place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
5th place – Vicente Martinez & Megan Murphy, Chicago Downtown, IL studio
US National Professional Cabaret Championships
1st place – Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
2nd place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
4th place – Vicente Martinez & Megan Murphy, Chicago Downtown studio
Open Professional American Rhythm Championships
6th place - Ken Hansen & Christina Penatello, Westwood, NJ studio
Open Professional American Smooth Championships
3rd place – Mikhail Zharinov & Galina Detkina, NY East, NY studio
US Mambo Championships
2nd place – Brittney Bartler & Aleks Nashev, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
US National Professional Theatrical Dance Championships
1st place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
3rd place – Justin Guilmette & Katie Guillen, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
Rising Star Professional American Rhythm Championships
1st place – Brittney Bartler & Aleks Nashev, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
5th place – Aaron DeSoto & Jaana Lillemagi, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
6th place – Ronald Guillen & Katie Guillen, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
Rising Star Professional American Smooth Championships
5th place – Chris Germain & Simona Polmova, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
6th place – Peter Hahn & Juliet Thibadeaux, Norwalk, CT studio
Open To The World Professional Cabaret Championships
1st place – Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
2nd place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
5th place – Vicente Martinez & Megan Murphy, Chicago Downtown, IL studio
US National Professional Cabaret Championships
1st place – Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
2nd place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
4th place – Vicente Martinez & Megan Murphy, Chicago Downtown studio
Open Professional American Rhythm Championships
6th place - Ken Hansen & Christina Penatello, Westwood, NJ studio
Open Professional American Smooth Championships
3rd place – Mikhail Zharinov & Galina Detkina, NY East, NY studio
US Mambo Championships
2nd place – Brittney Bartler & Aleks Nashev, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
US National Professional Theatrical Dance Championships
1st place – Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
3rd place – Justin Guilmette & Katie Guillen, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
Rising Star Professional American Rhythm Championships
1st place – Brittney Bartler & Aleks Nashev, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
5th place – Aaron DeSoto & Jaana Lillemagi, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
6th place – Ronald Guillen & Katie Guillen, Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio
Rising Star Professional American Smooth Championships
5th place – Chris Germain & Simona Polmova, Buffalo Grove, IL studio
6th place – Peter Hahn & Juliet Thibadeaux, Norwalk, CT studio
Friday, September 10, 2010
Odds To Win New Season Of Dancing With The Stars!
from docsports.com:
Top Three
Jennifer Grey & David Hough (7/2)
Rick Fox & Cheryl Burke (11/2)
Mike "the Situation" Sorrentino & Karina Smirnoff (7/1)
Pick to Win DWTS11
Jennifer Grey & David Hough (7/2)
Dancing With the Stars - Odds to win Season 11*
Audrina Patridge - 8/1
Brandy - 3/1
Bristol Palin - 20/1
"The Hoff" David Hasselhoff - 10/1
Florence Henderson - 25/1
Jennifer Grey - 7/2
Kyle Massey - 18/1
Kurt Warner - 20/1
Margaret Cho - 12/1
Michael Bolton - 10/1
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino - 7/1
Rick Fox - 11/2
*odds courtesy of Bodog.
Top Three
Jennifer Grey & David Hough (7/2)
Rick Fox & Cheryl Burke (11/2)
Mike "the Situation" Sorrentino & Karina Smirnoff (7/1)
Pick to Win DWTS11
Jennifer Grey & David Hough (7/2)
Dancing With the Stars - Odds to win Season 11*
Audrina Patridge - 8/1
Brandy - 3/1
Bristol Palin - 20/1
"The Hoff" David Hasselhoff - 10/1
Florence Henderson - 25/1
Jennifer Grey - 7/2
Kyle Massey - 18/1
Kurt Warner - 20/1
Margaret Cho - 12/1
Michael Bolton - 10/1
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino - 7/1
Rick Fox - 11/2
*odds courtesy of Bodog.
Local Duo Takes First in Dance Championship
from thepilot.com:
Friday, September 3, 2010
Missy Keller and Joe Hasson are instructors at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Pinehurst.
The pair recently won the Astaire World Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Hasson was exposed to ballroom dancing at an early age.
"Both of my parents are professional ballroom dancers and own Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Pinehurst," he says. "Whenever my parents taught, I was usually there, so it became a part of my life."
Keller, whom Joe Hasson taught, started her dance career at the age of 5 with ballet, tap and jazz.
"I continued dancing until I was 13," she says. "After three years, I missed dancing and wanted to learn ballroom dancing. I got addicted and at the age of 18, made the decision to become a professional."
Keller says that she competed as often as possible when she was a student.
"My first competition as a junior, I competed in the Word Pro-Am Dance Championships in the Bahamas, where I won my first amateur title," she says.
"Hard work and practice are important," says Hasson, who adds that he enjoys studying on his own and devotes most of his free time to practicing.
He also feels that eating right and extra workouts prior to a competition are helpful.
"I always visualize my routines and techniques," he says. "I have a third person watch and make suggestions."
Keller says she is still figuring out what works best for her.
"Performing is something I have always loved," she says. "The excitement of what lies ahead just before hitting the floor is an amazing feeling I can't describe."
Hasson says he had a good feeling about their chances of doing well going into the Astaire World Championships.
"We had the support of friends and family," he says.
Keller agrees that she expected to do well, but not necessarily to win.
"Keeping a positive attitude going into an event and throughout a performance is always a great attribute to have," she says, although she adds that she was a "nervous wreck" during the week leading into the competition.
Hasson and Keller competed against 14 other couples.
"I knew that we had to make the top six to be in the finals," Hasson says.
Keller says her favorite dance is the rumba.
"The character of the dance is one that I feel I can lose myself in," she says.
Hasson likes the mambo.
"I like the fun and excitement of the music, and the guy gets to be the cool one, showing off the lady," he says.
Keller says she was shocked when she learned they had won the championship.
"I feel it's definitely a good way to start my career, and it's a step in the right direction," she says.
Hasson adds, "It was fantastic, and I'm ready for the next one."
And at the next one - the International Grand Ball, in San Francisco, Calif. - he won first place in the Rising Star American Rhythm Division.
"Being a competitive dancer takes a specific desire and mindset," says Keller.
Hasson advises dancers to "just start."
"If you don't start you won't ever get there," he says. "There is a plan and a formula; you have to have guidance and practice, practice, practice. Being around competitive dancers from around the world, starting with my parents to today's world champs, has inspired me to compete at as high a level as it will take me."
And Keller and Hasson say that it's never too late to compete.
"Competitive ballroom dancing is something anyone of any age can accomplish with the right preparation," she says.
"If you want to compete there are competitions for every level," Hasson adds. "With the right dedication and desire, you can accomplish any of your dancing goals, as a social or competitive dancer."
Friday, September 3, 2010
Missy Keller and Joe Hasson are instructors at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Pinehurst.
The pair recently won the Astaire World Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Hasson was exposed to ballroom dancing at an early age.
"Both of my parents are professional ballroom dancers and own Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Pinehurst," he says. "Whenever my parents taught, I was usually there, so it became a part of my life."
Keller, whom Joe Hasson taught, started her dance career at the age of 5 with ballet, tap and jazz.
"I continued dancing until I was 13," she says. "After three years, I missed dancing and wanted to learn ballroom dancing. I got addicted and at the age of 18, made the decision to become a professional."
Keller says that she competed as often as possible when she was a student.
"My first competition as a junior, I competed in the Word Pro-Am Dance Championships in the Bahamas, where I won my first amateur title," she says.
"Hard work and practice are important," says Hasson, who adds that he enjoys studying on his own and devotes most of his free time to practicing.
He also feels that eating right and extra workouts prior to a competition are helpful.
"I always visualize my routines and techniques," he says. "I have a third person watch and make suggestions."
Keller says she is still figuring out what works best for her.
"Performing is something I have always loved," she says. "The excitement of what lies ahead just before hitting the floor is an amazing feeling I can't describe."
Hasson says he had a good feeling about their chances of doing well going into the Astaire World Championships.
"We had the support of friends and family," he says.
Keller agrees that she expected to do well, but not necessarily to win.
"Keeping a positive attitude going into an event and throughout a performance is always a great attribute to have," she says, although she adds that she was a "nervous wreck" during the week leading into the competition.
Hasson and Keller competed against 14 other couples.
"I knew that we had to make the top six to be in the finals," Hasson says.
Keller says her favorite dance is the rumba.
"The character of the dance is one that I feel I can lose myself in," she says.
Hasson likes the mambo.
"I like the fun and excitement of the music, and the guy gets to be the cool one, showing off the lady," he says.
Keller says she was shocked when she learned they had won the championship.
"I feel it's definitely a good way to start my career, and it's a step in the right direction," she says.
Hasson adds, "It was fantastic, and I'm ready for the next one."
And at the next one - the International Grand Ball, in San Francisco, Calif. - he won first place in the Rising Star American Rhythm Division.
"Being a competitive dancer takes a specific desire and mindset," says Keller.
Hasson advises dancers to "just start."
"If you don't start you won't ever get there," he says. "There is a plan and a formula; you have to have guidance and practice, practice, practice. Being around competitive dancers from around the world, starting with my parents to today's world champs, has inspired me to compete at as high a level as it will take me."
And Keller and Hasson say that it's never too late to compete.
"Competitive ballroom dancing is something anyone of any age can accomplish with the right preparation," she says.
"If you want to compete there are competitions for every level," Hasson adds. "With the right dedication and desire, you can accomplish any of your dancing goals, as a social or competitive dancer."
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Applying Makeup For Ballroom Dance Performances
from ehow.com:
By Michelle Aveyard, eHow Contributor
Makeup for ballroom dance competitions must be more dramatic and heavily applied than day-to-day makeup, which can leave dancers looking washed out and pale under the bright stage lighting. The makeup must accentuate the dancers' features for judges and the audience, who will be sitting far away from the stage. Most makeup is applied to the female dancer's face, but her male partner does need to darken his skin for maximum visibility.
1.Apply skin tanner or bronzer to both male and female dancers' faces, to keep them from looking washed out under the lighting. Apply to all visible skin, including face, chest, arms and neck, to keep the complexion consistent.
2.Cover the woman's face with liquid foundation. Set with powder, to keep the makeup from running.
3.Apply a bright-colored blush to the woman's cheeks. Use a great deal more blush and a brighter color than you would typically use, to distinguish the cheeks and cheekbones.
4.Line the woman's eyes with a dark liner to accentuate their shape and make them seem to "pop" from the stage. Coat each lid and its inner crease with a bright-colored shadow. Attach artificial lashes to the upper lid with eyelash glue. Coat lashes with mascara.
5.Outline her lips with a dark lip liner. Fill in with a long-lasting, smudge-proof lipstick in a bright color. Finish with a shiny lip gloss.
Tips & Warnings
• The dancing as well as the lighting can cause the dancer to perspire, so look for foundations and powders that are long-lasting or waterproof.
• Use a stick or cream blush, which will last longer.
• Dancers often use more than one shade of eyeshadow, and will coordinate the colors with their costumes..
Things You'll Need
• Skin tanner or bronzer
• Foundation
• Powder
• Blush
• Eyeliner
• Mascara
• Eye shadow
• Artificial eyelashes
•Lip gloss
By Michelle Aveyard, eHow Contributor
Makeup for ballroom dance competitions must be more dramatic and heavily applied than day-to-day makeup, which can leave dancers looking washed out and pale under the bright stage lighting. The makeup must accentuate the dancers' features for judges and the audience, who will be sitting far away from the stage. Most makeup is applied to the female dancer's face, but her male partner does need to darken his skin for maximum visibility.
1.Apply skin tanner or bronzer to both male and female dancers' faces, to keep them from looking washed out under the lighting. Apply to all visible skin, including face, chest, arms and neck, to keep the complexion consistent.
2.Cover the woman's face with liquid foundation. Set with powder, to keep the makeup from running.
3.Apply a bright-colored blush to the woman's cheeks. Use a great deal more blush and a brighter color than you would typically use, to distinguish the cheeks and cheekbones.
4.Line the woman's eyes with a dark liner to accentuate their shape and make them seem to "pop" from the stage. Coat each lid and its inner crease with a bright-colored shadow. Attach artificial lashes to the upper lid with eyelash glue. Coat lashes with mascara.
5.Outline her lips with a dark lip liner. Fill in with a long-lasting, smudge-proof lipstick in a bright color. Finish with a shiny lip gloss.
Tips & Warnings
• The dancing as well as the lighting can cause the dancer to perspire, so look for foundations and powders that are long-lasting or waterproof.
• Use a stick or cream blush, which will last longer.
• Dancers often use more than one shade of eyeshadow, and will coordinate the colors with their costumes..
Things You'll Need
• Skin tanner or bronzer
• Foundation
• Powder
• Blush
• Eyeliner
• Mascara
• Eye shadow
• Artificial eyelashes
•Lip gloss
Ballroom Dance Etiquette
from utdallas.edu:
Etiquette and Beyond
Success in a social activity requires awareness of accepted norms of behavior. The importance of dance etiquette to the social dancer can hardly be overstated. Etiquette is important everywhere, but especially in dancing, a delicate activity where unpleasantness has no place.
Dance communities tend to be fairly small, giving a nice self-enforcing characteristic to dance etiquette. Inconsiderate individuals may temporarily enjoy themselves at other dancers' expense. But they quickly develop a reputation, mostly unbeknownst to them, and become outcasts. A good reputation, as a considerate and enjoyable partner, is a social dancer's best asset.
In the following we touch on a few of the more important aspects.
Never blame your partner for anything that may happen on the dance floor. Not if you want him/her to dance with you again.
A request for a dance must be accepted under almost all circumstances. If you decline a dance, you yourself cannot dance until the end of that song.
No unsolicited teaching on the dance floor! There is a good chance this will make your partner feel small and humiliated. Not exactly a great way of encouraging him/her, or others, to dance with you.
Do not monopolize a partner on the dance floor. Dancers are polite and rarely say no to a dance, but this is no carte blanche to impose on their kindness. Dance with everyone, and let everyone dance.
On the floor, be considerate of the other couples. Exercise good floorcraft; do not cut other couples off; no aerials or choreographed steps on the dance floor.
What we discussed so far is usually considered the domain of dance etiquette. Anyone who consistently violates the rules of dance etiquette will eventually be shunned in the local dance community, so the first step towards success in dancing is to follow the rules of dance etiquette. Once we have mastered the etiquette, it is time to move beyond it and learn what else can we do to become popular in the dancing circles. The remainder of this article is dedicated to that topic.
Audrina Partridge & Tony Dovolani Practice For DWTS
from mtv.com:
Audrina Patridge's 'Dancing With The Stars' Partner 'Pumps' Her Up
Former 'Hills' star says Tony Dovolani is 'such a great teacher.'
By Kara Warner (@karawarner)
Now that we know the season 11 "Dancing with the Stars" cast and the celeb/pro-dancer pairings, we're left wondering about partner chemistry and what dances the pairs will roll out when the show premieres September 20.
When MTV News caught up with Audrina Patridge between a flurry of photo shoots, wardrobe fittings and rehearsals recently, she said she's having a great time so far, particularly working with her dance pro, Tony Dovolani.
"He is amazing," she said. "He's such a great teacher. He's very professional, and we have a lot of fun together. It's really fun. I look forward to going to rehearsal every day."
Patridge added that dancing with a partner might spoil her for all other forms of dance. "I almost like dancing with a partner better, because they're leading you and you have someone next to you, so it pumps you up to dance and move to their movements," she explained. "I love it."
The former "Hills" star said she hasn't yet mastered a particular step — since they've only had a few days of rehearsals — but she's having fun learning so many new things. "[During our first rehearsal] I learned so many different things," she said. "It was really just getting to know my way of learning; I'm a visual learner."
One movement she said she's going to have to practice is spotting, a technique dancers use to focus their turns and keep from getting dizzy.
"I practiced doing all the pique turns, [but] I need to practice spotting, because I get a little dizzy," Patridge admitted. "Those are probably the most challenging for me right now: spotting and spinning without getting dizzy."
Audrina Patridge's 'Dancing With The Stars' Partner 'Pumps' Her Up
Former 'Hills' star says Tony Dovolani is 'such a great teacher.'
By Kara Warner (@karawarner)
Now that we know the season 11 "Dancing with the Stars" cast and the celeb/pro-dancer pairings, we're left wondering about partner chemistry and what dances the pairs will roll out when the show premieres September 20.
When MTV News caught up with Audrina Patridge between a flurry of photo shoots, wardrobe fittings and rehearsals recently, she said she's having a great time so far, particularly working with her dance pro, Tony Dovolani.
"He is amazing," she said. "He's such a great teacher. He's very professional, and we have a lot of fun together. It's really fun. I look forward to going to rehearsal every day."
Patridge added that dancing with a partner might spoil her for all other forms of dance. "I almost like dancing with a partner better, because they're leading you and you have someone next to you, so it pumps you up to dance and move to their movements," she explained. "I love it."
The former "Hills" star said she hasn't yet mastered a particular step — since they've only had a few days of rehearsals — but she's having fun learning so many new things. "[During our first rehearsal] I learned so many different things," she said. "It was really just getting to know my way of learning; I'm a visual learner."
One movement she said she's going to have to practice is spotting, a technique dancers use to focus their turns and keep from getting dizzy.
"I practiced doing all the pique turns, [but] I need to practice spotting, because I get a little dizzy," Patridge admitted. "Those are probably the most challenging for me right now: spotting and spinning without getting dizzy."
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
DWTS Pairings!
Jennifer Grey & Derek Hough
Bristol Palin & Mark Ballas
Brandy & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Margaret Cho & Louis Van Amstel
Audrina Patridge & Tony Dovolani
Florence Henderson & Corky Ballas
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino & Karina Smirnoff
Kurt Warner & Anna Trebunskaya
Rick Fox & Cheryl Burke
David Hasselhoff & Kym Johnson
Kyle Massey & Lacey Schwimmer
Michael Bolton & Chelsie Hightower
Bristol Palin & Mark Ballas
Brandy & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Margaret Cho & Louis Van Amstel
Audrina Patridge & Tony Dovolani
Florence Henderson & Corky Ballas
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino & Karina Smirnoff
Kurt Warner & Anna Trebunskaya
Rick Fox & Cheryl Burke
David Hasselhoff & Kym Johnson
Kyle Massey & Lacey Schwimmer
Michael Bolton & Chelsie Hightower
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Dancing With The Stars Season 11 Cast
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino - reality TV star, MTV’s Jersey Shore
David Hasselhoff, actor best known for his roles on Baywatch, Knight Rider, and America’s Got Talent
Rick Fox, retired pro basketball player from the Los Angeles Lakers
Bristol Palin, daughter of ex-Alaska governor Sarah Palin
Kurt Warner, retired NFL quarterback
Florence Henderson, actress best known for her role on The Brady Brunch
Audrina Patridge, reality TV star, MTV’s The Hills
Michael Bolton, singer-songwriter
Brandy Norwood, singer-songwriter and actress
Margaret Cho, comedienne and actress
Kyle Massey, best known for starring in Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven
Jennifer Grey, actress best known for starring in Dirty Dancing
David Hasselhoff, actor best known for his roles on Baywatch, Knight Rider, and America’s Got Talent
Rick Fox, retired pro basketball player from the Los Angeles Lakers
Bristol Palin, daughter of ex-Alaska governor Sarah Palin
Kurt Warner, retired NFL quarterback
Florence Henderson, actress best known for her role on The Brady Brunch
Audrina Patridge, reality TV star, MTV’s The Hills
Michael Bolton, singer-songwriter
Brandy Norwood, singer-songwriter and actress
Margaret Cho, comedienne and actress
Kyle Massey, best known for starring in Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven
Jennifer Grey, actress best known for starring in Dirty Dancing
Monday, August 30, 2010
'Dancing with the Stars' Season 11 Cast Rumor Round-Up
from buddytv.com:
More The new cast of Dancing with the Stars will be announced Monday night during Bachelor Pad on ABC, but as is the tradition, many likely candidates have already been leaked and spoiled.
Here's a quick overview of who may or may not be announced for Dancing with the Stars season 11.
Almost Certain
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino: The Jersey Shore star could flash his abs all over the DWTS stage, though he should be warned that Maksim Chmerkovskiy is the reigning king of shirtless dancing.
Audrina Patridge: The Hills gal could make two MTV reality stars on this season. She could also be the first person eliminated, if she does make it.
Bristol Palin: As if guest starring on The Secret Life of the American Teenager wasn't bad enough, now Bristol could outshine Levi Johnston in the realm of reality TV fame whoring.
Florence Henderson: Every season needs a token older contestant, so why not sweet little Carol Brady?
Jennifer Grey: Nobody puts Jennifer in the corner. It's fairly the obvious the only reason Grey would be on this show is because of Dirty Dancing and so that Carrie Ann Inaba can deduct points for a lift when Jennifer's partner (Derek Hough, according to E!Online) helps her have the time of her life.
Margaret Cho: Comedians have a fairly terrible track record on DWTS (see: Ashley Hamilton, Jeffrey Ross and Penn Jillette, all out first).
David Hasselhoff: I still don't understand how this isn't a joke, but if he really is on the show, I give him two weeks until he's dancing to his own music. He'll have a lock on the German-American vote.
Michael Bolton: Personally I'd prefer David Herman's character from the movie Office Space to be a contestant, but I guess the 40-something women who watch DWTS need something, and this might be it.
Brandy: Ray J's sister could fill a lot of the token quotas for DWTS, including musical genre and racial diversity.
Rick Fox: This former NBA was married to Vanessa Williams and now dates Eliza Dushku. In other words, he's a winner.
Other Rumors
Kurt Warner: While NFL stars typically do well, DWTS has never had a quarterback. Warner could break that streak.
Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez: ABC loves reality synergy with Trista Sutter, Melissa Rycroft and Jake Pavelka as past dancers, but even so, Ali and Roberto are already long forgotten.
Landon Donovan: World Cup fever has died down as has talk of Donovan being on the show.
Troy Aikman: Early rumors were quickly shot down, thus ruining Dallas Cowboys fans of having Aikman on DWTS and Jimmy Johnson on Survivor at the same time.
Kirstie Alley: While the Cheers and Fat Actress star would make for hilarious TV (and provide a season's worth of material for Joel McHale on The Soup), she has denied it, thus ruining the joyous possibility of seeing a Samba to the tune of Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back."
More The new cast of Dancing with the Stars will be announced Monday night during Bachelor Pad on ABC, but as is the tradition, many likely candidates have already been leaked and spoiled.
Here's a quick overview of who may or may not be announced for Dancing with the Stars season 11.
Almost Certain
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino: The Jersey Shore star could flash his abs all over the DWTS stage, though he should be warned that Maksim Chmerkovskiy is the reigning king of shirtless dancing.
Audrina Patridge: The Hills gal could make two MTV reality stars on this season. She could also be the first person eliminated, if she does make it.
Bristol Palin: As if guest starring on The Secret Life of the American Teenager wasn't bad enough, now Bristol could outshine Levi Johnston in the realm of reality TV fame whoring.
Florence Henderson: Every season needs a token older contestant, so why not sweet little Carol Brady?
Jennifer Grey: Nobody puts Jennifer in the corner. It's fairly the obvious the only reason Grey would be on this show is because of Dirty Dancing and so that Carrie Ann Inaba can deduct points for a lift when Jennifer's partner (Derek Hough, according to E!Online) helps her have the time of her life.
Margaret Cho: Comedians have a fairly terrible track record on DWTS (see: Ashley Hamilton, Jeffrey Ross and Penn Jillette, all out first).
David Hasselhoff: I still don't understand how this isn't a joke, but if he really is on the show, I give him two weeks until he's dancing to his own music. He'll have a lock on the German-American vote.
Michael Bolton: Personally I'd prefer David Herman's character from the movie Office Space to be a contestant, but I guess the 40-something women who watch DWTS need something, and this might be it.
Brandy: Ray J's sister could fill a lot of the token quotas for DWTS, including musical genre and racial diversity.
Rick Fox: This former NBA was married to Vanessa Williams and now dates Eliza Dushku. In other words, he's a winner.
Other Rumors
Kurt Warner: While NFL stars typically do well, DWTS has never had a quarterback. Warner could break that streak.
Ali Fedotowsky and Roberto Martinez: ABC loves reality synergy with Trista Sutter, Melissa Rycroft and Jake Pavelka as past dancers, but even so, Ali and Roberto are already long forgotten.
Landon Donovan: World Cup fever has died down as has talk of Donovan being on the show.
Troy Aikman: Early rumors were quickly shot down, thus ruining Dallas Cowboys fans of having Aikman on DWTS and Jimmy Johnson on Survivor at the same time.
Kirstie Alley: While the Cheers and Fat Actress star would make for hilarious TV (and provide a season's worth of material for Joel McHale on The Soup), she has denied it, thus ruining the joyous possibility of seeing a Samba to the tune of Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back."
Ongoing: Dance lessons at Fred Astaire in Arrowhead
from azcentral.com:
by John Stanley - Aug. 27, 2010 09:09 AM
The Arizona Republic
For several years now, millions of Americans have enjoyed shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance."
While most of us are content to fox trot in our fantasies or mambo in our minds, more than a few viewers have been inspired to get up off the couch and venture onto a real dance floor, said Robert Doyle, owner and director of the Fred Astaire Arrowhead Dance Studio, which relocated to Glendale last month.
"Those (programs) have helped us tremendously," he said. "I can't even tell you."
Doyle - Mister Doyle, in the formal parlance of the dance studio - has seen the dance demographic evolve.
When he was younger, he said, it was mostly senior citizens. Now his students include middle-age couples and singles of all ages.
Some come because of an upcoming wedding, charity ball or other occasion with dancing.
More and more, though, people simply want to take up a fun activity they've seen showcased on TV or learn one of the enduring social graces.
Most of Doyle's students are beginners; a few are quite advanced.
When Lauren Froderman was named a finalist on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," judge Nigel Lythgoe advised her to brush up on her ballroom skills. The effervescent 18-year-old Greenway High School grad turned to Doyle.
"I was with her three lessons a day for two and a half months," he said.
It was time well spent, as Froderman was named "America's Favorite Dancer" on Aug. 12.
Anne Robbs of Phoenix is one of Doyle's longtime students.
Earlier this year she and her dance partner, Ken Euge, won the People's Choice Award for couples at the "Dancing with the Stars Arizona," the Arizona Kidney Foundation's ballroom dance competition.
Dancing, she said, is a great activity for all ages.
"You're never too old to dance. And if you need to keep your shape or lose a little weight, it's a wonderful exercise," she said. "You use your whole body and you don't have to lift a lot of weight and you don't have to be in good shape to start. As long as you can walk, you can dance."
The most requested lessons these days, Doyle said, are for country-Western and Latin dances.
"Things that are practical, that you can go out and use that night," he said.
Students can sign up for an introductory $40 package of four lessons - three private, one with a group. Instructors customize the private lessons to suit their students. And the studio hosts a free open house dance party every other Thursday.
While they're dancing, Doyle said, his female students feel like Cinderella, the male students "like Bond, James Bond."
He also touts the benefits of dancing - it's good exercise, an effective stress reliever and a fun social activity. And while it's not unusual for students to feel a little awkward or self-conscious at first, they quickly get over it.
The variety of dance is part of what keeps Robbs on the floor.
"You can have a romantic dance, you can have a wild dance and kick up your heels," she said. "I just love it. You're out on the dance floor with the music and you go into another world with no problems. You're just out there dancing and learning and having fun."
by John Stanley - Aug. 27, 2010 09:09 AM
The Arizona Republic
For several years now, millions of Americans have enjoyed shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance."
While most of us are content to fox trot in our fantasies or mambo in our minds, more than a few viewers have been inspired to get up off the couch and venture onto a real dance floor, said Robert Doyle, owner and director of the Fred Astaire Arrowhead Dance Studio, which relocated to Glendale last month.
"Those (programs) have helped us tremendously," he said. "I can't even tell you."
Doyle - Mister Doyle, in the formal parlance of the dance studio - has seen the dance demographic evolve.
When he was younger, he said, it was mostly senior citizens. Now his students include middle-age couples and singles of all ages.
Some come because of an upcoming wedding, charity ball or other occasion with dancing.
More and more, though, people simply want to take up a fun activity they've seen showcased on TV or learn one of the enduring social graces.
Most of Doyle's students are beginners; a few are quite advanced.
When Lauren Froderman was named a finalist on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," judge Nigel Lythgoe advised her to brush up on her ballroom skills. The effervescent 18-year-old Greenway High School grad turned to Doyle.
"I was with her three lessons a day for two and a half months," he said.
It was time well spent, as Froderman was named "America's Favorite Dancer" on Aug. 12.
Anne Robbs of Phoenix is one of Doyle's longtime students.
Earlier this year she and her dance partner, Ken Euge, won the People's Choice Award for couples at the "Dancing with the Stars Arizona," the Arizona Kidney Foundation's ballroom dance competition.
Dancing, she said, is a great activity for all ages.
"You're never too old to dance. And if you need to keep your shape or lose a little weight, it's a wonderful exercise," she said. "You use your whole body and you don't have to lift a lot of weight and you don't have to be in good shape to start. As long as you can walk, you can dance."
The most requested lessons these days, Doyle said, are for country-Western and Latin dances.
"Things that are practical, that you can go out and use that night," he said.
Students can sign up for an introductory $40 package of four lessons - three private, one with a group. Instructors customize the private lessons to suit their students. And the studio hosts a free open house dance party every other Thursday.
While they're dancing, Doyle said, his female students feel like Cinderella, the male students "like Bond, James Bond."
He also touts the benefits of dancing - it's good exercise, an effective stress reliever and a fun social activity. And while it's not unusual for students to feel a little awkward or self-conscious at first, they quickly get over it.
The variety of dance is part of what keeps Robbs on the floor.
"You can have a romantic dance, you can have a wild dance and kick up your heels," she said. "I just love it. You're out on the dance floor with the music and you go into another world with no problems. You're just out there dancing and learning and having fun."
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Charles Casanave, One of the Original Members of Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Dies
Longmeadow, MA – August 28, 2010 (Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc.) Charles L. (“Chuck”) Casanave Jr., one of the original members of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios along with legendary dancer Mr. Fred Astaire, died on August 23, 2010 at the age of 93.
Born to Artimese and Charles Sr. in Chicago, Illinois on September 3, 1917, Chuck graduated from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois and then became a Naval Aviator, answering the call of duty in World War II. At the close of the war, Chuck entered the business world by joining a motion picture venture of his father’s. In 1947, the senior Casanave created a partnership with singer, dancer, and actor Fred Astaire to launch the Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Chuck and his brother, Chester, joined the new dance business in its New York headquarters and took over its leadership upon the death of their father in 1954. Together, they grew and operated the dance franchise business, moving it and their families to Miami in 1962, where it operated until it was sold to investors in 1990.
“If ever there was a man who had similar qualities to Fred Astaire, Charles would be it,” says Jack Rothweiler, the current President of Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc., “On a personal level, I marveled at his ability to convey his thoughts in writing. He was calm when handling problems, sophisticated in his looks, and would listen to any problem you brought him. He had a heart of gold, and the way he presented himself brought class and dignity to our whole organization for all the years he was associated with it.”
The tradition of intertwining business and family continued when Chuck, along with son Cory, launched a new technology company, Data Access Corporation, in 1978. Elder son Charles III, known as Chip, joined shortly thereafter. Following the sale of the dance business, Chuck took on an executive role with Data Access to enable his sons to focus on growing its technology, products and worldwide markets.
Chuck’s outside hobbies include flying and horses. Chuck owned personal aircraft, a common interest he shared with his sons. The family built homes with stables in south Miami-Dade and were active in the equine community in south Florida.
Chuck once wrote that he tried “to be a good representative of the human race.” Family, friends and business associates alike will agree that he exceeded his goal in all aspects of his long life. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years Bee, sister Gloria, brother Don, daughter Bonnie, sons Cory and Charles III (“Chip”), daughters-in-law Cheryl and Claudia, grandchildren Brittany Doerpfeld, Tristyn Tavolara, Brienne, Chelsea and Connor Casanave and great-grandchildren Sebastian, Caroline and Josephine Tavolara.
Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, August 28th at the Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Funeral Home, 11655 S.W. 117 Ave., Miami, FL 33186
Fred Astaire Dance Studios offer all types of dance instruction through private, group, and practice lessons in all the social dances such as Swing, Fox Trot, Slow Dancing, Salsa, Tango, Waltz, Cha-Cha, Polka, Samba, and Mambo. Visit http://www.fredastaire.com for more information.
###
Monday, August 23, 2010
Step lightly for a perfect wedding dance
from seattletimes.com:
By LEANNE ITALIE
The Associated Press
Looking silly or worse during the first dance as a married couple rates way up there on the scale of wedding stress for grooms who are terrified of anything fancier than the high school prom sway.
"It's not Emily Post's dance anymore," said Crista Tharp, a wedding planner in Kokomo, Ind. "Some are doing rap, hip-hop, break dancing in little snippets. Most grooms would probably nix the dance, but they're not given that option."
Motivated by television's "Dancing with the Stars" and wacky wedding dance YouTube videos, more couples are building fancy footwork into their big-day budgets, turning up the pressure on members of the wedding party with two left feet.
For those who can't dance but will be singled out by cameras and watching guests setting a clear goal is a good place to begin, dance instructors suggest. Are you merely looking to survive with a few basic steps, or are you going all-in with dance sequences put together with help from an instructor or a wedding choreographer?
Groom-to-be Jerry Karran, 28, a video editor in New York City, decided on regular lessons at a dance studio ahead of his wedding in July with 400 invited guests. He tried watching instructional videos online, but they left him confused.
"I'm very nervous," he said. "I'm not nervous about anything else concerning the wedding but that. I can't dance, like, at all. Everybody's looking at you. I don't want to look stupid messing up, or stepping on her toes or something."
Dance lessons helped calm Jeremy Gorelick, 30, when he got married in April at Johns Hopkins University, where he met his wife. He has always enjoyed dancing in clubs, but slow dancing was "THE worry of the wedding for both of us."
They took lessons together, but he often practiced on his own with a broom. That, Gorelick said, was a misstep because it wasn't at all like leading his bride on the dance floor.
"A broom will do whatever you do, so it was actually an exercise in futility and probably did more damage," said Gorelick, of New York City and White Sulphur Springs, N.Y.
Start taking lessons well in advance of the big day to make your movements more instinctive and less dependent on shaky, short-term memory, instructors recommend. Beginning at least six months ahead of a wedding is ideal, but six weeks would suffice, so long as at least four lessons are involved.
Start with group lessons, many suggest, to get comfortable on a dance floor and boost confidence. Then take private instruction to work on a specific routine or dance.
Jackie Horner, who was Gorelick's instructor, often teaches whole wedding parties how to dance. While women, too, can be dance-challenged, men are often more nervous because they must also learn how to lead, she said.
"I say to them, dancing is just walking to music," Horner said. "I have them walk around the room for me to just feel the music a little bit, because there are men who do not have any rhythm at all. Usually it's a little easier than they thought."
Gorelick said beginners should advocate for a short song. He and his wife chose "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson after their instructor steered them away from a longer tune, "based on the fact that I seemed so tense. She didn't want me to be out there for an eternity, which is sort of what it felt like."
James Joseph, who wrote the book "Every Man's Survival Guide to Ballroom Dancing" (BlueChip, 2010), said taking lessons is fine if couples have the time, money and inclination. For those in dance-floor survival mode, try embellishing the basic side step with a simple change of footwork, a slow rotation or some underarm turns.
"If anyone asks, tell them it's a foxtrot," he said.
Change steps when the music changes, from verse to chorus, for instance, to avoid getting lost. Making four or five changes, with a dip in the middle and at the end, can look more difficult than it really is.
Working with a choreographer, Joseph said, may be more trouble than it's worth.
"If you work with a teacher, there's a temptation to add choreography that you might not be able to handle," he said.
"Don't get in over your head."
Practicing in wedding clothes, including shoes, also helps lessen anxiety, said Joseph, a former two-left-footer who lives in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Videotape a practice session to see what needs work — and practice, practice, practice.
Grooms aren't the only front-and-center wedding participants who may be jittery about big dances.
In 2006, at age 62, bawdy TV personality Jerry Springer brought tears to the set of "Dancing with the Stars" with an on-air kiss for his daughter Katie after a waltz he learned so he could dance at her wedding that December.
"I've never really danced," Springer, now 66, said in an interview. "So the night of the wedding, it's time for the big father-daughter dance. In the middle of it, Katie looks up at me and says, 'Dad, nobody can see our feet.' They were covered by her big gown. My advice to dads unsure if they can dance for their daughter's wedding is to make sure they have a big gown. Then you can get by doing anything."
Shelley Kapitulik, 29, and her fiance, Michael Drazin, 27, both of Greenwich, Conn., hope to do more than just get by when they dance to the Michael Buble cover of James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is (To be Loved by You)" at their June reception. They plan a swing dance, and took lessons to get a nervous Drazin over the hump.
"The more we dance and I make mistakes, we figure out how to just keep going, which has decreased the anxiety level," he said.
By LEANNE ITALIE
The Associated Press
Looking silly or worse during the first dance as a married couple rates way up there on the scale of wedding stress for grooms who are terrified of anything fancier than the high school prom sway.
"It's not Emily Post's dance anymore," said Crista Tharp, a wedding planner in Kokomo, Ind. "Some are doing rap, hip-hop, break dancing in little snippets. Most grooms would probably nix the dance, but they're not given that option."
Motivated by television's "Dancing with the Stars" and wacky wedding dance YouTube videos, more couples are building fancy footwork into their big-day budgets, turning up the pressure on members of the wedding party with two left feet.
For those who can't dance but will be singled out by cameras and watching guests setting a clear goal is a good place to begin, dance instructors suggest. Are you merely looking to survive with a few basic steps, or are you going all-in with dance sequences put together with help from an instructor or a wedding choreographer?
Groom-to-be Jerry Karran, 28, a video editor in New York City, decided on regular lessons at a dance studio ahead of his wedding in July with 400 invited guests. He tried watching instructional videos online, but they left him confused.
"I'm very nervous," he said. "I'm not nervous about anything else concerning the wedding but that. I can't dance, like, at all. Everybody's looking at you. I don't want to look stupid messing up, or stepping on her toes or something."
Dance lessons helped calm Jeremy Gorelick, 30, when he got married in April at Johns Hopkins University, where he met his wife. He has always enjoyed dancing in clubs, but slow dancing was "THE worry of the wedding for both of us."
They took lessons together, but he often practiced on his own with a broom. That, Gorelick said, was a misstep because it wasn't at all like leading his bride on the dance floor.
"A broom will do whatever you do, so it was actually an exercise in futility and probably did more damage," said Gorelick, of New York City and White Sulphur Springs, N.Y.
Start taking lessons well in advance of the big day to make your movements more instinctive and less dependent on shaky, short-term memory, instructors recommend. Beginning at least six months ahead of a wedding is ideal, but six weeks would suffice, so long as at least four lessons are involved.
Start with group lessons, many suggest, to get comfortable on a dance floor and boost confidence. Then take private instruction to work on a specific routine or dance.
Jackie Horner, who was Gorelick's instructor, often teaches whole wedding parties how to dance. While women, too, can be dance-challenged, men are often more nervous because they must also learn how to lead, she said.
"I say to them, dancing is just walking to music," Horner said. "I have them walk around the room for me to just feel the music a little bit, because there are men who do not have any rhythm at all. Usually it's a little easier than they thought."
Gorelick said beginners should advocate for a short song. He and his wife chose "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson after their instructor steered them away from a longer tune, "based on the fact that I seemed so tense. She didn't want me to be out there for an eternity, which is sort of what it felt like."
James Joseph, who wrote the book "Every Man's Survival Guide to Ballroom Dancing" (BlueChip, 2010), said taking lessons is fine if couples have the time, money and inclination. For those in dance-floor survival mode, try embellishing the basic side step with a simple change of footwork, a slow rotation or some underarm turns.
"If anyone asks, tell them it's a foxtrot," he said.
Change steps when the music changes, from verse to chorus, for instance, to avoid getting lost. Making four or five changes, with a dip in the middle and at the end, can look more difficult than it really is.
Working with a choreographer, Joseph said, may be more trouble than it's worth.
"If you work with a teacher, there's a temptation to add choreography that you might not be able to handle," he said.
"Don't get in over your head."
Practicing in wedding clothes, including shoes, also helps lessen anxiety, said Joseph, a former two-left-footer who lives in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Videotape a practice session to see what needs work — and practice, practice, practice.
Grooms aren't the only front-and-center wedding participants who may be jittery about big dances.
In 2006, at age 62, bawdy TV personality Jerry Springer brought tears to the set of "Dancing with the Stars" with an on-air kiss for his daughter Katie after a waltz he learned so he could dance at her wedding that December.
"I've never really danced," Springer, now 66, said in an interview. "So the night of the wedding, it's time for the big father-daughter dance. In the middle of it, Katie looks up at me and says, 'Dad, nobody can see our feet.' They were covered by her big gown. My advice to dads unsure if they can dance for their daughter's wedding is to make sure they have a big gown. Then you can get by doing anything."
Shelley Kapitulik, 29, and her fiance, Michael Drazin, 27, both of Greenwich, Conn., hope to do more than just get by when they dance to the Michael Buble cover of James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is (To be Loved by You)" at their June reception. They plan a swing dance, and took lessons to get a nervous Drazin over the hump.
"The more we dance and I make mistakes, we figure out how to just keep going, which has decreased the anxiety level," he said.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Why Do You Dance?
from Psychology Today:
Why Do You Dance? It seems you're lost in music
By Peter Lovatt, PhD
Created Feb 26 2010 - 7:51am
You don't need bits of fancy scientific kit, a psychiatrist's couch or a brain scanner to get to the heart of basic human nature, all you have to do is to ask one simple question, stand back, and wait for the "whoosh" as the flood gates open. I asked people what I thought was a simple question, "Why do you dance?" and the responses I received were over-whelming in their sensitivity and honesty. They were beautiful, heart-breaking, surprising and funny.
Hundreds of men and women from 13 to 77 told me why they dance, or why they don't. People told me that they dance because it makes them feel sexy, or that their girlfriend makes them dance, or they dance to get in touch with their body. Some people told me that they only dance when they are on their own, and for them dance is a secret guilty pleasure that nobody else knows about. For a large number of people music played a central role in their reasons for dancing.
For some dancing is not only a natural response to music, they report feeling compelled to move when they hear certain music or rhythms and they tell me that the act of dancing connects them with the music in a completely unique way. People have told me that when they hear certain songs they have to move and dance, and this act of dancing helps them make sense of the music. This feeling, and compulsion to dance, is so strong that, as one man wrote, "When I dance I become part of the music and the music becomes part of me".
When people connect with music through dancing it can affect their body, their thoughts and their mind. A woman wrote that she loves to move around and feel the music flow through her and another women wrote that she feels enveloped by the music, writing that dancing makes her feel as though she is "inside" the music. Indeed, there are many examples of people being moved by the music. One shy young man wrote that he dances because the power of music gives him wings to fly away from everyday life. For him the combination of dance and music facilitated an escape, the kind of escape that other people have experienced, such that when they dance to certain rhythms they go into a trance-like state. But, of course, we don't always dance alone and the connection between dance and music can also enhance the connection between dancers. A 39 year old woman wrote, "I love the additional sense of connection to the music that I get from dancing close with another person. There's a real sense of being able to hear the music the way that other person hears it - and to share how I hear the music with them."
There are many reasons why people dance and there are lots of reasons why people don't dance. In my next blog entry I'll outline the reasons people give for not dancing. If you would like to tell me why you dance, or don't dance, please go to my website: www.dancedrdance.com and click on the big yellow square. You can write as much, or as little, as you like. No need for a brain scanner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL: http://www.psychologytoday.com/node/38857
Why Do You Dance? It seems you're lost in music
By Peter Lovatt, PhD
Created Feb 26 2010 - 7:51am
You don't need bits of fancy scientific kit, a psychiatrist's couch or a brain scanner to get to the heart of basic human nature, all you have to do is to ask one simple question, stand back, and wait for the "whoosh" as the flood gates open. I asked people what I thought was a simple question, "Why do you dance?" and the responses I received were over-whelming in their sensitivity and honesty. They were beautiful, heart-breaking, surprising and funny.
Hundreds of men and women from 13 to 77 told me why they dance, or why they don't. People told me that they dance because it makes them feel sexy, or that their girlfriend makes them dance, or they dance to get in touch with their body. Some people told me that they only dance when they are on their own, and for them dance is a secret guilty pleasure that nobody else knows about. For a large number of people music played a central role in their reasons for dancing.
For some dancing is not only a natural response to music, they report feeling compelled to move when they hear certain music or rhythms and they tell me that the act of dancing connects them with the music in a completely unique way. People have told me that when they hear certain songs they have to move and dance, and this act of dancing helps them make sense of the music. This feeling, and compulsion to dance, is so strong that, as one man wrote, "When I dance I become part of the music and the music becomes part of me".
When people connect with music through dancing it can affect their body, their thoughts and their mind. A woman wrote that she loves to move around and feel the music flow through her and another women wrote that she feels enveloped by the music, writing that dancing makes her feel as though she is "inside" the music. Indeed, there are many examples of people being moved by the music. One shy young man wrote that he dances because the power of music gives him wings to fly away from everyday life. For him the combination of dance and music facilitated an escape, the kind of escape that other people have experienced, such that when they dance to certain rhythms they go into a trance-like state. But, of course, we don't always dance alone and the connection between dance and music can also enhance the connection between dancers. A 39 year old woman wrote, "I love the additional sense of connection to the music that I get from dancing close with another person. There's a real sense of being able to hear the music the way that other person hears it - and to share how I hear the music with them."
There are many reasons why people dance and there are lots of reasons why people don't dance. In my next blog entry I'll outline the reasons people give for not dancing. If you would like to tell me why you dance, or don't dance, please go to my website: www.dancedrdance.com and click on the big yellow square. You can write as much, or as little, as you like. No need for a brain scanner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source URL: http://www.psychologytoday.com/node/38857
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Calling All Wedding Couples!
The Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Upper Montclair, NJ has some great tips for brides and grooms. Click here to read all about it!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Lauren Froderman for winning the title of "America's Favorite Dancer" on the hit television show, So You Think You Can Dance!!! Along with the title, Lauren won a $250,000 cash prize, and will appear on the cover of Dance Spirit magazine. She will also be featured as Gatorade's first dance athlete in Gatorade's G Series advertising campaign this fall. Lauren took dance lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Phoenix, Arizona. Click here to view a video of Lauren dancing with her FADS instructor before the show that made her famous...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Coach Michael Petr Visits FADS Madison, WI Studio After Appearing on “So You Think You Can Dance”
Millions of people across the US have become fascinated with the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Michael Petr is one of the few ballroom dancers to ever make it to Vegas week. The Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Madison is fortunate to have had the opportunity to host Michael as a visiting coach for the week of August 1st.
Aside from being a professional Latin and Ballroom dancer, Michael has been a finalist in many prestigious ballroom competitions around the world. Just this past February, Michael placed 4th at the Nations Cup Team Match Championship in Bad Pyrmont, Germany. He has also competed in World Professional Latin Series, the World and Euro Championships, winning 5th place in the World Mambo Championship and 4th place in the World Open Salsa Championship in Puerto Rico. Michael has also had the great distinction of appearing as a Finalist in the Paris Open Rising Star Latin Championship in Paris, France, and in the European 10 Dance Championship in Chemnitz, Germany. He has also performed in far flung corners of the world, including Thailand, Jordan, Australia, New York, and Singapore, and Egypt.
Aside from his incredible performance on “So You Think You Can Dance,” Michael has appeared on TV several other times, most notably in his performance with Czech Country Star Lenka Filipová on “Dancing with the Stars - StarDance II” in the Czech Rebuplic. He has also acted as a choreographer for JigTV, the US based dance education website.
During his time in Madison, Michael was able to work with teachers and students alike, offering his expertise and experience. “Michael brought a unique perspective and introduced me to several new ideas,” says Cathy Holmes, Bronze student and competitor at Fred Astaire Madison. “It was really special to get such a global view of ballroom. I’d definitely say that this was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience.”
Aside from being a professional Latin and Ballroom dancer, Michael has been a finalist in many prestigious ballroom competitions around the world. Just this past February, Michael placed 4th at the Nations Cup Team Match Championship in Bad Pyrmont, Germany. He has also competed in World Professional Latin Series, the World and Euro Championships, winning 5th place in the World Mambo Championship and 4th place in the World Open Salsa Championship in Puerto Rico. Michael has also had the great distinction of appearing as a Finalist in the Paris Open Rising Star Latin Championship in Paris, France, and in the European 10 Dance Championship in Chemnitz, Germany. He has also performed in far flung corners of the world, including Thailand, Jordan, Australia, New York, and Singapore, and Egypt.
Aside from his incredible performance on “So You Think You Can Dance,” Michael has appeared on TV several other times, most notably in his performance with Czech Country Star Lenka Filipová on “Dancing with the Stars - StarDance II” in the Czech Rebuplic. He has also acted as a choreographer for JigTV, the US based dance education website.
During his time in Madison, Michael was able to work with teachers and students alike, offering his expertise and experience. “Michael brought a unique perspective and introduced me to several new ideas,” says Cathy Holmes, Bronze student and competitor at Fred Astaire Madison. “It was really special to get such a global view of ballroom. I’d definitely say that this was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience.”
Local dancer wins national competition
from foothillsmediagroup.com:
Monday, August 9, 2010
WEST HARTFORD — Lucille Ellis of Granby, a student at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in West Hartford, just returned from her first national dance competition where she and her teacher, Olaf Pries, dominated the dance floor. She earned the World Champion Pro-Am title in the competitions, which took place in Puerto Rico.
Ellis and Pries competed against 15 other couples from other Fred Astaire studios all over the country and took home first place in almost all dances. Ellis also won first place in her championship division as well as her scholarship division.
While in Puerto Rico, Ellis meet two professional dancing stars from the hit ABC show “Dancing with the Stars,” Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani, who were there judging the event.
When asked about her experience at the event, Ellis said “It was the best time, so much fun!”
For more information, contact the studio at (860) 232-2678. The studio is located at 1128A New Britain Ave., West Hartford.
Monday, August 9, 2010
WEST HARTFORD — Lucille Ellis of Granby, a student at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in West Hartford, just returned from her first national dance competition where she and her teacher, Olaf Pries, dominated the dance floor. She earned the World Champion Pro-Am title in the competitions, which took place in Puerto Rico.
Ellis and Pries competed against 15 other couples from other Fred Astaire studios all over the country and took home first place in almost all dances. Ellis also won first place in her championship division as well as her scholarship division.
While in Puerto Rico, Ellis meet two professional dancing stars from the hit ABC show “Dancing with the Stars,” Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani, who were there judging the event.
When asked about her experience at the event, Ellis said “It was the best time, so much fun!”
For more information, contact the studio at (860) 232-2678. The studio is located at 1128A New Britain Ave., West Hartford.
SYTYCD Ballroom Dancers Join Burn The Floor Tour!
from sandiego.ballroomworld.com:
The producers of BURN THE FLOOR, Broadway's Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular, announced today that Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev of TV's "So You Think You Can Dance" will join the touring company of BURN THE FLOOR, from September 7, 2010 to November 28, 2010. Anya and Pasha come to the tour after performing in the London production now playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre. BURN THE FLOOR will heat up SAN DIEGO CIVIC THEATRE in a Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation, OCTOBER 12 - 17, 2010. Individual tickets go on sale WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11 at 8PM ~ just in time for Part I of the Two Day Season Finale of "So You Think You Can Dance"!
Due to Anya and Pasha's popularity and success competing on "So You Think You Can Dance" season 3, they have been featured in the 7th season as All Star dancers, partnering up with the contestants to help them compete for the title of America's favorite dancer.
Anya has also been a guest dancer on "Dancing with the Stars," "Superstars of Dance" and "The Academy Awards." She was born in Latvia and has been a superstar of the ballroom world for 10 years. Born in Siberia, Russia, Pasha started dancing at age 8. Following a successful career in ballroom competition, he has appeared on many TV shows including "So You Think You Can Dance," "Dancing with the Stars" and "Superstars of Dance." Anya and Pasha have also choreographed for the US and Australia versions of "So You Think You Can Dance."
San Diego's own Mary Murphy, a guest judge on "So You Think You Can Dance" will also appear in the San Diego and San Jose engagements of the National Tour; partnered with ballroom champion Vaidas Skimelis. Murphy made her Broadway debut earlier this year in BURN THE FLOOR. Best known for her enthusiastic and emotional judging style on "So You Think You Can Dance," Mary gained notoriety and earned fans as the "Queen of Scream." She is a US Ballroom Dance Champion and an Austrian National 10-dance and Ballroom Champion. In addition to owning Champion Ballroom Academy in San Diego, Mary is a partner in the "Chance to Dance" program in the San Diego area school district, helping provide dance classes to children unable to afford lessons.
The fall portion of the tour also features "So You Think You Can Dance" alums Ashleigh Di Lello, Ryan Di Lello, Robbie Kmetoni, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer. All five have been seen on TV's "So You Think You Can Dance," in the US (Ashleigh & Ryan Di Lello, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer, Top 10 Finalists) and Australia (Robbie Kmetoni, 2010 Winner).
Years before "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" turned Ballroom Dancing into must-see TV, BURN THE FLOOR was blazing a new dance trail and igniting stages around the globe. In BURN THE FLOOR, Ballroom Dance is totally reinvented. All the dance styles are refreshed and invigorated and leave audiences grinning with delight and screaming for more. You see and feel, live on stage, all the passion, drama and sizzling excitement of 20 gorgeous world champion dancers in a true theatrical experience, a performance with a grace and athleticism that The New York Times calls, "Dazzling!" and The Times (London) calls "the summer's hottest ticket"!
BURN THE FLOOR is directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, former World Champion Latin and Ballroom dancer, and guest choreographer on the fourth season of "So You Think You Can Dance." The national tour of BURN THE FLOOR launches in Portland, Ore., on Tuesday September 7, 2010. For a full list of tour cities, please visit burnthefloor.com.
Individual tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, August 11 at 8PM online at BroadwaySD.com; in person at the Civic Theatre Ticket Office (3rd & B Street, 1100 Third Ave., downtown San Diego); or by calling the Ticket Office at (619) 570-1100 or Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787.
The producers of BURN THE FLOOR, Broadway's Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular, announced today that Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev of TV's "So You Think You Can Dance" will join the touring company of BURN THE FLOOR, from September 7, 2010 to November 28, 2010. Anya and Pasha come to the tour after performing in the London production now playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre. BURN THE FLOOR will heat up SAN DIEGO CIVIC THEATRE in a Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation, OCTOBER 12 - 17, 2010. Individual tickets go on sale WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11 at 8PM ~ just in time for Part I of the Two Day Season Finale of "So You Think You Can Dance"!
Due to Anya and Pasha's popularity and success competing on "So You Think You Can Dance" season 3, they have been featured in the 7th season as All Star dancers, partnering up with the contestants to help them compete for the title of America's favorite dancer.
Anya has also been a guest dancer on "Dancing with the Stars," "Superstars of Dance" and "The Academy Awards." She was born in Latvia and has been a superstar of the ballroom world for 10 years. Born in Siberia, Russia, Pasha started dancing at age 8. Following a successful career in ballroom competition, he has appeared on many TV shows including "So You Think You Can Dance," "Dancing with the Stars" and "Superstars of Dance." Anya and Pasha have also choreographed for the US and Australia versions of "So You Think You Can Dance."
San Diego's own Mary Murphy, a guest judge on "So You Think You Can Dance" will also appear in the San Diego and San Jose engagements of the National Tour; partnered with ballroom champion Vaidas Skimelis. Murphy made her Broadway debut earlier this year in BURN THE FLOOR. Best known for her enthusiastic and emotional judging style on "So You Think You Can Dance," Mary gained notoriety and earned fans as the "Queen of Scream." She is a US Ballroom Dance Champion and an Austrian National 10-dance and Ballroom Champion. In addition to owning Champion Ballroom Academy in San Diego, Mary is a partner in the "Chance to Dance" program in the San Diego area school district, helping provide dance classes to children unable to afford lessons.
The fall portion of the tour also features "So You Think You Can Dance" alums Ashleigh Di Lello, Ryan Di Lello, Robbie Kmetoni, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer. All five have been seen on TV's "So You Think You Can Dance," in the US (Ashleigh & Ryan Di Lello, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer, Top 10 Finalists) and Australia (Robbie Kmetoni, 2010 Winner).
Years before "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" turned Ballroom Dancing into must-see TV, BURN THE FLOOR was blazing a new dance trail and igniting stages around the globe. In BURN THE FLOOR, Ballroom Dance is totally reinvented. All the dance styles are refreshed and invigorated and leave audiences grinning with delight and screaming for more. You see and feel, live on stage, all the passion, drama and sizzling excitement of 20 gorgeous world champion dancers in a true theatrical experience, a performance with a grace and athleticism that The New York Times calls, "Dazzling!" and The Times (London) calls "the summer's hottest ticket"!
BURN THE FLOOR is directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, former World Champion Latin and Ballroom dancer, and guest choreographer on the fourth season of "So You Think You Can Dance." The national tour of BURN THE FLOOR launches in Portland, Ore., on Tuesday September 7, 2010. For a full list of tour cities, please visit burnthefloor.com.
Individual tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, August 11 at 8PM online at BroadwaySD.com; in person at the Civic Theatre Ticket Office (3rd & B Street, 1100 Third Ave., downtown San Diego); or by calling the Ticket Office at (619) 570-1100 or Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787.
Monday, August 09, 2010
WORLD CHAMPIONS COACHING IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
August 21st, 2010
Hanna Karttunen & Victor DaSilva, the World Champions also seen on Dancing With The Stars, will be coaching at the Youngstown Fred Astaire Dance Studio this coming August 21st 2010.
Victor and Hanna both will be coaching Private lessons and Group classes. Group Classes will be held at 12:45pm & 1:30pm. The Cost is $30 for one and $50 for both. This will be Victor’s second time coming back to the studio and Hanna’s first, so let's give them a warm welcome and show that Youngstown is the place to be!
Please call or stop in for reservation.
330.788.3200
Upcoming Event: Boston Ballroom Conference and Competition
from visionarysteps.com:
SAVE THE DATES!
Friday, 9/17/10 to Sunday, 9/19/20 for a dance weekend like no other!
Join us for the exciting premiere of the Boston Ballroom Conference and Competition (BBC&C) at the Westin Copley Place Hotel - a fun and interactive weekend of learning, dancing and socializing with pro-am competitors, spectators and supporters, who share a passion for ballroom.
BBC&C will kick off the weekend with a social mixer on Friday, September 16, at the Westin Hotel. Attendees are then invited to attend the SuperShag Fall Ball and a special wine tasting with Four Vines at the Waltham studio.
On Saturday, September 17, enjoy any number of dance workshops to enhance your technique, creativity and style, or engage in a thought-provoking discussion on some hot dance-related topics led by industry experts. The dance conference titled, “Moving Beyond the Dancefloor,” is open to the public. No partner is necessary, and dancers at any level are welcome!
Then celebrate the contributions of a pioneer within the ballroom dance industry with the presentation of BBC&C’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be followed by a special Gala soirée, featuring special appearances by Ohio Star Ball Latin Champions, Anna Kovalova and Roman Kutskyy, show-stopping performances by world-class professional dance couples and ample time for general dancing.
On Sunday, September 19, participate in a dynamic, full-day pro-am dance competition, complete with a distinguished group of adjudicators and dancers at all levels for the ultimate dance off for scholarships and prizes.
Throughout the weekend, there will be numerous opportunities to socialize and enjoy evenings out on the town to sample the best of Greater Boston.
SAVE THE DATES!
Friday, 9/17/10 to Sunday, 9/19/20 for a dance weekend like no other!
Join us for the exciting premiere of the Boston Ballroom Conference and Competition (BBC&C) at the Westin Copley Place Hotel - a fun and interactive weekend of learning, dancing and socializing with pro-am competitors, spectators and supporters, who share a passion for ballroom.
BBC&C will kick off the weekend with a social mixer on Friday, September 16, at the Westin Hotel. Attendees are then invited to attend the SuperShag Fall Ball and a special wine tasting with Four Vines at the Waltham studio.
On Saturday, September 17, enjoy any number of dance workshops to enhance your technique, creativity and style, or engage in a thought-provoking discussion on some hot dance-related topics led by industry experts. The dance conference titled, “Moving Beyond the Dancefloor,” is open to the public. No partner is necessary, and dancers at any level are welcome!
Then celebrate the contributions of a pioneer within the ballroom dance industry with the presentation of BBC&C’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be followed by a special Gala soirée, featuring special appearances by Ohio Star Ball Latin Champions, Anna Kovalova and Roman Kutskyy, show-stopping performances by world-class professional dance couples and ample time for general dancing.
On Sunday, September 19, participate in a dynamic, full-day pro-am dance competition, complete with a distinguished group of adjudicators and dancers at all levels for the ultimate dance off for scholarships and prizes.
Throughout the weekend, there will be numerous opportunities to socialize and enjoy evenings out on the town to sample the best of Greater Boston.
Dizzy Utah feet celebrate National Dance Day
from deseretnews.com:
SALT LAKE CITY — More than 150 Utah dancers moved to the music Saturday in celebration of National Dance Day, an idea that grew out of a national television show and was recognized by Congress for the first time this year.
The Salt Lake event, sponsored by local dance company Xtreme Danzz, was held at Studio 600.
Dance professionals from around the state volunteered their time Saturday, including "High School Musical" choreographer Ro Malaga and the Utah Jazz Dance Team, who taught everyone the Dizzy Feet dance.
"That's the dance that everyone around the world is doing today," Jazz dance team captain Nicole Gunnarson explained.
Different styles of dance were highlighted throughout the day, and anyone was welcome to come out and give them a try for free. These included fitness dance classes featuring ballroom and hip-hop. There were classes for the tropical hula and Tahitian dances. The day ended with a final routine of the Dizzy Feet dance.
Fitness buddies Wendy Smock and Monique Way attended the event together to try out new styles of dance.
"We all need to be more active," said Smock, who met Way through a Zumba dance class. "And this is a way to get people moving and let people know there's different ways they can get dancing and get moving to exercise."
Amy Moore, part owner of Xtreme Danzz, said that more than anything else, celebrating National Dance Day was about sharing dancing and getting people to care more about fitness. Dance has been a part of her life since she was 3 years old, says Moore, who has opened her own dance studio focused on teaching kids.
"(National Dance Day) was about bringing everyone together and making new friends," she said.
The idea for the day got its start on the popular television show "So You Think You Can Dance," whose producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe pushed efforts to have the day recognized by Congress. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the congressional delegate to Washington, D.C., and leader of the government's national healthy lifestyle movement, took up the cause and pushed recognition of the day through.
The purpose is to celebrate dance, from professional ballet to hip-hop and crunk, but also to help get people up and moving. Fitness is a huge issue for the congresswoman, and Saturday's newly recognized day is one way she's pushing physical activities.
"More than 30 percent of Americans are obese and childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years," Norton said in a press release. "Television shows such as 'So You Think You Can Dance' are not only entertaining but are also encouraging people to live a physically active lifestyle. Holding a National Dance Day in the nation's capital is a terrific way to promote fitness and fight obesity."
Moore helped coordinate the Salt Lake City event by calling local dance studios and recruiting groups to come out and showcase their dancing skills.
"We just wanted to offer a great convention. … We just wanted to offer everyone a reason to come out and get moving, celebrate dance, get fit. It's just a great opportunity for the community to come out and get together."
National Dance Day popped up in different forms in every state, from Florida to Alaska, all celebrating the Dizzy Feet Foundation's dance. The foundation, which was started by Lythgoe, helps teach underprivileged youths to dance.
SALT LAKE CITY — More than 150 Utah dancers moved to the music Saturday in celebration of National Dance Day, an idea that grew out of a national television show and was recognized by Congress for the first time this year.
The Salt Lake event, sponsored by local dance company Xtreme Danzz, was held at Studio 600.
Dance professionals from around the state volunteered their time Saturday, including "High School Musical" choreographer Ro Malaga and the Utah Jazz Dance Team, who taught everyone the Dizzy Feet dance.
"That's the dance that everyone around the world is doing today," Jazz dance team captain Nicole Gunnarson explained.
Different styles of dance were highlighted throughout the day, and anyone was welcome to come out and give them a try for free. These included fitness dance classes featuring ballroom and hip-hop. There were classes for the tropical hula and Tahitian dances. The day ended with a final routine of the Dizzy Feet dance.
Fitness buddies Wendy Smock and Monique Way attended the event together to try out new styles of dance.
"We all need to be more active," said Smock, who met Way through a Zumba dance class. "And this is a way to get people moving and let people know there's different ways they can get dancing and get moving to exercise."
Amy Moore, part owner of Xtreme Danzz, said that more than anything else, celebrating National Dance Day was about sharing dancing and getting people to care more about fitness. Dance has been a part of her life since she was 3 years old, says Moore, who has opened her own dance studio focused on teaching kids.
"(National Dance Day) was about bringing everyone together and making new friends," she said.
The idea for the day got its start on the popular television show "So You Think You Can Dance," whose producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe pushed efforts to have the day recognized by Congress. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the congressional delegate to Washington, D.C., and leader of the government's national healthy lifestyle movement, took up the cause and pushed recognition of the day through.
The purpose is to celebrate dance, from professional ballet to hip-hop and crunk, but also to help get people up and moving. Fitness is a huge issue for the congresswoman, and Saturday's newly recognized day is one way she's pushing physical activities.
"More than 30 percent of Americans are obese and childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years," Norton said in a press release. "Television shows such as 'So You Think You Can Dance' are not only entertaining but are also encouraging people to live a physically active lifestyle. Holding a National Dance Day in the nation's capital is a terrific way to promote fitness and fight obesity."
Moore helped coordinate the Salt Lake City event by calling local dance studios and recruiting groups to come out and showcase their dancing skills.
"We just wanted to offer a great convention. … We just wanted to offer everyone a reason to come out and get moving, celebrate dance, get fit. It's just a great opportunity for the community to come out and get together."
National Dance Day popped up in different forms in every state, from Florida to Alaska, all celebrating the Dizzy Feet Foundation's dance. The foundation, which was started by Lythgoe, helps teach underprivileged youths to dance.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
5 Reasons Men Can Enjoy Ballroom Dancing Too
from articlesnatch.com:
By: D Fraer
Some men might view ballroom dancing as an activity for women. How ever there have been some pretty manly men prove that they can dance with the best of them on hit TV shows like Dancing with the Stars.
The truth is there are lots of great reasons men should be interested in learning ballroom dance as well and I'll give you five of those reasons in this article.
Fitness
Ballroom dance is not for any slouch. You're constantly moving, on your feet and stretching your muscles. You require a certain level of physical fitness to be able to perform some of the more popular ballroom dance styles. If you find you don't exercise as much as you used to then ballroom dancing can be a great activity to keep fit.
Entertainment
Dancing is as much about having a good time as it is about fitness. IF you go into dance lessons with an open mind you'll find it's fun and is a great alternative to some of the regular things you used to do on a Friday night.
Team Work
Working together with your significant other to learn the steps to a particular dance takes team work. The type of team work that will spill over into the rest of your life around the house, with the kids or even just getting groceries. It's a great growth exercise.
Romance
Holding each other close during your dance lessons or during a night out on the town dancing is romantic. It builds intimacy between you and your partner and allows you to express your emotions in a new way, even if you normally have trouble talking about them. Many men decide to take ballroom lessons because they believe it will put them in the good books with their wives or girl friends, but if you really give yourself to process you'll get so much more in return.
Variety
Find yourself asking your partner what do you want to do tonight a lot? We often end up doing the same old things over and over. Going to the movies, watching TV or reading a book. Why not spice things up with dance lessons or a night on the town.
By: D Fraer
Some men might view ballroom dancing as an activity for women. How ever there have been some pretty manly men prove that they can dance with the best of them on hit TV shows like Dancing with the Stars.
The truth is there are lots of great reasons men should be interested in learning ballroom dance as well and I'll give you five of those reasons in this article.
Fitness
Ballroom dance is not for any slouch. You're constantly moving, on your feet and stretching your muscles. You require a certain level of physical fitness to be able to perform some of the more popular ballroom dance styles. If you find you don't exercise as much as you used to then ballroom dancing can be a great activity to keep fit.
Entertainment
Dancing is as much about having a good time as it is about fitness. IF you go into dance lessons with an open mind you'll find it's fun and is a great alternative to some of the regular things you used to do on a Friday night.
Team Work
Working together with your significant other to learn the steps to a particular dance takes team work. The type of team work that will spill over into the rest of your life around the house, with the kids or even just getting groceries. It's a great growth exercise.
Romance
Holding each other close during your dance lessons or during a night out on the town dancing is romantic. It builds intimacy between you and your partner and allows you to express your emotions in a new way, even if you normally have trouble talking about them. Many men decide to take ballroom lessons because they believe it will put them in the good books with their wives or girl friends, but if you really give yourself to process you'll get so much more in return.
Variety
Find yourself asking your partner what do you want to do tonight a lot? We often end up doing the same old things over and over. Going to the movies, watching TV or reading a book. Why not spice things up with dance lessons or a night on the town.
Dance floor experiences include lessons in etiquette
from blog.al.com:
A Mobile native, Debbie Simmons moved with her family to the small town of Hartselle when she was in elementary school. But she returned to her home turf as soon as possible and became active in the community.
"I graduated from Hartselle High School, but I moved back to go to (the University of South Alabama)," she said. "My grandmother was still living here, and the plan was that I’d move back and live with her."
The arrangement had an unexpected benefit when Simmons got involved in ballroom dancing.
"I’ve been dancing my whole life. My mother had a dance studio, but never ballroom," Simmons said. "My grandmother started taking lessons at Fred Astaire in Mobile, and she kept asking me to go."
Simmons finally conceded and started dancing in 1988, and before long, she was working at the studio.
"They asked me to work part time at night while I was in college," Simmons said. "I didn’t really know what I wanted to do in college, but I knew my passion was dancing."
So she left college and focused on ballroom dancing, and in 1993, she and her husband, Mike, took over the Mobile location of Fred Astaire studios.
"My husband moved here from Birmingham, and he’s been dancing for years," she said. "We moved the studio to Daphne in 2001, and we love having it here."
With 70 students ranging in age from 9 to 87, Simmons said the hobby provides unexpected benefits.
"So many young kids dance. They love it because of what they’ve seen on television, and they dream of being on TV," she said. "To me, the most important thing it teaches is respect for the other person. There are a lot of etiquette lessons in the dance lessons."
Their first classes of the day start at 3 p.m. at the Daphne studio, and private lessons are held during the week with group dances one night per week.
"Some people take because they’re getting ready for weddings or cruises, or some people just like it as a hobby, like golf," Simmons said. "They get to be around other people who share their enthusiasm and you meet the most amazing and fun people in the world."
Simmons’ other passion is cat rescue, and two years ago she became vice president of the Azalea City Cat Coalition with friend Susan Young.
"I’d been doing cat rescue work independently with my neighborhood, but when Susan approached me, I had to do this," she said. "It’s basically four or five people, and we trap feral cats."
The cats are neutered, marked with an ear notch, and then released back into their habitats.
"It’s a trap, neuter, release program, and it operates with the understanding that we can’t catch all of them," she said. "And even if you did, other cats would just move in and take over."
Simmons stressed that her program prevents population growth.
A Mobile native, Debbie Simmons moved with her family to the small town of Hartselle when she was in elementary school. But she returned to her home turf as soon as possible and became active in the community.
"I graduated from Hartselle High School, but I moved back to go to (the University of South Alabama)," she said. "My grandmother was still living here, and the plan was that I’d move back and live with her."
The arrangement had an unexpected benefit when Simmons got involved in ballroom dancing.
"I’ve been dancing my whole life. My mother had a dance studio, but never ballroom," Simmons said. "My grandmother started taking lessons at Fred Astaire in Mobile, and she kept asking me to go."
Simmons finally conceded and started dancing in 1988, and before long, she was working at the studio.
"They asked me to work part time at night while I was in college," Simmons said. "I didn’t really know what I wanted to do in college, but I knew my passion was dancing."
So she left college and focused on ballroom dancing, and in 1993, she and her husband, Mike, took over the Mobile location of Fred Astaire studios.
"My husband moved here from Birmingham, and he’s been dancing for years," she said. "We moved the studio to Daphne in 2001, and we love having it here."
With 70 students ranging in age from 9 to 87, Simmons said the hobby provides unexpected benefits.
"So many young kids dance. They love it because of what they’ve seen on television, and they dream of being on TV," she said. "To me, the most important thing it teaches is respect for the other person. There are a lot of etiquette lessons in the dance lessons."
Their first classes of the day start at 3 p.m. at the Daphne studio, and private lessons are held during the week with group dances one night per week.
"Some people take because they’re getting ready for weddings or cruises, or some people just like it as a hobby, like golf," Simmons said. "They get to be around other people who share their enthusiasm and you meet the most amazing and fun people in the world."
Simmons’ other passion is cat rescue, and two years ago she became vice president of the Azalea City Cat Coalition with friend Susan Young.
"I’d been doing cat rescue work independently with my neighborhood, but when Susan approached me, I had to do this," she said. "It’s basically four or five people, and we trap feral cats."
The cats are neutered, marked with an ear notch, and then released back into their habitats.
"It’s a trap, neuter, release program, and it operates with the understanding that we can’t catch all of them," she said. "And even if you did, other cats would just move in and take over."
Simmons stressed that her program prevents population growth.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Astaire World Championships 2010 Results
Congratulations to all participants of our latest competition, the Astaire World Championships held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and special congratulations go out to the following Fred Astaire pros:
American Closed Bronze/Silver Smooth
1st – Peter Hahn & Juliet Thibodeaux (Norwalk, CT studio)
2nd – Ben Seifert & Cheryl Humphreys (Houston-Woodlands, TX studio)
3rd – Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug (West Palm Beach, FL studio)
4th – Vadim Boldirev & Karla Pinet (Bloomfield Hills, MI studio)
5th – Tommy Alejandro & Kateryna Angelone (Houston-Katy, TX studio)
American Closed Bronze/Silver Rhythm
1st – Joe Hasson & Missy Keller (Washington D.C. studio)
2nd – Andre Santore & Yuliana Chepurna (South Barrington, IL studio)
3rd – Ryan Wiemers & Cheryl Humphreys (San Diego, CA & Houston-Woodlands, TX studios)
4th – Rob Rocha & Jessica March (St. Petersburg, FL studio)
5th – Zeke Cribbs & Pamela Dachelet (Madison, WI studio)
American Rising Star Smooth
1st – Ben Seifert & Cheryl Humphreys (Houston-Woodlands, TX studio)
2nd – Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug (West Palm Beach. FL studio)
3rd – Vadim Boldirev & Karla Pinet (Bloomfield Hills. MI studio)
4th – Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
5th – Christopher Muise & Kirsten Obermiller (Belmont, MA studio)
American Rising Star Rhythm
1st – Ronald Guillen & Katie Guillen (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
2nd – Joe Hasson & Elena Tsirlin (Washington D.C. & South Barrington, IL studio)
3rd – Andre Santore & Yuliana Chepurna (South Barrington, IL studio)
4th – Christopher Uy & Nina Diperro (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
5th – Martin Rycroft & Michelle Montanez (Belmont, MA studio)
American Closed Novice/Mixed
1st – Thomas Radon & Sarah Parzica (Orchard Park, NY studio)
2nd – Dmytro Gurkov & Amanda Bradford (Houston-Katy & Woodlands, TX studios)
3rd – Justin Scott & Brandi White (Madison, WI studio)
4th – Zeke Cribbs & Pamela Dachelet (Madison, WI studio)
5th – Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
Astaire World American Open Rhythm 5-Dance
1st – Ronald Guillen & Katie Guillen (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
2nd – Joe Hasson & Elena Tsirlin (Washington D.C. & South Barrington, IL studio)
3rd – Andre Santore & Yuliana Chepurna (South Barrington, IL studio)
4th – Christopher Uy & Nina Diperro (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
5th – Martin Rycroft & Michelle Montanez (Belmont, MA studio)
Astaire World American Open Smooth 4-Dance
1st – Mikhail Zharinov & Gala Detkina (NY East studio)
2nd – Vladimir Kosarev & Vera Kosarev (Buffalo, NY studio)
3rd – Peter Hahn & Juliet Thibodeaux (Norwalk, CT studio)
4th – Ben Seifert & Cheryl Humphreys (Houston-Woodlands, TX studio)
5th - Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
International Open Latin 5-Dance
1st - Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
2nd – Plamen Danelov & Tina Gerova (NY East studio)
Astaire World International Open Standard 5-Dance
1st – Ruslan Meshkov & Alexandra Nema (Albany, NY studio)
2nd – Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug (West Palm Beach, FL studio)
Professional Open Cabaret
1st - Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
2nd - Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
3rd - Plamen Danelov & Tina Gerova (NY East studio)
American Closed Bronze/Silver Smooth
1st – Peter Hahn & Juliet Thibodeaux (Norwalk, CT studio)
2nd – Ben Seifert & Cheryl Humphreys (Houston-Woodlands, TX studio)
3rd – Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug (West Palm Beach, FL studio)
4th – Vadim Boldirev & Karla Pinet (Bloomfield Hills, MI studio)
5th – Tommy Alejandro & Kateryna Angelone (Houston-Katy, TX studio)
American Closed Bronze/Silver Rhythm
1st – Joe Hasson & Missy Keller (Washington D.C. studio)
2nd – Andre Santore & Yuliana Chepurna (South Barrington, IL studio)
3rd – Ryan Wiemers & Cheryl Humphreys (San Diego, CA & Houston-Woodlands, TX studios)
4th – Rob Rocha & Jessica March (St. Petersburg, FL studio)
5th – Zeke Cribbs & Pamela Dachelet (Madison, WI studio)
American Rising Star Smooth
1st – Ben Seifert & Cheryl Humphreys (Houston-Woodlands, TX studio)
2nd – Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug (West Palm Beach. FL studio)
3rd – Vadim Boldirev & Karla Pinet (Bloomfield Hills. MI studio)
4th – Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
5th – Christopher Muise & Kirsten Obermiller (Belmont, MA studio)
American Rising Star Rhythm
1st – Ronald Guillen & Katie Guillen (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
2nd – Joe Hasson & Elena Tsirlin (Washington D.C. & South Barrington, IL studio)
3rd – Andre Santore & Yuliana Chepurna (South Barrington, IL studio)
4th – Christopher Uy & Nina Diperro (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
5th – Martin Rycroft & Michelle Montanez (Belmont, MA studio)
American Closed Novice/Mixed
1st – Thomas Radon & Sarah Parzica (Orchard Park, NY studio)
2nd – Dmytro Gurkov & Amanda Bradford (Houston-Katy & Woodlands, TX studios)
3rd – Justin Scott & Brandi White (Madison, WI studio)
4th – Zeke Cribbs & Pamela Dachelet (Madison, WI studio)
5th – Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
Astaire World American Open Rhythm 5-Dance
1st – Ronald Guillen & Katie Guillen (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
2nd – Joe Hasson & Elena Tsirlin (Washington D.C. & South Barrington, IL studio)
3rd – Andre Santore & Yuliana Chepurna (South Barrington, IL studio)
4th – Christopher Uy & Nina Diperro (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
5th – Martin Rycroft & Michelle Montanez (Belmont, MA studio)
Astaire World American Open Smooth 4-Dance
1st – Mikhail Zharinov & Gala Detkina (NY East studio)
2nd – Vladimir Kosarev & Vera Kosarev (Buffalo, NY studio)
3rd – Peter Hahn & Juliet Thibodeaux (Norwalk, CT studio)
4th – Ben Seifert & Cheryl Humphreys (Houston-Woodlands, TX studio)
5th - Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
International Open Latin 5-Dance
1st - Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
2nd – Plamen Danelov & Tina Gerova (NY East studio)
Astaire World International Open Standard 5-Dance
1st – Ruslan Meshkov & Alexandra Nema (Albany, NY studio)
2nd – Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug (West Palm Beach, FL studio)
Professional Open Cabaret
1st - Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad (Ft. Walton Beach, FL studio)
2nd - Forrest Walsh & Michelle Current (Pasadena, CA studio)
3rd - Plamen Danelov & Tina Gerova (NY East studio)
Which 'Dancing' Pro Choreographed Chelsea Clinton's First Dance with Marc Mezvinsky?
from newsok.com:
Chelsea Clinton wed longtime beau Marc Mezvinsky Saturday evening in Rhinebeck, New York -- but was the happy couple's special first dance choreographed by one of these "Dancing with the Stars" pros?
A source tells ET that it was none-other-than ballroom bad boy Maksim Chmerkovskiy who choreographed the duo's first dance as husband and wife.
Chelsea Clinton wed longtime beau Marc Mezvinsky Saturday evening in Rhinebeck, New York -- but was the happy couple's special first dance choreographed by one of these "Dancing with the Stars" pros?
A source tells ET that it was none-other-than ballroom bad boy Maksim Chmerkovskiy who choreographed the duo's first dance as husband and wife.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Dancing With The Stars Season 11!
The cast of Dancing With The Stars Season 11 will be announced on August 30th on an episode of ABC's newest reality series, 'Bachelor Pad.'
FADS Pros Win Big!
Professional dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studios around the country are heating up the dance floor this year at various prestigious competitions. Here are some recent results:
Millennium Dance Championships
American Open Rhythm
4th - Ricky Bentzen and Albina Habrle
6th - Hayk Arshakian and Sarah Haworth
Cabaret
1st – Jesse Benedetti and Kimalee Piedad
4th – Vicente Martinez and Megan Murphy
Rising Star American Smooth
5th – Chris Germain and Simona Palmova
Rising Star American Rhythm
1st – Aleks Nashev and Brittney Bartler
2nd – Aaron DeSoto and Jaana Lillemagi
4th – Slash Sharan and Ria Valenzuela
Manhattan Dance Championships
American Rhythm
3rd – Ken Hansen and Christina Penatello
4th – Ricky Bentzen and Albina Habrle
American Smooth
5th - Mikhail Zharinov and Galina Detkina
Latin
5th place – Plamen Danailov and Tina Gerova
Rising Star American Rhythm
2nd – Slash Sharan and Ria Valenzuela
3rd – Eugene Yeremenko and Marisa Yatsenko
Rising Star American Smooth
4th – Peter Hahn and Juliet Thibodeaux
Millennium Dance Championships
American Open Rhythm
4th - Ricky Bentzen and Albina Habrle
6th - Hayk Arshakian and Sarah Haworth
Cabaret
1st – Jesse Benedetti and Kimalee Piedad
4th – Vicente Martinez and Megan Murphy
Rising Star American Smooth
5th – Chris Germain and Simona Palmova
Rising Star American Rhythm
1st – Aleks Nashev and Brittney Bartler
2nd – Aaron DeSoto and Jaana Lillemagi
4th – Slash Sharan and Ria Valenzuela
Manhattan Dance Championships
American Rhythm
3rd – Ken Hansen and Christina Penatello
4th – Ricky Bentzen and Albina Habrle
American Smooth
5th - Mikhail Zharinov and Galina Detkina
Latin
5th place – Plamen Danailov and Tina Gerova
Rising Star American Rhythm
2nd – Slash Sharan and Ria Valenzuela
3rd – Eugene Yeremenko and Marisa Yatsenko
Rising Star American Smooth
4th – Peter Hahn and Juliet Thibodeaux
The Health Benefits Of Ballroom Dancing
from fivestarwayofliving.com:
By Blaze Smith, on July 22nd, 2010
Ready to get in shape but not a fan of the gym? You love to move to music, can’t help but tap your foot or loved to dance as a child? Would prefer to exercise while accomplishing something other than repetition? You sound like a great candidate to explore the enormous benefits of getting your exercise by going ballroom dancing.
There are many studies that show social dancing is an exceptional form of exercise. Mayo Clinic researchers claim social dancing helps “boost energy, improve strength, increase muscle tone and coordination all while reducing stress.” And not only in America have studies shown its value. In Italy, researchers found that 21 minutes of dancing just three times a week has cardiovascular benefits equal to a bicycle or treadmill workout.
Typical exercises can improve your bones and muscles but experts claim that dancing is the best workout when it comes to increasing your metabolism. Dances such as Jive and Salsa actually require surprisingly large amounts of energy. Dance increases your heart rate while consuming stored fats in your body. Ballroom dancing is definitely an enjoyable way to lose weight! Ballroom dancing tones your muscles, strengthens your core and improves your skin. So you look and feel better all while burning calories on the dance floor!
And what did the National Heart, Ling and Blood Institute (NHLBI) say about dancing? Well, they indicated that dancing can decrease your blood pressure, aid you in managing your weight, lower your risk of coronary heart diseases and strengthen your bones, especially those on your hips and legs. The good just keeps coming.
Can you believe that dancing also helps with memory, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia? The New England Journal of Medicine reported that dancing does.
Like most exercises, the amount of benefit you get from dancing depends on the type and intensity. Exercise physiologist Catherine Cram of Comprehensive Consulting in Middleton, Wisconsin, stated that “a terrific workout occurs when a person gets his or her heart rate up (and) … dance is a weight-bearing activity which builds bones.”
I am confident you will find your own multiple reasons why ballroom dancing will benefit you – and your loved ones!
If you are pregnant (or know someone who is,) want to exercise and have fun, do take a look at Blaze Smith’s free “Ballroom Dance and Pregnancy” video on the topic. She also has other ballroom dancing tips and how tos freely available on the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Mamaroneck site that provide tips and information about ballroom dancing, what to wear, what to expect at the studio and more.
By Blaze Smith, on July 22nd, 2010
Ready to get in shape but not a fan of the gym? You love to move to music, can’t help but tap your foot or loved to dance as a child? Would prefer to exercise while accomplishing something other than repetition? You sound like a great candidate to explore the enormous benefits of getting your exercise by going ballroom dancing.
There are many studies that show social dancing is an exceptional form of exercise. Mayo Clinic researchers claim social dancing helps “boost energy, improve strength, increase muscle tone and coordination all while reducing stress.” And not only in America have studies shown its value. In Italy, researchers found that 21 minutes of dancing just three times a week has cardiovascular benefits equal to a bicycle or treadmill workout.
Typical exercises can improve your bones and muscles but experts claim that dancing is the best workout when it comes to increasing your metabolism. Dances such as Jive and Salsa actually require surprisingly large amounts of energy. Dance increases your heart rate while consuming stored fats in your body. Ballroom dancing is definitely an enjoyable way to lose weight! Ballroom dancing tones your muscles, strengthens your core and improves your skin. So you look and feel better all while burning calories on the dance floor!
And what did the National Heart, Ling and Blood Institute (NHLBI) say about dancing? Well, they indicated that dancing can decrease your blood pressure, aid you in managing your weight, lower your risk of coronary heart diseases and strengthen your bones, especially those on your hips and legs. The good just keeps coming.
Can you believe that dancing also helps with memory, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia? The New England Journal of Medicine reported that dancing does.
Like most exercises, the amount of benefit you get from dancing depends on the type and intensity. Exercise physiologist Catherine Cram of Comprehensive Consulting in Middleton, Wisconsin, stated that “a terrific workout occurs when a person gets his or her heart rate up (and) … dance is a weight-bearing activity which builds bones.”
I am confident you will find your own multiple reasons why ballroom dancing will benefit you – and your loved ones!
If you are pregnant (or know someone who is,) want to exercise and have fun, do take a look at Blaze Smith’s free “Ballroom Dance and Pregnancy” video on the topic. She also has other ballroom dancing tips and how tos freely available on the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Mamaroneck site that provide tips and information about ballroom dancing, what to wear, what to expect at the studio and more.
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