Monday, May 19, 2008
West Springfield Studio Dances For American Cancer Society
The Fred Astaire Dance Studio in West Springfield, MA used their dancing shoes to help the American Cancer Society fight cancer on May 17th. An eight member Dancing for Dollars relay team offered ten 30-minute private lessons during a six-hour window to raise funds during the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Dancing With The Stars Pro Helps Young Student
Fabian Sanchez, US Mambo Champion, Fred Astaire studio owner, and a professional dancer on this season's Dancing With The Stars with actress Marlee Matlin, took time out of his busy schedule to help a fifth-grader with a school project. Read more here.
Friday, May 02, 2008
"Sole" Mates: On and Off the Dance Floor
Warren and Babette Brown, Scottish Professional Dance Champions and co-owners of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter, FL, are partners on and off the dance floor. Competing, managing a dance studio, teaching, and living together might seem like too much but this devoted couple have made it work! Click here to read more.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Birmingham FADS Hearing Impaired Student Inspired by “DWTS” Matlin
BY JULIE HINDS • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • April 21, 2008
Stepping confidently in her strappy black high-heeled sandals, Pamela Dangovian practices the quick moves of the cha-cha.
The 48-year-old mom and community volunteer from Birmingham keeps her eyes on the face of her instructor, Leonid Sidorenko, as they move around the roomy floor of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Hills.
She's reading his lips to follow his coaching, because, like current "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Marlee Matlin, she is deaf.
After seeing Matlin compete on ABC's ballroom dancing competition, she got in touch with the studio through the Michigan Relay Center, which helps hearing-impaired people, among others, communicate by phone.
She was inspired by watching Matlin do the cha-cha, waltz and quickstep. Now she's gliding smoothly along in her footsteps.
"I've seen her movies, her TV shows," says Dangovian. "When I saw her on the dance floor, I thought if she can do it, I can do it."
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Stepping confidently in her strappy black high-heeled sandals, Pamela Dangovian practices the quick moves of the cha-cha.
The 48-year-old mom and community volunteer from Birmingham keeps her eyes on the face of her instructor, Leonid Sidorenko, as they move around the roomy floor of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Hills.
She's reading his lips to follow his coaching, because, like current "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Marlee Matlin, she is deaf.
After seeing Matlin compete on ABC's ballroom dancing competition, she got in touch with the studio through the Michigan Relay Center, which helps hearing-impaired people, among others, communicate by phone.
She was inspired by watching Matlin do the cha-cha, waltz and quickstep. Now she's gliding smoothly along in her footsteps.
"I've seen her movies, her TV shows," says Dangovian. "When I saw her on the dance floor, I thought if she can do it, I can do it."
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Area Celebrities Prepare to Step Lively For Charity
Montgomery, AL. Fred Astaire studio partners with locals for good cause
Don't even try to tear Sherry Nath away from the TV during ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."
Just ask her husband, Chuck, who's not even supposed to talk to her unless there's a commercial break.
On Saturday, Nath will have a front-row view of the cha-cha, the tango, the hustle and more at Dancing with Celebrities, a fundraiser she organized to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. With help from Christa DeButts of the Capital City Club and others in the community, Nath convinced Montgomery area celebs to step in, learn new dances -- and perform in a competition.
"When my husband suggested it, I wasn't sure we could really pull it off," said Nath, a cancer survivor who is serving as the chairwoman of this year's Relay for Life. "But everybody has been so supportive, and it has been a lot of fun."
For weeks now, Fred Astaire Dance Studio instructors have worked with dancing celebs Charlie Colvin, Sieu Tang Wood, Nancy Shinbaum, Homer Horton, Richard Coats and Leslie Bailey, who will compete that evening, with José Barraza serving as DJ and Susan Woody as mistress of ceremonies.
During the event, which includes dinner, guests will vote on their favorite couples by making a donation. The celebrity with the most money wins.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Don't even try to tear Sherry Nath away from the TV during ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."
Just ask her husband, Chuck, who's not even supposed to talk to her unless there's a commercial break.
On Saturday, Nath will have a front-row view of the cha-cha, the tango, the hustle and more at Dancing with Celebrities, a fundraiser she organized to benefit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. With help from Christa DeButts of the Capital City Club and others in the community, Nath convinced Montgomery area celebs to step in, learn new dances -- and perform in a competition.
"When my husband suggested it, I wasn't sure we could really pull it off," said Nath, a cancer survivor who is serving as the chairwoman of this year's Relay for Life. "But everybody has been so supportive, and it has been a lot of fun."
For weeks now, Fred Astaire Dance Studio instructors have worked with dancing celebs Charlie Colvin, Sieu Tang Wood, Nancy Shinbaum, Homer Horton, Richard Coats and Leslie Bailey, who will compete that evening, with José Barraza serving as DJ and Susan Woody as mistress of ceremonies.
During the event, which includes dinner, guests will vote on their favorite couples by making a donation. The celebrity with the most money wins.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Dancing with the Stars Links
Last night’s premiere of “Dancing With The Stars” has already sparked a flurry of media coverage. Check out the links below to read some of the more compelling commentary.
“Dancing With The Stars”: The Men on the Los Angeles Times ‘Show Tracker’ blog.
'Dancing With the Stars': The Gute, the Bad, and the Ugly on EW.com.
'Dancing with the Stars' recap: Rating last night's male performances on Freep.com, the online version of Detroit Free Press.
‘Dancing:’ The parade of sequins begins on Boston.com’s ‘Viewer Discretion’ blog.
“Dancing With The Stars:” Guys on Newsday.com.
Week 1 'Dancing With The Stars' Pre-Show Interview With Jason Taylor on Starpulse.com’s ‘Entertainment News Blog.’
And be sure to visit the official Dancing With The Stars site for all the latest information on your favorite performers!
Tune in tonight for the second half of the season six premier3 to watch FADS’ own Fabian Sanchez and Tony Dovolani show off their moves on the dance floor.
“Dancing With The Stars”: The Men on the Los Angeles Times ‘Show Tracker’ blog.
'Dancing With the Stars': The Gute, the Bad, and the Ugly on EW.com.
'Dancing with the Stars' recap: Rating last night's male performances on Freep.com, the online version of Detroit Free Press.
‘Dancing:’ The parade of sequins begins on Boston.com’s ‘Viewer Discretion’ blog.
“Dancing With The Stars:” Guys on Newsday.com.
Week 1 'Dancing With The Stars' Pre-Show Interview With Jason Taylor on Starpulse.com’s ‘Entertainment News Blog.’
And be sure to visit the official Dancing With The Stars site for all the latest information on your favorite performers!
Tune in tonight for the second half of the season six premier3 to watch FADS’ own Fabian Sanchez and Tony Dovolani show off their moves on the dance floor.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Who Will Win "Dancing With The Stars"?
Don’t miss the Season 6 premiere of “Dancing With The Stars”, tonight at 8 pm EST/PST on ABC.
See How This Season's Competitors Stack Up
(CBS) When the current crop of "Dancing With The Stars" competitors kicks off the show's sixth season Monday night, it won't just be a battle over who has the best moves.
Contestant ranking in this show is based on a combination of the judges' scores and the fan votes, so popularity counts just as much as skill.
That's what makes it tricky to predict which of the stars will make it to the finals and on to the ultimate prize: a tacky disco ball trophy.
This season's stars include several actors, an R&B singer, a few sports champions, and even an illusionist/comedian. Some of them have experience dancing, others benefit from the discipline of athletics, and all have performed in front of a crowd.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Marlee Matlin Ready for `Dancing' Debut
Marlee Matlin had never danced before — well, other than at weddings and bar mitzvahs — but for the past two weeks, she's been cha-cha-ing and quickstepping for seven hours a day in preparation for her "Dancing With the Stars" debut.
Despite the unforgiving schedule and complaints of constant soreness from past contestants, Matlin, 42, says she's remained pain-free.
"Everyone asks if I'm sore," she said after a recent rehearsal at a nondescript dance studio northeast of Los Angeles. "Am I supposed to be sore?"
Perhaps not. She is, however, supposed to step, twirl, dip, smile, clap, spin, plant and jump — all imaginable types of body and facial movements, really — in time with the music. Never mind that the Academy Award-winning actress can't hear a single note, beat, or tempo change.
While none of this year's crop of "Dancing" hopefuls have ever danced professionally, Matlin has the additional challenge of being deaf. And that's not a problem, she said through her longtime interpreter, Jack Jason. Matlin relies on her professional partner, show newcomer Fabian Sanchez, to lead the way.
"He's my music," she said.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Despite the unforgiving schedule and complaints of constant soreness from past contestants, Matlin, 42, says she's remained pain-free.
"Everyone asks if I'm sore," she said after a recent rehearsal at a nondescript dance studio northeast of Los Angeles. "Am I supposed to be sore?"
Perhaps not. She is, however, supposed to step, twirl, dip, smile, clap, spin, plant and jump — all imaginable types of body and facial movements, really — in time with the music. Never mind that the Academy Award-winning actress can't hear a single note, beat, or tempo change.
While none of this year's crop of "Dancing" hopefuls have ever danced professionally, Matlin has the additional challenge of being deaf. And that's not a problem, she said through her longtime interpreter, Jack Jason. Matlin relies on her professional partner, show newcomer Fabian Sanchez, to lead the way.
"He's my music," she said.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Tony winner fought for her spot on 'Dancing with the Stars'
Like ships passing in the night two "Dancing With the Stars" competitors seemed to be on alternate planes of existence.
Marissa Jaret Winokur, 5 feet tall, was walking past the 6-foot-6 Penn Jillette.
"I said Hi' and he didn't say anything," Winokur recalls. "Then I realized: I was completely below his radar. Penn didn't even see me."
There might be a metaphor there; or maybe just a daydreamer. "I'm frequently lost in my thoughts," Jillette says.
But mostly, her story illustrates something basic: "Dancing With the Stars" - which has its first two eliminations Tuesday (March 18) - has extreme contrasts in:
- Age. Mario, a rhythm-and-blues singer, is 21; Priscilla Presley is 62.
- Size. Jillette, a magician, and Jason Taylor, a pro football star, are each 6-6; Winokur (a Tony winner) is 5-foot, Kristi Yamaguchi (an Olympic skating champion) is 5-1.
- Native country. Cristian de la Fuente, an actor, is from Chile; Monica Seles, a tennis great, is from Yugoslavia.
- And intangibles. For some, this will seem easy. They look athletic (Adam Carolla, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenberg); they really are athletes (Taylor, Yamaguchi, Seles). Others face major obstacles - particularly actress Marlee Matlin, who is hearing-impaired.
For an extreme contrast, however, meet Jillette and Winokur.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Marissa Jaret Winokur, 5 feet tall, was walking past the 6-foot-6 Penn Jillette.
"I said Hi' and he didn't say anything," Winokur recalls. "Then I realized: I was completely below his radar. Penn didn't even see me."
There might be a metaphor there; or maybe just a daydreamer. "I'm frequently lost in my thoughts," Jillette says.
But mostly, her story illustrates something basic: "Dancing With the Stars" - which has its first two eliminations Tuesday (March 18) - has extreme contrasts in:
- Age. Mario, a rhythm-and-blues singer, is 21; Priscilla Presley is 62.
- Size. Jillette, a magician, and Jason Taylor, a pro football star, are each 6-6; Winokur (a Tony winner) is 5-foot, Kristi Yamaguchi (an Olympic skating champion) is 5-1.
- Native country. Cristian de la Fuente, an actor, is from Chile; Monica Seles, a tennis great, is from Yugoslavia.
- And intangibles. For some, this will seem easy. They look athletic (Adam Carolla, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Guttenberg); they really are athletes (Taylor, Yamaguchi, Seles). Others face major obstacles - particularly actress Marlee Matlin, who is hearing-impaired.
For an extreme contrast, however, meet Jillette and Winokur.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Students find fun, inspiration at California’s only Fred Astaire Dance Studio
Friday Night series: Getting in step at Fred Astaire Dance Studio
POPULAR TV SHOWS MOVE MANY TO ASTAIRE STUDIO
The small sign tucked in the front window of
The handmade sign is just one of the homey touches that keep people coming to the unlikely dance studio in the far end of
The "club night" parties hosted by owners Bill and Floy Ranells every Friday night make all the lessons worthwhile. They turn the lights down low, signal the band it's time and away they go. The samba, the fox trot, the cha-cha-cha.
"Dancing is coming back," said Bill Ranells, a fast-talking former saxophone player and "a pretty good tango dancer," who bought the franchise 20 years ago.
In another era, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers light-stepping on the big screen inspired would-be dancers to take lessons. These days, it's dance shows on TV.
Click here to read the full text of this article, and to see streaming video and photos of students kicking up their heels on a recent Friday night at FADS in
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Mitchell, Berkley, Paterson and O'Meara Set for Bravo's "Step It Up & Dance"
Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell will mentor young dancers in the forthcoming Bravo Television reality program "Step It Up & Dance," which is set to premiere April 3.
The new series will be hosted by actress and dancer Elizabeth Berkley (Sly Fox, "Showgirls") and boasts judges Vincent Paterson, who has choreographed Broadway's Kiss of the Spider Woman, Madonna's "Blond Ambition" tour and Michael Jackson's "Bad" tour; and Nancy O'Meara, currently enjoying success with 'tween sensations "Hannah Montana" and the High School Musical tours.
"Step It Up & Dance" brings together dancers from around the country, challenging them to master dance styles from ballet and ballroom, to Broadway and burlesque. Press notes state, "Whether it's a music video one week or a Vegas spectacular the next, Bravo's new dance series will feature challenges in which the dancers audition for a range of parts, designed to showcase their versatility and moves. As the competition gets fierce and contestants are eliminated, only one person will get the final 'call back' and the chance to perform, with the ultimate dancer winning a cash prize."
Click here to read the full text of this article.
The new series will be hosted by actress and dancer Elizabeth Berkley (Sly Fox, "Showgirls") and boasts judges Vincent Paterson, who has choreographed Broadway's Kiss of the Spider Woman, Madonna's "Blond Ambition" tour and Michael Jackson's "Bad" tour; and Nancy O'Meara, currently enjoying success with 'tween sensations "Hannah Montana" and the High School Musical tours.
"Step It Up & Dance" brings together dancers from around the country, challenging them to master dance styles from ballet and ballroom, to Broadway and burlesque. Press notes state, "Whether it's a music video one week or a Vegas spectacular the next, Bravo's new dance series will feature challenges in which the dancers audition for a range of parts, designed to showcase their versatility and moves. As the competition gets fierce and contestants are eliminated, only one person will get the final 'call back' and the chance to perform, with the ultimate dancer winning a cash prize."
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Fred Astaire’s Belmont, Mass. Studio Makes Headlines
At Fred Astaire Dance Studio, they are dancing to the stars
On Friday night, the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in
“The dress rehearsal gives the competitors a chance to feel comfortable moving in their dresses,” said instructor Michelle Montanez. “It also gives the new students a chance to see what a competition is like.”
The students of the studio gathered that night to dance in mock heats, or about one and a half minutes of a specialized dance, to perfect their moves and shake off some nerves before the 37th annual DanceSport Competition to be held later this month in
Click here to read the full text of this article.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Tiger Electronics to Release U-DANCE Video Game
Unique System Lets Players Actually Step in to the Game
Interactive video games have always been a hit with kids of all ages, and it’s no surprise that the recent dance-craze permeating popular culture has inspired the gaming industry to add another dancing game to its repertoire (some of you may remember Dance Dance Revolution).
In fall 2008, Tiger Electronics (a Hasbro, Inc. brand) is set to launch U-DANCE, a completely wireless and dance-mat free game system that features motion sensing technology which allows players full range of movement and the ability to using their body to control game play. The U-DANCE system will feature popular dance music including Run It by Grammy-nominated pop artist Chris Brown.
Pop artist Chris Brown shows off his dance moves at the introduction of the U-DANCE gaming system at the Hasbro showroom at the American International Toy Fair in
Monday, March 03, 2008
Glorious Debbie Reynolds, Stepping Out Again
A star in her own right, and currently the host of the hit stage show “Simply Ballroom”, actor and dancer Debbie Reynolds, reminisced about her career with a reporter from the Hartford Courant this month.
Debbie Reynolds knows what it's like to be a regular gal thrown into a situation where she is expected to dance like a dream — as well as a dynamo.
At 18 she was cast in the 1952 MGM movie musical "Singin' in the Rain," where she famously hoofed it up between such seasoned dancers as Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor.
As a plucky teenager starting out in the film business 60 years ago, she can identify with the anyone-can-do-it-if-they-work-hard spirit of such popular TV shows as "So You Think You Can Dance?" and "Dancing With the Stars."
Reynolds is in Hartford to rehearse the launch of the U.S. tour of the popular British show, "Strictly Ballroom," which she hosts. The show premieres tonight at 7 at Hartford's Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. It features more than a dozen professional ballroom dancers as well as a pair of "American Idol" singers: Anthony Federov and Vonzell Solomon.
Reynolds, who turns 76 next month, was perfectly coiffed, elegantly dressed (a stylish Technicolor jacket) and prepared to tell tales of old Hollywood last week at the Bushnell. With a career that goes back to the late '40s, the petite, poised, blue-eyed star is the queen mother of MGM's golden age of film, keeping movie memories alive with sharp-eyed, behind-the-scenes detail.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
The Hartford performance took place on March 2, 2008, but the show has U.S. tour dates booked through 2008. Click here to locate a “Simply Ballroom” performance near you.
Debbie Reynolds knows what it's like to be a regular gal thrown into a situation where she is expected to dance like a dream — as well as a dynamo.
At 18 she was cast in the 1952 MGM movie musical "Singin' in the Rain," where she famously hoofed it up between such seasoned dancers as Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor.
As a plucky teenager starting out in the film business 60 years ago, she can identify with the anyone-can-do-it-if-they-work-hard spirit of such popular TV shows as "So You Think You Can Dance?" and "Dancing With the Stars."
Reynolds is in Hartford to rehearse the launch of the U.S. tour of the popular British show, "Strictly Ballroom," which she hosts. The show premieres tonight at 7 at Hartford's Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. It features more than a dozen professional ballroom dancers as well as a pair of "American Idol" singers: Anthony Federov and Vonzell Solomon.
Reynolds, who turns 76 next month, was perfectly coiffed, elegantly dressed (a stylish Technicolor jacket) and prepared to tell tales of old Hollywood last week at the Bushnell. With a career that goes back to the late '40s, the petite, poised, blue-eyed star is the queen mother of MGM's golden age of film, keeping movie memories alive with sharp-eyed, behind-the-scenes detail.
Click here to read the full text of this article.
The Hartford performance took place on March 2, 2008, but the show has U.S. tour dates booked through 2008. Click here to locate a “Simply Ballroom” performance near you.
Sox players shake their moneymakers, raise funds for charity
Jonathan Papelbon, of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, looked like he was trying out for a weekend gig at Club Cafe when he chose a black, see-through lace bodysuit to compete in World Series MVP Mike Lowell’s “Dancing with the Stars” benefit in Florida last weekend.
Pap, who merengued with professional dancer Teresa Kasler, didn’t win the competition, but he did take home the “Bringing Sexy Back” award.
The contest was judged by a number of Red Sox playes, including Javier Lopez, Jason Varitek, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Sean Casey.
Word from spring training is that Papelbon's unwashed lacy black number is headed for the charity auction block. At least Papelbon kept his shirt on. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was showing off his merengue moves when he suddenly ripped his shirt off to reveal “Daddy” painted in glitter on his chest.
“Pedroia is a moron. You can write that - he is a moron,” manager Terry Francona told the
Herald’s Michael Silverman after the event. “He was dancing, he looked like a puppet on a string. It’s funny because he’s such a little gamer but he’s looking over at us knowing we’re just crushing him. He’s drinking Red Bull, he’s exhausted, he’s trying to do these things with this girl, which he’s not strong enough to do. It was hilarious. I’m glad I went.”
Alex Cora, who has some major league moves, showed them off with the lovely Latasha. But it was Lowell - the host of the evening - who took home the “Golden Shoes” trophy for dancing a spicy salsa with dance queen Christine Lopez.
The “Stars” event was a private affair for Lowell's charity that assists low-income families in Miami and Boston struggling with cancer. The foundation also funds baseball programs for inner city kids.
For the full text of the article, click on http://news.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view.bg?articleid=1077304.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
ABC reveals 'Dancing with the Stars' sixth-season cast
ABC has revealed the identities of the 12 celebrities and professional dancers who will be waltzing their way into primetime when “Dancing with the Stars'” sixth season premieres with a 90-minute performance episode on Monday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The sixth-season celebrity cast announcement was made by a trio of former “Dancing with the Stars” second-season contestants, including tenth-place finisher Kenny Mayne, fourth-place finisher Lisa Rinna and runner-up Jerry Rice - during Monday night’s live “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” finale broadcast on ABC. The names of the professionals they would be paired with were released on Tuesday morning.
They are:
Fabian Sanchez with Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin
Louis Van Amstel with Elvis’ former wife, actress Priscilla Presley
Edyta Sliwinska with NFL all-star Jason Taylor
Derek Hough with actress Shannon Elizabeth
Julianne Hough with comedian Adam Carolla
Mark Ballas with Olympic gold medalist figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi
Johnathan Roberts with tennis pro Monica Seles
Karina Smirnoff with hip-hop artist Mario
Anna Trebunskaya with actor Steve Guttenberg
Cheryl Burke with Latin heartthrob Christian De La Fuente
Kym Johnson with comedian Penn Jillette
Tony Dovolani with Tony award-winning actress Marissa Jaret Winokur
Both Sanchez and Dovolani are members of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios family. This is Sanchez’s first time on the show; Dovolani has participated many times before, being paired last season with actress Jane Seymour."Talk about diversity," “Dancing with the Stars” judge and “Dance War” coach Bruno Tonioli said following the cast announcement. "Well that makes it more interesting," agreed fellow “Dancing” judge and “Dance War” coach Carrie Ann Inaba. "Because you never know what's going to happen. It's unpredictable that way." There was one popular professional dancer whose name was demonstrably absent from the list - Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy reportedly “needs a break” and is skipping “Dancing with the Stars'” spring 2008 installment.
Following” Dancing with the Stars'” March 17 premiere in its regular Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT time slot, ABC will air” Dancing with the Stars'” first sixth-season results show broadcast on March 25 at its regular Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT time.
The sixth-season celebrity cast announcement was made by a trio of former “Dancing with the Stars” second-season contestants, including tenth-place finisher Kenny Mayne, fourth-place finisher Lisa Rinna and runner-up Jerry Rice - during Monday night’s live “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” finale broadcast on ABC. The names of the professionals they would be paired with were released on Tuesday morning.
They are:
Fabian Sanchez with Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin
Louis Van Amstel with Elvis’ former wife, actress Priscilla Presley
Edyta Sliwinska with NFL all-star Jason Taylor
Derek Hough with actress Shannon Elizabeth
Julianne Hough with comedian Adam Carolla
Mark Ballas with Olympic gold medalist figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi
Johnathan Roberts with tennis pro Monica Seles
Karina Smirnoff with hip-hop artist Mario
Anna Trebunskaya with actor Steve Guttenberg
Cheryl Burke with Latin heartthrob Christian De La Fuente
Kym Johnson with comedian Penn Jillette
Tony Dovolani with Tony award-winning actress Marissa Jaret Winokur
Both Sanchez and Dovolani are members of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios family. This is Sanchez’s first time on the show; Dovolani has participated many times before, being paired last season with actress Jane Seymour."Talk about diversity," “Dancing with the Stars” judge and “Dance War” coach Bruno Tonioli said following the cast announcement. "Well that makes it more interesting," agreed fellow “Dancing” judge and “Dance War” coach Carrie Ann Inaba. "Because you never know what's going to happen. It's unpredictable that way." There was one popular professional dancer whose name was demonstrably absent from the list - Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy reportedly “needs a break” and is skipping “Dancing with the Stars'” spring 2008 installment.
Following” Dancing with the Stars'” March 17 premiere in its regular Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT time slot, ABC will air” Dancing with the Stars'” first sixth-season results show broadcast on March 25 at its regular Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT time.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Sean Hayes won't be 'Dancing with the Stars'
Former “Will & Grace” star Sean Hayes apparently won't be lacing up his ballroom shoes for “Dancing with the Stars'” upcoming sixth season.
Hayes' representative has refuted a recent report that the actor would likely be competing as a Dancing with the Stars' sixth-season celebrity participant, Entertainment Tonight reported recently.
A friend of the 37-year-old previously told In Touch Weekly that Hayes had been approached to appear as a “Dancing with the Stars'” sixth-season celebrity participant.
"He's probably going to do it," the friend told In Touch. "Sean can bust a move with the best of them."
Hayes received a 2000 Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series thanks to his Jack McFarland character on “Will & Grace,” which ran on NBC from fall 1998 to spring 2006. Hayes most recently co-starred in “The Bucket List” with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.
“Dancing with the Stars 6” will debut with a 90-minute performance episode broadcast on Monday, March 17 in its regular Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT time period. ABC will then air “Dancing with the Stars'” first sixth-season results show broadcast on March 25 in its regular Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT time slot.
”Dancing with the Stars'” sixth-season cast will be revealed during ABC's live two-hour finale broadcast of “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” on Monday, February 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Maples, Hayes going 'Dancing?’
Marla Maples, the 44-year-old former Mrs. Donald Trump, has reportedly been cast as a “Dancing with the Stars” sixth-season celebrity participant, In Touch Weekly reported Friday.
"She's landed a spot on the hottest show," a friend of Marla's" told In Touch. "She's in great shape, so dancing is only going to make her look even better."
In addition, the friend told In Touch that “Dancing with the Stars'” producers are hoping “The Apprentice” star will appear as a member of the show's studio audience to watch his ex dance - a scenario that seems highly unlikely. Last summer, Maples appeared in ABC's “Ex-Wives Club,” a reality series that helped recent divorcees rid themselves of everything reminiscent of their former significant other in an effort to move forward with their lives. She appeared in the short-lived show with Angie Everhart - the secret saboteur of ABC's “Celebrity Mole Yucatan” - and the former Mrs. Kevin Federline, Shar Jackson. According to a December In Touch report, former “Will & Grace” actor Sean Hayes may also be a part of “Dancing with the Stars'” sixth season cast.
In addition, E! Online gossip columnist Mark Malkin reported last week that Elvis Presley's ex, Priscilla Presley, has "signed on, or is close to signing on" to the show's sixth-season cast. “Dancing with the Stars 6” will premiere Monday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. As in previous seasons, the network is not commenting on sixth-season casting reports. ABC is expected to formally announce the season's cast later this month.
"She's landed a spot on the hottest show," a friend of Marla's" told In Touch. "She's in great shape, so dancing is only going to make her look even better."
In addition, the friend told In Touch that “Dancing with the Stars'” producers are hoping “The Apprentice” star will appear as a member of the show's studio audience to watch his ex dance - a scenario that seems highly unlikely. Last summer, Maples appeared in ABC's “Ex-Wives Club,” a reality series that helped recent divorcees rid themselves of everything reminiscent of their former significant other in an effort to move forward with their lives. She appeared in the short-lived show with Angie Everhart - the secret saboteur of ABC's “Celebrity Mole Yucatan” - and the former Mrs. Kevin Federline, Shar Jackson. According to a December In Touch report, former “Will & Grace” actor Sean Hayes may also be a part of “Dancing with the Stars'” sixth season cast.
In addition, E! Online gossip columnist Mark Malkin reported last week that Elvis Presley's ex, Priscilla Presley, has "signed on, or is close to signing on" to the show's sixth-season cast. “Dancing with the Stars 6” will premiere Monday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. As in previous seasons, the network is not commenting on sixth-season casting reports. ABC is expected to formally announce the season's cast later this month.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Dancers prepare for Las Vegas competition
A Web site dedicated to the 2008 Cross Country DanceSport Championships (CCDC) is now available to the general public.
Log on to http://www.ccdcfredastaire.com/ to learn more about this prestigious competition, which will be held April 16 to 20 in
From American Smooth to Open Cabaret, International Latin to Country Western, the ballroom will be filled with amateur and professional dancers all vying for top honors. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be part of this exciting event!
“America’s Ballroom Challenge” takes the floor
Starting Wednesday, Jan. 30, PBS began airing “America ’s Ballroom Challenge,” an exciting series that brings together top dancers from around the world who compete across dance styles for the title of “America
The series is returning for a third season with five one-hour episodes. Shot in high definition at the world’s largest ballroom dancing competition in
Hosted by actress and dancer Jasmine Guy and seven-time U.S. National Latin Dance Champion Ron Montez, the first installment of “
The six finalists in each style will first compete as a group, performing the five standard dances in the category, with expert judges scoring their performances. Then the dancers will have an opportunity to shine, performing a show dance solo. Each program will end with the crowning of one couple, named champions in that style.
In the fifth and final program, the four champions will compete across dance styles for the coveted title, with each couple performing two pull-out-all-the-stops solos.
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