As Season 12 of Dancing with the Stars gets ready to kick off this March 21, celebrity contestants are prepping their moves and hoping that what they’ve got will be enough to take home the much-coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.
Contestant and former Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson was quoted as saying she’s really just a freestyler and that other contestants such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Chris Jericho and Ralph Macchio might have an edge on her because "they’ve done choreography before."
From the entertainment website Gather, blogger Matt Clark quotes Kendra: "I'm all about freestyle and shaking my butt! That's all I got! And I think Kirstie Alley wins the popularity vote; she has the most fans, I think."
Meanwhile, contestant Sugar Ray Leonard says he’s "in it to win it, baby!" and BleacherReport.com has their own "Ten Reasons He’ll Succeed" list posted on their website:
10.) He had to deal with Don King
9.) He knows how to deal with adversity
8.) TV cameras love him
7.) He knows a thing or two about footwork
6.) He gives a great interview
5.) It’s just another comeback for him’
4.) He’s a reality TV veteran (hosted The Contender)
3.) He looks the part (whatever that means)
2.) He’s got the competitive edge
1.) He could make boxing look graceful
Outside of the boxing ring, actress Kirstie Alley says she’s probably been asked to appear on DWTS "every year" before finally agreeing to go on for Season 12. She told Zap2it.com she changed her mind this year because, "It's sort of like a guy who keeps asking you out on a date. You say, 'No, no, no, no,' but then you think, 'He's so tenacious. All right, OK…."
As far as her first rehearsal went, Kirstie admitted to being unprepared for the workout: "I literally thought I was going to die," she told Zap2it. "I was dehydrated. You've got to drink a lot of water."
Monday, March 07, 2011
Friday, March 04, 2011
"Dancing with the Stars" Pro Lineup Announced
The entire lineup of professional dancers set to appear on Season 12 of Dancing With The Stars is listed below. (The pros are in bold, their celebrity partners are to their right.) The season starts on Monday, March 21st!
Tony Dovolani --- Wendy Williams
Anna Trebunskaya --- Sugar Ray Leonard
Chelsie Hightower --- Romeo
Cheryl Burke --- Chris Jericho
Dmitry Chaplin --- Petra Nemcova
Karina Smirnoff --- Ralph Macchio
Kym Johnson --- Hines Ward
Lacey Schwimmer --- Mike Catherwood
Louis Van Amstel --- Kendra Wilkinson
Maksim Chmerkovskiy --- Kirstie Alley
Mark Ballas --- Chelsea Kane
Check out all their bios at the DWTS website, here.
Also check out the bios of the celebrity dancers, here.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Dancing with the Stars: Seeason 12 Celebrities Announced
Last night Dancing with the Stars announced its celebrity cast of competitors for Season 12. This season's Dancing Stars are:
Men
- Rapper Lil' Romeo
- Retired boxer Sugar Ray Leonard
- The original "Karate Kid," Ralph Macchio
- Wrestler Chris Jericho
- Football player Hines Ward
- "Loveline" host Mike Catherwood
Women
- Disney actress Chelsea Kane
- Model Petra Nemcova
- Reality star Kendra Wilkinson
- Talk show host Wendy Williams
- Actress Kirstie Alley
Meet the entire cast on ABC's website, here.
Men
- Rapper Lil' Romeo
- Retired boxer Sugar Ray Leonard
- The original "Karate Kid," Ralph Macchio
- Wrestler Chris Jericho
- Football player Hines Ward
- "Loveline" host Mike Catherwood
Women
- Disney actress Chelsea Kane
- Model Petra Nemcova
- Reality star Kendra Wilkinson
- Talk show host Wendy Williams
- Actress Kirstie Alley
Meet the entire cast on ABC's website, here.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
"Live to Dance" Steps onto the National Dance Stage
The world of dance has greatly benefited from such television hits as Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, and this year dancing fans everywhere have been given yet another treat to satisfy their craving for high-energy dance competition.
Live to Dance premiered on January 4, 2011 with a diverse assortment of acts and with a judging format that gave the viewing audience considerable say in which acts moved forward through the competition. Produced by former American Idol judge Paula Abdul, who also acts as one of three judges (called “experts” on this show) in addition to her role as being a coach and “mentor” to the competitors, the show is derived from the successful British series, Got to Dance. In the 2-hour premiere episode of the American spin-off, 17 acts were chosen by the judges (Abdul and co-judges Travis Payne and Kimberly Wyatt) and one act was chosen by the voting audience to participate in the series’ semi-finals. The semi-finalists were then divided into three groups of six to appear in three semi-final episodes which aired January 12, 19, and 26. In each of those episodes, two acts were chosen – one by the judges and the other by the voting audience – to advance onto the finals. Beginning in February, then, the six remaining finalists performed in front of the audience for the last time before voting began for the show’s Grand Finale episode, which aired on February 9th, and in which the contestants were whittled down first to three finalists and then to two before the winner of the competition was announced.
Live to Dance has a no-age-limit, no-style-limit format which many viewers may have found difficult to judge the various acts by after years of watching episodes of Dancing With The Stars or even the more diverse So You Think You Can Dance. (The acts on Live can range from solos and couples to large ensembles of dancers, and can consist of anything from a Lindy Hop presentation to a Broadway-style show.)
The contestants on Live to Dance compete for a $500,000 prize, which certainly makes all their preparation, practice and performances worthwhile for them. Unfortunately, the new series didn't get the best of reviews from a number of media sources, who were critical of both the show's format and its talent, so its unclear how long of a run the show will enjoy. Still, while it lasts, Live to Dance offers yet another outlet for aspiring dancers to show off their talents on the national stage while providing yet another showcase for the dance profession itself. And for that we can only wish them the best and hope that the televised dance craze that started out with DWTS and SYTYCD can continue on with this latest incarnation.
Oh yeah, and the winner of this year’s Live to Dance competition? Congratulations to ballroom dancers D’Angelo & Amanda!
* *
Live to Dance premiered on January 4, 2011 with a diverse assortment of acts and with a judging format that gave the viewing audience considerable say in which acts moved forward through the competition. Produced by former American Idol judge Paula Abdul, who also acts as one of three judges (called “experts” on this show) in addition to her role as being a coach and “mentor” to the competitors, the show is derived from the successful British series, Got to Dance. In the 2-hour premiere episode of the American spin-off, 17 acts were chosen by the judges (Abdul and co-judges Travis Payne and Kimberly Wyatt) and one act was chosen by the voting audience to participate in the series’ semi-finals. The semi-finalists were then divided into three groups of six to appear in three semi-final episodes which aired January 12, 19, and 26. In each of those episodes, two acts were chosen – one by the judges and the other by the voting audience – to advance onto the finals. Beginning in February, then, the six remaining finalists performed in front of the audience for the last time before voting began for the show’s Grand Finale episode, which aired on February 9th, and in which the contestants were whittled down first to three finalists and then to two before the winner of the competition was announced.
Live to Dance has a no-age-limit, no-style-limit format which many viewers may have found difficult to judge the various acts by after years of watching episodes of Dancing With The Stars or even the more diverse So You Think You Can Dance. (The acts on Live can range from solos and couples to large ensembles of dancers, and can consist of anything from a Lindy Hop presentation to a Broadway-style show.)
The contestants on Live to Dance compete for a $500,000 prize, which certainly makes all their preparation, practice and performances worthwhile for them. Unfortunately, the new series didn't get the best of reviews from a number of media sources, who were critical of both the show's format and its talent, so its unclear how long of a run the show will enjoy. Still, while it lasts, Live to Dance offers yet another outlet for aspiring dancers to show off their talents on the national stage while providing yet another showcase for the dance profession itself. And for that we can only wish them the best and hope that the televised dance craze that started out with DWTS and SYTYCD can continue on with this latest incarnation.
Oh yeah, and the winner of this year’s Live to Dance competition? Congratulations to ballroom dancers D’Angelo & Amanda!
Friday, February 04, 2011
Karen Hauer Compares Performing on TV versus Stage
In the latest issue of Dance Beat, writer Andrew Pueschel interviews professional dancer Karen Hauer.
Hauer and her husband & partner, Matt, are currently ranked #6 in the USA in NDCA American Rhythm and captured 2nd place in Mambo at the 2007 NDC Championships, according to Hauer's Facebook page. Hauer has also danced with partners Kevin Hunte (Cha-Cha) and Victor Smalley (Tango, hip-hop) on TV's So You Think You Can Dance.
Hauer is out of the SYTYCD competition these days. She started touring with the theatrical show "Burn the Floor" last year (actually late December of 2009). In the interview, Pueschel asks Hauer about the difference between performing on television and performing on stage.
"It's totally different," Hauer responds. "[On TV] you only have ONE chance to create a character that the audience will either get behind or turn their backs on." She said that in contrast to television, the stage allows a performer to develop their character. "My character grows throughout the show and I can be more myself - who Karen really is."
Pueschel then asked Hauer how she thinks experienced ballroom dancers will view "Burn the Floor."
"Those who know more about the techniques seem to appreciate not only the difficulty and clarity of the routines, but [also] relate to the insanely high level of energy - the acting, the development of each character and the telling of each individual story throughout the evening," she explained. "It really is something that dancers of all levels can be inspired by!"
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...
This past January has been a snowy one for us here at FADS Corporate. In one week's time we had about three feet of snow dumped on us as two storms came by, one after the other (click on the photo above for a larger view). Now it's snowing again today, and local forecasts are calling for another foot-plus to fall by Wednesday.
Happy days!
Friday, January 28, 2011
"Dancing With The Stars" Changed Bristol Palin's Life
Pop Eater reports that Bristol Palin says she has left her Alaska home for good and that "Dancing With the Stars" was the catalyst.
"Bristol loves her mom and family, but it was time for her to start her own life with her son," writes Rob Shuter of Pop Eater, citing a friend of Palin's. "'Dancing With the Stars' changed her life. She had never left home before, and it gave her the confidence to know she can survive and finally step out of her mom's shadow."
Check out the entire story here.
* *
"Bristol loves her mom and family, but it was time for her to start her own life with her son," writes Rob Shuter of Pop Eater, citing a friend of Palin's. "'Dancing With the Stars' changed her life. She had never left home before, and it gave her the confidence to know she can survive and finally step out of her mom's shadow."
Check out the entire story here.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
West Coast Dance Championships Results
Below are the award winners at this year's FADS West Coast Dance Championships.
Congratulations to all the award winners in this year’s event. Special thanks to everyone who helped organize this event and to all the attendees!
Top Amateur Couple
Maria and Tony Sanchez, Pasadena, CA
Top Newcomer Students
Male - David Harris, Portland, OR
Female - Erin Brown, West Hartford, CT
Top Bronze Students
Male - Wayne Lee, San Diego
Female - Linda Coughlin, New York East
Top Silver Student
Barbara Fry, Memphis East
Top Gold Student
Barbara Fry, Memphis East
Top Male Teachers
6th Place - Martin Raphael, Oceanside
5th Place - Olaf Pries, West Hartford
4th Place - Tim Bishop, Chandler
3rd Place - Benjamin Smith, Memphis East
2nd Place - Eguene Graev, New York East
1st Place - Ryan Lockhart, Oceanside
Top Female Teachers
2nd Place - Jessica Reynolds, Portland
1st Place - Dani Palmer, San Diego
Top Studio Runner-Up: San Diego
Top Studio: Oceanside
Friday, January 21, 2011
New FADS Franchise Opens in Greenfield, WI
This news was first announced in our online In Step newsletter, but I thought I'd get it out here for those who don't subscribe to it.
We have welcomed in yet another Fred Astaire Dance Studio franchise, in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Owners Richard and Vanina Soppa have been with Fred Astaire for several years, now, and decided to start their own "Fred Astaire Family," which opened this January 10.
Visit their website here (which is still being put together).
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Fred Astaire "Top 10 Dance Scenes"
Over at a website called Film Misery, blogger Alex Carlson has put together what he calls Fred Astaire's top 10 finest dancing scenes. He's listed them all along with accompanying YouTube videos.
Regardless of whether you agree with his selections, the videos are some of Fred's best moments in film.
Check out the post here.
* *
Regardless of whether you agree with his selections, the videos are some of Fred's best moments in film.
Check out the post here.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
On New Year's Resolutions and Ballroom Dancing
The Upper Montclair FADS blog has a great post on New Year's resolutions that relate to ballroom dancing. Actually, the resolutions themselves are pretty general on their own, but the post follows up their listing with a more detailed analysis on why they are all, in fact, associated with the benefits of ballroom dance.
Read the Upper Montclair FADS post here.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Videos: 10th BDFI Malaysia Open DanceSport Championships
On January 9, 2011, the 10th BDFI Malaysia Open DanceSport Championship was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Below is a video clip from the event along with a link below that to more videos.
Check out this link for more videos of the 10th BDFI Malaysia Open DanceSport Championships 2011.
Check out this link for more videos of the 10th BDFI Malaysia Open DanceSport Championships 2011.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Stamford, CT, First Lady to Start “Dancing Classrooms”
Stamford, CT, first lady Maureen Pavia is set to launch her version of Dancing Classrooms today (January 10th) after the project was initially announced last September.
Pavia, who, according to The Daily Stamford, is herself an accomplished ballroom dancer, is excited about the opportunity. She spent a week in New York last November training for her role in the program. "I'm thrilled, I'm absolutely thrilled,” she told The Daily.
Dancing Classrooms was created in 1994 as the educational component of New York's American Ballroom Theater Company, and is being run in Stamford as part of Pavia’s Stamford Gives Back Association, The Daily reports. The program was established with the goal of helping to improve children’s self-esteem, confidence and social connections.
Pavia will be teaching dance at Stamford’s Waterside School, while another dancer, Maribel Velasco, of Fairfield, will teach at the city’s Boys & Girls Club, The Daily reports. The lessons will include “basic ballroom dancing,” according to Pavia, including the tango, cha-cha, and merengue.
[Photo credit: Deb Failla]
Friday, January 07, 2011
Junior High School Students Show Their Steps
Competitive ballroom dancing isn’t just for studios and television, and in December students at Jefferson Jr. High School, in Woodridge, Illinois, took to the dance floor to compete in that school’s 6th annual Dance Finals Contest.
“During the four-week unit,” writes Woodridge Patch Editor Mellissa Tussing, “the students worked on the waltz, cha-cha, tango and swing and line dancing.
“Students competed during each gym class to be named first, second or third for each of the four ballroom dances. One couple was chosen from each class to go to the dance finals,” Tussing explained in her December 18, 2010 story.
More than 70 judges took part in the final balloting. The top three couples were all 8th-graders, Tussing reported, with students Amanda McCash and Scott DeLaby eventually taking first place.
McCash told the Woodridge Patch her favorite dance is the tango, which she found to be the “least awkward,” and that her favorite part of the competition was just being able to dance with other students. "It was really fun being with our friends and dancing," she told the Patch.
“During the four-week unit,” writes Woodridge Patch Editor Mellissa Tussing, “the students worked on the waltz, cha-cha, tango and swing and line dancing.
“Students competed during each gym class to be named first, second or third for each of the four ballroom dances. One couple was chosen from each class to go to the dance finals,” Tussing explained in her December 18, 2010 story.
More than 70 judges took part in the final balloting. The top three couples were all 8th-graders, Tussing reported, with students Amanda McCash and Scott DeLaby eventually taking first place.
McCash told the Woodridge Patch her favorite dance is the tango, which she found to be the “least awkward,” and that her favorite part of the competition was just being able to dance with other students. "It was really fun being with our friends and dancing," she told the Patch.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Ballroom Dancing is Child's Play
Keeping your kids occupied can be a chore sometimes. (Keeping them away from video games can be even harder!)
Over at the Stop Tantrums blog, writer "Matt" has a great idea to keep our bored children busy: Ballroom dancing.
"For those who have been searching for a new activity for your youthful child that is certainly as advantageous to them as it is fun, how about ballroom dance lessons?" Matt writes.
Matt lists several of the advantages of putting the kids through lessons, including exercise, building confidence and making friends.
Check out the post here.
Monday, January 03, 2011
Eastern U.S. Dancesport Championships set for February in Boston
The Eastern United States Dancesport Championships are set for February 18-20, 2011, at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. According to the event's website, they are expecting an estimated 3000-plus participants. The three day event will include "a variety of dance, clothing, food, sports equipment and health-related products and services."
For more information, check out their webpage, here.
* *
For more information, check out their webpage, here.
"Burn the Floor" Comes to Oklahoma City to Start 2011
The stage production "Burn the Floor" came to us long before there ever was a Dancing with the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance. Celebrity Attractions now brings the show to Oklahoma City to kick off 2011...
Celebrity Attractions kicks off 2011 with production of ‘Burn the Floor'
Celebrity Attractions kicks off 2011 with production of ‘Burn the Floor'
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Ballroom Dancing Next Challenge for Wheelchair-bound Bodybuilding Champ
Vowing not to let misfortune bring him down, bodybuilder champ Nick Scott transformed himself in just a few years' time from a depressed, out-of-shape victim of a car crash (which left him wheelchair-bound) to a national bodybuilding champion.
Scott achieved his goal and then some, becoming the nation's leading advocate for wheelchair bodybuilding, according to Kansas City Star reporter Edward M. Eveld.
And now Scott's next challenge is to compete in ballroom dancing, which, he says in Eveld's article, "It’s totally different from power lifting and bodybuilding."
Scott and his dancing partner, Aubree Marchione, have already taken first-place awards at the Atlantic Coast Dancesport Championships in Philadelphia and the Heart of America Dancesport Championships in Kansas City, reports Eveld.
Check out Nick and Aubree in these videos from Scott's site: http://www.nickfitness.com/wheelchair_dancing
See also: Wheelchair Ballroom Dancing gets a Boost
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
West Coast Dance Championship Dates
The West Coast Championships are set for January 21 & 22, 2011 (Friday and Saturday):
Friday January 21, 2011
Hotel Check in
- All Smooth Divisions
- All International Latin Divisions
- All Smooth Solos and Showcases
Saturday January 22, 2011
- All Standard Divisions
- All Rhythm Divisions
- All Rhythm Solos and Showcases
Awards Banquet
Showcase of Championships featuring Mikhail Zharinov and Galina Detkina
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)