Rock the Reception

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

Tony Dovolani in Who's Who In America 2009

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

Hot Chick and a Guy!

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

Viva Las Vegas Benefit In Florida

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

Tony Dovolani in West Palm Beach

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

Dancing Under The Stars In Florida

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

A Student's Perspective

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FADS Spotlight Evening

Ilya Ifraimov & Nadia Goulina - America's Ballroom Challenge

Riccardo Cocchi & Yulia Zagoruychenko - Blackpool 2008

Spotlight On...Riccardo Cocchi

By Catherine Brill, Fred Astaire Corporate Copywriter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

White Plains Beginner’s Competition

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

Boca Raton, Florida

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

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

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

Scottsdale, Arizona

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

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

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

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

West Hartford Instructor Teaches News Team

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

Save The Date For Colonial Classic Dancesport Championships

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

Dancing With The Teen Stars in Memphis

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

Nickelodeon Show Brings Dance To Kids

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

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

Dance Shows On Television

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

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

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

Tribute To Cyd Charisse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Save The Date for Jersey Boys!

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

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

Dancing With Desire Recap

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

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

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

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

Click here to read a recap about this exciting event.