Empire State Dancesport Championships 2015

Report by Didio Barrera, Photography by Charles Ryder Photography 

“The little old lady sat on the porch of the farm-house. 

The little old lady rocked back and forth and crocheted. 

Oh, listen to the cricket, look at the rooster, smell the hay," I told her. 

And see the pretty little egg that the hen just laid. 

The little old lady took off her glasses and squinted. 

And how she responded literally had me floored. 

She said: "I'm glad to meet someone who appreciates the beauty that nature initiates. 

It's sweet to hear, but me, my dear, I'm truly bored. 

I miss those City Lights, those sparkling City Lights, 

Those twinkling City Lights blurring my eyes. 

I love those City Lights, the color of city sights that shine under City Lights tinting the skies.” 

Truly I could not have said it better myself. It’s been a while since a competition was run at the Marriott Grand Marquis on Times Square.  This hotel sits right on the square and from there by car, subway or even walking you have access to anything you could possibly want in NYC. 

The round windowed bar in the lobby (8^th floor) looks out into the lights and just makes me want to sing “City Lights! Those wonderful City Lights! Take the crickets and go shove 'em, urban crises, how I love 'em! Grime and grit and pretty City Lights. Walking lanes to pick a daisy, that could drive a person crazy. Home-made bread lies here like lead, and Polly's peach preserves-- oh, please, my nerves! City Lights, how I long for those City Lights, the bulbs of those beaming brights beckoning me there.” And I was totally there!

You are not a member. Please subscribe Here and Now!

World Professional Smooth Championship
Embassy Ball 2015

Report by Lena Kosovich
Photos by Charles Ryder Photography

Firstly I would like to thank the Dance Beat team for inviting me to comment on the Prestigious 2015 Professional World American Smooth Championships hosted by the Organizers of the “Embassy Ball” in Irvine, California.

You are not a member. Please subscribe Here and Now!

All 1’s for Nazar & Irina on Last Night!

On the last night Nazar Norov & Irina Kudryashova won the Pro Rhythm and also the overall prize in the Star Rhythm Tour, round 4.

Halloween In Indianapolis
Global Finale!

U.S dancers could be found in all corners of the country on Halloween weekend as 3 events were taking place in different parts of the country.  I was in Indiana attending the North American Imperial Star Ball which also hosted the finale of the Global Dancesport series.  Hosted by David Medeiros and Julie Stadler at the Sheraton Indianapolis at Keystone Crossing, the competition ran smoothly and in good spirit, thanks to the help of music director Rick Popp and Mark Brock using the opportunity to practice his karaoke styling.  The only place this weekend I am pretty sure where you could do an international VW to "We Are The Champion", original version!!

I would like to mention some of the pro/am competitors who were at the top of their game this weekend.

In the Bronze Smooth category, Alicia Richhart dancing with Christopher Spalding, Cheryle Russo dancing with Josh Tilford, Tom Travgott dancing with Shalene Archer and Charlie Carboneau dancing with Kelly Bartlett.

In Silver Smooth, congratulations to Stacey Tilford dancing with Josh Tilford and Judy Renau dancing withBen Ermis.

Open Smooth "A" went to Karen Jacob dancing with Christopher Spakding and the "B" to  Wendy Stambaugh dancing with Ben Ermis.

Rhythm
In the Bronze, Alyssa Ivanson dancing with Tony Didier, Peggy Lavinski dancing with Aleko Khutsidze and Tim Bolin dancing with Shalene Archer.
Silver, Chris Wilson dancing with Emilia Goldberg.
 
Open, Sophia D'Angelo dancing with Ilya Reyzin.  Sophia was also the recipient on top overall lady for the Global tour.

Ballroom
Bronze, Stacey Tilford dancing with Josh Tilford, Nancy Farrell dancing with Andrea Stefano.

Silver, Dawn Phillips dancing with Jari Muller, Donna Torsney dancing with Ben Ermis.

Open, Joyce Lo dancing with Guennadi Lakounine, Sherry Borchelt dancing with Andrea Stefano.

Latin
Bronze, Peggy Lavinski dancing with Aleko Khutsidze, Elizabeth Callahan dancing with Gert Roslander
Silver, Karen Rembold dancing with Gert Roslender

In the Pro category it was a very successful weekend for Roman Malkhasyan & Viktoriya Kleyman, they won the RS Rhythm and Smooth, the Open Rhythm and came in second to Adrian & Hannan Dydynsky in the Open Smooth.
 
The Open Ballroom winners in all dances were Michal Towliszew & Tiffany Fung followed by Pavel Cherdantsau& Svetlana Rudkovskaya who also won the Showdance.  

Also a good show for Jason Rivers & Elisa Seja who won the RS Ballroom and came in 2nd in the RS Smooth.

The Open Latin went to Dmytro Kovalenko & Nina Kovalenko.  
But none of these dancers were happier than Josh Tilford who was the overall recipient of the top teacher price for the Global tour taking home $10,000!

Congrats to all, and thank you to David and Julie.

Embassy Ball Dancesport Championship - Open Amateur Latin

Report by Eugene Katsevman
Photos by Charles Ryder Photography

This year’s Embassy Ball was a spectacular event — supported by top talent in every category, and capped off by a magnificent World Professional Ballroom Championship.

You are not a member. Please subscribe Here and Now!