RSF BLOG

I am still recovering from last weekend in Atlanta where we had a “Spooktacular” time! It was the weekend before Halloween and there were plenty of tricks and treats to be seen on and off the dance floor. Competitors were treated to a first rate Rising Star Friendly event in the stunning Peachtree Ballroom of the Westin hotel. With elaborate chandeliers illuminating the ballroom and balconies surrounding the dance floor, this room set the stage for the Rising Star Circuit Grand Finale in grand style.

Dancers came out in their finest on Thursday evening to honor the RSC Champions and cheer on the International standard competitors. The competition was followed by the sizzling show ‘Caliente’ performed by the Atlanta Ballroom Dance Theatre.

Friday’s competition brought out the American Smooth dancers. With ballgowns swirling in a colorful rainbow of chiffon and rhinestones, the dancers waltzed and tangoed across the floor to the powerful music of DJ Jeff Strait. Competitors were up bright and early putting on last minute touches to their hair and make up, making sure everything looked picture-perfect for the camera. (Check out decaDance Photgraphy, our RSC resident photographer, for all the shots taken at ADC). The highlight of Friday evening’s competition was the hotly contested Open American Smooth pro-am Invitational, where the winner was awarded a one-year dress sponsorship from Jordy International. Congratulations Aja!

The evening ended with a fun Showcase of Stars from many of our RSF Pro-Am dancers. They entertained us with a myriad of tricks (lifts, drops, splits and spins), and treated us to some beautiful story-telling from two army guys on leave with their girls, to a big spender!

Saturday started out with bang! The American Rhythm and Intl. Latin freestyles kept the music pumping and people jumping throughout the day. The big treat of the afternoon was the surprise performance from some of Atlanta’s finest up-and-coming youth dancers, including Ana Lorente’s 7-yr. old daughter, who entertained us with a flirty samba.

Saturday evening was full of scholarships, the Rhythm Pro-Am Masters and Invitational, and awards to recognize the top teachers, students and studio of the year for the Rising Star Circuit. Many people worked tirelessly throughout the year to dance at these events and the deserve a huge round of applause for their commitment to and passion for dance! (Be sure to check out the upcoming anniversary issue of the RSF Pro-Am Voice magazine for more in-depth info on the winners at ADC).

Finally, amid all the tricks and treats of competing, remember to take care of yourself! Both mind and body are important, and it’s essential for you to keep things in perspective. I write this because we (the RSF) are committed to raising awareness for cancer research and have dedicated the 2012 RSC season to raffling off a one-of-a-kind piece of wearable artwork donated by our own Top RSF Student, Marilyn Arnold Palley (aka, Maxx). I will write more about this beautiful act of kindness and support in our next blog. Till then, keep dancing!

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice
ABI feature writer

Every year as the autumn leaves start to change, it makes my heart beat faster with anticipation for one of my favorite dance competitions…. The Atlanta Dance Classic - coming up in just a few short days! I am looking forward to lots of spectacular dancing and connecting with all the rising stars out there. As leaves are turning, who do you think will be turning the heads of judges and spectators alike on the dance floor? One thing is for sure, we won’t be disappointed by the caliber of dancing or the fire of the crowd as Eddie Ares brings the 2011 season of the Rising Star Circuit to a grande finale close!

Throughout the year we have crowned winners of RSC events at eaqch competition. These rising star champions will be honored and recognized for their achievements on the dance floor at a special dinner on Thursday night. The competition will last throughout the weekend to help the top teachers and students rally for their last points to win the big prize. But most of all, people will be there to do what they love best- prize or no prize… dance their hearts out!

So turn off the TV, turn off the computer and the cell phone. Instead, turn on the passion; turn on the lights, camera, and action. Don’t miss out on all the RSF fun at Atlanta Dance Classic! I hope to see you there!

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice
ABI feature writer

I’m sure you’ve seen the pink ribbons, pink bagels, T-sirts, pink lemonade served on the Delta flights, and much, much more out this month to ‘Race For The Cure.’ October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and it seems that the entire nation, no- the World, takes a stand against cancer by turning out in their pink. I, like many of you out there, have friends and family members who have been affected by cancer. But whether you are celebrating someone who is a cancer survivor or you are honoring the memory of a loved one who lost their battle, the important thing is to get involved.

For the past few years Academy Ballroom Atlanta and the RSF has been a proud sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s Dance With The Stars of Atlanta held in October. The RSF has also coordinated with the Atlanta Dance Classic to help raise money during its RSC Grand Finale in Atlanta at the end of October last year…. Will YOU help them do it again? Cancer doesn’t discriminate- young, old, dancers, teachers, students, rising stars, and super stars have been touched by this disease. Many members of our own RSF team are cancer survivors.

Everyone rallies behind the pretty pink ribbons, but I’d like to challenge you to take a stand against ALL kinds of cancer. Don’t just limit your involvement and bravado to the month of October. Whether it’s through a charitable donation, time spent driving a friend to treatment, or delivering a meal, make a promise to help fight cancer in your community every month!

Congratulations to the dancers in the DWTS of Atlanta and high props to the professionals and companies who donated their time and supplies to this important cause. I hope to see all of you at the Atlanta Dance Classic- strutting your stuff one more time to raise awareness and dance for a cure!

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice
ABI feature writer

My interest in ABC’s Dancing With The Stars has not been as high at the beginning of this season as it has been in the past. I felt the cast looked rather dull and I didn’t know half of them. This last week, however, I was drawn in by the theme of telling a story/using a song from a significant time in the stars’ lives. To me, this is the part of the magic of dance. To be able to communicate where words might fail us, to connect with people, to illuminate the soul- all while moving to beautiful, powerful music… that’s dancing!

Some of the DWTS stars had joyful stories to portray (Kristin Cavallari), stories of triumph(Carson Kressley), stories of love(Nancy Grace, Rickie Lake), overcoming hard times (David Arquette, Chynna Phillips), and then there were dances dedicated to people who are no longer with us (Rob, JR). They all did a fabulous job, but my favorite was JR Martinez. Not only did he have a story that broke your heart, he also danced it with such honesty and elegance. His lines, his fluidity, his emotion, it all came together in one beautiful, heart-wrenching moment.

We live for those moments when we can have a real impact on others- in dance and elsewhere. That’s what defines a real hero- someone who overcomes adversity and can turn it into something positive; someone who doesn’t give up. So three cheers for JR, the veteran hero on and off the dance floor!

Who is your favorite DWTS hero right now? Do you have a dance story of someone who has inspired you in your studio or in the dancesport world? Let us hear from you! We would love to honor our RSF heroes.

Be strong. Share your joy. Learn from your mistakes. And keep dancing.

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice

Whew! Boston! It was a whirlwind trip for me- but oh, so worth it!!! Boston is beautiful. The people, the brick buildings, the weather, the harbor, the ballroom, and of course … the dancing! From sunrise to sunset, dancers from all across the country were lighting up the city with their inner-beauty and their outer glamour as they competed for top honors at the BBC&C.

I just got back from the Boston Ballroom Conference and Competition, (also an RSF event), organized by Visionary Steps and hosted by the ever ebullient guys of SuperShag studios: Tibor Kerekes and Chris Johnston. The weekend started with a welcome reception and SuperShag’s Fall Ball on Friday night where everyone had the chance to socialize, dress up and ‘dance like no one’s watching.’

The conference part started on Saturday with workshops and seminars with designers and other specialists in the ballroom field. On Saturday evening SuperShag hosted a Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner in honor of Pat Traymore- a ballroom legend who was also there to judge the competition on Sunday.

Sunday’s competition started bright and early (7:30 a.m.!?!) in the Sheraton Grand Ballroom. The lighting, the big screen, real-time video playing with (what a great concept!) the heat number lit up at the bottom of the screens, and free admission for spectators, all led to the energized atmosphere that pervaded the ballroom throughout the day. From the very first cha-cha-cha, to the last international standard waltz, the level of dancing was tip-top and gave the prestigious judging panel a tough job to choose their winners.

Speaking of “tough,” I have to give a shout out to a couple of dancers who truly demonstrated the meaning of “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!”
MARILYN PALLEY! Her doctor recommended that she not dance at all this weekend due to a knee injury, but not only was she there with a one-of-a-kind rhinestoned knee brace on her leg, she danced a record number of some 100+ heats.
EDDIE ARES- barely a week out of surgery and he’s back on the competition floor- crazy, tough guy- gotta love him.
And TIBOR KEREKES! Dancing an incredible 370+ heats, many of them multi dances…. That’s not just tough, that’s insane! But they all did it! All for the love of dance!

So if you loved Boston as much as I did, leave a reply, send your pictures, and spread the word that this is a competition you don’t want to miss next year!

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice
ABI feature writer

The fast pace of high fashion in the ballroom at USDC was at a fever pitch this year. Every dancer wants to find that perfect look that will set them apart and help them to get noticed when they’re on the floor with dozens of other couples at the same time. So costume designers pull out all the stops and bring their newest and most vibrant gowns to shine under the dazzling USDC lights. With so many couture designs to choose from, how does one make a decision and find the perfect fit?

First of all you have to find a designer you can work with- who listens to you and understands your needs, your body-type, and your vision. You also need to find someone who is dedicated to making you look and feel your best. Someone who isn’t just about money and trying to sell you the most expensive dress on the rack. Lastly, you may also want to find someone who has great customer service— before, during, and after you purchase a dress. Everyone bends over backwards when you’re trying a dress on, but what’s their attitude about adjustments, tailoring, etc.?

So who did you feel was “on fire” at USDC this year? Whose dresses stood out and made the dancers feel like they were the envy of every woman out there? Top of the list for me was JORDY International.Chris and Kirtsen Stephenson had the disco lights going, rhinestones, feathers- you name it, their designs had it. But they didn’t stop there with the ‘Old Hollywod Glamour,’ they worked tirelessly behind the scenes sewing, tacking, altering costumes on dancers to make sure they had the perfect fit. Big props to them for outfitting some of our very own RSF Pro-Am Superstars and helping us to shine in the USDC rhythm finals! (Congrats to Chasity Smith with Eddie Ares)! Jordy was one of the few designers acknowledged in Dancebeat online for their innovative, stunning designs which graced the body of US Professional Rhythm dancer, Albina Habrle. (Look for picturers online)!

So let us hear from you! Who is your favorite designer on the ballroom scene and why? Look for a more in depth interview with JORDY in the next issue of the RSF Pro-Am Voice magazine due out next month. Until then- Happy Dancing!

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice
ABI feature writer

The majority of the ballroom dancesport community is in Orlando, FL this week to compete at the United States Dance Championships held at the Walt Disney Swan Hotel. Dancers from all over the world come to compete for top honors and that elusive US Championship title. It’s a week long competition starting with American pro-am rhythm on Tuesday, Smooth on Wednesday, International Latin on Thursday, and Standard on Friday. Saturday is full of Rising Star competitions and showdances, Professional Cabaret exhibitions, as well as the final rounds of the US Professional International Latin and Ballroom championships. It’s a week chock full of excitement and glamour with hopes raised high or dashed down.

So how did the RSF fare? We have many RSF friends who competed this week (and some who are still waiting to dance)! Not an ugly duckling in the bunch! Everyone had special hair and makeup (a big THANK YOU to Lisa Bently and Linda Doyle for their innovative makeup artistry and coiffure!), spectacular costumes, (another huge THANK YOU to Jordy International Designs who is ‘on fire’ right now!), and the bronze glow of the gods from Brazil Bronze (or whatever your favorite tanning product is).

It is truly amazing the transformation people undergo - from plane janes to stunning creatures - with a little help and encouragement from their teacher/partner and the dancesport community. They just blossom! It’s not always easy; growing, changing, blooming takes time and energy, some sweat and courage, but it’s worth the end result. Whether you win, lose, or don’t quite reach the goals you set, your dancing soul will soar like the most beautiful swans out there!

Good luck to the rest of our friends who are still waiting to spread their wings and dance tonight and/or tomorrow. If you were/are at USDC and want to give a shout out- let us here from you! Did you feel like the Swan Hotel was THE PLACE to be? What are your thoughts on the new venue? Was your experience positive? We want your feedback!

Look for more info on the RSF at USDC in the next issue of the RSF Pro-Am Voice magazine.

Until next time…
Happy Dancing!

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice

In light of the recent developments of Hurricane Irene, I can’t help worrying about our dance friends who lie in the path of this very real storm. Our friends in North Carolina, Philadelphia, NYC, NJ, DC and Boston may have to do more than dance in the rain. I’m worrying about gail-force winds, flooding and much more before Irene is through. But if there’s one thing I’ve found during my dancing life, it’s that dancers may be artsy and flakey, but they never give up. When life throws them a curve ball, they band together and come back swinging. Dance, music, the arts- these may not be a “necessity” in some politicians minds during economic challenges, but they are the lifeblood that pull us through the worst times. They lift us up out of our troubles and help us to keep believing that beauty and goodness, love and soulfulness will persevere.

Good luck and God bless to all those in the path of this storm. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. If you know of any of our friends who’ve been personally affected by Irene, please leave a reply and let us know.

Regina Ruff, your RSF pro-am voice

I’m flying home early from The Greenville Newcomer’s Challenge to be with my son who turns ten years old today. But I have to say a quick word about this lovely little town where the grass really was greener! The dancing was hot enough to make some people turn green with envy, but there were no negative vibes in the Hyatt Regency ballroom this weekend- only fun, friendly RSF competition and a good natured, beautifully coiffed audience of cheering dancers.

This was the third year at Greenville , an RSC 1-day event, and it ran like a well-oiled clock. As people arrived on Friday, they had the chance to stroll along the quaint tree-lit main street and river walk for a bite to eat or listen to the jazz band play. The dancing started early Saturday morning to the wonderful tunes of Phil Noland with Vince ‘The Voice’ Bailey presiding as MC. An esteemed panel of judges included local favorites Paulette Cole, Billy Howell, and Michael Castillo as well as Tibor Kerekes of Boston, Chuck Danza of Philly, and David Elkin of Nashville. They kept a watchful and encouraging eye on all of the competitors throughout the day. Be sure to look for their reviews of the scholarship rounds in the upcoming issue of the RSF Pro-Am Voice magazine!

The dancing was sizzling hot all day long, so it was apropos that the competition ended with the show “Caliente” performed by the Atlanta Ballroom Dance Theatre. This group of talented, young dancers kept the fire burning with sambas, mambos, cha-chas, paso/tango, and rumbas. Their passion for dance was evident in every beat. And then to help competitors take some of that fire home, there were workshops planned for Sunday morning with Tibor Kerekes!

So after all the fire and heat, (how many of you have been enduring temperatures in the 100’s?), take some “Green” time. Green means grow, rejuvenate, refresh, healthy… (I’m thinking about your dancing or your soul). It also means go! Go forward, move on, keep trying. I suppose it also means money or profits (in the green) to some folks. So let’s try to project these ‘positivley green’ thoughts from Greenville into the upcoming week. Go!… move, breathe, and - - keep dancing.

(If you have pictures or thoughts to share, be sure to leave a reply here or go to the RSF Facebook page and upload them there. We love hearing from you)!

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice

I have a closet full of shoes- high heels, peep-toes, stilettos, sling-backs, sandals, flip-flops and boots are what you’d imagine, right? Well, that’s only partially correct… I’m actually talking about a closet full of dance shoes! :-/ It seems that although my shoe size hasn’t changed over the past several years, I  have collected a wide assortment of dance shoes!  I keep searching for that ‘perfect fit’ or the ‘right look,’ etc. I save favorites for competition, and have turned the others into “practice shoes.” I’ve found, however, that if I don’t like the way a shoe fits or feels, I won’t practice well…. Thus, a bursting closet!

Everyone should have a magic pair of shoes! …. the ones that make you feel powerful and invincible. Kids have special sneakers that they refuse to throw away because they’ve broken them in just right and they make them feel lucky on the basketball court or on the track. The same thing is true for dancers, I think. There isn’t a magic brand- it’s just whatever feels good on your foot and gives you good support, and makes you feel strong, etc. I love Ray Rose shoes because they are extremely flexible and have great arch support, but I have friends who prefer other brands like Supadance and Dance Naturals.

So,  just because your best friend (or a famous pro) wears a certain brand doesn’t mean its the right shoe for you. We don’t want to be like Cinderella’s ugly step sisters and cram our foot into something just because we think there is a handsome prince waiting at the end of the glass slipper… if only we can make it fit! (I mean this both literally and figuratively). It may look great and we feel like it should be perfect for us, but if it isn’t- it’s not a tragedy…. Just shrug your shoulders and try a different pair! Don’t give up or give in and settle for something that’s not working or doesn’t feel right. Keep trying. Eventually, you will find the perfect fit!

Do you have a favorite shoe vendor or brand you recommend? How about a lucky pair of red shoes? Leave us a reply and tell us about your perfect pair! We love to hear from you!!! 

Regina Ruff, your pro-am voice