Both instructors and students from Fred Astaire Southbury captured everyone’s attention and garnered a series of outstanding awards with a spectacular selection of dances and showcases at the New England Dance Sport Competition which took place Thursday, March 9th through Saturday, March 11th at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Mystic CT.
Christian Lange, co-owner/director at Fred Astaire Southbury and Nevena Urosevic, owner/instructor at Fred Astaire Trumbull dazzled the crowd and electrified the judges with their breathtaking waltz, easily winning the Closed American Smooth Bronze & Silver Championship. Their elegant style and gracefully fluid movements left no doubt in the judges' minds that Lange and Urosovic had no equal in their exquisite performance. Lange has won several prestigious professional titles in the Smooth category, most recently the World Championship Silver American Smooth Closed competition in Las Vegas last August.
Fred Astaire Southbury’s students and instructors also had a stellar weekend at the Mystic competitions with several superb performances that earned top awards. In 1st Place: Beth Gagnon/Christian Lange (Social Bronze Closed Smooth 3-Dance Championship); Karen Gagnon/Vladimir Serbulenco (Social Bronze Closed Rhythm); Sharon Citrin Goldstein/Vladimir Serbulenco (Advanced Bronze Closed Rhythm); Karen Prince/Christian Lange (Jive Showcase); Steven Prince/Amanda Meadow (Quickstep Showcase) and Amanda Meador (choreographer)/Beth Gagnon/Shirley Jakobowski/Linda Landry/Karen Prince/ Jane Smith (Cell Block Tango! Formation).
1st Place Children’s Division: Five-year-old Lara Pereira Catão for her beautifully executed performance in Smooth in her very first competition.
2nd Place Awards included: Consuelo Medrano/Vladimir Serbulenco (Social Bronze Closed Smooth 3-Dance Championship); Karen Gagnon/Vladimir Serbulenco (Social (Bronze Smooth 3-Dance Championship); Vera Maltsev/ Christian Lange (Open Smooth Championship); Sharyn Maclelland/Christian Lange (Silver Closed Smooth 4-Dance Championship) and Amanda Meador/ Damiano Scarfi (Professional American Mixed Novice)
Saturday evening was set aside for the competition’s celebratory banquet during which special awards were bestowed. Banquet Awards included:Most Spirited School; Southbury and South Windsor; Top Female Award: Amanda Meador; Top Male Award; Vladimir Serbulenco. The much anticipated Honor Dance was performed by Closed American Smooth Bronze & Silver Championship winners Christian Lange and Nevena Urosevic who reprised their winning waltz.
“We could not be more proud of our students and instructors for their exemplary performances at the Mystic Competition, earning them so many well deserved awards.” said Lange. “We have had the privilege of watching them grow and develop as dancers and it gives us great satisfaction to see their progress with each competition. Many of our students are now training for the Las Vegas Championships being held this summer and we are very excited to help them prepare for their performances which we know are going to be really terrific.”
While enjoyment of dancing is the key mission of Fred Astaire Studios, social awareness and philanthropic efforts are also an important part of their mission. “New England Dance Sport Competition organizers donated $1.00 per entry to food banks in each city with a participating Fred Astaire Studio,” said Fred Astaire Southbury co-owner Paulo Jorge. “Our studio donated an additional $300 for Southbury ’s food bank to help those in our own town who are in need”.
Fred Astaire Dance Studio is located at 316 Main Street South, suite F & G, Southbury, CT 06488
You can contact us by calling (203) 267-7600 , email at southbury@fredastaire.com , or visit us at www.fredastaire.com/southbury