Alec Lazo
Encyclopedia
Alejandro "Alec" Lazo is a Cuban-American professional dance
r, instructor, and choreographer based in Palm Beach, Florida
. Lazo was the US International Rising Star Latin Champion in 1990 and went on through over twenty years of successful DanceSport competition. This cumulated in 1999 when he became the U.S. Nine-Dance Champion. He has appeared numerous times in television and theater in various capacities, and has also transitioned into the world of broadcast media as a spokesperson, guest host, and artist. He hosted several national PBS specials including "WXEL Presents", "Tango: The Spirit of Argentina", and "Fiesta at the Philharmonic".
In 1999, he was featured in the dance film Strictly Dancing
alongside his then-dance partner, Denise Lazo.
Alec Lazo's "Paramount Ballroom
" in Palm Beach, Florida was one of the training sites for Cheryl Burke
and Cristián de la Fuente
during Season 6 of Dancing with the Stars
.
More recently, Florence Henderson
, better known as Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch
, and Latin dance champion
Corky Ballas
trained at Paramount for D.W.T.S. Season 11
.
Lazo currently travels across the United States judging competitions, lecturing, coaching, consulting, and performing. He is a Dance Vision International (DVIDA) certified instructor alongside such names as Maksim Chmerkovskiy
and Buddy Schwimmer
.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r, instructor, and choreographer based in Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
. Lazo was the US International Rising Star Latin Champion in 1990 and went on through over twenty years of successful DanceSport competition. This cumulated in 1999 when he became the U.S. Nine-Dance Champion. He has appeared numerous times in television and theater in various capacities, and has also transitioned into the world of broadcast media as a spokesperson, guest host, and artist. He hosted several national PBS specials including "WXEL Presents", "Tango: The Spirit of Argentina", and "Fiesta at the Philharmonic".
In 1999, he was featured in the dance film Strictly Dancing
Strictly Dancing
Strictly Dancing is an Australian television show that aired between 2004 and 2005 on ABC TV. Hosted by Paul McDermott, the show is a form of dance competition, with each episode featuring four dance couples from around Australia and New Zealand. The competition has three rounds, each consisting of...
alongside his then-dance partner, Denise Lazo.
Alec Lazo's "Paramount Ballroom
Paramount Ballroom
The Paramount is a historical nightclub and dance hall at 218 Yuyuan Road in Jing'an, Shanghai, China. It was the largest and a notorious ballroom in Shanghai during the decadent era before the People's Liberation Army established control over the city in 1949.-History:The Paramount, designed in...
" in Palm Beach, Florida was one of the training sites for Cheryl Burke
Cheryl Burke
Cheryl Stephanie Burke is a professional dancer. She is best known for being one of the professional dancers on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, where she was the first woman to win the show and the first person to win twice ....
and Cristián de la Fuente
Cristián de la Fuente
Cristián de la Fuente Sabarots is a Chilean-American actor.-Early life:De la Fuente was born in Santiago, Chile, as the only child of chemist Hugo de la Fuente and Adriana Sabarots, a homemaker of French descent...
during Season 6 of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
.
More recently, Florence Henderson
Florence Henderson
Florence Agnes Henderson is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her role of Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974...
, better known as Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
, and Latin dance champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
Corky Ballas
Corky Ballas
Mark Alexander "Corky" Ballas, Sr. is a retired competitive ballroom dancer who holds several Latin dance championship titles.He has one son, Mark Ballas, with former wife and partner Shirley Ballas...
trained at Paramount for D.W.T.S. Season 11
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 11)
Dancing with the Stars returned for an 11th season on September 20, 2010. The cast was announced during the August 30 episode of Bachelor Pad during a live press conference that included a Q&A session with host Tom Bergeron and co-host Brooke Burke and the new cast. There are twelve celebrity cast...
.
Lazo currently travels across the United States judging competitions, lecturing, coaching, consulting, and performing. He is a Dance Vision International (DVIDA) certified instructor alongside such names as Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Maksim Aleksandrovich Chmerkovskiy is a Ukrainian-American Latin Ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor. He is best known as one of the professional dancers on the American television series Dancing with the Stars, on which he first appeared in season two...
and Buddy Schwimmer
Buddy Schwimmer
Buddy Schwimmer is an award-winning West Coast Swing dancer, a choreographer, and the inventor of the Nightclub Two Step. He has also been known as "The King of Swing", as well as "The Man with a Thousand Moves"...
.
Titles
- U.S. International Rising Star Latin Champion
- U.S. Nine-Dance Champion
- U.S. Grand Finalist
- U.S. Rhythm Finalist
- U.S. Latin Top Ten Finisher (7x)
- Ohio Star Ball Latin Rising Star Champion
- Texas Challenge Rising Star Grand Champion
- Heritage Classic Rising Star Latin Champion
- Sunshine State Rhythm and Smooth Champion
- Grand National Rhythm and Smooth Champion
- Northwest Star Ball Rhythm and Smooth Champion
- Northwest Star Ball Nine-Dance Champion
- Southern States Open Rhythm Champion
- Top Teacher: Dance Heat U.S.A. 2009
Credentials
- Fellow: North American Dance Teachers Association
- Licentiate: Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
- Dual Master Examiner: World Professional Dance Teachers Association
- Examiner: International Dancers Association (DIVDA)
- Registered Adjudicator N.D.C.A.: A+B+C+
- Registered Championship Adjudicator N.D.C.A.
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Strictly Dancing Strictly Dancing Strictly Dancing is an Australian television show that aired between 2004 and 2005 on ABC TV. Hosted by Paul McDermott, the show is a form of dance competition, with each episode featuring four dance couples from around Australia and New Zealand. The competition has three rounds, each consisting of... |
Himself | Performed with his then-partner and fellow U.S. Nine-Dance Champion, Denise Lazo. |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WXEL Presents | Host (Himself) | ||
| Tango: The Spirit of Argentina | Host (Himself) | ||
| Fiesta at the Philharmonic | Lead Dancer (Himself) | ||
External links
- Official Website
- AccessDance Network Page
- Alec Lazo - Alec's MySpace
- Alec Lazo - Alec's Facebook
- Alec Lazo - Alec on Twitter
- Alec Lazo - Alec on YouTube
- DanceVision Instructor Profile