America's Ballroom Challenge
Encyclopedia
America's Ballroom Challenge is a competitive ballroom dance
television series airing on Public Broadcasting Service
in the United States
since 2006.
It is part of the annual Ohio Star Ball, a festival
of DanceSport
in Columbus, Ohio
.
Each season typically consists of competitions in five categories, with the first four categories devoted to each of the major styles of competitive ballroom dance:
The last category is a "Grand Finale" with the four champion couples competing for the title of "America's Best" dancers.
and Tony Meredith
.
and Tony Meredith
.
and Ron Montez
.
and Ron Montez
.
The 2009 season (which would have aired in 2010) was not produced.
The 2010 season (which would have aired in 2011) was not produced.
Ballroom dance
Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....
television series airing on Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
since 2006.
It is part of the annual Ohio Star Ball, a festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
of DanceSport
DanceSport
Dancesport denotes competitive ballroom dancing, as contrasted to social or exhibition dancing. It is wheelchair dancesport where at least one of the dancers is in a wheelchair....
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
Each season typically consists of competitions in five categories, with the first four categories devoted to each of the major styles of competitive ballroom dance:
- American Smooth: WaltzWaltzThe waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
, TangoTango (ballroom)Ballroom Tango is a ballroom dance that branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European, American, Hollywood, and competitive influences into the style and execution of the dance....
, FoxtrotFoxtrot (Dance)The foxtrot is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band music, and the feeling is one of elegance and sophistication...
, Viennese WaltzViennese WaltzViennese Waltz is the genre of a ballroom dance. At least three different meanings are recognized. In the historically first sense, the name may refer to several versions of the waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in ballroom dancing, danced to the music of Viennese Waltz.What is now called... - American Rhythm: Cha ChaCha-cha-cha (dance)The Cha-cha-cha is the name of a dance of Cuban origin.It is danced to the music of the same name introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in 1953...
, RumbaRumba (dance)Rumba is a dance term with two quite different meanings.In some contexts, "rumba" is used as shorthand for Afro-Cuban rumba, a group of dances related to the rumba genre of Afro-Cuban music. The most common Afro-Cuban rumba is the guaguancó...
, East Coast SwingEast Coast SwingEast Coast Swing is a form of social partner dance. It belongs to the group of swing dances. It is danced under fast swing music, including rock and roll and boogie-woogie....
, BoleroBoleroBolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
, MamboMambo (dance)Mambo .In the late 1940s, Perez Prado came up with the dance for the mambo music and became the first person to market his music as "mambo". After Havana, Prado moved his music to Mexico, where his music and the dance was adopted. The original mambo dance was characterized by freedom and... - International Standard: Waltz, TangoTango (ballroom)Ballroom Tango is a ballroom dance that branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European, American, Hollywood, and competitive influences into the style and execution of the dance....
, Viennese WaltzViennese WaltzViennese Waltz is the genre of a ballroom dance. At least three different meanings are recognized. In the historically first sense, the name may refer to several versions of the waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in ballroom dancing, danced to the music of Viennese Waltz.What is now called...
, FoxtrotFoxtrot (Dance)The foxtrot is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band music, and the feeling is one of elegance and sophistication...
, QuickstepQuickstepThe quickstep is a light-hearted member of the standard ballroom dances. The movement of the dance is fast and powerfully flowing and sprinkled with syncopations. The upbeat melodies that quickstep is danced to make it suitable for both formal and informal events... - International Latin: Cha ChaCha-cha-cha (dance)The Cha-cha-cha is the name of a dance of Cuban origin.It is danced to the music of the same name introduced by Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrín in 1953...
, SambaSamba (ballroom)Among ballroom dances, samba is a lively, rhythmical one. It is related to the traditional samba styles of Brazil, but differs from them considerably. Its music is in 2/4 or 4/4 time.-Origins:...
, RumbaRumba (dance)Rumba is a dance term with two quite different meanings.In some contexts, "rumba" is used as shorthand for Afro-Cuban rumba, a group of dances related to the rumba genre of Afro-Cuban music. The most common Afro-Cuban rumba is the guaguancó...
, Paso Doble, JiveJive (dance)In Ballroom dancing, Jive is a dance style in 4/4 time that originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1930s. It was originally presented to the public as 'Jive' in 1934 by Cab Calloway. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance...
The last category is a "Grand Finale" with the four champion couples competing for the title of "America's Best" dancers.
Season 1 (2006)
Hosted by Marilu HennerMarilu Henner
Mary Lucy Denise "Marilu" Henner is an American actress, producer and author. She is best known for her role as Elaine O'Connor Nardo on the sitcom Taxi from 1978 to 1983.-Early life:...
and Tony Meredith
Tony Meredith
-Biography:Tony Meredith, born in Hawaii, discovered ballroom dancing after replying to a newspaper ad seeking dance teachers.-Dance career:Tony met Melanie LaPatin in 1981 and the two subsequently formed a professional partnership, traveling the world representing the United States 12 times in the...
.
| Season 1 | Airdate | Category | Champions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | February 1, 2006 | American Smooth | Ben Ermis and Shalene Archer Ermis |
| American Rhythm | Tony Dovolani Tony Dovolani Driton "Tony" Dovolani is an Albanian-American professional ballroom dancer, instructor and judge based in New York City. He is known for his involvement in the American version of Dancing with the Stars on ABC. Dovolani also portrayed a Latin bad boy in the hit film Shall We Dance? and spent time... and Elena Grinenko Elena Grinenko Elena Grinenko is a professional ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor. She is best known as one of the professional dancers on the American television series Dancing With The Stars.-Biography:... |
||
| International Standard | Erminio Stefano and Liene Apale | ||
| International Latin | Andrei Gavriline and Elena Kryuchkova | ||
| Episode 2 | February 8, 2006 | Grand Finale | Andrei Gavriline and Elena Kryuchkova |
Season 2 (2007)
Hosted by Marilu HennerMarilu Henner
Mary Lucy Denise "Marilu" Henner is an American actress, producer and author. She is best known for her role as Elaine O'Connor Nardo on the sitcom Taxi from 1978 to 1983.-Early life:...
and Tony Meredith
Tony Meredith
-Biography:Tony Meredith, born in Hawaii, discovered ballroom dancing after replying to a newspaper ad seeking dance teachers.-Dance career:Tony met Melanie LaPatin in 1981 and the two subsequently formed a professional partnership, traveling the world representing the United States 12 times in the...
.
| Season 2 | Airdate | Category | Champions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | January 31, 2007 | American Smooth | Ben Ermis and Shalene Archer-Ermis |
| Episode 2 | February 7, 2007 | American Rhythm | Tony Dovolani Tony Dovolani Driton "Tony" Dovolani is an Albanian-American professional ballroom dancer, instructor and judge based in New York City. He is known for his involvement in the American version of Dancing with the Stars on ABC. Dovolani also portrayed a Latin bad boy in the hit film Shall We Dance? and spent time... and Elena Grinenko Elena Grinenko Elena Grinenko is a professional ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor. She is best known as one of the professional dancers on the American television series Dancing With The Stars.-Biography:... |
| Episode 3 | February 14, 2007 | International Standard | Jonathan Wilkins and Katusha Demidova |
| Episode 4 | February 21, 2007 | International Latin | Andrei Gavriline and Elena Kryuchkova |
| Episode 5 | February 28, 2007 | Grand Finale | Jonathan Wilkins and Katusha Demidova |
Season 3 (2008)
Hosted by Jasmine GuyJasmine Guy
Jasmine Guy is an American actress, singer and dancer. She is best known for her starring role as Whitley Gilbert in the television sitcom A Different World.-Biography:...
and Ron Montez
Ron Montez
Ron Montez is a professional ballroom dance champion and choreographer who won the professional Latin division of the U.S. Dancesport Championships from 1979 to 1985.- See also :* U.S. National Dancesport Champions...
.
| Season 3 | Airdate | Category | Champions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | January 30, 2008 | American Smooth | Tomas Mielnicki and J.T. Thomas |
| Episode 2 | February 6, 2008 | American Rhythm | Jose DeCamps Jose DeCamps Jose Decamps is a professional ballroom dancer based in New York City. He is perhaps best known as the 2007 U.S. National Dancesport Champions with his partner, Joanna Zacharewicz.... and Joanna Zacharewicz Joanna Zacharewicz Joanna Zacharewicz is a professional ballroom dancer based out of New York City. She is perhaps best known as the 2008 U.S. National Dancesport Champions with her partner, Jose DeCamps.... |
| Episode 3 | February 13, 2008 | International Standard | Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova |
| Episode 4 | February 20, 2008 | International Latin | Andrei Gavriline and Elena Kryuchkova |
| Episode 5 | February 27, 2008 | Grand Finale | Andrei Gavriline and Elena Kryuchkova |
Season 4 (2009)
Hosted by Jean Louisa KellyJean Louisa Kelly
Jean Louisa Kelly is an American actress and singer. She is perhaps best known for her long-running role as Kim Warner on the television sitcom Yes, Dear.-Career:...
and Ron Montez
Ron Montez
Ron Montez is a professional ballroom dance champion and choreographer who won the professional Latin division of the U.S. Dancesport Championships from 1979 to 1985.- See also :* U.S. National Dancesport Champions...
.
| Season 4 | Airdate | Category | Champions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | February 25, 2009 | American Smooth | Jonathan Roberts Jonathan Roberts (dancer) Jonathan Roberts is an American professional ballroom dancer. He decided to take up dancing after he received a free trial at a local dance studio and enjoyed it... and Valentina Kostenko |
| American Rhythm | Jose DeCamps Jose DeCamps Jose Decamps is a professional ballroom dancer based in New York City. He is perhaps best known as the 2007 U.S. National Dancesport Champions with his partner, Joanna Zacharewicz.... and Joanna Zacharewicz Joanna Zacharewicz Joanna Zacharewicz is a professional ballroom dancer based out of New York City. She is perhaps best known as the 2008 U.S. National Dancesport Champions with her partner, Jose DeCamps.... |
||
| International Standard | Mikhail Avdeev and Anastasia Muravyeva | ||
| International Latin | Riccardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagoruychenko | ||
| Grand Finale | Riccardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagoruychenko |
The 2009 season (which would have aired in 2010) was not produced.
The 2010 season (which would have aired in 2011) was not produced.