Everything’s bigger in Texas, and the same holds true for this year’s Fred Astaire Dance Studios Cross Country Dance Championships held in Houston, Texas. The Texas-themed dance competition brought in dance students from across the country to compete from April 18 – 22, 2017. Who took the top prizes at this year’s Cross Country Dance Championships? Let’s find out!
Top Student Awards:
Top Newcomer Students:
Top Female Newcomer: Caitllin Mullane of Milwaukee, WI
Caitlin Mullane
Top Bronze Students:
Top Male Bronze Student: William Hiller of Manhasset, NY
Marisa Yatsenko and William Hiller
Top Female Bronze Student: Millie Munich of Manhasset, NY
Millie Munich and “The Three Chefs”
Top Silver Students:
Top Male Silver Student: David Forecki of Greenfield, WI
Top Male Silver Novelty Showdance: Larry Markowitz of Tarrytown, NY
Talia Barrington and Larry Markowitz
Top Female Silver Student: Laura Santana of Manhasset, NY
Laura Santana
Silver International Ballroom Championship and Scholarship and Silver American Smooth Scholarship: Caron Johnson
Dimitriy Saykovskyy and Caron Johnson
Top Gold Students:
Top Female Gold Student: Ingrid Totten of Brookfield, CT
Top Over All Amateur Couple and Junior Awards:
Top Over All Amateur Couple: Burton and Diane Balch of Katy, TX
Top Over All Junior: Taylor Barcus of Chandler, WI
International Style 10-Dance Champions:
Winner: Dymytrii Goncharov and Tatiana Lutsenko
American Style 9-Dance Champions:
Winner: Mykyta Serdyuk and Anna Krasnoshapka
Top Teacher Awards:
Top Pro Ballroom Teacher Awards:
5th Place: Amber Osborn of Houston Woodlands, TX
4th Place: Marisa Yatsenko of Manhasset, NY
3rd Place: Peter Ekkart of Clearlake, TX
2nd Place: Calin Panainte of New York East, NY, received an award of $1500 for 2nd Place
1st Place: Eugene Yeremenko of Manhasset, NY, received an award of $2000 for 1st Place
Top Pro Latin Teacher Awards:
5th Place: Dana James of Mequon, WI
4th Place: Peter Ekkart of Clearlake, TX
3rd Place: Plamen Danailov of New York East, NY
2nd Place: Ben Seifert of Houston Woodlands, TX, received an award of $1500 for 2nd Place
1st Place: Bryan Wodarczak of Manhasset, NY received an award of $2000 for 1st Place
Top Pro Smooth Teacher Awards:
5th Place: Talia Barrington of Tarrytown, NY, received an award of $500 for 5th Place
Artem Balmeha, Olga Bylim, Talia Barrington and Sasha Bylim
4th Place: Marisa Yatsenko of Manhasset, NY, received an award of $750 for 4th Place
3rd Place: Ilya Velednisky of Milwaukee, WI, received an award of $1000 for 3rd Place
Mariya Ilchenko & Ilya Velednitsky
2nd Place: Joshua Bradford of Houston Memorial, TX, received an award of $1500 for 2nd Place
1st Place: Eugene Yeremenko of Manhasset, NY, received an award of $2000 for 1st Place
Top Pro Rhythm Teacher Awards:
5th Place: Bryan Wodarchzak of Manhasset, NY, received an award of $500 for 5th Place
4th Place: Jhondarr Lopez of Houston Woodlands, TX, received an award of $750 for 4th Place
3rd Place: Dan Skyler of Milwaukee, WI, received an award of $1000 for 3rd Place
Daniel Skyler
2nd Place: Eugene Yeremenko of Manhasset, NY, received an award of $1500 for 2nd Place
1st Place: Mihaly Meszaros of Houston Memorial, TX, received an award of $2000 for 1st Place
Top Over All Teacher Awards:
5th Place: Mihaly Mezaros of Houston Memorial, TX, received an award of $500 for 5th Place
4th Place: Marisa Yatsenko of Manhasset, NY
3rd Place: Bryan Wodarczak of Manhasset, NY, received an award of $1500 for 3rd Place
2nd Place: Ben Seifert of Houston, Woodlands, TX, received an award of $3000 for 2nd Place
1st Place: Eugene Yeremenko of Manhasset, NY, received an award of $4000 for 1st Place
Top Studio Awards:
Runner Up Studio: Houston Woodlands, TX
Top Studio: Manhasset, NY
Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Manhasset
Congratulations to all our amazing students and teachers! We’re excited to see you all again next year at the Cross Country Dance Championships!
