Top names from the world of ballroom dance including World Latin finalists Peter and Kristina Stokkebroe of Denmark and Danish champion Charlotte Jorgensen, who was the dance coach of Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez in the movie “Shall We Dance.”will be flying into compete in the “1st Philippine Starball,” the first international open ballroom dance championship in the Philippines which will be held on Febuary 16, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila.
A total of P7 million in prize money is at stake for the winners in the different dance categories. Competitors will show their mastery of the 10 international dances which include the Latin-American dances cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble, and jive; and the standard/modern dances such as slow waltz, tango, foxtrot, Viennese waltz and quick step.
Renowned international names in ballroom dance will be coming to be the adjudicators (judges), among them Hosting the event will be Gary McDonald, a world professional Ten Dance Champion and master of ceremonies for all United States Professional championships.
The 1st Philippine Starball affair is organized by the Council of United Professional Dance Teachers of the Philippines, Inc. (CUPDTP), a dance teachers’ organization recognized and accredited by the Games and Amusement Board, with Michaela “Pinky” Puno as chairman of the organizing committee.
Among the international names in ballroom dance who have confirmed their participation in the 1st Philippine Starball include top Standard Amateur couples Paolo Bosco and Silvia Pitton of Italy; Federico di Toro and Genny Favero of Italy; Christopher Short and Dominika Choroszko of England; Andrzej Sadecki and Karina Nawrot of Poland; World Showdance champions Roberta Villa and Morena Colagreco of Italy; ; 3-time Canadian National Professional Latin American champions in England Gleb Savchengko and Elena Samadanova of Hong Kong.
Several competitors from the U.S. include Professional Latin couples Yulia Zagoruychenko and Riccardo Cocci, Boriana Deltcheva and Delyan Terziev, Ilya Ifraimov and Nadia Goulina, Anna Trebunskaya and Pavlo Barsukm Vaidotas Skimelis and Jurga Pupelyte; Professional Standard 1st placers at the Ohio Starball Katusha Demidova and Arunas Bizokas, Ohio Starball Amateur Latin Champions Grigori Sedrakyan and Lilia Mkrtchyan, Professional Standard couples Linas Koreiva and Ieva Pauksena, Anastasia Muravyeva and Mikhail Avdeev; Amateur Standard 1st placers at the Ohio Starball Anna Demidova and Igor Mikushov, two–time U.S. Professional Standard Showdance champions Garry and Rita Gekman, former US representatives to the World 10–Dance Championship Slava and Katya Sergiev, Standard Pro–Am couples Dara Campbell and Igor Suvorov and Filipina Julianna J. with her teacher Latin champion Max Kozhevnikov.
The competition will also feature guest performers Nick and Lena Kosovich of the hit TV show “Dancing with Stars” who will demonstrate a new style of dance called American Smooth. Former World Latin Champions of the highest caliber, Max Kozhevnikov and Beata, will also perform four Latin numbers for the audience.
The 1st Philippine StarBall is supported by the Department of Tourism (DoT), the First Gentleman’s Foundation, Metrobank, SM Mart, Inc. and International Container Terminal Services, Inc. The event is for the benefit of KYTHE “helping children with cancer.”
