"Ballroom! 'We are the Champions!'" | Press Releases

8 p.m., Saturday, September 17, 2011
Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Image: Ballroom dancing The 2011-2012 Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts' Dance season begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2011 , with "Ballroom! 'We are the Champions!'" The evening features six couples - all world and American ballroom champions - performing in spectacular showcase presentations. Virtually all phases of ballroom dancing will be on view in two 50-minute acts. The event, produced by Ballroom Dancesport Extravaganza, continues to perform to sold-out audiences as it tours the United States.

The cast includes one of the world's most renowned Argentine Tango couples, Ivan Terrazas and Sara Grdan. The pair from Mendoza, Argentina, is known for its dedication to the passion and intensity of the Argentine Tango. They have performed in New York City Center's Fall Dance Festival for the past two years and were featured dancers with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra.

13-year-old sensations Patryk Ploszaj and Anna Kaczmarski have already carved out a remarkable dance career for themselves. As young teenagers, they wowed television audiences and were finalists on the NBC-TV show America's Got Talent and were part of the show's 25-cities national tour. They are the reigning U.S. National Jr. II Champions in Latin, Standard, and 10-Dance competition, and they electrified a Las Vegas audience on New Years Eve with their 10-dance presentation.

Image: Ballroom dancing Gherman Mustuc and Iveta Lukosiute are two-time World Professional 10-Dance Champions (Latin & Ballroom) and four-time National Champions. The pair are three-time U.S. Classical Showdance Champions and World Champion Grand Finalists. Iveta Lukosiute was a finalist on this season's FOX-TV hit series "So You Think You Can Dance." The pair has also appeared on ABC-TV's "The View" and MTV. A busy schedule last year included 21 shows in five countries, including three in Italy, Taiwan and Lithuania. The pair was also invited to be judges on Europe's version of "Dancing With The Stars."

Jose DeCamps and Joanna Zacharewicz are the reigning three-time World Rhythm Champions and four-time U.S. Rhythm Champions. They are also the current world's Mambo Champions and Salsa Champions and have won every major competition in America. Last year they were featured dancers on ABC-TV's "Dancing with the Stars."

Audrey and Yulia Klinchik are known in ballroom circles for their nearly four-minute waltz medley to "Ave Maria." With a handsome and enchanting performance, this couple from the Ukraine has won the hearts of audiences worldwide. "Dance" magazine describes them as "the absolute look of elegance coupled with natural agility."

Dmitri and Svetlana Ostashkin , twice the Latin Champions of Eastern Europe and Grand Finalists in the World, are winners of most of the major competitions in America. Their signature presentations include their show stopping rhumba "Smile" and their show ending "Big Boy Cha Cha."

Image: Ballroom dancing Prior to the "Ballroom! 'We are the Champions!'" performance on the Regina A. Quick Center's Kelley Theatre, Complimentary Ballroom Lessons taught by teachers from the Fred Astaire Studios in Trumbull, CT, and Orange, CT, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Quick Center's Wien Experimental Black Box Theatre, which adjoins the main theater. Beginner and experienced dancers and both singles and couples are welcome. Following the performance, there will be a "Meet the Stars" reception, in which audience members will be invited to greet the evening's dancing stars. Single tickets are $40, $35, and $30.

Tickets and subscriptions are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at fairfield.edu/quick .

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit fairfield.edu/quick .

top) Patryk Ploszaj and Anna Kaczmarski: 13-year-old sensations, reigning U.S. National Jr. II Champions in Latin, Standard, and 10-Dance competition; middle) Dmitri and Svetlana Ostashkin: Twice the Latin Champions of Eastern Europe and Grand Finalists in the World; bottom) Iveta Lukosiute and Gherman Mustuc: Two-time World Professional 10-Dance Champions (Latin & Ballroom) and four-time National Champions.