- Freddie Brock
Fordney Foundation Presents Highlights of the Ohio Star Ball – Team Matches 2016
This was the 39th year of the Ohio Star Ball (OSB) held at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio. Fordney Foundation was present to give the awards to the dancers who have been competing and accumulating points for 12 months. In addition, the East versus West team match is held at the conclusion of the junior and youth competitions on Saturday afternoon, November 19, 2016. We are happy to let you know about what took place thanks to our founder, Marilyn Fordney, who attended and gave us a recap of the Team Matches. Also, our co-founder, Sandor “Alex” Havasi took these exciting photographs of the dancers you see here. Thanks so much to both of you, without your help, I could not bring this kind of “up close and personal” coverage of Ohio Star Ball 2016 to our readers!
This third year of the dance series had a dog mascot for the West and a brown bear mascot for the East. The team captains for the East were Sasha Nissengolts and Emil Louknikov. The team captains for the West were Debbie Avalos-Kusumi and Maria Hansen. With music blasting and audience cheers and clapping, Sam Sodano, our host and event organizer with Marilyn Fordney, and the team captains along with the mascots led the two teams around the perimeter of the dance floor in Battelle Hall. There was clapping, stamping, and screams of excitement cheering their favorites on as round after round occurred. The East and West competitors danced their feet off to get first place. In the end by a very small
margin, the West team won and the East relinquished their title from last year. The level of dancing has improved over last year. This team match is getting more and more competitive each year because the level of dance inches higher and higher. Results of the team match are as follows:
West Team – Red
PT1 Standard and Latin – Arye Raksin and Emma Tesler
PT2 Standard and Latin- Anthony Mattos and Eva Zinchenko
JR1 Standard – Charles Lloyd and Polina Zaytseva
West Team, Photo by Alex Havasi
JR1 Latin – Jonas Terleckes and Ruby Castro
JR2 Standard – Tyler Li and Anjelica Lowe
JR2 Latin – Danylo Yanchyshyn and Dascha Wright
Youth Standard – Kinsley Lin and Michelle Yiu
Youth Latin – Lance Yasinsky and Annabelle Vinokur
East Team – Blue
PT1 Standard – Eric Kashkevych and Daria Andreyev
PT1 Latin – Jake Berg and Anna Talis
East Team, Photo by Alex Havasi
PT2 Standard – Daniel Evstigneev and Angelica Groysman
PT2 Latin – Alexander Sarkisian and Valeriya Bronnikova
JR1 Standard – Matviy Korsunsky and Alisa Kashkevych
JR1 Latin – Joshua Ginzberg and Elizabeth Frumkin
JR2 Standard – Kister Smits and Sophie Shvartsman
JR2 Latin – Max Firestein and Nicole Mtchedlidlze
Youth Standard – Yusif Amsatr and Naomi Spektor
Youth Latin – Anthony Mancuso and Rachel Privler
Shortly before the start of the East versus West Team Match, Nancy Brown did an interview with Marilyn Fordney who told about the Fordney Foundation.
We have this video to show you. Hopefully, the words of Marilyn Fordney will inspire some of you to feel good about your decision to dance.
Marilyn gave awards to the winning participants of the Fordney Foundation Junior and Youth Dance Series. They are:
Top 10 Latin
1 Alex Sarkisian and Valeriya Bronnikova – $4000
2 Max Firestein and Nicole Mtchedlidze – $2000
3 Kristers Smits and Sophie Shvartsman – $1000
4 Yusif Amsatr and Naomi Spektor – $750
5 Mike Monokandilos and Sophia Brodsky – $0 Did not attend
6 Joshua Ginzburg and Elizabeth Frumkin – $450
7 Tyler Li and Anjelica Lowe – $400
8 Matviy Korsunskiy and Alisa Kashkevych – $350
9 Daniel Evstigneev and Angelica Groysman – $300
10 Eric Kashkevych and Daria Andreyev – $250
Top 10 Standard
1 Eric Kashkevych and Daria Andreyev – $4000
2 Matviy Korsunskiy and Alisa Kashkevych – $2000
3 Daniel Evstigneev and Angelica Groysman – $1000
4 Kristers Smits and Sophie Shvartsman – $750
5 Tyler Li and Anjelica Lowe – $500
6 Kinsley Lin and Michelle Yiu – $450
7 Yusif Amsatr and Naomi Spektor – $400
8 Kirill Budagovskiy and Galit Zilbervarg – $350
9 Erik Linder and Rickie Taylor – $300
10 Daniel Melnik and Maria Volski – $250
Thank you to the team captains who with their enthusiasm enhanced the energy and motivation for the teams to compete at their highest levels. For the East team, we thank Sasha Nissengolts and Emil Louknikov. For the West team, we thank Debbie Avalos-Kusumi and Maria Hansen. Good job everybody!
This incredible dance competition that is in its 39th year would not exist without Mr. Ohio Star Ball himself, Sam Sodano. Time and time again, Sam pours everything into making each worldwide championship more spectacular than the year before. The Fordney Foundation is honored to be part of this extraordinary dance competition and we thank Sam for this rewarding experience as well as his team of workers headed by Bill Sparks. Next year will be the 40th Anniversary of the Ohio Star Ball which is represented by the “Ruby” that is a red color. Thus, there will be lots of red going around and lots of joy and excitement so try to attend because lots of surprises are being planned.
At this event, we conclude our third year and begin the fourth year of this dance series. It has grown to over 35 competitions across the United States.
Thought Of The Week:
Happiness isn’t where you find it, happiness is where you create it
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