This year the Snow Ball became part of the World Pro/Am DanceSport Series and attracted many national competitors. The top 20 students earned $100 vouchers, which can be used at competitions outside of our region. For the first time, the Snow Ball offered DanceSport Series Qualifying events, earning points towards participating in the Ohio Star Ball Team Match.
Another first was the Snow Ball dance camp featuring Susan Puttock, former U.S. Standard Champion, giving a seminar on “What the Judges Look For;” Benoit Papineau, former Candian Standard Champion and 10-Dance Champion, covering “Creating Power Through Relaxation;” Chantal LeClerc, former Canadian 10-Dance and Latin Champion, on “Developing Great Footwork;” and Mikhail Zharinov and Galina Detkina, World Professional American Smooth Showdance Champions, on “Creating a Mood Through Dance.”
The ballroom also had a totally new look in 2012 with hand-painted banners and handmade centerpieces in the signature Snow Ball blue. Rodney Pritchard of Proper Design League created the room décor.
The professional events were very exciting and got the packed crowd screaming out numbers and names. Alex Olivares and Lorin Jiminez from Houston won Rising Star Rhythm, with Taylor Westfall and Jennifer Corey from Colorado taking the runner-up spot. Dustin Donelan and Kirsten McCloskey from Minnesota placed third, Shane Haggartey and Amy Liliberte from Minnesota fourth, Dmitri Dolgopolov and Gabrielle Friedenberg from Virginia fifth, Gordon and Kate Bratt from Minnesota sixth, and Mattand Audrey Kuphal from Wisconsin seventh.
Rising Star Smooth started with a semi-final. Krill Gorjatsev and Daria Zotova from Virginia captured first; Minnesotans Martin Pickering and Christine Hallberg, second; Christopher Kempainen and Bonnie Inveen, third; Eric and Deborah Gillitzer from Wisconsin were fourth; Iowans Susie and Derrick Murray, fifth; and Minnesotans Shane Haggarty and Rachel Damiani in their first outing together were sixth.
Rising Star International Latin was won by Rodolfo Bianquicett and Jessica Satori from Indiana. Eliecer Ramirez-Vargas and Rebecca Dahlquist-Eckhoff from Minnesota were second. Eliecer and Rebecca also won the Professional Showdance.
Top Students for the Snow Ball were:
- Top Newcomer - Sandy Haydon with Gary Dahl - Minnesota;
- Top Bronze - Sophia D’Angelo with Mike Baris – Virginia;
- Top Silver - Patricia Barrier with Gary Dahl – Minnesota;
- Top Gold - Dee Iannone with Markus Cannon – Iowa;
- Top Open - Ken Doughty with Lorin Jiminez – Houston;
- Top Amateur Couple - Greg and Sue Prasch – Minnesota.
Ten outstanding teachers qualified for Top Teacher prize money. They are:
- Gary Dahl – Dahl Dance Center;
- Jay Larson;
- Markus Cannon – Cannon Studios;
- Scott Anderson – Twin Cities DanceSport;
- Paul Botes – American Classic Ballroom;
- Mike Barris – The Dance Factory;
- Harry Benson – Cheek to Cheek;
- Tony Delgado - Delgado Dance Studios;
- Lorin Jimenez – Learn to Dance Houston;
- Julie Jacobson.
The Top Studios for the 2012 Snow Ball are:
- Dahl Dance Center - Rochester, Minnesota;
- Jay Larson - Minneapolis, Minnesota;
- Cannon Studios - Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Pro/Am Scholarships were hotly contested with many worthy competitors trying to make very tough final rounds.
Below are winners of the Scholarship Divisions:
- Bronze Rhythm Scholarship - Inga Flider with Russell Hunter
- Silver Rhythm Scholarship – Carol Ferrell with Jay Larson
- Open A Rhythm Scholarship – Zhuojing Liu with Jay Larson
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Open C Rhythm Scholarship – Dee Iannone with Markus Cannon
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Bronze Smooth Scholarship – Jim Gray with Karin Ramirez
- Silver Smooth Scholarship – Darcy Adamczyk with Gary Dahl
- Open A Smooth Scholarship – Tracy Anderson with Scott Anderson
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Open C Smooth Scholarship – Dee Iannone with Markus Cannon
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Bronze Latin Scholarship - Dee Clark with Tony Delgado
- Silver Latin Scholarship – Jacqui D’Souza with Jay Larson
- Open A Latin Scholarship – Adel Jaena with Gene Bersten
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Open C Latin Scholarship – Jeanie LaFavor with Mariusz Olszewski
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Bronze Ballroom Scholarship – Jacqui D’Souza with Jay Larson
- Silver Ballroom Scholarship – Darcy Adamczyk with Gary Dahl
- Open A Ballroom Scholarship – Caitlin Massart with Jay Larson
Every year the Snow Ball features a spectacular show. Newlyweds Mikhail and Galina Zharinov, World Professional American Smooth Showdance Champions, presented beautifully choreographed and danced show numbers with effortless transitions in and out of lifts.
Complete results are posted on the Snow Ball website at www.thesnowballcomp.com.
Every year the Snow Ball strives to improve the quality of the competition, the friendliness, and the food. We believe that competitors dance their best in a welcoming environment with great spectators. We look forward to hosting the dance community again January 11 and 12, 2013.
Congratulations to all of the winners and those who danced their personal best at the Snow Ball.
