The full program program2011.pdf - Purdue Latin & Ballroom Dance ...

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G regory
th
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
BALLROOM
C L A S S I C
ANNUAL
BIOGRAPHIES
Day is a full-time professional ballroom dancer. With Tommye Giacchino,
he has reached the pinnacle of dancing, winning multiple U.S. titles as well as the
“World Invitational Exhibition” title at the most prestigious of all ballroom competitions:
The British Open, which is more commonly referred to as “Blackpool”. Over the
last few years, millions of people have watched the pair as featured soloists on the PBS
broadcasts “Championship Ballroom Dancing” and “America’s Ballroom Challenge”.
Gregory and Tommye have toured worldwide multiple times, performing throughout all
of Europe, Asia, and North America. This critically acclaimed duo has had the privilege
of performing for royalty, received standing ovations from arenas of over 20,000 people,
toured as guest artists with some of the top ballet and jazz companies in the world, performed
to music written exclusively for them, and performed with some of the most
prestigious symphonies in the world.
Together, they own the very popular Latin and Ballroom school, Chicago Dance,
where they and their staff teach dancers of all ages and levels, from beginner to advanced,
in both private and group lessons. Now retired from active competition and performance,
the two instruct and judge across the United States, train and test teachers throughout
the Midwest, and work tirelessly to support the sport of ballroom dancing.
Kimberley Mitchell moved to the United States at the age of 18 to become a professional
dancer and dance with Bill Sparks. Kimberley and Bill became two-time
United States International Latin Champions, British Professional Rising Star Champions,
three-time Ohio Star Ball Champions, and placed 5th in the World Championships.
Kimberley moved back to the United Kingdom several years ago to be close to her
family and spent the time there coaching and judging English and European couples.
Kimberley is now once again living in the USA and is based in Columbus, Ohio.
Gert and Kirsti Roslender began their ballroom dancing career over twenty years
ago as young teens in Estonia. They ultimately represented their home country in
European and World Championships five times. The Roslenders came to the United
States in 1998, where they continued their professional career by participating in more
than 100 competitions and becoming United States Rising Star Standard Champions
and Open Standard Grand Finalists. Gert and Kirsti are certified by the Imperial Society
of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), North American Teachers Association (NATA) and
the National Dance Council of America (NDCA), placing them in the elite category of
ballroom dance instructors worldwide who have attained these designations. Currently,
Gert and Kirsti are full-time ballroom dance instructors who also perform professional
dance shows. Their teaching is divided among three studios in as many cities, and their
students are top-ranked Pro/Am competitors, nationally and regionally. Their philosophy
is that dancing is fun and great exercise and anyone can learn this beautiful form of
expression for a lifetime of enjoyment.
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