The Competition

The American Smooth competition proved to be an exciting night. Retiring duo Steven Dougherty and Eulia Baranovsky won the show dance competition with a tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. However, it was not enough to score them the championship. That honor went to relative newcomers Tomas Mielnicki and J.T. Thomas who came in first in the group dance and second in the show dance. Look for them to return on February 27th to face the three other champions for the title of "America's Best."

The Finalists

Tomas Mielnicki and J.T. Thomas

© Jeffrey Dunn

American Smooth Champions

Tomas Mielnicki and J.T. Thomas
New York

This couple has only been dancing together since March 2006, and has quickly moved up the ranks in their division, taking the championship this year. Tomas' first championship was at age 16, when he danced both the International Latin and Standard styles. He left his home country of Poland in 2001, moving to New York, where he met J.T. She received a B.F.A. in dance from the University of Arizona and has competed in the Theater Arts and Latin divisions as well.

Mayo Alanen and Lisa Vogel

© Jeffrey Dunn

Mayo Alanen and Lisa Vogel
New Jersey

Mayo Alanen and Lisa Vogel have been rising to the top of their division quickly. Mayo was a member of Brigham Young University's world-renowned formation team before he partnered with Lisa, who recently graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University. Now based in the New York area, Mayo and Lisa have been training intensively with top coaches and dancers from around the world.

Steven Dougherty and Eulia Baranovsky

© Jeffrey Dunn

Steven Dougherty and Eulia Baranovsky
Connecticut

Steven has been dancing professionally for over 10 years and is very active teaching and choreographing in and around New York City. Both are guest teachers for the Juilliard School. Eulia is noted for her grace and ease on the dance floor. The couple excels in the foxtrot, presenting a great deal of sophistication in their steps. This is their last performance, as they have announced their retirement following the competition.

Mazen Hamza and Irina Sarukhanyan

© Jeffrey Dunn

Mazen Hamza and Irina Sarukhanyan
Delaware

This couple has been dancing together in the Smooth division for five years. While Mazen took tap and ballet as a child, he didn't discover ballroom dancing until he was in college at the University of Texas. Irina danced the Latin style until she moved to the United States from Armenia. She loves to take walks in the woods and enjoys helping her father with his jewelry business.

Eddie Stutts and Valentina

© Jeffrey Dunn

Eddie Stutts and Valentina
Texas

Eddie Stutts and Valentina have been dancing together for less than a year. Previously, Eddie won several titles in 10-dance competitions, while Valentina consistently placed high in the Smooth Finals. Valentina was a soloist with the St. Petersburg (Russia) ballet.

Tony Scheppler and Tonja Martin

© Jeffrey Dunn

Tony Scheppler and Tonja Martin
New York

Tony Scheppler and Tonja Martin, partners since 2006, have a combined 30 years of experience as competitors and teachers. Fully accredited in teaching all styles of ballroom dance, Tony specializes in American style, particularly American Smooth, and Theater Arts. Tonja has been teaching ballroom dance for the past 12 years and specializes in American Smooth and Rhythm. Dancing since age 3, she is trained in tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop.

Gunnar and Daryll Sverrisson

© Jeffrey Dunn

Gunnar and Daryll Sverrisson
Connecticut

Married for six years, Gunnar and Daryll both coach college dance teams. Originally from Iceland, Gunnar played soccer as a boy, but decided he preferred the company of pretty girls to sweaty locker rooms. Daryll volunteers at high schools and youth groups, and is a graduate of Bay Path College. As a child, she studied in the pre-professional program at the New England Dance Conservatory.

Exhibition Dancers

John Glessner and Susan Walden

© Jeffrey Dunn

John Glessner and Susan Walden
Florida

After graduating from Florida State University in 1977, John Glessner began dancing professionally. He began teaching shortly thereafter and remained in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area for nearly 20 years. In 1996, he moved to Jacksonville to open a studio. Susan Walden began taking ballroom lessons with her husband in 1990. She quickly realized that dancing was the perfect vehicle for personal expression and physical fitness. Her partnership with John provided an opportunity for her to achieve her goal of national status as a competitive ballroom dancer.

Leonid Juashkovsky and Daniella Karagach

© Jeffrey Dunn

Leonid Juashkovsky and Daniella Karagach
New York

Daniella and Leonid, aged 16 and 14, have been dancing together since 2003. Both began dance instruction when they were very young, Daniella studying ballet and Leonid joining a ballroom class because his friends were doing it. They have remained passionate about their training in spite of its increased intensity and the demands of competition. Daniella's mom sometimes finds her dancing in her room after she "goes to bed". In addition to dancing, Daniella plays basketball and Leonid plays hockey, football, and guitar. Their dream is to open a dance school for underprivileged children.

Ted Grinvald and Natasha Shevchenko

© Jeffrey Dunn

Ted Grinvald and Natasha Shevchenko
California

Dancing together for less than a year, Ted and Natasha, aged 12 and 9, have placed well in many preteen competitions.

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