Tony Meredith, on the June 2008 cover of DT with his partner, Melanie LaPatin.
Heads up, ballroom fans! The largest pro/am ballroom competition in the world is happening next week. For the 37th year, dancers of all ages and experience levels will take the floor at the Ohio Star Ball in Columbus to compete for national rankings and prize money.
It’s going to be fringe and feathers overload. Amateur and junior dancers will compete during the day, while the pros dance at night. Audiences can also watch the world pro/am team competition and the United States National Collegiate Championships, featuring nearly 50 ballroom teams from colleges and universities.
PBS will film the event for their yearly special, “America’s Ballroom Challenge.” “So You Think You Can Dance” judge Mary Murphy will co-host the event with Tony Meredith, who has choreographed for “SYTYCD” and was a U.S. National Professional Latin Champion with his partner, Melanie LaPatin. The show will air in early 2015.