Jacksonville ballroom dancers win top honors in U.S. competition
Two amateur Jacksonville ballroom dancers — one a senior, the other a teen — recently won top honors in the U.S. Dance Championships in Orlando.
Linda Dennis, 71, won the five-dance Pro/Am International Standard Seniors category with dance-instructor partner Pavel Cherdantsau. The International Standard style features the waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot and quickstep.
Dennis said she has danced other styles in the past but for the last four years focused on learning the International Standard style with Cherdantsau at the Jacksonville Dance Center. The ballroom dance school is run by Cherdantsau and his wife, Svetlana Rudkovskaya of Jacksonville Beach.
“It’s been a long process to learn all of the steps and proper technique in all five dances … while still being connected to your partner,” she said. “I keep asking myself how I can possibly have the stamina and physicality to do these complicated dances, but I enjoy every minute of my lessons — not to mention the thrill of dancing like a princess to beautiful music in a gorgeous ballroom at a competition. To be judged by past champions as the best in my category at the U.S. Championships was truly an honor.”
Myles Liu Abram, 17, won the competition’s Pro/Am, Standard and Latin Silver category with Rudkovskaya, his dance instructor and partner. The event combines five International Latin dances — the cha-cha-cha, jive, rumba, samba and paso doble — with five International Standard dances — the foxtrot, quickstep, tango, waltz and Viennese waltz.
“I never expected ballroom to have such a big impact in my life,” Abram said. “I never thought I would grow to have such a huge passion for it, being that it is such an unknown and unique sport, but my passion grew every time I danced.”
In 2020, his mother introduced him to the Dance Center on St. Johns Bluff Road. Rudkovskaya became his Pro/Am competition partner. He has since danced in numerous competitions.
“In addition to the obvious physical benefits, dancing has given me a lot of confidence and a huge sense of accomplishment,” Abram said. The latest “win is particularly special … because it’s one of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the United States. It attracts a wide range of talented dancers from all over the country, making it a great platform to test my abilities and gain exposure.”
The annual event is run by American Ballroom Co. Inc., which was incorporated in 1971 and granted a license from the National Council of Dance Teachers Organization to conduct the championships.
Dennis’ and Abram’s respective partners, Cherdantsau and Rudkovskaya, each have about 30 years of experience as dance teachers and opened the Dance Center in 2013. They have been in Jacksonville Beach since 2003, compete professionally across the world in the Latin and standard ballroom dance styles and compete with amateur students at Pro/Am competitions.
They offer group classes, coaching and private lessons, according to the center website.
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