Judges for CAN-AM DanceSport Gala

A world-class competition deserves world-class adjudicators. One of the things that has made Can-Am DanceSport such an important icon in the DanceSport world has been the quality of the adjudicating panel. This year is no exception. The judging panel is a virtual who’s who of the greatest champions in ballroom dancing.

Listed in alphabetical order

Jackie Rogers – Chair of Judges

Championship Adjudicator in all styles. World Championship Master Scrutineer. Championship Chairman of Judges. Member all branches, US Terpsichore and Licentiate of ISTD. Director of Public Relations, National Dance Council of America, Inc. Chair of the NDCA Scrutineering Committee. World Class and WDC adjudicator.

Pierre Allaire – Canada (Quebec)

Canadian Amateur Latin and Standard champion. 12 times undefeated Canadian professional Ten-Dance champion. Canadian and North American Professional Standard and Latin champion. Open British Professional Rising Star Latin champion. World Professional Ten-Dance grand finalist. Recipient of the Feather Award for “Most Outstanding Couple outside USA.” Recipient of “Legends of Dance” award. Recipient of Can-Am Dancesport “Special Achievement” award. Choreographer for “So You Think You Can Dance Canada.” World Amateur and Professional Championship adjudicator. Co-organizer of Danse Sport Montréal.

Didio Barrera – USA (Florida)

Didio began dancing with Fred Astaire Dance Studio (Bob Medeiros, owner) at age 13 and became a teacher at age 15. As professional competitor, finalist in most major US Latin and European competitions. Winner Ohio Star Ball and La Classique du Quebec Rising Star Latin. Worked extensively in the TV industry as a choreographer, producer and casting director. He is currently the Features Editor for Dance Beat and Dance Beat World. WDC and IDSF judge.

Luca Baricchi – Italy

Luca Baricchi, along with his wife Loraine, has an amazing list of accomplishments that include: United Kingdom Champions, British Open Champions along with International, European and World Professional Standard Champions titles. World Championship adjudicator.

Loraine Baricchi – England

Former 7 times British Open Ballroom Champion. 4 times World Ballroom Champion. Recipient of the Carl Alan Award. Prince Mikasa Award and BDF Award. Passionate about the Art of Ballroom Dancing. World Championship adjudicator.

Nadia Eftedal – USA (California)

Former Open British Professional Latin Champion. UK Professional Latin Champion. 2-times European Professional Latin Champion. World and International Adjudicator. During her competitive career, Nadia represented Norway prior to returning to her home town of Los Angeles. Organizer of the Holiday Ball / Dance Camp. WDC adjudicator.

Peter Eggleton – England

8 times winner of the International Championship, England. 6 Star Championships, 6 European, 3 Worlds, 3 British Open Championships. Fellow examiner. Life Member ISTD and USISTD. Recipient of the Carl Alan Award and featured Ballroom Icon.

Karen Hilton MBE – England

World Amateur Ten-Dance Champion. World Amateur Latin Champion. 9 times Professional Standard World Champions. Recipient of the Carl Alan Award. Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.). World judge and coach.

Marcus Hilton MBE – England

World Amateur Ten-Dance Champion. World Amateur Latin Champion. 9 times Professional Standard World Champions. Recipient of the Carl Alan Award. Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.). Marcus is Chairman of the Blackpool Dance Festival. World judge and coach.

Paul Holmes – USA (New York)

British and United Kingdom National Amateur Champion, Winner of the World Cup. 5 times British Open finalist. 5 times UK Open and International Open finalist. Finalist in the German Open and US Open Championships. As professional finalist of the British National Championships and the US National Championships. Winner of the International Open Rising Star Championships. Semifinal in the British Open, International Open and UK Open. Paul is teaching worldwide and settled in the US in 1995. WDC adjudicator.

Bill Jacobsen – Canada (Alberta)

Multi Arthur Murray studio franchisee, over 33 years of experience in all forms of dance. Member of the National Dance Board for Arthur Murray International, traveling consultant and coach, World Championship adjudicator.

Wendy Johnson – USA (California)

Former NZ Ballroom and Latin Champion. Co-organizer of Holiday Dance Classic, Las Vegas, San Diego Dancesport and Kiwi Classic Dance NZ. Choreographer for TV show “Dancing with the Stars”. World Adjudicator. 3 time winner of Choreographer of North America. Appeared on several television shows including, Merv Griffen, AM San Francisco, TV Special “Grease Day USA”, TLC TV show “Dancin Tweens” PBS Championship Ballroom Dancing. World Class and WDC adjudicator.

Rae Josephs – USA (Illinois)

3 Time US American Open Rhythm Finalist, 6 Time undefeated Fred Astaire Open Rhythm Champion. Member of the Fred Astaire National Council of Dance. Coach & Choreographer. Fred Astaire Chicago Area Director. Motivational Speaker & Trainer in the Ballroom Industry.

John Kimmins – USA (Florida)

Amateur Finalist, World Amateur Championship. 4th World Amateur Championship, Winner of British Open (first non Brit to win this event), 2nd UK before moving to USA. As a professional, winner of US East Coast Championship, Canadian Open 2nd USBC, Member Australian Dance Hall of Fame. Past President of ABC, organizer of USDC and many World Championships. World judge. NDCA Hall of Fame. Recipient of the Carl Alan Award and featured Ballroom Icon. President Arthur Murray International. Word Class and WDC adjudicator.

Elena Kosovich – USA (California)

Born in Russia and now living in Los Angeles, Elena began dancing at the age of 5. She is a former Unites States and World Professional Ballroom Champion, US Classical Showdance Champion, runner up in World Classical Showdance Championships, and Australian Ten-Dance Champion. World Class and WDC adjudicator.

Nicholas Kosovich – USA (California)

Nicholas competed for 36 years having represented in seven Professional World Championship events. Along with his wife Lena, holds some 40+ Professional Showdance and American Ballroom titles including: 2-time U.S. American Ballroom Champion, 2005 World American Ballroom Champion, Two-time U.S. Classic Showdance Champion, 2-time World Classic Showdance runner-up and 3-time Arthur Murray National Smooth Champions. Nicholas has been part of a number of movies, most recently “Shall We Dance.”  Appeared on numerous TV network shows, Emmy nominated choreographer, for DWTS. WDC judge.

Robert Long – USA (New Mexico)

Bio to come

Brigitt Mayer — Canada (Ontario)

Brigitt Mayer was born in Germany and started ballroom dancing as an amateur at age 16.  German Vice champion in Latin, German Ten Dance finalist and  finalist in the European and World Amateur Championships, as well a winning the World Championship in Formation dance. As a professional second in the World Latin-American Show Dance Championship, second in the World Open Exhibition Championship, and second in the British Open Rising Star Championship. She received an invitation to perform “Duel of the Giants” in 1998. In 2000 she received the CAN-AM DanceSport Special Achievement Award. World Championships judge. Author of Ballroom Icons.

Michael Mead – USA (California)

Number One ranked American Style Ballroom Couple in the World 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 (undefeated). United States American Style Ballroom Champion 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 (undefeated). Canadian Open American Style Ballroom Champions 2000, 2001. 4th place World Classic Showdance Championships. 2001 US National Showdance Championships finalists (2nd place). 1998 Rising Star American Style Ballroom Champions (with Toni Redpath). 1996 United States Standard Ballroom Championships Finalist (with Olga Foraponova). 1994 United States Standard Ballroom Rising Star Championship (with Kathryn Schaffer). Choreographed for shows such as SYYCD and America’s Ballroom Challenge and trained World Champion ballroom dancers. World Class and WDC adjudicator.

Tony Meredith – USA (New York)

Former U.S. Professional Latin Champion. World Trophy Champion. Co-host of America’s Ballroom Challenge on PBS. Choreographer / Consultant on many commercials, films and television from Vanessa Williams to Celine Dion. Choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance in the USA and Canada. World Class and WDC adjudicator.

P J Navarro – USA (Ohio)

Bio to come

Meryem Pearson – Canada (Quebec)

Founder and co-organizer of La Classique Du Quebec in Montreal. Co-founder of Canadian Dancers Federation. Recipient of the Carl Alan Award and featured Ballroom Icon. World Championchip adjudicator and coach.

Toni Redpath – USA (California)

United States American Style Ballroom Champion 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 (undefeated) with Michael Mead. Canadian Open American Style Ballroom Champions 2000, 2001. 4th place World Classic Showdance Championships. 2001 US National Showdance Championships finalists (2nd place). 1998 Rising Star American Style Ballroom Champions (with Michael Mead). Norwegian National Amateur Ten-Dance representative to the Worlds Amateur Ten-Dance Championships (with Jan Turer). Judge on So You Think You Can Dance Season 7 (Fox TV). World Class and WDC adjudicator.

Dennis Rogers – USA (Pennsylvania)

World Championship Judge. World Championship Master Scrutineer. Championship Chairman of Judges. Fellow of the ISTD. Fellow and Examiner of the US Terpsichore Association. Past President of the ISTD. Past President and current Treasurer of the National Dance Council of America, Inc. World Class and WDC adjudicator.

Taliat Tarsinov – USA (New York)

Taliat, with his wife Marina, represented Russia at more than twenty World and European Championships. Ten Dance finalists in Europe and semi-finalists in the World. In Holland, they were Exhibition World Championship finalists. Finalists of the European and World Cups in the Professional Latin American and Standard programs as well as German Open, Dutch Open, and the United States Ballroom Dance Championships. Former National Fred Astaire Professional Standard and Latin Champions. Selected to the National Fred Astaire Council of Dance, Choreographer and World Class and WDC adjudicator.

Keith Todd – USA (Florida)

Keith began dancing in England at Age 8. UK Ballroom and Latin Junior Champion. As a professional in the USA finalist in most major US Professional Latin Championships, US Rising Star Professional Ballroom Champion 1980. Keith created Dance Beat Newspaper in 1990 as a national dancesport publication, Editor/Publisher. Discontinued all teaching and coaching to concentrate on newspaper work. Also Editor of Dance Beat World. Keith attends most major U.S. competitions as a reporter/critic for Dance Beat or as an adjudicator. World Class and WDC adjudicator.

Vibeke Toft – USA (New York)

As an amateur: World Amateur Champion, UK and International Champion, British Open Rising Star Champion, European Champion, Danish and Scandinavian Champion. As a professional: French Open German Open Pro Champion, European Professional vice Champion and World Pro finalist. World judge and coach. Mother of 3 year old Gabriel. WDC adjudicator.

Brian Torner – Canada (Ontario)

Professional dance partner of Ballroom Icons author Brigitt Mayer. Former 3x World Showdance Latin Finalist incl. 2nd, 9th World Pro Latin, 2nd British Open Invitation Exhibition, 3x British Open RS Latin Finalist incl. 2nd, Canadian, OSB & North American 2nd, La Classique du Quebec Rising Star Champion, 2nd German Open, US Open International RS Championships, Host and commentator: WTN-TV (Canada) “Dancing at the Palais”, film appearance: J Lo’s student in “Shall We Dance”, trainer to numerous national, international and world latin couples, showdance (latin and standard), formation, 10-dance plus wheelchair dancesport finalists and champions, 15x World Championship adjudicator.

Pat Traymore – USA (Virginia)

Patricia is an international teacher, coach, and adjudicator. She was hired by Arthur Murray for his New York studio and has taught many film celebrities including George Burns, David Niven, Ricardo Montalbon, Whitey Ford, and Bob hope.

Denis Tremblay – Canada (BC)

6 consecutive times Blackpool Professional British Open Grand Finalists (Ballroom), “Top Three” in 2 World Professional Championships (Ballroom and 10 Dance),13 Canadian Professional Championship titles, 2 times winner Blackpool Professional Rising Star Latin Championship, Blackpool World Congress guest lecturer, guest in cabaret at the London Royal Albert Hall International Championships, World Championship adjudicator.

Mireille Veilleux – Canada (Quebec)

Canadian Amateur Latin and Standard Champion. 12 times undefeated Canadian Professional Ten-Dance Champion. Canadian and North American Professional Standard and Latin Champion. Open British Professional Rising Star Latin Champion. World Professional Ten-Dance grand finalist. Recipient of the Feather Award for “Most Outstanding Couple Outside USA.” Recipient of “Legends Of Dance Award.” Recipient of Can-Am Dancesport “Special Achievement” Award. World Amateur and Professional championship adjudicator. Choreographer for “So You Think You Can Dance Canada.” Co-organizer of Danse Sport Montréal.

Danny Villavicencio – USA (New Jersey)

Bio to come