The Philadelphia Festival Atlantic Coast Championships April 17th 2009

We went to the Philadelphia Airport Marriott on Friday the 17th to get prepped, practiced, primped, and perfect for performance! Sandra and Andy Fortuna took very good care of us and we all had a wonderful time at their venue. I definitely will return next year as this year was our third time in attendance! We were able to grab Brian Fortuna, who danced on the 4th season of "Dancing with the Stars." He is such a warm and talented man, and needless to say, Sue and Michelle were quite pleased to pose with him, as you can see below!!!!!

StudioDNA has some wonderful results to report. Well, we had our 1st Amateur Couple compete in our studio history. Robin & Rainier danced together and did a super awesome great job! Karl danced with Michelle making this Karl's 3rd consecutive dance competition. He is learning so much and growing as a dancer: confidence, abilities, and skills as a lead! Andrea danced with John and this is her 2nd consecutive dance competition. She danced much better and stronger than her 1st competition and her progress in styling and technique is moving along fantastically. Sue danced with John and once again was able to display her self made dresses and use her dance talents to her benefit, as her scores show. Besides dancing with her husband, Robin also danced with John and wowed the crowd big time! Her Salsa ROCKED the house!

StudioDNA would like to thank and recognize Randy for coming to support us and be our "HANDLER!" He helped keep everyone on deck and ready to go for their next heat. He was a great support for us and his wife Andrea! Michelle's Aunt Penny and Uncle Tony came to support us all the way from New Jersey. Also a thank you to Randy and Andrea who helped take many of our pictures!

Dancers do what we do for many reasons. We dance to impress! We dance for exercise and vanity! We dance so we can bring out our inner DIVA or another personality OUT, unlike the one we have day to day. We dance....well...because we have too! We dance in order to reach a goal or prove something to ourselves or someone else! But, WE DANCE! Thanks for dancing with us Andrea, Robin, Sue, Karl, & Rainier! Michelle & John are most wonderfully PROUD of you all and your accomplishments!

Andrea w/ John: 3rd Place: Samba & Salsa 4th Place: Cha Cha & Rumba

Karl w/ Michelle: 2nd Place: Merengue 5th Place: Samba 6th Place: Salsa 7th Place: Rumba & Cha Cha

Robin w/ John: 1st Place: Salsa 4th Place: Cha Cha

Robin & Rainier: 1st Place: Merengue 2nd: Rumba

Sue w/ John: 1st Place: Viennese Waltz 2nd Place: Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot, Salsa, & Rumba 3rd Place: Cha Cha