The awards dinner and final performance of Sarasota Challenge was held on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
By
Niki Kottmann
| 10:18 p.m. March 26, 2017
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Glitter seemed to be elegantly spinkled on everyone at the Sarasota Challenge awards dinner and show on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
The two-day ballroom dance competition — now in its ninth year — gives both amateur couples and couples comprised of one amateur and one professional dancer (AKA Pro-Am couples) the opportunity to compete in a variety of categories and styles.
Competitors, teachers and supporters gathered on the final evening of the competition weekend to celebrate the dancers, award prizes such as Top Student and Top Amateur Couple (which went to Peter and Carrie Walsh, whose story you can read here) and enjoy a series of special performances by professional couples such as Rostvinschii Daniil and Yulia Rudenco.
Event organizer Sid Pocius
Several ballroom dresses by WE Design were on display at Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Daiva Gutauskiene and Aukse Zukauskiene
Ed and Mary Zuranski, winner of 3 Dance Jam
A string quartet serenaded guests with chamber music during dinner at Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Tatiana Gammicchia, Maksim Spasov, Sherry Robinson and Katya Demyaniuk
Walter Ashbrock, Tatyana Frost, Taylor Abbasi, Missy Ide and Amber Nickole
Trophies were awarded to winners of titles such as Top Student and Top Amateur Couple during Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Andreas Luetzner and his mother, Margitta Luetzner, with Babette Brown and Anita Itzel
Stephanie and Branden Calnan
Lyn Sky
Junior participants were given these participation awards at Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Marilyn Landry and Toni Simpson
Several ballroom dresses by WE Design were on display at Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Asya Tkacheva, Andre Bushchik and Polina Pilipenchuk
Andrew Phillips, Marianne Dewaal and Jon Hagman
Guests were served black and white mousse cake with whipped cream garnish and a Sarasota Challenge logo at the dance competition on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Susan Malloy Jones and Vidas Orlovas
Aleksei Alekseev, Marilyn Pearson, Sharyn Wood, Brent Hyskell and Ekaterina Derevleva
Several ballroom dresses by WE Design were on display at Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Branden Calnan, Shirley Ballas, Top Student Award Winner Kristina Serinna and organizer Sid Pocius
Yulia Rudenco and Daniil Rostvinschii perform the jive at Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Joshua Alexander and Carrie Walsh celebrate after accepting the Top Amateur Couple award for Peter and Carrie Walsh at Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
Yulia Rudenco and Daniil Rostvinschii perform the jive at Sarasota Challenge on March 26 at Hyatt Regency Sarasota.
