It was a Herculean feat that Lucas and Yanna pulled out of their magic hat last Saturday at the Sheraton Waikiki Hawaii Ballroom. I say magical and add spectacular 'cause it was the best of the best showcase by far that Lani and I have ever seen produced by DRD. Of course, everyone knows that the preparation behind the scene calls for hard core work and as Celia (Michael Yap's dance assistant) mentioned to me as we stood in line to register our tickets, "We were here since 9 o'clock in the morning setting up in the ballroom". Well, the task of putting up a better than great showcase of multi-talent people paid off many times over.
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| Shervelle Bergholz |
Lani and I decide to get to the Sheraton at least an hour before the door open at 6PM. Well more for making sure we were early enough to find a parking space. Lucky for us we found a nice spot on the 4th floor. As it got close to opening the ballroom doors, more ticket holders came into the foyer to register with Shervelle Bergholz. If you were at last year's Grand Ball, you'll remember Shervelle who nearly stole the show with her naughty but nice performance in a Latin number.
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| A rare pix of your truly |
The ballroom was beautifully decorated at every corner with the flavor of theaterama of years gone by. "Film Montage" was the theme of the 4th annual DRD Grand Ball which aimed to go on a magical journey of unforgetable Hollywood movies, memorable music and to experience the beauty of dance. I think what attracted nearly everyone as they walked into the ballroom was the large "Hollywood" background and the "Divino Ritmo Dance Limo" in the foreground. Even my main squeeze got to become a paparazzi and urged me to get a shot taken of me. She thought that I looked like one of those rich guys in the "Rich and Famous" with the shiny DRD limo in the background.
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| Lani & Lucas Jaime |
Of course in retaliation, I gotta have my main squeeze pictured in this blog, too. What better away than to get it with one of the Stars of Film Montage and better yet with Lucas Jaime, one of the Directors of of Film Montage, and Co-founder of DRD with Yanna Samkova.
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| EmCee Justin Cruz |
Every successful dance showcase gotta have top-notch people to keep the hype up and keep the show rolling smoothly and without any dull moment. Last year's DRD Grand Ball featured that dynamic Justin Cruz, the meteorologist for TV 2. As in the 2011 Grand Ball, he was just as "live" in 2012 being very articulate and clear in his deliverance but humble throughout the whole evening. He really got the audience all hyped up during the magnificent performances by professionals Andrei Kazlouski and Asta Sigvaldadottir, with "hana hou" to entice the professional couple to perform another Latin dance after completing each one. If I counted correctly, Andrei and Asta performed five different Latin dances to the delight of the audience.
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DeeJays Michael Yap
and DJ associate |
Contributing to the success of the showcase as well as getting the guests to dancing were the Dee Jays with their fabulous selection of smooth and rhythm music. Dance, dance, dance and so did the dancers fill the ballroom floor. Terrific danceable selections by Michael Yap and DJ associate (sorry I didn't get his name).
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| Professional Leo Tomas & Josie Banasan |
Social dancing continued before the sit down three course dinner was served. But first a welcome message by EmCee Justin Cruz in behalf of Lucas and Yanna, and recognition of the professional dance teachers who were in the audience. We were honored to have one of them,
Leo Tomas, sitted at our table with Josie Banasan.
There were three acts consisting of 24 performances on the Showcase Program. True to its title "Films Montage", each performance began in total darkness with the sound effect of a movie projector grinding its sprocket. The dance floor was fully lighted during each performance and slowly dimmed at the end of the performance. The showcase went nonstop for all three acts and they were all colorful, entertaining, dynamic, electrifying, spectacular, and a splendid display of professionalism. I'm thankful for the beautiful and informative magazine produced by DRD that was given to me. For without it, I would not have been able to list the names of all the talented participants of this wonderul and entertaining production of "Films Montage". Note worthy are the behind the scenes volunteers and that calls for special appreciation: Paul Laderta, Jeffrey Laderta, and Fil Padilla for stage and ballroom decoration and set up; Martie Laderta for tickets, printing, and trophies; Emi Matsuoka for flowers; and Michael Yap for DeeJay service.
Act One: Lights out. Music. Sound effects. Lights slowly on. Action.
Act One opened with the theme "That's Entertainment" with guest performers, the Pan Pacific Formation Team dancing a medley of standard dances. Members were Eric & Luby Brienzo, Stan & Gerry Katayama, Lung & Catherine Kwock, Ray & Audrey Dang, Noli & Wowie Boado, Jim & April McConnell, and Ed & Matilda Felix.
Anna Mae Schwartz with Lucas Jaime performing the Foxtrot/Swing Medley to the music from the movie "Catch Me If You Can".
Carl and Marge Boyer danced a Tango medley to "Por Una Cabeza" from the movie "Scent Of A Woman" and coached by Yanna Samkova.
Laila Spina-Valenta performing the Cha Cha with Lucas Jaime to the movie soundtrack "Fame".
Edward Nishimura danced a Tango/Paso Doble medley with Yanna Samkova to "Tango de Amor" from the movie "The Addams Family".
Mary D, Tom danced the International Rumba with Lucas Jaime to the music "Quiero Pecar en ti" from the movie "Volver".
Wes Numazu performed an American Foxtrot/Salsa medley with Yanna Samkova to the music from the movie "Mask".
Erika Ordonez performed a medley with Lucas Jaime to the music "Dance With Me".
The Keiki Dance Troupe (Madison Divers, Brooklyn Divers, Chaney Matsuwaki, and Bella Boyer) performed to the music "I Like To Move It", and "Hawaii Five-O" from the movie "Madagascar". Teacher: Yanna Samkova
Maria Handl danced a medley with Lucas Jaime to the music from the movie "Men In Black", and "Shall We Dance".
The Divino Ritmo Dance Formation Team (Paul & Marie Laderta, Ed & Remy Brion, Tom Collins & Maggie Deng, and Edward Nishimura & Cammy Divers) performed a medley of dances choreographed and coached by Yanna Samkova.
Intermission-Social Dancing
Act Two:
Act Two opened with Marie Laderta and Lucas Jaime performing a medley to the music from the movie "Indiana Jones".
David Easa and Yanna Samkova danced an American Waltz to the music "The Chairman's Waltz" from the motion picture "Memoirs Of A Geisha".
Noreen Ho and Lucas Jaime danced the Bolero to the beautiful song "Feelings" from the movie "The Baker Boys".
Edwin and Remy Brion performed the International Samba to "Mas Que Nada" from the movie "Rio".
Jones Valenzuela and Yanna Samkova danced the International Cha Cha to "Lady Marmalade" from the movie "Moulin Rouge".
Rolando and Gloria Padasdao danced the Waltz to the music "Time For Us" from the famous classic "Romeo and Juliet".
Maria Handl and Lucas Jaime performed a medley to the music from the movie "Shall We Dance".
Paul Laderta and Yanna Samkova performed a medley of International and American Foxtrot to the timeless music "My Girl" from the movie "The Temptations".
Bella Boyer and her teacher Lucas Jaime danced to the theme song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" from the movie "Swing Kids".
Intermission: Awards Ceremony and Social Dancing.
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The CAST MEMBERS in Act One and Act Two were called to receive their AWARDS
Act Three
It was like a Broadway Show bursting on stage as the Divino Ritmo Novice Ensemble opened the third act with a medley of dances choreographed and coached by Lucas Jaime. Members are Robert Hoplsen, Gary Hsu, Jopnes Valenzuela, Tomo Sasakawa, Laila Spina-Valenta, Soho Divers, ShervelleBergholz, Gwendolyn Arbaugh, Stacie Yochinaga, Keala Fung, Maya Ma, Emily Hodges, Stefan Kant, Laura Rose, and Becky McGarvey.
The Professional Show started and highlighted with a cabaret dance performance by Lucas Jaime and Yanna Samkova.
Special Guest Professional Artists Andrei Kazlouski and Asta Sigvaldadottir were awesome and spectacular in their performance of the International Latin Professional dances. They were hot as a four alarm fire that got the audience all fired up for them to continue to dance all the Latin dances. And dance they did to the call of "Hana Hou!"
Thus ended the showcase part of the program as the lights dimmed. The DRD Directors Lucas Jaime and Yanna Samkova had anticipated that the audience will enjoy the evening as a special spectacular event. Judging by the thunderous applauses and loud cheers during and after each performance of all the dancers, it turned out to be more than an enjoyable evening...it was an exhilarating evening filled with fun, vigor, and entertainment to the max. Social dancing continued till 11:30 PM.
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