Friday, November 21, 2014
Our Mission
Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2014-2015 season is made possible, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, F.M. Kirby Foundation and other numerous foundations, corporations and individuals. As a courtesy to the artists and for the uninterrupted enjoyment of your fellow patrons, please turn off all cell phones, pagers, beepers and other electronic devices. Please unwrap any lozenges before the performance begins. No portion of this performance may be photographed, recorded, filmed, taped, broadcast or mechanically reproduced without the written consent of the Artist and/or the Presenter. Mayo Performing Arts Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items. FM KIRBY FOUNDATION
THE BLANCHE & IRVING LAURIE FOUNDATION
Media Partner
Dancing Pros Live Alan Thicke (Host) Star of Growing Pains and Unusually Thicke Alan is a seven-time Emmy nominee…often referred to as “America’s Dad” for his seven-year stint as patriarch Jason Seaver on Growing Pains. He began as a writer for TV series including Flip Wilson, Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Glen Campbell, Barry Manilow, Olivia Newton-John and Fernwood Tonite. He has composed the themes for Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes (which he sang!). In live theatre, Alan appeared on Broadway as lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago and in Promises, Promises and Mame (Hollywood Bowl). His most recent theatre appearance was as Jack Bailey in the world premiere of Queen for a Day: The Musical. Alan has starred in JPOD, a comedy-drama series for the CBC Network and in I’m in the Band (Disney), as well as in the feature film The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard with Will Farrell and Jeremy Piven, and I Hate You, Dad (Adam Sandler). He recurs on TVs popular How I Met Your Mother. Most recently Alan has made appearances on LA Complex, This Hour Has 22 Minutes and ABC’s Bad Management. In June 2013 it was announced that Alan would star in Slice’s hybrid reality show Unusually Thicke which is centered around Alan and family’s real-life exploits. The show premiered on Slice and TVGN in spring 2014. Alan’s book, How To Raise Kids Who Won’t Hate You has been a popular sequel to his amusing How Men Have Babies: The Pregnant Father’s Survival Guide, currently printed in five languages. He appears all over North America as Emcee/Comic/Keynote Speaker for corporate events and awards shows including the Canadian Comedy Awards and the Winnpeg Comedy Fest. Alan is happy husband to former Miami model Tanya Callau and proud ‘Pops’ to sons Brennan (Entrepreneur), Robin (Rock Star), and Carter (high school genius)…as well as grandsons, Tyler (May ’08), and Julian (April ’10). Edyta Sliwinska (Judge) Dancing with the Stars Pro (10 Seasons) Edyta is known for being the only professional dancer to appear on the first 10 seasons of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). She was the poster girl for the show appearing as the glamorous headliner in most of ABC’s advertising. She partnered Evander Holyfield, George Hamilton, Ashley Hamilton, Aiden Turner, Joey Lawrence, John Ratzenberger, Cameron Mathison, Jason Taylor, Jeffrey Ross, Lawrence Taylor, and Aiden Turner. Edyta has been on every DWTS tour and modeled for the fitness section of DWTS book, DWTS video games, board games, and most other marketing collateral associated with the show. Edyta modeled in Maxim, Sport Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and was on the cover of Fitness RX. Additionally, Edyta appeared in Kay Jewelers national commercial and guest starred in CBS hit series CSI: NY. Edyta graced the talk show circuit including Dr. Phil, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, Insider, TMZ, Good Morning America and Ellen. Oscar Orosco (Judge) Actor, You Got Served With a career spanning 15 years, Oscar Orosco,
better known as Double O, has worked with the industries top talents in film, television and theater. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Oscar hit the scene at the age of 18 and never looked back. He is known for his dynamic dance style which helped shape campaigns for Apple, Nike and Cadillac. His presences both on and off stage is an impactful one. Keeping very humble, Oscar has reached the highest level of commercial achievement; he has opened the door for countless dancers and has brought credibility to the dance form. Credits include: Janet Jackson, Will Smith, Fergi, AT&T campaigns, The Cat In The Hat, Bring It On Again, The Hot Chick, Master of Disguises and the short film Kid Bang, which was nominated for an American Choreography award. Chelsie Hightower (Dancer/Competitor) Dancing with the Stars Pro (9 Seasons) So You Think You Can Dance Pro (Top 6 Season 4, All-Star Seasons 8 & 10) Chelsie Hightower is a well-known dancer originally from Orem, Utah. She was a fan favorite and finalist on Fox’s hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance where she still makes appearances as a choreographer and all-star. Two of the pieces that were choreographed for her and her partner were nominated for an Emmy Award. She moved straight from there to Dancing with the Stars where she performed for nine seasons; while there she was nominated for an Emmy for a dance she choreographed along with Derek Hough. Her partners have included everyone from Olympic athletes to world renowned entertainers. Chelsie was the face of Reebok’s dance line and had a multitude of other product endorsements including Latisse. She was featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition with her partner Ty Murray where she had a two page spread and has graced the cover of many national dance and fitness magazines. Dance continues to be a major part of Chelsie’s life and she hopes to inspire as many people to a healthier and happier life through dance and fitness. Artur Adamski (Dancer/Competitor) Canadian DanceSport Finalist As a ballroom competitor, Artur is a Canadian Finalist, French Open champion, Runner-up at the London Open, 15th at the British Open at Blackpool, 3rd in North America at the Ohio Star Ball and has won many other competitions all around the world. He is continuously training and furthering his knowledge of dance with some of the top teachers of ballroom dancing. Apart from competing, Artur loves teaching, and has had the pleasure of training some of the top couples in Ontario as well as all of Canada. He has participated, as a dancer, in the world famous BDFI Blackpool Dance Congress with many world champions in May 2012. Artur has appeared and acted in various music videos and movies including Closing the Ring featuring Christopher Plummer, Mischa Barton, Shirley MacLaine and Neve Campbell and Juno Award winning artists
such as Alan Frew from Glass Tiger. In addition to his appearance on film, Artur has extended his modeling career through national print campaign ads with Samsung, Rogers and a spread in Elegant magazine. Artur participates in various Dancing Pros, Inc. productions including DANCE TEMPTATION, and DANCING PROS LIVE where he performs with Chelsie Hightower, Kym Johnson, Edyta Sliwinska, Peta Murgatroyd and Sharna Burgess from Dancing with the Stars. Ryan DiLello (Dancer/Competitor) So You Think You Can Dance (All Star and Finalist, Season 6) Ryan is a Top 6 Finalist and All-Star from the FOX television show So You Think You Can Dance where he and his wife Ashleigh became the first and only married couple to both be voted all the way to the season finale. They soon after became the star couple of the Broadway show Burn the Floor. Ryan is known for his guest appearances on many popular programs including ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Drop Dead Diva and Bones. He also appeared in the Hollywood movie What to Expect When You’re Expecting with Cameron Diaz and is the Season 3 Winner of the Spanish TV version of Dancing with the Stars. For more information about Ryan and his wife Ashleigh, including access to their dance & fitness programs visit: www.RyanandAshleigh.com. Regina Maziarz (Dancer/Competitor) U.S. 10 Dance Champion Originally born in Poland, Regina Maziarz immigrated to the U.S. at the age of six. Just a year later, she was signed up for dance classes and geared her focus towards the International Ballroom and Latin styles. Her early success included becoming the National Junior Standard Champion and a finalist of all Latin and Standard Junior competitions. Her international career started at the age of twelve where she competed against dancers greatly surpassing her age. She accumulated many prestigious titles that included becoming the United Kingdom Open 10 Dance Champion, Reykjavik International Open Games 10 Dance Gold medalists as well as the U.S. National 10 Dance Champion. During her competitive career, Regina was a full time student and Ballroom Dance instructor. Aside of the competitive dance industry, she appeared in music videos, theater productions and fashion catalogues. Denys Drozdyuk (Dancer/Competitor) Winner of Canadian So You Think You Can Dance & US Latin Champion Denys Drozdyuk started dancing at the age of 4 in Ukraine. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from the world famous Juilliard School in New York which he attended on a full scholarship and a Master of Arts Degree in Dance Education from New York University. He is a 3-Time World Ballroom Dance Champion, 2-Time USA National Ballroom Dance Champion, 7-Time German National Ballroom Dance Champion, 3-Time Canadian Ballroom Dance Champion, the winner of the British Open Championship in Blackpool, England, which is the most prestigious ballroom dance competition in the world, as well as the winner of all major ballroom dance competitions in the U.S.. Denys is
also the Winner of the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance Canada and is officially the first and only ballroom dancer in the world who was able to earn this title. Denys lives through his dancing, and hopes to share his passion with the audiences everywhere. Antonina Skobina (Dancer/Competitor) US Latin Champion Antonina Skobina was born in Ukraine. Since the age of 7, she has been receiving the best ballroom dance training in Ukraine, Germany, England and the U.S.. She is a 2-Time USA National Ballroom Dance Latin Champion, as well as the winner of all major ballroom dance competitions in the U.S.. Antonina is also the first ever and still the only American to win the British Open Amateur Rising Stars Ballroom Dance Championships in Blackpool, England, which is the most prestigious ballroom dance competition in the world. Apart from dancing, Antonina has a great passion for acting and she is a proud graduate of the prominent New York Film Academy in New York. Most of all Antonina desires to touch the hearts of the people through her dancing, and to leave them with inspiration, positivity and joy. Paul Barris (Dancer/Competitor) Latin American Dancing with the Stars (Winner); Salsa World Champion A native of Los Angeles, Paul Barris is a world renowned and credited Latin dancer and choreographer. With his imaginative and expressive technique, he has achieved numerous awards including winning the U.S. Latin Ballroom championships, the British Open Latin Formation Championships and the World Latin and Salsa Dance Championships. Through his Latino roots, he has captivated audiences with his sexy Latin style in many commercials, films, and television shows. Some of his credits include Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Bailando Por Un Sueño and Mira Quien Baila! where he partnered Televisa superstar, Marjorie De Sousa. Paul has also had the privilege to work with great musical artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, The Pussycat Dolls, Ne-Yo, Prince Royce and Jenny Rivera to name a few. His latest accomplishment has been performing in several dance galas with the great Misty Copeland from the American Ballet Theater. Tess Buchatsky (Dancer/Competitor) Canadian Latin Dance Finalist Tess Buchatsky is a Canadian Latin dancer, currently training with Andra Vaidilaite and Maurizio Vescovo at Dance Life Studios. Tess began to study dance at the age of six. Throughout her childhood she trained in multiple disciplines, with a concentration on ballroom and ballet, and performed as an acrobat with Wonderful World of Circus. As a Latin dancer, Tess has acquired numerous victories, the most recent of which are her finalist status in the 21 and under category of the 2014 Classique du Quebec, and 2nd place in 2013 Toronto Open competition. Besides her dance career, Tess is fascinated by the beauty industry, and is a part-time model and aesthetic artist with several years of professional experience both on the runway and in the photo shoot setting. Tess is a recent honors graduate of the Drama program at Westmount Collegiate Institute, where she participated in diverse
theatrical productions. In September 2014 she will be entering York University, where she plans to pursue a double degree in Dance and Criminology. Alexander Chernositov (Dancer/Competitor) US 10 Dance Champion Alexander was a semifinalist of British Open Championships, U.S. Open Vice - Champion, Moldovian and Belgium Open finalist. While competing in DanceSport championships, Alexander majored in business at Bergen Community College. Maintaining impressive scores in his studies, he graduated with a degree in business management. Shortly thereafter, Alexander became a champion of many competitions. Some of his achievements include USA National 10 Dance Champion, North American Latin and Ballroom Champion, UK Open 10 Dance Champion, Reykjavik International Games Champion, World Master Ballroom Champion as well as Amateur RS Ballroom Champion at the 2013 World Championships in Paris, France. Arina Grishanina (Dancer/Competitor) Denmark DanceSport Champion Arina started ballroom dancing at the age of 5. During school years, she was taking classes with world famous teachers and became finalist as well as won many championships in Russia as a Juvenile and Youth dancer. Having a huge interest in different kinds of dance, Arina has studied at the Music and Theater Academy in Russia. She studied folk dance, ballet, modern dance, hip-hop, Latin-American and Standard styles. After moving to Sweden in 2011, Arina and her dance partner Christian Herchel quickly took 3rd place at a prestigious Gothenburg Elite Dance Trophy 2011, and were ranked among top 6 couples in the country. With her next dance partner, Sam Shamseili, Arina’s dance achievements catapulted to new heights. She earned many top titles and numerous prizes all over the world, including the most coveted title in the competitive ballroom dance world, Blackpool Champion. She also became Danish Champion. From Scandinavia Arina travelled to Hong-Kong to explore multiple dance opportunities. Arina’s new competitive dance partnership brought her to the U.S. where she shares her love of dance on DANCING PROS LIVE tour. Anastasia Trutneva (Dancer/Competitor) North American 10 Dance Champion Anastasia Trutneva has been dancing for over 16 years in Latin, Standard, and 10 dance. She graduated from the Claude Watson Arts program for dance, specializing in ballet, modern, contemporary and other types of dance. Her passion is dedicated towards the Ballroom program and she hopes to one day open her own studio. Anastasia’s biggest achievement was in Denmark at the 10 Dance World Championships where she finished 3rd in the world. She holds the title of the North American Champion in Latin and 10 Dance categories. Dmitry Demidov (Dancer/Competitor) Russian DanceSport Finalist Dmitry Demidov began his dancing career at the age of six in Krasnodar by the Black Sea in Russia. He spent most of his life dancing and getting a formal education in everything that is dance. He attended the University of Culture and Arts in Krasnodar before moving on to receive his master’s degree in physical education and ballroom dance teaching
from the Russian University in Moscow. Dmitry continued to expand his dance ability by studying Jazz, Modern Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Step Dance and Ballet at the School of Dance and Comedy Musical in Barcelona, Spain. In his competitive career, Dmitry represented Russia internationally in Latin American program and was selected to be part of the Russian Team for International Championships. One out of a few Russian couples, Dmitry was consistently dancing finals of the best ballroom dance championships in the world. Dmitry was a gold, silver, and bronze medalist of Russian, Dutch, German, Italian, French, Norway, Ukrainian, Romanian, UK and Slovenian Open Ballroom Championships. Dmitry continues his career as a professional dancer and teacher. He has traveled around the world to perform, teach and inspire. His professional resume includes choreographing for Dancing with the Stars in Moscow and performing alongside professionals from the U.S. Dancing with the Stars. Joanna Pacitti (Vocalist) American Idol (Season 8) Powerful is the first word that comes to mind when describing Joanna’s voice. Joanna was born in Philadelphia and spent her early years performing for her father’s customers in his barbershop. She called it her “Saturday Gig” and enjoyed the praise and tips that would come along with her performances. Dance, gymnastics, and singing are what kept Joanna busy and she excelled at each. At the age of eleven, her lead role in the 20th Anniversary National Tour of Annie was highly publicized and featured on 20/20 with Barbara Walters. At the age of 16 Joanna was signed to Ron Fair at A&M Records… followed by the release of her debut album This Crazy Life. The making of her record was the subject of an MTV documentary called First Year. Joanna’s music has been featured on soundtracks such as Legally Blonde, The Bratz and First Daughter. She has toured the world and has also opened up for artist such as Sheryl Crow and Nick Lachey. Joanna was a part of Season 8 American Idol and made it to the Top 36 when she was disqualified for having a prior record deal. The biggest passion in Joanna’s life is her songwriting, whether it be for herself or for other artist. She has performed in a number of Dancing Pros productions and is honored to be a part of the road company. Angel Taylor (Vocalist) The Voice Angel Taylor is a pop singer-songwriter who recently competed on NBC’s hit show The Voice. She is based out of the Los Angeles area. Angel Taylor’s debut album, entitled Love Travels was released on iTunes on March 31, 2009 through Aware/Columbia Records. It was named iTunes Best Pop Album in 2009. Angel Taylor has been seen on Good Morning America, Ellen, VH-1 and many other networks. She has toured with Adele, Gavin DeGraw, Brett Dennen, Barenaked Ladies, Mat Kearney, Brandi Carlile and many others.