Thanks to the following ...	Judges	Officials
	Vendors	Volunteers

 

Judges

Thomas Minieri & Elizabeth Augenstein
Thomas has been a professional latin and ballroom competitor and instructor since the age of seventeen. Shortly after moving to Charlotte from Boston, MA in 2004, Thomas opened DanceSport Carolina!

Thomas attends most competitions in the area where he continues to compete in both Professional and Pro/Am divisions.

Elizabeth is one of the most sought after female instructors on the east coast! Her extensive dance backround began with competitive ballet which she has done since the age of 6. Elizabeth began training in ballroom and latin at the age of 14 and quickly began competeing as an amatuer. Soon thereafter, her professional dance career took off! She as won numerous competitions and teacher awards. Elizabeth currently competes professionally in the American Style Smooth and Rhythm categories. In addition, she trains and competes with her students in the Pro/Am division. She also coaches several amateur competitive couples.

Highlights:

• 15 years professional ballroom dance experience
• 15 years professional latin dance experience
• Top Teacher Virginia Star Ball 2004
• Top Teacher NC Classic 2007

Emanuel Vaceanu & Susie Buck
Emanuel has taught, competed and performed in professional and pro-am divisions in all level of American and international styles of ballroom and latin. He has taught, coached and judged ballroom and performing arts, produced and trained many amateur dancers that won first places in national championships, including Don Roads, seven times undefeated US junior latin and ballroom champion, and two times US performing arts champion.

After graduating the Romanian Art Academy in 1985, Emanuel continued training with world level coaches and teachers such as Stephen and Lindsey Hillier former world ballroom champions, Bill Davis, former US ballroom champion, Kerry Wilson, former world ballroom finalist, Joe Jenkins, former world ballroom finalist, Michael Stalianos, former world latin champion, Hilda Lanza former Scottish ballroom champion, Pierre Dulaine, former world undefeated theater arts champion, Bill Sparks former US latin champion, Brian and Susan Puttuck former US ballroom champions and world finalists Gabriela Darvash, former student of Vaganova, founder and director of Darvash Ballet, Anthony Sellars, guest artist with Kyrov Ballet, NY City Ballet, Artistic director Ballet Repertory Theater and many other teachers.

Susie is a professional International Standard and Latin dancer from Rochester, New York. She has achieved her Ballroom and Latin Licentiate Degree from the Imperial Society of Teacher's of Dance of London, England, and her Ballroom and Latin Licentiate Degree from the Canadian Dance Teacher's Association. Susie is also a registered adjudicator with the National Dance Council of America. Some of her competitive achievements include the Rising Star Finals at the United States Championships, 10 dance finalists at the 2001 Star Challenge in Canada and Heritage Classic Dancesport Championships in 2005 in the United States.

Susie is currently teaching ballroom dancing for the future dancers as well as preparing other professional dancers. She is also traveling around the United States designing costumes for the many dancers for shows and competing.

 

Sheila Brown
Sheila started her ballroom dance career on the west coast, teaching and competing for over 20 years.  Sheila's teaching credentials are extensive from the Fred Astaire, Arthur Murray, and the DVIDA syllabi. Sheila is experienced in the International and American syllabi, shag and salsa styles as well. Not only has Sheila competed in the professional dancesport circuit, but she has also had many students who compete at the amateur level. This will be her third year judging at the Gamecock Invitational.

 

Shari Huggett
Shari started teaching and competing in Ballroom & Latin Dancesport in 1992. Since then, she has won numerous awards regionally and nationally in her professional career, including Regional and Professional Rising Star Finalist and Open Professional Semi-Finals in American Smooth and International Standard.

Having competed exclusively in American 9 Dance (Rhythm and Smooth) and International Standard, she expanded her knowledge and competitive career in 2000 to include Country Western Couples. After winning countless Grand Champion Titles in the UCWDC Couples Division I, she went on to capture the 2003 UCWDC World Championship Title in that division. Shari continued to compete at the UCWDC Masters Level (the highest level possible), winning several titles. She is a certified UCWDC Judge at the Masters level, judging the highest levels in both Line Dance and Couples Divisions.

Back to top

Competition Officials

	Elizabeth Martin Event Coordinator		Dimitar Kunev Registrar and Webmaster
	Sara Roeth Assistant Coordinator		Michelle Gray Assistant Coordinator
	Chirag Shah Scrutineer		Judith Gomes Judge Coordinator
	Pamela Melton Master of Ceremony		Angelo Cristobal Master of Ceremony

Back to top

Vendors

Need shoes or costumes? Visit DanceShoesOnline.com through the link provided.

Back to top

Volunteers

Want to volunteer?

Back to top