...
Overview, BALLROOM WITH A TWIST
A Winter Pops Concert - SUBSCRIBE NOW
Friday & Saturday, January 20 & 21, 2012, 8pm
Matthew Garbutt, conductor
Anna Trebunskaya and Jonathan Roberts, hosts
LaKisha Jones, vocals
David Hernandez, vocals
Gina Glocksen, vocals
Michael Sarver, vocals
Gev Manoukian and Randi Lynn, dancers
Tango, Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Jive...and then some! Conceived and choreographed by Dancing with the Stars’ Emmy-nominated Louis van Amstel, "Ballroom with a Twist" is an evening of grace, athleticism and passion. With a cast of international dancers and several American Idol finalists, you’ll be swept away by the sights and sounds of this stunning production!
CLICK HERE to see a beautiful and dramatic excerpt from "Ballroom with a Twist" on KUSI's Good Morning San Diego!
Notes, "Ballroom with a Twist" music will include:
The Look of Love
I Got Rhythm
Singin’ in the Rain
Feeling Good
Five Guys Named Moe
Early in the Morning
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie
Techno Paso
Without Love
You Can’t Stop the Beat
I Have Nothing
When You Say Nothing At All
With You I’m Born Again
Walkin’ in Memphis
Girls Gone Wild
The Prayer
When You Say You Love Me
Havana
Batucada
Suavemente
Quiéreme Mucho
Guantanamera
Ran Kan Kan
Zoit Suit Riot
Swingtime Jive
Artists,
Host Jonathan Roberts began his dance career at the age of 20. Before he discovered the world of dance, his high school background was athletics - particularly basketball. But Jonathan (along with his family and friends) were shocked when he discovered his passion for ballroom dancing after viewing the famous tango scene in the 1992 Al Pacino film Scent of a Woman. He took advantage of the free ballroom lessons offered on the back of his ticket stub, and the rest, as they say, "is history."
With his first partner, Jonathan won the 1997 USA Rising Star American Ballroom division before deciding to focus on the Latin style. He also competed in Pro-Am (Professional/Amateur) circuit, where he trained and competed with student Pamela Butler. As a pair, they are two-time undefeated USA Pro-Am 10 dance champions, three-time undefeated USA Pro-Am Latin champions and two-time USA Pro-Am American Ballroom champion.
Jonathan and his wife Anna Trebunskaya competed in professional ballroom dancing competitions from 2001-2006. While they only danced together for a short time, Jonathan and Anna achieved many high placements in competitions around the world. They ranked 6th in the U.S. and 24th in the world.
Jonathan retired from professional ballroom dancing in 2006, but became a U.S. and World professional American Smooth Champion in 2008 with Valentina Kostenko.
Host Anna Trebunskaya began her dancing at the age of 6 in Russia. She moved to America when she was 17 and has been competing there since. Anna started dancing with Jonathan Roberts in 2000 and they were married in 2004. Anna’s titles include US Youth Standard champion, 2003 US Rising Star Latin Champion, International Grandball Professional Latin Champion, and 3-time US Professional Latin Finalist. Anna has appeared on ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars four times with celebrity partners Jerry Rice (2nd place), Albert Reed, Steve Guttenburg and Chuck Liddell. Anna now lives in the LA area where she co-owns the You Can Dance Ballroom Studio with her mother and Jonathan Roberts.
LaKisha Jones is best known to millions of TV viewers as a top four finalist during the 2007 season of American Idol. Jones’ motivation and mesmerizing style date back to her childhood in Flint. Raised by her mother and grandmother, she was exposed to such legendary singers as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle. But it was Jones’ 92-year-old grandmother who left the most lasting impression on the fledgling singer. It was at her urging (“let your voice shine”) that a five-year-old Jones began singing in church choirs and music programs. “The more I did it, the more I loved it,” recalls Jones of her early “I want to sing” moments.
Soon after, she was doing the pushing herself. Singing in chorale groups and a cappella choruses through high school, she entered and won the top prize at Flint’s local talent contest, “The Super Show,” in 1997. A two-year stint studying vocal performance at the University of Michigan left the high school graduate wanting to sing more than hitting the books. Relocating to various cities (Dallas, Houston and Virginia Beach) the singer continued to pursue her dream—despite not being accepted by American Idol during a 2003 audition. But an eventual move to Baltimore proved a second time can be the charm. Having heard her sing on the job and at local events, Jones’ fellow Provident Bank staffers encouraged her to drive to New York to audition for the 2007 season of American Idol.
It was while performing on the American Idol tour that Jones received a call to audition for The Color Purple. During her three-month run, she played two roles: that of a “church lady” and one of the pivotal main characters, “Sophia.” The latter role she alternated with R&B icon Chaka Khan. Having accomplished several major goals in two short years, Jones is only getting started. She anticipates more acting and singing roles on Broadway, TV and films, recording a gospel album and establishing a foundation to provide resources and support for single moms. “One lesson I learned from Chaka Khan is don’t ever be scared to use what God has given you; don’t hold back,” says Jones. “God has gifted me and has more in store for me. This journey has just begun.”
LaKisha Jones performed with the San Diego Symphony at the opening concert of Summer Pops 2011.
Actor/singer/songwriter David Hernandez, gained national attention with his powerful voice and affable personality as an American Idol finalist. He began acting and singing at age six, starring in musicals and performing with various theatre companies throughout Arizona. He began writing original music and recording his material as a young teenager.
A Phoenix native, Hernandez recently moved to Hollywood where he is writing new songs, working in the recording studio producing his newest music, and pursuing his passion for acting. He has already completed his first feature film as the lead in the movie Synthetic Truth.
In addition to American Idol, David has showcased his talents on The Ellen Show, The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, EXTRA, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Teen Choice Awards, TV Guides’ Sexiest Stars, Idol Tonight, Idol Gives Back and FOX-TV.
A once-in-a-life-time invitation came knocking on David’s door in 2009. He was asked to sing at the Inaugural Kick-Off Celebration ball for President Barack Obama. He was honored to share the stage with Jamie Foxx, John Legend and Maroon 5, along with event hosts Jessica Alba and legendary TV producer Norman Lear.
David counts Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo, Donny Hathaway, Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson and David Foster among his musical influences. He performed with the San Diego Symphony for the opening concert of Summer Pops 2011.
Gina Glocksen is best known as the 9th place finalist of the 6th season of the mega-hit television show American Idol. Although Gina was often referred to as the “rocker chick,” her musical influences and abilities range far beyond the realm of rock. Gina’s original music infuses the passion and attitude of a rock-n-roll rebel with precision and soul of the modern “diva”. Since her time on Idol, Gina has toured North America on the “American Idols LIVE!" Tour” and continues to perform around the country showcasing her original music.
While on the show, Gina’s genuine candor and charming wit made her a favorite of millions which helped her to continue her career in entertainment as co-host on the FOX Reality show American Idol Extra during the 2008 season. In the fall of 2008 Gina moved back to Chicago to focus on writing and recording her debut album. She spent much of her time in Nashville working with credited song writers like Adam Smith and fellow Idol contestant Chris Sligh. Her original music combines a dynamic mix of pop and rock driven by passionate and unforgettable vocals.
Louisiana and Texas native Michael Sarver was the tenth place finalist on the 8th season of American Idol. By virtue of his finish, Michael appeared across the country with the 2009 edition of the "American Idols LIVE!" Tour. The multi-talented singer songwriter is signed to Dream Records, a Universal Music Group affiliated independent label run by the Dream Center in Los Angeles, a non-profit outreach dedicated to helping inner-cities. He has recently released “Ferris Wheel”, the latest single from his Dream Records release, Michael Sarver. His favorite artist growing up was Garth Brooks. He recently joined David Hernandez and Gina Glocksen for the “American Stars in Concert” tour.
Louis Van Amstel ("Ballroom with a Twist" concept and choreography) was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 1972. In his own words: Even though I was born in the city, I lived my childhood in a very small town outside of Amsterdam. My dance life started at the age of 10 after my family decided it was important for my social skills to learn ballroom dancing. My grandparents were competitive ballroom dancers so it didn’t come as a surprise to many that I should follow in their footsteps. I learned to love competitive ballroom dancing because winning competitions gave me confidence, and I realized how competitive I actually was. Dancing gave me the opportunity to express feelings without saying a word and I also experienced it as therapy to deal with many emotional obstacles throughout my childhood.
From the age of 15 I was traveling abroad representing my country in major dance competitions in both Ballroom and Latin. Those early international years gave me a lot of experience and the realization that if I wanted to make it big I needed to take risks and make major life altering decisions. I had to get an international partner, move to England and therefore stop traditional school. My mentor/coach, Ruud Vermey, Ph.D., and I convinced my parents to permit me to terminate high school at 16 to pursue my dance career. My parents were torn, because they wanted me to finish my education. I totally agree now as an adult, but in hindsight I thank them and my school principal on my knees that they let me go. They took a huge risk by supporting my decision, because I was still under age. When I became world champion in 1994 that same school principal was invited to the celebration party and in his speech he said, “I could have lost my job over the decision to let you leave high school early, but now I’m so happy I did knowing you reached your dream. Your country is proud of you.”
During the summer of 1989 I started a whole new rollercoaster in my life with my beloved British dance partner, Julie Fryer. It started as a crazy fast career boost. We learned, laughed, triumphed, lost, gained, cried, split up and got together again. Doors opened and closed, but with blood, sweat and tears I found my intuition was my life-saver on many occasions. After three world Latin Dance championship gold medals in 1994, 1995 and 1996, I fulfilled more than one dream and was so appreciative for all of my blessings. I still felt an urge to do more. From my earliest age I was always being cross trained in many forms of dance, and was educated in choreography as well by my mentor, Ruud Vermey.
I wanted to explore mixing the Ballroom Dance world (combined with other forms of dance) to the theater world. When I first came to NYC in 1991 I fell in love with the city. I told my friends that when I retired from competitive dancing in my late thirties I wanted to move to New York City. Well, as fate would have it I stopped competing at 26 and moved to New York City in June of 1997. I took the risk and followed my intuition once more. I packed my two suitcases, bought a ticket and moved to the Big Apple leaving my home country. A new chapter of my life had begun, and I had no idea what was in store for me.
In that summer I had the pleasure of working with many amazingly talented dancers, many of whom are now known to you as my colleagues on Dancing with the Stars. Not only was I coaching Tony Dovolani, Karina Smirnoff, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and his brother Val since my early days in NYC, but we became close friends. Working on Dancing with the Stars together today is amazing, especially since we have all known each other for so long.
