Judges

Master of Ceremonies

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Judges

  • Eduard Apolonov Photo

    • Eduard Apolonov

    • Eddi Apolonov is the Regional Dance Director for the Wisconsin Region, and occasionally, we are lucky enough to have him in our studio. As a competitor, Eddi competed on the most renowned floor in the world as a Rising Star Finalist in International Latin at the Blackpool Dance Festival. He was also the undefeated Fred Astaire International Latin Champion. With a Bachelors Degree in Choreography from the University of Fine Arts of Russia, Eddi creates some of the most interesting and beautiful routines. His passion and enthusiasm for ballroom dancing is highly contagious, and he is sure to inspire greatness.

  • Gala Detkina Photo

    • Gala Detkina

    • Gala Detkina was born in Siberia. She has danced successfully around the world and is the winner of many international competitions in Germany, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria, Canada, and the United States. She arrived in New York in 1997 to study acting. She continued studying dancing and acting in Russia, and she has recently returned to New York. Gala holds the distinguished Fred Astaire Dance Studios Top Female Teacher Award for 2007, 2008 and 2009. The award is given for extraordinary skill and performance in teaching dance within the Fred Astaire Organization. Together with her professional dance partner, Misha Zharinov, they are Fred Astaire National Professional American Smooth Champions, United States National Professional American Smooth Finalists, Ohio Star Ball Professional American Smooth Finalists and Ohio Star Ball Professional American Smooth Show dance Winners. They were also featured at PBS' "America's Ballroom Challenge".

  • Misha Zharinov Photo

    • Misha Zharinov

    • Misha Zharinov came to us from Volgograd, Russia where he began his dance career. He is the winner and finalist at many International Dance Sport Federation competitions. He was the first place winner of Malaysian Millennium Dance Sport Championships and the Singapore Open Championships. He graduated from the University of Fine Arts with a master's degree in choreography and dance education. Mikhail is quad-lingual- he speaks Russian, Spanish, French, and English. Misha holds the distinguished Fred Astaire Dance Studios Best of the Best Teacher Award for 2008 and 2009. The award is given for extraordinary skill and performance in teaching dance within the Fred Astaire Organization. With his professional dance partner, Galina Detkina, they are Fred Astaire National Professional American Smooth Champions, United States National Professional American Smooth Finalists, Ohio Star Ball Professional American Smooth Finalists and two times Ohio Star Ball Professional American Smooth Show dance Winners. They were also featured at PBS' "America's Ballroom Challenge".