Fred Astaire Madison-CT Stands Out at the 2025 N.E. Colonial Classic

The talent and dedication of Fred Astaire Dance Studio Madison-CT truly stood out at the 2025 New England Colonial Classic—an Inter-Regional competition held at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa from May 8–10.
With over 11,000 entries from dancers across the nation, the event was an exciting and rewarding experience. Students had the chance to meet, connect, and challenge one another on the ballroom floor, fostering both growth and confidence. Competitions like this allow students and teacher-student teams to accelerate their progress—and have fun doing it!
Outstanding Student Achievements
Fred Astaire Madison-CT students collected an impressive number of first-place awards in the single dances held throughout the day.
Championship Highlights:

• Hanna Feltham took 1st place in the Bronze Closed Smooth 3-Dance Championship, dancing Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot.
• Ellen Faller won 1st place for her solo showcase Money, Money with Denys Fesenko, 2nd place in Bronze International Ballroom (Waltz, Tango, Quickstep), and 3rd place in both Open American Smooth Scholarship and Bronze American Rhythm Scholarship.
• Jack Faller earned 3rd place in the Open American Smooth - 4 Dance (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz), 3rd place in Bronze American Rhythm - 3 Dance, and 4th place in Bronze American Smooth - 3 Dance.
• Samantha Johnson won 1st place in both Bronze American Smooth - 3 Dance and Bronze American Rhythm - 3 Dance.
• Geraldine Johnson placed 4th in Open American Smooth (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz).

• Lissa Loucks took 1st place in Silver Closed American Smooth and 2nd place in the Open Rhythm - 5 Dance Championship.
• Eileen Kravitz won 1st place for her showcase Welcome to Burlesque (with instructors Khrystyna Mendela, Denys Fesenko, Daria Lastovetska, and Dmytro Moisieienkov), 1st place in Open International Latin, and 2nd place in Open International Ballroom.

Our students continue to prove that ballroom competition is both enjoyable and deeply fulfilling. “It’s amazing to see someone start as a social dancer and, in just months, appear in a stunning ballroom gown, competing on an inter-regional level,” said studio directors Christian Lange and Paulo Jorge.
Professional Excellence
We’re also proud of our professional dancers:

• Khrystyna Mendela and Denys Fesenko won 1st place in American Closed Bronze & Silver Rhythm, and were crowned New England Inter-Regional Champions in International Open Latin.

Special Recognitions
At Saturday’s celebratory banquet:

• Ellen Faller was honored as 2nd place Top Female Student.
• Eileen Kravitz was ranked 8th Top Female Student.
• Khrystyna Mendela received the 1st Place Top Female Teacher Award.
• Denys Fesenko was awarded 2nd Place Top Male Teacher—among nearly 50 competing instructors.

Said Ms. Mendela, “This award belongs to my students. Without them, none of this would be possible. Thank you all for your dedication and spirit!”
Top Studio Award
The evening’s grand highlight: Fred Astaire Madison-CT was named the #1 Top Studio at the Inter-Regional! This prestigious award is based on the average scores of student performances compared to national standards—a true testament to the quality and consistency of our dancers.
Join the Fun!
Thank you to all our students, families, and friends who supported this incredible event. We invite the community to discover the joy of ballroom dancing at Fred Astaire Madison-CT. Whether you're dancing for fun, fitness, or competition, you'll feel right at home with us.
Visit us at 1347 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT 06443, call (203) 421-6475, email MadisonCT@fredastaire.com, or check out our website to learn more or schedule your first lesson.