A Historic Triumph for Fred Astaire Madison, CT

Fred Astaire Madison took center stage at the New England Freddy Ball Championships, held from February 27th to March 1st at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel. Known as the Oscars of Ballroom Dancing, the event saw the studio clinch some of the most prestigious titles in the ballroom world.
One of the major highlights of the event was our recognition as the Top New England Executives of 2024. Our talented students dazzled on the dance floor, securing top placements in every category and showing off their extraordinary skill and dedication.

Madison Student Awards

1st Place Awards:

• Jenny Gerst & Denys Fesenko (Silver Close Rhythm Scholarship)
• Jenny Gerst & Denys Fesenko (Silver Close Rhythm Championship)
• Jenny Gerst & Denys Fesenko (Silver Close Smooth Scholarship)
• Jenny Gerst & Denys Fesenko (Silver Close Smooth Championship)
• Lissa Loucks & Christian Lange (Silver Close Smooth Championship)

2nd Place Awards:

• Pamela Christman & Christian Lange (Bronze Smooth Championship)
• Lissa Loucks & Christian Lange (Silver Close Smooth Scholarship)
• Lissa Loucks & Christian Lange (Open Smooth Championship)
• Lissa Loucks & Christian Lange (Open Smooth Scholarship)
• Lissa Loucks & Denys Fesenko (Open Rhythm Championship)
• Lissa Loucks & Denys Fesenko (Silver Close Rhythm Scholarship)
• Ellen Fallker & Denys Fesenko (Bronze Close Smooth Championship)
• Ellen Fallker & Denys Fesenko (Bronze Close Smooth Scholarship)
• Ellen Fallker & Denys Fesenko (Bronze Close Rhythm Championship)
• Ellen Fallker & Denys Fesenko (Bronze Close Rhythm Scholarship)
• Jack Faller & Khrystyna Mendela (Bronze Close Rhythm Championship)
• Jack Faller & Khrystyna Mendela (Bronze Close Smooth Championship)
• Rebecca Kravitz & Denys Fesenko (Bronze Close Smooth Scholarship)

3rd Place Awards:

• Jack Faller & Khrystyna Mendela (Bronze Close Rhythm Scholarship)
• Jack Faller & Khrystyna Mendela (Bronze Close Smooth Scholarship)
• Lissa Loucks & Denys Fesenko (Open Rhythm Scholarship)

Fred Astaire Madison’s students, instructors, and owners celebrated their outstanding accomplishments during Saturday’s Gala Night/Banquet, featuring professional show dances, formations, and the eagerly awaited Studio Awards. A memorable highlight was the exceptional performance by Madison instructors Khrystyna Mendela and Denys Fesenko. Winners of the Professional International Open Latin, they delivered an unforgettable performance of the International Rumba—one of the most emotionally intense dances. Their choreography, filled with poetry and passion, captivated the audience, leaving them spellbound with its powerful connection and artistry.

Top Awards:

Christian Lange and Paulo Jorge, multi-studio owners of Madison, Old Saybrook, and Southbury, were honored as the Top New England Executives of 2024, solidifying their leadership within the ballroom dance community.
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Fred Astaire New England, especially regional director Toni Dovolani, for being an inspiring mentor. Your guidance has been instrumental in helping us grow into stronger leaders for our staff and community, and we take immense pride in bringing the finest of ballroom dancing to everyone around us. A special thank you also goes to regional Dance Director Anastasia Abrasion for her unwavering support. This experience has been truly unforgettable, and we are grateful to everyone who helped us achieve our goals, including our dance instructors and managers, Ivana Strancaric and Denys Fesenko.

Top Students:

3rd place - Ellen Faller (Madison)

4th place Jack Faller (Madison)

5th place Lissa Loucks (Madison)

Top Female Teacher:

1st Place: Khrystyna Mendela (Madison)
2nd Place: Zlata Dzhaman (Southbury)

Top Male Teacher:

1st Place Denys Fesenko (Madison)

2024 New England Top Newcomer Male Instructor:

1st Place: Denys Fesenko (Madison)

Competition Top Studio:
3rd Place - Fred Astaire Madison-CT

Celebrating 10 Years of Student Longevity:

• Lissa Loucks - Madison-CT
• Susan Holms - Southbury
• Michael Cornier - Southbury
• Karen Bradbury - Southbury
• Rose Yu Chin - Southbury

Finally, we want to thank all of our students, instructors, managers, and supporters who cheered us on throughout this journey. Your dedication and encouragement mean the world to us. Thank you all!