Local Shoreline, CT Dancers Impress at the New England Tri-Star Competition

This past December, the Quincy Marriott Hotel was the setting for an exciting and memorable weekend at the Fred Astaire New England Tri-Star Competition. The event brought together dancers from across the region, and the students from Fred Astaire Dance Studios Madison and Old Saybrook, CT delivered exceptional performances, earning numerous top placements and special recognitions. We are incredibly proud of their dedication, talent, and hard work.
Outstanding Student Achievements
Our Madison students truly shined on the competition floor.
Ellen Faller, dancing with instructor Denys Fesenko, earned the following awards:

• 1st Place – Bronze American Closed Rhythm Scholarship
• 2nd Place – Open American Smooth Scholarship
• 2nd Place – Bronze International Ballroom
• 2nd Place – Bronze International Latin
• 3rd Place – Bronze American Closed Smooth Scholarship
• 4th Place – Open American Smooth, E Division

Ellen also competed with instructor Christian Lange, receiving:

• 3rd Place – Bronze American Closed Rhythm
• 4th Place – Bronze American Closed Smooth
• 6th Place – Open American Smooth, C Division

Catherine Ferguson, dancing with Denys Fesenko, received:

• 2nd Place – Bronze Closed Rhythm
• 5th Place – Bronze Closed Smooth

Jack Faller, dancing with Khrystyna Mendela, earned:

• 1st Place – Open American Rhythm
• 4th Place – Bronze Closed Rhythm

Our youngest competitor, four-year-old Rose Nicoletti, dancing with Khrystyna Mendela, delighted the audience and received:

• 1st Place – Bronze Closed Rhythm

And our Old Saybrook students.
Diane Grube, dancing with Christian Lange, earned:

• 5th Place – Bronze Closed Smooth
• 7th Place – Bronze Closed Smooth Scholarship

Lissa Loucks, dancing with Christian Lange, received:

• 3rd Place – Open American Smooth
• 5th Place – Open American Smooth Scholarship

We are also proud to recognize our professionals Khrystyna Mendela and Denys Fesenko, who won 1st Place in International Open Latin, representing the high level of artistry and excellence at our studio.
The competition’s Saturday evening banquet celebrated outstanding achievements across the event. Honors included:

• Jack Faller – Third Place Top Male Competing Student
• Denys Fesenko – Third Place Top Male Teacher
• Khrystyna Mendela – Fifth Place Top Female Teacher
• A special highlight of the evening was the recognition of Ellen Faller, who earned First Place Top Female Competing Student, an achievement that made our entire studio incredibly proud.

Participating in Fred Astaire competitions gives every student the opportunity to progress more rapidly and become a better dancer. Students focus on improvement, gain confidence, and showcase their skills on the dance floor while working toward Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards.
We extend a sincere thank you to all our students, families, and friends who attended the competition and supported our dancers. Your encouragement means so much to us.
We invite the community to visit Fred Astaire Dance Studios Old Saybrook and Madison, CT and discover the fun and excitement of ballroom dancing. You will feel right at home in our studio, make new friends, and fall in love with dancing with us. To learn more or schedule your first lesson, check out our website at fredastaire.com/ct-shoreline