A Triumphant Victory for Fred Astaire Southbury in New England!

Fred Astaire Southbury stole the spotlight at the New England Freddy Ball Championships, held from February 27th to March 1st at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel. The event, known as the Oscars of Ballroom Dancing, saw the studio claim some of the most prestigious awards.

Among the highlights, Fred Astaire Southbury earned the competition's highest honor—New England Top Studio 2024. The studio’s talented students showcased their brilliance on the dance floor, securing top placements in every category.

Southbury Student Awards
1st Place Awards:

• Karen Bradbury & Christian Lange (Open Smooth Scholarship)
• Vanessa Medina & Vladimir Serbulenco (Bronze Smooth Championship)
• Francis Rinaldi & Zlata Dzhaman (Close Bronze Smooth Championship)
• Ardita Hinkle & Ihor Chibishev (International Open Ballroom)
• Karen Bradbury & Ihor Chibishev (Open Rhythm Scholarship)
• Susan Holms & Ihor Chibishev (International Gold Ballroom Championship)

2nd Place Awards:

• Karen Bradbury & Christian Lange (Open Smooth Championship)

3rd Place Awards:

• Susan Holms & Ihor Chibishev (Open Smooth Championship)
• Karen Bradbury & Ihor Chibishev (Open Rhythm Championship)

Fred Astaire Southbury’s students, instructors, and owners celebrated their remarkable achievements during Saturday’s Gala Night/Banquet, which included professional show dances, formations, and the much-anticipated Studio Awards. The evening also featured an outstanding performance by Southbury instructor Zlata Dzhaman and Vasyl Voinarovskyi, a dance instructor from Fred Astaire Glastonbury, who took home the Professional Close Rhythm award.
A spectacular Showdance performance by the winners of the Professional Showdance category, Ivana Strancaric and Vladimir Serbulenco was one of the evening's standout moments, captivating the audience with their emotionally charged and beautifully executed choreography.
Also, Khrystyna Mendela and Denys Fesenko, winners of the Professional International Open Latin, gave an unforgettable performance of one of the most intense and emotional dances: the International Rumba. Their choreography was so full of poetry and passion that the audience couldn’t blink, mesmerized by the powerful connection and artistry they portrayed.
Top Awards:
Multi-studio owners of Southbury, Old Saybrook, and Madison-CT, Christian Lange and Paulo Jorge, were honored as the Top New England Executives of 2024, further cementing their leadership in the region’s ballroom dance community.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Fred Astaire New England, especially regional director Toni Dovolani, for being an incredible mentor. Your guidance has been vital in helping us grow into stronger leaders for our staff and community, and we are proud to bring the best of ballroom dancing to everyone around us. A special thank you also goes to regional Dance Director Anastasia Abrashin for her unwavering support. This experience has been truly unforgettable, and we are grateful for everyone who helped us achieve our goals, including our dance instructors, managers Ivana Strancaric and Denys Fesenko.
Top Female Competition Teacher:
1st Place: Khrystyna Mendela
2nd Place: Zlata Dzhaman
Top Male Competition Teacher:
1st Place: Denys Fesenko
2024 New England Top Newcomer Male Instructor:
1st Place: Denys Fesenko
Celebrating 10 Years of Student Longevity:

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

Finally, we would like to thank all our students, instructors, managers, and supporters who cheered us on. Your dedication and encouragement mean the world. Thank you all!