2011 Philippine StarBall: Dance Festival of Champions

As promised, here are more pictures of the 2011 Philippine StarBall: Dance Festival of Champions. I attended the press conference held the previous night. This celebration was held last February 12, 2011 at the Makati Shangri La Hotel. From the looks of it, it was a night full of fervor and amusement. 

[Press Kit] 

Where can you watch the top dancers and champions of 6 different styles of dance in one night? Where will you find dancing at its best? People are talking about an event that’s in the works and will soon be brought to our country.

On Feb. 12, 2011, The Philippine StarBall will have a Dance Festival of Champions at the prestigious Makati Shangri-la Hotel. Still at the helm of production and organization is Michaela “Pinky” Puno, the lady responsible for bringing in top international ballroom dancers during the last 3 years.  She herself is a Pro-Am competitor in the US. Her vision to expose the Filipinos to the best in the world remains firm.

Ricardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagoruychenko

In lieu of a competition, The Philippine StarBall format will be exciting and new, the first of its kind in Manila, the first of its kind in Asia … in fact of the entire world! It will feature Show Dances from top couples of 6 different styles of dance – International Latin, International Standard, American Smooth, American Rhythm, Theatre Arts, and the current rage in Manila- Argentine Tango.

Yulia Zagoruychenko and Riccardo Cocchi, who recently took the world title and became the champion of the WDC competition in Germany will honor Manila with their presence as they rumba, paso doble, and chacha their way into the hearts of the crowd once more with their fabulous Show Dances. Joining them in more Latin dances will be #1 in Blackpool (considered the Olympics of ballroom dancing) Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis from Poland, #1 from Germany Franco Formica and Oksana Lebedew, #1 from Russia Sergey Surkov and Melia.

Doing Show Dances of waltz, tango, foxtrot, and quick step will be Blackpool champions Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova and #1 from Italy Mirko Gozzoli and Edita Daniute.

Hannah Kartunen and Victor da Silva 

New styles of dances will also be introduced from champions in their respective field.  You will be enthralled by riveting but seamless lifts from Hanna Kartunen and Victor da Silva in Theatre Arts, the mambo, swing, and bolero of Jose de Camps and Johanna Zacharewicz for American Rhythm, and the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rodgers style of dancing from Mikhail Zarinov and Galina Detkina for American Smooth.

Also for the first time at The Philippine StarBall is the addition of 2 of the very best couples from Buenos Aires performing passionate Argentine Tango dances. They are Carolina Zokalski with Diego di Falco, Tony Award nominees for best choreography and performers of Forever Tango;  and Miriam Larici with Leonardo Barrionuevo, winners of NBC’s new series “Superstars of Dance” and featured performers and choreographers of  “So You Think You Can Dance.”

In addition to this dazzling event, there will be a Dance Congress during the daytime -- 6 lectures given by one expert from each style. Admission to this is limited.

For additional information and tickets, please contact Marissa at 812 8464. Beneficiary for this show is KYTHE, helping children with cancer.

--- More photos from the event:

Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo

Joanna Leunis and Michael Malitowski

Yulia Zagoruychenko and Ricardo Cocchi

Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova 

Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis

 Honored Guests and Friends

Gretchen Cojuangco, Pinky Puno, Cynthia Carrion, Giging Garcia, Maribel Dario, Carol Garcia

Gretchen Cojuangco, Vicky Zubiri, Marvi Yulo Cojungco, Giging Garcia, Coni Araneta

Anne Puno in vintage Rajo Laurel, Charilu Puno Dizon in her own design

Pinky Puno poses with sister Sally M. Finley, and Mother Aurora Mendoza

Vicky Zubiri in Tadashi,  Pinky Puno in Oliver Tolentino, Linda Lagdameo

Photos and Content provided by Philippine StarBall Organizers and Mayenne Carmona

The 4th Philippine StarBall Press Conference

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to be part of the press conference for the 4th Philippine StarBall held in the Makati Shangri La hotel. It was a night where I got a chance to converse with some of the world's best ballroom dancers and asked them some relevant questions about their craft and the complexities involved in it.

with Miriam Larici, Lonardo Brrionuevo, Carolina Zokalski, Diego di Falco

I was invited by a friend of mine, Mayenne Carmona, a woman who I look up to and admire as if she were a second mom to me. Being the socially awkward individual that I am, I always shun away from such occasions simply because I do not know anyone to converse with. But ever since I first met Ms. Carmona, she has always been helping me out-- introducing me to the big names in the industry. I can never truly thank her enough. :)

Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo (London) with Ms. Mayenne Carmona

Since I stopped working for SPARK Magazine, I also didn't get a chance to attend such events. To be honest, I was already starting to miss all the glam and splendor of things. So I was really happy that I got invited to the event.

Because I knew little about the event, I was really surprised at how much talent and passion was in the room. Although there was only a small number of attendees, the dedication of each individual did not escape my eye. While the foreign dancers sat together in one corner, people from the press (myself included) were seated far from the honored guests. It was as if they were scared of what we were going to ask them.

Of course, we only wanted things to be fun and not end up having such a boring occasion, my friends from the press all asked different questions in an honest attempt to pry into the lives of these celebrities. We wanted to know, amidst their beauty and talent, that they were still human after all.

Amidst this, event organizer and dance floor diva Michaela "Pinky" Puno explained the reason for this year's different format. Because of the politics in the dance world, she decided to alter the format and give it a new twist. Thus, it was called as the Dance Festival of Champions, an event first of its kind, and first throughout the world. Honestly, I think it was a great opportunity to turn the competition into a friendly festival.

Event Organizer/Dance Floor Diva Michaela "Pinky" Puno discussing the souvenir program

Since I was really shy to speak in front of a crowd, I drank some white wine to calm away my nerves. The time came for me to speak in front of a microphone and Mayenne introduced me to the audience. There was a slight error as she told the crowd that I am only 22 years old (I was 23 when we first met). I am 24 now. ^^

Because I was interested in how these dancers got to deal with their partners, I asked them about their interpersonal relationships; particularly those who were already married. Out of the bunch, it was the married couple Diego di Falco and Carolina Zokalski (Tango dancers from Buenos Aires) that answered me. I found out through them that their marriage was just like that of any other married couple. Although they had their ups and downs, they were able to set aside the disagreements in their craft so they can make their marriage work. Proud parents, the couple was set to celebrate their anniversary just a few days from the said press con. This means they celebrated in the country. :)

Me with the couple I put on the spot: Diego di Falco and his beautiful wife/ dance partner Carolina Zokalski 

As the night went on, more questions were asked. Some innocent, others more politely intrusive with a hint of tease. It was because, after all, their craft exuded fiery passion. Every time dancers step onto the dance floor, the audience can only wish they had the same kind of passion and chemistry in their own love lives. For this, people love to wonder if the chemistry they share is limited to the dance or off the stage too...

Mayenne Carmona, Carolina Zokalski, Diego di Falco, Tina Jacinto and David Lim

 The Complete List of Participants in the 4th Philippine StarBall: Dance Festival of Champions:


Riccardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagoruychenko
Victor Da Silva and Hanna Karttunen
Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo
Carolina Zokalski and Diego di Falco
Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis
Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova
Franco Formica and Oksana Lebedew
Mirko Gozzoli and Edita Daniute
Sergey Surkov and Melia
Jose de Camps and Joanna Zacharewicz
Mikhail Zharinov and Galina Detkina

with Katusha Dmidova, Arunas Bizokas, Bum Tenorio (Allure)

with Slava Sergiev and Ricardo Cocchi

Slava Sergiev, Mayenne Carmona, Ricardo Cocchi

with Henry and Jojo Zabartre, Yulia Zagoruychenko, Belinda Adora, Mayenne Carmona

*Credit for pictures: Mayenne Carmona (the ones with me)

The Philippine StarBall Dance Festival of Champions was held last February 12, 2011. The press conference was held on February 11, 2011. Please watch out for photos and press article of the event itself.