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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Dancing with the MCC Stars


Two MCC students, Nathan (Nate) Sorrentino and Peter Jensen-Sabol, have just returned from the North East Regional DanceSport Classic Championships in West Orange, New Jersey where these dancers competed and qualified for the USA Dance National Ballroom Competition in Louisville, Kentucky this August. Competitors are required to qualify at one of four regional championships in order to compete at the Nationals where winning earns a national title and ranking. There were over 900 competitors at this qualifying competition.

Nate, an Education major at MCC, has been ballroom dancing for about two years, averaging 6 days a week with ballroom training. He is very excited about his new partnership with Grace Kladstrup of Fairport. While they have only recently formed their partnership, Nate and Grace are both hard workers and very ambitious with their ballroom dancing.

Peter, a Business major at MCC, has been ballroom dancing for many years. Kathryn (Dee-Dee) Popper, of Brighton, has partnered and competed with Peter for about two years. This couple is just as passionate about ballroom dancing as Nate and Grace! In fact, both couples train with the 2002 World Ballroom Dance Champion, Michelle Madore. Michelle is the Director of the Botsford School of Dance in Penfield where she also directs the Botsford Ballroom Dance Team. This team, which includes Nate, Peter, and their partners along with several other dancers, is composed of local high school and college students who regularly train, perform, and compete in ballroom dancing.

This year, Peter and Nate have recently formed the MCC Ballroom and Latin Dance Society. Professors Jim and Bonnie Petrosino are the faculty Club Advisors and are also very experienced ballroom and Latin dancers. Club members will be taught both American Smooth (Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, etc.) as well as Latin dances (Swing, Salsa/Mambo, Cha-Cha, Rumba, etc.). Networking and information on local social dance functions (virtually every weekend) are also provided and encouraged.

On Friday night, May 4th, there will be a fundraising dance and performance to help with funding the Nationals competition in Kentucky. That evening several couples, including Peter & Dee-Dee and Nate & Grace, will be showcasing some of their competition routines. This event is sponsored by the Flower City Chapter of USA Dance and will be held at 8 pm at the Penfield Racquet & Fitness Club located at 667 Panorama Trail West (admission is $7). MCC students are encouraged to come and support Peter and Nate!

On Saturday evening, May 19th, Peter, Nate, and their partners (along with the rest of their ballroom dance team) will be performing a major showcase at Dance Lovers’ Purple Passion Ball where the Lilac Festival Queen and her Court will also be presented starting at 7:00 pm at Inikori Dance Studio, 1100 University Avenue. Again, MCC students are personally invited to come on out to this very “electric” night on the town!

MCC students (and faculty/staff) interested in any of the above functions, including the newly formed MCC Ballroom and Latin Dance Society are encouraged to contact Nate Sorrentino, Vice-President, at <
mailto:nsorrentino_2006@hotmail.com>. So come on, put on your dance shoes and learn to dance like the stars!

Jim Petrosino
Business Administration/Economics
05/04/2007