Pro results for 1999 OHIO STAR BALL are as follows:
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AMERICAN RHYTHM:

1st - Bob Powers & Julia Gorchakova
2nd - John Abrams & Adriana Chessa
3rd - Michal Neal & Suzie Thompson
4th - Dan Rutherford & Nicole Carroll
5th - Fabian Sanchez & Kimberlee Richards
6th - Jay Larson & Julie Jacobson

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD:

1st - Jonathan Wilkins & Katusha Demidova
(showdance - 2nd)
2nd - Darius & Yolanta Mosteika
(showdance - 1st)
3rd - Timothy & Michele Mason
(showdance - 3rd)
4th - Alain Doucet & Anik Jolicoeur
(showdance - 5th)
5th - Rauno & Kristina Ilo
(showdance - 6th)
6th - Giampiero Giannico & Katharina Marks
(showdance - 4th)

AMERICAN SMOOTH:

1st - Michael Mead & Toni Redpath
2nd - Edward Simon & Michele Officer
3rd - Clive Phillips & Karen McDonald
4th - Ben Ermis & Shalene Archer
5th - Randy & Lynn Ferguson
6th - Stephen Hevenor & Larinda McRaven

INTERNATIONAL LATIN:

1st - Bill Sparks & Kimberly Mitchell
(showdance - 1st)
2nd - Gary & Diana McDonald
(showdance - 3rd)
3rd - James & Jaana Kunitz
(showdance - 5th)
4th - Donald Johnson & Katarzyna Kozak
(showdance - 4th)
5th - Stephane Champagne & Manon Hurteau
(showdance - 6th)
6th - Dima & Olga Sukachov
(showdance - 2nd)

THEATRE ARTS:

1st - Gregory Daye & Tommye Giacchino
2nd - Jerry & Virginia Lenoir
3rd - Brent Hyskell & Vida Vongsay
4th - Edward Simon & MIchelle Officer
5th - Richard Croteau & Maria Zee
6th - Edward Kottmeyer & Celia Mullen

OTHER NEWS:

Timothy & Michele Mason announced their retirement from competition.

Eddie Simon announced retirement from competition, pending the world showdance competition. This was his last U.S. competition. I beleive that Michelle Officer plans to continue competing.

One couple in the Standard Showdance division suffered deductions for unspecified costume violations. This did have an impact on the results, although I'm not sure exactly how.

Commentary: This was some of the best showdancing I've seen on the OSB to date, particularly in the Latin. Couples were very creative, and every routine was different from the last.

Gary & Diana's Samba was extremely musical. Donald & Kasia's Chacha was adorable and fun, and left everybody wanting more. And the surprise of the evening was Dima & Olga, who performed an incredibly dramatic "mechanical" sort of Rumba, placing a well-deserved 2nd. It was truly the most unique and creative showdance of the evening.

Great showdancing in the Standard, too, although there were once again too many quicksteps. Still, Alain & Anik's Quickstep was fabulous, and it's my bet that this was the couple that lost points due to costuming.... I had them 1st, but they ended up 5th. Giampiero and Katharina didn't have a showdance, (presumably because they didn't expect to make the final), but they performed their competitive Tango and it was still very good... good enough to place ahead of some of the other couples. Very impressive.

--Jonathan Atkinson www.ballroomdancers.com