America's Ballroom Challenge November 22, 2006

"America's Ballroom Challenge," which first aired in February, will be re-broadcast on Nov. 22, from 8-10 p.m., and again on Nov. 24th from 1:30 - 3:30 in the morning, on Channel Thirteen in NY. In other states, it will air on December 25th. Check your local PBS listings for times.

For those who enjoyed "Dancing With The Stars," tune in to see what a REAL ballroom dance competition is like, and watch the greatest ballroom dancers in the country duke it out against each other. The first hour is a regular competition, with all competing couples on the ballroom floor at once dueling for the judges' attentions -- and sometimes bumping into each other in the process :) In the second hour, the top three couples in each of four divisions (Latin, Standard Ballroom, American Rhythm, and American Smooth) perform a theatrical showcase in the dance of their choice -- making that part of the competition exactly like the popular television show, except instead of newcomers just learning to ballroom dance, you will see the national cream of the crop!

Dancers to watch for include: current US national Latin champs, the lightening-speed Andrei Gavriline and his tiny gymnast wife Elena Kruyschkova; world South American showdance champions, the amazing Max Kozhevnikov and Yulia Zagoruychenko (who perform the fastest, most technically stunning ballroom Samba you may well ever see!); the handsome Tony Dovolani and gorgeous Elena Grinenko from "Dancing With the Stars"; and the super-fun, super-fast world Mambo champs Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine and Joanna Zacharewicz. The event is hosted by Tony Meredith, 1995 US national Latin champ, and former 'Taxi' star Marilu Henner, who is a former ballroom and ballet dancer, and who studied with the Illinois Ballet Company before becoming an actor -- who knew?!

Official Website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ballroomchallenge/