Ballroom With a Twist Blazes Through Patchogue

The wildly popular primetime show Dancing with the Stars inspired Ballroom With A Twist, a show featuring the best of dance the nation has to offer. Featuring pro celebrity dancers Val Chmerkovskiy, Tristan McManus, Peta Murgatroyd and Anna Trebunskaya from DWTS, this high-energy feast for your senses is all about having fun and being awestruck by the talented cast of popular dancers and singers.

Choreographed by celebrity dancer—and DWTS pro himself—Louis Van Amstel, the show was an enticing whirlwind of dance styles peppered with stellar vocals from America Idol season 8 finalist Von Smith and season 6 finalists Gina Glocksen. Von is quirky and cute, and I loved his jazzy takes on modern songs. Gina is known as the rocker chic of Idol, and she definitely rocked the stage, even getting into the spirit of dancing by showing off some of her moves on stage.

Cast members from from the hit show So You Think You Can Dance included Legacy, Jonathan Platero, Randi Lynn Strong (who had the best abs I’ve ever seen on a female) and Jaymes Tuaileva. I especially enjoyed the modern, freestyle dances from this crew. Their movements were raw with emotion, fluid, precise and just beautiful to behold.

Tristan and Anna acted as our MCs, and if it’s possible I think I may just love them even more. Anna is so graceful and elegant, even her voice is pleasant to the ears. And when she dances…it’s like her body is telling a story with each flick of a wrist or extension of an arm. Tristan is adorable and playful, as partners I think they are gorgeous, and I especially love the waltz they performed, it was simply stunning to watch.

Let’s not forget Val and Peta. Both fairly new to DWTS, both hotter than should be legally allowed, they lit up the dance floor with their sex appeal. Val, who may sometimes be shadowed by older brother Maks, holds his own and makes the women go wild (although catcalls for him to take his shirt off were unsuccessful.) Peta is the definition of a blonde bombshell, all fierce and gorgeous. Their Paso Doble was precise, strong and edged oozed sensuality.

The Q&A session with the Stars was pretty exciting, and they answered questions ranging from “how to you dance in those heels” to “hey Val, where’s Maks?” Whom, I heard, visited his brother at the Thursday matinee showing—wow!

Kudos to Gateway for once again bringing us incredible talent and a show as entertaining as a live broadcast of DWTS—or so I hear! By the way, if you need more of your Dancing fix, season 17 of DWTS starts on September 16!

Want more Gateway? I know I do! The last show of the summer season is The Buddy Holly Story, showing at the theater in Bellport August 28–September 4!

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.pacsc.org/online.