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Jerry Thomas Public Relations
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Jerry Thomas Public Relations
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HOTON1SALSA PRESIDENT RICK MANGRAM SERVES AS JUDGE FOR TOP SALSA COMPETITION AT THE LEGENDARY WILLOWBROOK
CHICAGO- One of Chicago's top salsa instructors, Rick Mangram, along with four others, judged the Chicago's Salsa Championships, which were held recently at the historic Willowbrook Ballroom, 5246 N. Elston Ave. in Chicago. The January 30, 2010 event featured two division competitions, one amateur and one professional and crowned one couple the 2010 Chicago Salsa Champions.
Mangram, who has popular dance classes at Zocalo, Alhambra Palace and Alejandra's Restaurant, was chosen as a judge by Nino DiGuilio, the main instructor at Willowbrook.
"We thought of Rick because of his past involvement with the Willowbrook Ballroom, his experience and outreach social dancing at Salsa clubs throughout the city, his neutral and non-affiliated background, and because the ladies from my studio who have met and danced with Rick at places like Zocalo and Alhambra have said that he's a good lead and a gentleman!" DiGuilio said.
The contest, which started at the Buzz Nightclub six years ago, has grown tremendously. Four years ago, it moved to the beautiful 6,000-square-foot dance floor at Willowbrook.
"[Willowbrook] is a place of history where people from all over the world used to come and dance to all genres,” Mangram said. “This is a place for Hoton1Salsa to join the people together for more salsa and take them to another level to be part of Willowbrook's history.”
Mangram added that the contest is a good opportunity for the ever-growing Hoton1Salsa.
"Actually, I'm kind of honored," he said. "It feels very good to know I have an effect on Nino. He could have gone out to get anybody to judge the competition, and I think the reputation we have been having with Willowbrook ballroom has been really good. I think they really appreciate Hoton1Salsa. The people at May I Have This Dance have taken my class at Alhambra Palace. They like the way I teach my class and I get a lot of feedback that really helps."
Mangram was joined by judges Miguel Mendez of the Dance Academy of Salsa, Colleen MacDonald from May I Have This Dance Inc., Linda Comacho of Salsa On The South Side and Rosita Ragin/Saladeen Alamin from Cultural Expressions LTD, Chicago International Salsa Congress.
After the judges ranked each couple on timing, technique, teamwork, content and entertainment, the final results were tabulated using the five judges’ scores in a relative placement scoring system, which is the dance industry standard for accuracy and fairness.
The Professional Division 1st place winners, Ignacio Felice and Amanda Doerr received $500 and the Amateur Division 1st place winners, Neil Trifunovski and Santa Tentakayte received full passes to the Chicago International Salsa Congress. The Professional Division 2nd place winners Adrian Tenorio and Stacey Jacobo won $300 and 3rd place winners Bryan Banks and Kristy Castrogiovanni won $150. The 2nd place Amateur Division winners Oscar Lopez and Marilee Alsip won a $150 dance scholarship from May I Have This Dance, and the 3rd place winners Mark Hopman & Stephanie Ewing won 6 months VIP pass to Salsa Wednesdays at the Willowbrook.
For additional information on HotOn1Salsa, visit www.hoton1salsa.com. To secure an interview with Rick Mangram, contact Ashley Nicole at Jerry Thomas Public Relations, numbers at top of release.