2018 Masquerade Ball GALA

The 8th Annual Masquerade Ball GALA hosted by Imperial Ballroom Dance Center and Dancesport Education was held on December 16, 2018 at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in, Arizona.

“This event exceeded our expectations. We are so thankful for our many sponsors, who generously donated and 300+ people who attended and supported the event and DanceSport Education’s mission to create positive, life-long impacts in the lives of young people through participation in ballroom dance” said event co-host Inna Berlizyeva.

“DanceSport Education brings ballroom dance to the students at their schools, in their classrooms and we are so pleased to use the funds raised to make the program available and accessible to Arizona’s students” said Elka Hristova, co-founder.

Artem Plakhotnyi, top world class dancesport competitor and event host, emceed the event and was our distinguished on-stage voice for the evening.

There was great energy in the room as the guests enjoyed the exchange and had a chance to hear first-hand from school leaders and students representing the schools where the Dancesport Education program is implemented.

JoDene Tryon, founder and CEO of Mission Montessori Academy, accompanied by Joslyn Maike, Principal of the middle school and Daisy Maldonado, an alumni of the school and the DanceSport Education program stressed the many benefits ballroom dance has brought to the students at the school. “The young adolescent child is a child ready to form new relationships, build new skills and express themselves. The Dance Sport Program has reached my students in these three areas”, said Joslyn Maike and encouraged teachers and principals to consider bringing the DanceSport Education program to their students, at their schools.

Asher Ralphs, a Sophomore at Cicero Preparatory, a Great Hearts Academy and a competitive DanceSport athlete addressed the guests and shared the story about his journey in competitive ballroom dance and the challenges he had to face and overcome, including the stigma that he was “a boy, who dared to dance”.

Keynote speaker, 4 time Olympian Iskra Balchev – Velinova addressed the Gala guests in a passionate speech about how dance has positively influenced and helped her Olympic career and continues to be her passion in life. Iskra addressed the dancesport athletes in the audience and shared her Olympian recipe for success: “Practice makes you Perfect, but Passion makes you Champions!” She also brought an important message to the entire audience to support health, support physical activity, support ballroom dance education, support sports, support the upbringing of a healthy and viable young generation! “Imperial Ballroom’s world-class, top-rated professionals make the benefits of ballroom dance accessible. Your financial help and support will make it affordable!” Iskra encouraged the guests. Her Argentine Tango marked the ending of her speech.

The Gala guests enjoyed an amazing, first of its kind ballroom dance theater show production “The Dream”, where 32 children and youth from Imperial Ballroom and Mission Montessori showed their ballroom dance skills and talent. The Gala show also featured Imperial Ballroom’s world-class professionals and top-rated students.

Plans are already underway for next year’s Masquerade Ball Gala. Those plans include even broader participation of DanceSport Education students and schools. Stay tuned for more details about next year!