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Alma and Ferdinand Dancing with the Stars - Ballroom with a Twist
WINNIPEG – Imagine dancing on the same stage with popular celebrities from Dancing with the Stars like Edyta Sliwinska, Jonathan Roberts and Alec Mazo. Then, as if that was not enough to make any one feel star struck, add the name of Olympic Gold Medalist and Dancing with the Stars runner-up Evan Lysacek to the celebrity mix and one gets totally feverish with delight. Such was the sensation felt by two Winnipeg dancers – Alma Ganaden and Ferdinand Ramos – who represented Manitoba in Louis Van Amstel’s Dancing with the Stars production of Ballroom with a Twist at the Centennial Concert Hall on October 17, 2010. “To have my first experience to dance on stage in Canada (since I arrived in 2004) with celebrities from Dancing with the Stars was a dream come true for me..” gushed Ramos who started working as a dance instructor at the age of 16 while growing up in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. “I was a in my senior year in high school when I discovered I could earn money by teaching dance.. and I did it all the way up to my college years.” “It was a great experience.. I love Edyta (Sliwinska) and Evan (Lysacek) and to be able to share the stage with them was a thrilling adventure..” said Ganaden, a multi-awarded jazz and modern dancer. She started dancing while still in grade school. When she arrived in Canada in the early 1980s, she joined the Royal Dance Conservatory, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Contemporary Dance Company. “I was also a choreographer for Kayumanggi Philippines in the 80s,” she added. Ganaden and Ramos only became official dancing partners when they joined the Ballroom with a Twist Winnipeg auditions held on September 24, 2010. A mutual friend introduced Ganaden to Ramos when the former started to scout around for a ballroom partner to join the auditions on behalf of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. “Ten couples auditioned representing various local ballroom dance studios like Ted Motyka, RWB, Patricia’s Studio, etc..” said Ganaden who, for the most part, choreographed the ballroom dance number together with her new dance partner, Ramos. “The decision of the judges was unanimous.. we were the only Filipino-Canadians who auditioned and we felt very honoured to represent Manitoba in this prestigious and spectacular show,” said to Ramos. After winning the audition, the dancing partners practiced at least eight hours everyday without fail. All the work paid off, too. Ganaden and Ramos wowed the audience and even the celebrities complimented them for their ballroom dancing skills. So, what’s next for these dancing partners? “We will continue our partnership.. strive to perfect our art..” said Ganaden, who claims that she is basically a shy person and that the act of dancing and choreographing allow her to express her creativity. “We may even offer private dance lessons.. share our talents with others..” added Ramos. Have a comment on this article? Send us your feedback
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