Ballroom events offer dancer relief from life’s daily stresses
Ademanding job in the financial services industry makes it difficult for Cheryle Russo to find time for herself.
Long days in the office often culminate in exhausting weeks for Russo, whose job has required her to relocate three times in the past 10 years — since 2008, she's moved from her home state of Pennsylvania to Columbus; in 2014, to New Jersey; and in May, to Wilmington, Delaware.
But for the past six years, the 56-year-old has found solace in ballroom dancing.
“For me, the dance lessons have allowed me to schedule ‘me’ back into my life,” Russo said. “This forces me to dedicate time to myself.”
She was introduced to ballroom dancing in 2012 when the bank she works for partnered with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra to host a dancing competition. Russo had no previous dancing experience but fell in love with performing right away.
The lessons with What: The Ohio Star Ball Where: Hyatt Regency, 350 N. High St. Contact: 614-848-7827, www.ohiostarball.com Doors open: 9 a.m. Tuesday; 8 a.m. Wednesday; 7 a.m. Nov. 15-17; 8 a.m. Nov. 18 Admission: $20 to $30, or $90 to $100 for Friday and Saturday evening
professional dancer Josh Tilford started soon after, and the two remain an inseparable instructorstudent duo despite the distance — Tilford is from Columbus but lives in Cincinnati.
“Not only did I get a great dance instructor but I got a great friend,” said Russo, who flies to Cincinnati every other month for a lesson with Tilford. Tilford, in turn, flies to Wilmington on the other months to give her a lesson.
Russo and Tilford compete together in ten competitions throughout the year across the country, but one in particular is circled on her calendar.
“The Ohio Star Ball is the one you work toward,” said Russo, who will make her sixth appearance this year. “It’s the one where you find out how much you’ve improved.”
Tilford will be partnering with her and nine other students of his during the pro-am portion of the sixday competition, which returns to the Hyatt Regency on Tuesday.
Tilford, 36, has competed at the Star Ball for eight years both on the professional circuit and with his amateur students. Having competed in ballroom dancing across the country, he said there’s no other event quite like it.
“For me, the Ohio Star Ball is the most exciting and most competitive competition in the country,” said Tilford, a professional dancer for 12 years. “It’s a wonderful experience.”
More than 2,000 dancers will be competing throughout the week in a variety of categories for all ages and skill levels. More than 100 vendors will also be on site.
“It’s just a multifaceted event that (founder and CEO) Mr. (Sam) Sodano has run and turned into such an incredible competition that people have great respect for,” said spokesman Bill Sparks.
Tilford and his students will compete in all four styles — American smooth, American rhythm, international ballroom and international Latin. It's an exhausting week, he said, but nonetheless thrilling to see his students thrive on such a prestigious stage.
“At the end, on Sunday, I'm spent,” he said. “It’s almost like running a marathon four or five days in a row, but when you're out there you’re just performing and doing your best."
Russo, whose husband will be there to support her, isn't putting too much pressure on herself. After all, regardless of how she places, it sure beats being in the office.
“The glamour of it, the hair, the makeup, is completely different from my work life.”