Local Fred Astaire Is One Year Old
Written by Rebecca Bent, Editorial@antonnews.com Thursday, 14 March 2013 08:45
No baby steps for this franchise
“I still recall the DJ at our wedding pleading with the guests to join the dance floor to rescue us from our first dance as husband and wife. Now, 30 years later, I am happy to say we rocked the dance floor in our routine,” gushed Carol Hiller. Along with her husband, Hiller was a contestant on Feb. 24 from Manhasset’s Fred Astaire Dance Studio at Long Island’s first ever Fred Astaire Long Island Winter Ball at the Huntington Marriot Hotel. As the youngest studio represented, the Manhasset studio just turned one-year-old; they were praised for their accomplishments in such a short period of time.
Ukrainian National Champions Eugene Yeremenko and Marisa Yatsenko run the studio on Park Avenue just off Plandome Road. When asked why Manhasset was able to garner so much praise in such a short period of time, Eugene remarked, “Our students love to have fun and they just brought that to the dance floor.” And Marisa added, “Ballroom dance is incredibly fulfilling for individuals and couples. It’s great exercise and the best stress reliever I know. You can’t help but smile while dancing.”
At the winter ball, friends, family and fans of ballroom made up a very lively and supportive audience of approximately 200 people. Noisemakers were passed around to sound off as fellow studio members danced by.
“When I started lessons at the Fred Astaire Studio, I told them I had two left feet and needed to learn some dance steps for an upcoming reunion. But,” continued Eileen Tyrrell of Port Washington, “fast-forward to now, I just performed a specially choreographed foxtrot created for me at the winter ball. I now look forward to learning the salsa and the west coast swing.”
Amateur couple Carol and Bill Hiller from Manhasset performed with Eugene and Marisa. “We are having the time of our lives dancing together.” said Carol, and her husband Bill quickly added, “And…I’ll admit we also love our ritual of stopping by ButterCooky in Manhasset to eat a slice of chocolate cake after a lesson.”
Sienna Bent, 13, Manhasset resident and a student at the Waldorf School in Garden City, performed with her instructor, Alex Costa. When she did her dance moves - torpedo and flying fish - the crowd erupted in cheers. “I love dancing,” Sienna acknowledged, “It is so much fun, I could do it all day. In fact, when I have to clean up my room, my mom just turns up the music and I dance and clean at the same time.”
Family and friends traveled from great distances to watch the performance. Jennifer Gareis of Los Angeles and the CBS Bold and Beautiful soap star was in attendance to watch her sister Rebecca Bent, brother-in-law, and niece perform. “Yesterday we had a family dance class with Eugene and Alex in their studio. And honestly, after learning the basic moves, I had a really hard time sitting in my chair and watching. I can’t wait to get back home and find a dance studio. I totally understand why dancing is becoming so popular, it’s beautiful, you get a great workout, and it just makes you feel happy.”
Eugene and Marisa’s students range from early tweens to 70 plus. Also in attendance were Patricia Cosgrove, Jo-Anne Behal, Rebecca Gareis-Bent, and Bruce Bent II of Manhasset and Millie Munich of Floral Park.
At the end of the competition, Eugene and Marisa gathered their students and their families in a huddle to debrief. “I feel so inspired by everyone’s effort,” said Eugene, “today we showed everyone Manhasset could really dance.”
In addition to lessons for individuals and couples, the Manhasset Fred Astaire studio offers group classes and holds regular Friday night dance practice parties for their students from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. with refreshments served. The Manhasset studio can be reached at 439-5477 or visit www.fredastairemanhasset.com.
The next dance competition is in Las Vegas, NV in April and student Mark Lefkowitz, Locust Valley, and Bill and Carol Hiller will be participating.
News
Wednesday, 22 May 2013 00:00
Submitted by Manhasset Post 304 American Legion
Matthew Falcone, commander of the Manhasset Post 304 American Legion, and James Brooks, parade chairman, have announced the parade order and schedule for the 2013 Manhasset Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Services. All Manhasset residents, their families and friends are invited to join the Legion in this remembrance of the great sacrifices of our American heroes. The theme of the parade this year, “Honoring Those Who Serve in Special Operations,” is a reminder that, while Memorial Day honors all deceased veterans, the intention is to remember service personnel engaged around the world in an effort to preserve American freedom and way of life from global terrorism.
Memorial Services
A memorial service in honor of Manhasset’s war dead will be held at the Community Reformed Church, 90 Plandome Rd., on Sunday, May 26, at 10 a.m. Pastor Steven D. Pierce will officiate. All are urged to attend and to join with the Legion in the remembrance of the great sacrifice of our military.
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
That first meeting, culminating in the May 2 ribbon-cutting for organic vegetable and herb gardens at all three Manhasset school campuses, was in September 2012.
Two organizations, both formed under the auspices of the SCA, were involved: Planet Manhasset, which under president Angela Classi and officers Merilyn Donnelly, Zari Ginsburg and Connie Parsons, spearheaded the construction of each site and Project Share, the which will distribute the produce raised to families in need. Classi, during the ribbon-cutting, told the students they were limited only by their imagination, and encouraged each one to embrace the secondary school garden as their own.
Sports
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Gymnast Alexis Stern, an eighth-grader at Manhasset Middle School, represented New York State in the Junior Olympic National Championships held in the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, MI the weekend of May 3. Competing against the top Level 9 gymnasts in the country, Alexis took home a bronze medal on the balance beam with a 9.45 and finished 12th in the country with an impressive 36.80 all around score (bars, beam, floor, and vault). Alexis earned her spot on the Junior Olympic team with a third place finish at the Level 9 North East USAG Regional Championship held in Springfield, MASS and was also recognized as one of New York’s top Level 9 gymnasts. Alexis trains five days a week at Gold Medal Gymnastics Center in Greenlawn under the tutelage of Hall of Fame Coach Tammy Marshall.
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
On April 7, the Manhasset High School Crew Team held its first 5K Walk/Run fundraiser, which started and ended in the Flower Hill Village Park. More than 300 participants came out to race or stroll through Flower Hill, while raising funds for two great causes.
Proceeds from the event will fund additional equipment for the growing MHS crew team, with 10 percent of monies raised contributed to the Manhasset UFSD Fields Initiative, a fund created to re-turf the MHS Stadium Field and create a new field at Shelter Rock Elementary School. Barbara Thermos, who organized and coordinated the 5K event, noted, ”It was a great way for the community to come together for these causes, connecting with neighbors and friends while getting some exercise on a gorgeous, crisp sunny morning. Both causes support healthy athletic opportunities for Manhasset’s youth.”
Calendar
Ceremony And Fireworks
Saturday, May 25
MPWC Kids Fun Run
Saturday, June 8
Sunday Afternoon At The Opera
Sunday, June 9
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