First Amateur Dance Contest A Success
By Susan Simpson, Cultural & Human Services Directort

The City of Sunny Isles Beach Health and Community Activities Committee hosted their first event, the Senior Amateur Ballroom Dance Contest on Tuesday, March 15, 2005. Commissioner Roslyn Brezin, commission liaison to the committee described the event as a wonderful community event that gave residents and visitors a chance to see some professional style dancing right here in Sunny Isles Beach.

The event, held at the Marco Polo Ramada Plaza Beach Resort at 19201 Collins Avenue, was attended by approximately 400 guests and dancers. Honey Scriff, Chairperson for the committee, secured the donation of the location for the contest. It was the perfect setting for such an event. Honey, along with her committee members, Joseph Ades, Henry Kay, and Ben Kleinerman devoted all of their recent meetings to planning the event as well as gathering the fabulous prizes that were awarded to the winners.

Henry Kay, the project chairperson and mastermind of the event, dedicated much of his personal time to insure that the event was a success. His many trips to ballroom dance halls from Hallandale to Coconut Creek paid off as several of the contestants came from areas all over South Florida. “This is a great opportunity to let people know where Sunny Isles Beach is” Henry said in one of the planning meetings. His background as a dance studio owner offered the committee a wealth of information.

Trump Grande Ocean Resort & Residences and Newport Beachside Resort donated the grand prizes. Blake Roses Florist donated two beautiful floral bouquets to the overall American and Latin winners. Other fabulous prizes included dinners at local restaurants including: Tony Roma’s, Joseph’s, the Fish Joynt, Peppermill’s, the Rascal House, Bayview Thyme, and Bistro Zinc. Grand prizes were presented by our own Mayor Norman S. Edelcup.

On behalf of the city and the committee, thank you to all of our sponsors, donors and volunteers including Alan and Roy Reinke, and Alan and Joanne Greenwald.

Thank you also to all of the contestants especially Harriet Phillips and Frank Colavita, who elegantly represented Sunny Isles Beach. Congratulations to the overall winners; Violeta and Vic Chiong, and Fran and Jerry Bauer.

A round of applause to the committee for all of their hard work in producing such a successful event.

View Photos of Dance Contest

TOP