25th ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
2006 marked the 25th Anniversary year for Tremaine Dance Conventions and Competitions and we planned a celebration for the National Finals Convention in Orlando, July 7-11, 2006, that we felt would be memorable.
However, we had no idea the ways in which fate, our friends and our clients would step in to make it such a loving, once in a lifetime event.
We were thrilled when
accepted our invitation to be honored as the
2006 Entertainer of the Year
- Legend - Award recipient,
and then doubly
honored when
accepted our invitation to be honored as the
2006 Entertainer of the Year.
Mr. Vereen & Ms. Applegate also watched Gala performances by each of the top nine National Finalists and decided who they thought best deserved the
Tremaine Performance of the Year Award
(See below)
With these two spectacular entertainers as well as guest teachers Wade Robson, Lisa Mordente, Linda Bernabei-Retter, Bradley Rapier and Eleanor Carney, plans for a Tremaine 25th Anniversary Museum and a Red Carpet Entrance to our National Finals Gala which would feature video tributes from celebrities, dancers and choreographers such as Brian Freidman, Dan Karaty, Robin Antin, Elizabeth Berkley and Barry Lather, among others, we thought it would be an impressive event.
(click either title to see more photos)
Then, Joe got a phone call from Lisa Mordente on the day we arrived in Orlando, two days before the event began. It seemed CHITA RIVERA, her Mom and 2005 Tremaine Entertainer of the Year Award recipient, had heard her talking 
about teaching at our National Finals again and, remembering the fun she had the year before watching all the dancers in classes, said she wanted to go back. Then, a little later, Joe got another phone call from Lisa. Lisa’s best friend, who was helping her with some choreography that Lisa would be teaching at the convention, heard how much fun Chita and Lisa had both had the year before, asked if she could come to the convention too. Well, Lisa’s best friend is LIZA MINNELLI, who was helping Lisa with choreography from the television special "Liza with a Z," and the obvious answer to the question was YES! By the next morning, the day before the convention, Joe got another call telling him they had booked their tickets and would arrive on the second day of the event.
about teaching at our National Finals again and, remembering the fun she had the year before watching all the dancers in classes, said she wanted to go back. Then, a little later, Joe got another phone call from Lisa. Lisa’s best friend, who was helping her with some choreography that Lisa would be teaching at the convention, heard how much fun Chita and Lisa had both had the year before, asked if she could come to the convention too. Well, Lisa’s best friend is LIZA MINNELLI, who was helping Lisa with choreography from the television special "Liza with a Z," and the obvious answer to the question was YES! By the next morning, the day before the convention, Joe got another call telling him they had booked their tickets and would arrive on the second day of the event.Needless to say, the 25th Anniversary Gala, with three Broadway legends and a television, film and theater star on stage was truly a SOLD OUT show that everyone wanted tickets to.
In addition to our celebrity guests, we also awarded the
2006 Tremaine Teacher of the Year Award to
Machita & Co., Inc.
West Baton Rouge, LA
(accepting her award from Julie Adler & Joe Tremaine)
and announced the
2006-07 Tremaine Dancer of the Year title winners
Sr. Female - Anna Solomon, Sr. Male - Anthony England, Tn. Female - Angela Cifone,
Tn. Male - Tyler Muhlenkamp, Jr. Female - Samantha Bilardi and Jr. Male - Austin Lapes
- Click on their name to see their bio in the DOTY Archives -
The National Finalists who performed in the Gala were:
BEST OF SHOW WINNERS
Jr. BOS - "ELECTRIC DOLLS" The Future Dance Center, Gino Vaccaro, Buffalo, NY
Tn. BOS - "WHAT'S HAPPENIN'" The Future Dance Center, Gino Vaccaro, Buffalo, NY
Sr. BOS - "LOST IN SPACE" The Future Dance Center, Denise Vaccaro, Buffalo, NY
BEST TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE WINNERS
Jr. BTP - "PINK PANTHER" Dance Workshop, Suzanne Green, Arlington, TX
Tn. BTP - "PARTY TIME" Sheffield School of Dance, Celi Shinn, Mobile, AL
Sr. BTP - "BOLERO" Sheffield School of Dance, Celi Shinn, Mobile, AL
BEST COSTUME WINNERS
Jr. BC - "YEAH BABY" Beaufort Academy of Dance, Aleisia Ashlaw, Beaufort, SC
Tn. BC - "THE BIRD" In The Spotlight, Candice Mancini, Waldwick, NJ
Sr. BC - "QUE, SERA SERA" Denise Daniele Dance Studio, Denise Blackstone, Brick, NJ
TREMAINE 2006 PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"LOST IN SPACE"
The Future Dance Center
Denise Vaccaro
Buffalo, NY
The incredible energy, talent and love of Tremaine Conventions expressed by everyone in attendance, the success of the Tremaine 25th Anniversary Museum, the wonderful Dancers performing in the Cash Awards Competition, our exceptional Faculty and Guest Faculty, the amazing Semi-Finalists competing in the National Finals Competition, the Tremaine Apprentices and the Tremaine Performance Company Members, our very special Guests and our incredible behind the scenes Administrative Staff all came together to make these five days the most cherished in Tremaine Dance Conventions history.
We would also like thank the exceptional staff of the Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World, under the direction of Ron Reinhold, Sue Rugala and Joe Quevedo for taking such extra special care to make this a memorable event in every way, from guest relations to the secret planning of the custom gala dessert, plus the dessert presentation at the gala. We know without their incredible staff and attention to detail, this event would not have been possible. There is a reason that the Renaissance is considered Tremaine’s "home" in Florida and why we consider them part of our Tremaine family. They proved this, beyond a shadow of a doubt, during the 25th Anniversary celebration. We cannot thank Ben, Christina, Chita and Liza enough for their participation in our 25th Anniversary National Finals Convention. Their presence along with every one of the talented educators, choreographers, dancers and their parents who attended made it an event that none of us will ever forget.
The Gala Showroom during dinner
Tremaine 2006 TOTY Machita Eyre (center) with Tremaine Faculty (l to r):
Brett Anthony (Gala Host), Ian Carney, Eleanor Carney, Keri LaGrand, Julie Adler (Vice President), Desiree Robbins, Wade Robson, Joe Tremaine, Chris Moss, Joelle Martinec, Laurie Johnson, Linda Bernabei-Retter, Doug Caldwell and Marty Dew
Guest Performers at the Gala - THE GROOVALOOS
2006-07 Dancers of the Year with Julie Adler & Joe Tremaine
(l to r) Sr. Male - Anthony England, Jr. Male - Austin Lapes, Jr. Female - Samantha Bilardi,
Tn. Female - Angela Cifone & Sr. Female - Anna Solomon. Not pictured: Tn. Male - Tyler Muhlenkamp
Announcement of the 2006 Tremaine Performance of the Year
chosen by Entertainers of the Year Ben Vereen & Christina Applegate (far left)