Bonnie is a former Dance Champion winning awards from 1978 - 1994, and was active in the Dance Community via adjudicating, lecturing, organizing events throughout the United States, and has toured the world as a coach, choreographer, and performer
She has since started the Ballroomology.com website, which is dedicated to The Art of Ballroom Dancing, its history, preservation, and any other relevant dance news.
Living in Boston, Massachusetts, Bonnie began her dance career at the age three, trained in all styles of dance, but somehow ending up a ballroom dancer. One of Bonnie’s fondest memories was entering a dance competition when she was 15 years young. After two days of competition, Bonnie won the “Little Miss Lovely” beauty pageant-talent contest in downtown Boston at the John Hancock building. Winning a new stereo and a scholarship to the Hart Modeling Agency, she attended a series of summer classes in TV spokesperson, fashion, commercials and make-up, ending with my her first set of professional head shots. Bonnie’s graduation involved a big runway show, and as they were rehearsing, she convinced the director to let her dance and choreograph the show, who was a little reluctant but agreed. For the routine, Bonnie chose the song “Dance To The Music.” from Sly and the Family Stone. The show was a great success, and Bonnie graduated with honors.
Afterwards, Bonnie decided she was not a model, but a dancer. So Bonnie continued her dance training in the Boston area.
As long as Bonnie can remember, when driving home at night she would pass “The Mary French Dance Studio” in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She would always see the ballroom dancers through the huge glass windows and Bonnie would get mesmerized. This continued for a few more years and by this time Bonnie was attending Mass Bay Community College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and still passing by Mary French Dance Studio. One day out of the blue the director of the Hart Modeling Agency called Bonnie and said she was opening up her own agency and wanted Bonnie to teach some classes for her new students in movement, poise and runway walk. And as fate would have it, she was renting space at the Mary French Dance Studio. In between classes Bonnie would walk around the dance studio looking at the pictures of dancers on the wall, like Sissy and Bobby from the Lawerence Welk Show, but this one couple stood out, Bob Medeiros and his partner Sheryn Hawkins. He had a Valentino, Elvis Presley charisma way about him.
After graduating college in 1977, Bonnie was ready to head to Broadway, but through a series of karmic events ended up dancing with Richard Diaz as a professional ballroom dance couple. Mr. Diaz had recently left the Fred Astaire chain already an established champion. They trained to compete in the American Style which at the time was Foxtrot, Swing, Bolero and Mambo.
Commuting from Boston to NYC, Bonnie & Mr. Diaz took Afro-Cuban Jazz classes with all the greats at the time. Bonnie remembers taking jazz dance classes at Phil Black Studio in Times Square when NYC was deliciously seedy. Below the dance studio was the Tango Palace, which had the Taxi Dancers, and she would have to climb past them and their “cliental” passed out on the staircase to get to the dance studio. After learning and practicing dancing in the studio all day, Bonnie, Mr. Diaz and others from the dance studio went clubbing at the Corso, where they danced to the live music of the Latin bands. Eventually Bonnie & Mr. Diaz became known for their unique style and rhythms.
1982 or 1983, Bonnie & Mr. Diaz signed up for a competition that was being held at the Bradford Hotel in downtown Boston. Advancing to the final, they placed third. In first place was the amazing Charlie and Jean Penatello, second place went to Patrick Taverna and Rebecca Francour. BUT, Bonnie & Mr. Diaz had taken First Place in the Mambo across the board. Still a vivid memory for her today.
That night, after that competition, a somewhat familiar looking, dark lion haired man approached Bonnie pointing his finger at her and said “You, you're my girl! Be downstairs tomorrow morning to partner me in my seminar.” Toward the end of the evening when things were winding down Bonnie mentioned the incident to Mr. Diaz about what this familiar looking, dark lion haired man had said to her and Mr. Diaz’s eyes popped out of his head and calmly told Bonnie that she had been picked out of the crowd by none other than the greatest latin dancer in the world, Mr. Bob Medeiros. Then Bonnie remembered where she had seen him before, the pictures of Bob Medeiros and Sheryn Hawkins that were on the walls of Mary French’s Studio.
The next day Bob Medeiros and Bonnie danced a Bolero for the crowd. She had never experienced anything like Bob Medeiros before in her world of dance and now she was spoiled for life.
Bob Medeiros, The first official United States International Latin Style Champion in 1971. Bob was a natural, so fluid, authentic and innovative in his choreography and rhythms.
Bob, who was now based out of Miami, came to NYC to coach myself & Mr. Diaz, where he skillfully guided us to become the First World Champions for the United States in Mambo.
Later in years Bob and Bonnie danced together in shows and performances. It was a magical time, a surreal experience. Bob was her mentor, coach, confident and friend. Outside of dancing, they would go to the theatre and horse back riding as often as possible.
Unfortunately, Bob Medeiros died in 1993.
After many hours of research, emails and phone calls, Bonnie was able to get hold of Bob Medeiros’ personal Super 8mm Films of his Competition Dancing days with his partner Sheryn Hawkins. These two were a Match Made in Dance Heaven, they stood out from the rest of the field.
The Super 8mm Films were sent out to be converted to Digital Video files, edited, with a Music Sound Track and Narration added. Now everyone can see how talented Bob Medeiros was as a Dancer, and learn from his innovation.
She has since started the Ballroomology.com website, which is dedicated to The Art of Ballroom Dancing, its history, preservation, and any other relevant dance news.
Living in Boston, Massachusetts, Bonnie began her dance career at the age three, trained in all styles of dance, but somehow ending up a ballroom dancer. One of Bonnie’s fondest memories was entering a dance competition when she was 15 years young. After two days of competition, Bonnie won the “Little Miss Lovely” beauty pageant-talent contest in downtown Boston at the John Hancock building. Winning a new stereo and a scholarship to the Hart Modeling Agency, she attended a series of summer classes in TV spokesperson, fashion, commercials and make-up, ending with my her first set of professional head shots. Bonnie’s graduation involved a big runway show, and as they were rehearsing, she convinced the director to let her dance and choreograph the show, who was a little reluctant but agreed. For the routine, Bonnie chose the song “Dance To The Music.” from Sly and the Family Stone. The show was a great success, and Bonnie graduated with honors.
Afterwards, Bonnie decided she was not a model, but a dancer. So Bonnie continued her dance training in the Boston area.
As long as Bonnie can remember, when driving home at night she would pass “The Mary French Dance Studio” in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She would always see the ballroom dancers through the huge glass windows and Bonnie would get mesmerized. This continued for a few more years and by this time Bonnie was attending Mass Bay Community College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and still passing by Mary French Dance Studio. One day out of the blue the director of the Hart Modeling Agency called Bonnie and said she was opening up her own agency and wanted Bonnie to teach some classes for her new students in movement, poise and runway walk. And as fate would have it, she was renting space at the Mary French Dance Studio. In between classes Bonnie would walk around the dance studio looking at the pictures of dancers on the wall, like Sissy and Bobby from the Lawerence Welk Show, but this one couple stood out, Bob Medeiros and his partner Sheryn Hawkins. He had a Valentino, Elvis Presley charisma way about him.
After graduating college in 1977, Bonnie was ready to head to Broadway, but through a series of karmic events ended up dancing with Richard Diaz as a professional ballroom dance couple. Mr. Diaz had recently left the Fred Astaire chain already an established champion. They trained to compete in the American Style which at the time was Foxtrot, Swing, Bolero and Mambo.
Commuting from Boston to NYC, Bonnie & Mr. Diaz took Afro-Cuban Jazz classes with all the greats at the time. Bonnie remembers taking jazz dance classes at Phil Black Studio in Times Square when NYC was deliciously seedy. Below the dance studio was the Tango Palace, which had the Taxi Dancers, and she would have to climb past them and their “cliental” passed out on the staircase to get to the dance studio. After learning and practicing dancing in the studio all day, Bonnie, Mr. Diaz and others from the dance studio went clubbing at the Corso, where they danced to the live music of the Latin bands. Eventually Bonnie & Mr. Diaz became known for their unique style and rhythms.
1982 or 1983, Bonnie & Mr. Diaz signed up for a competition that was being held at the Bradford Hotel in downtown Boston. Advancing to the final, they placed third. In first place was the amazing Charlie and Jean Penatello, second place went to Patrick Taverna and Rebecca Francour. BUT, Bonnie & Mr. Diaz had taken First Place in the Mambo across the board. Still a vivid memory for her today.
That night, after that competition, a somewhat familiar looking, dark lion haired man approached Bonnie pointing his finger at her and said “You, you're my girl! Be downstairs tomorrow morning to partner me in my seminar.” Toward the end of the evening when things were winding down Bonnie mentioned the incident to Mr. Diaz about what this familiar looking, dark lion haired man had said to her and Mr. Diaz’s eyes popped out of his head and calmly told Bonnie that she had been picked out of the crowd by none other than the greatest latin dancer in the world, Mr. Bob Medeiros. Then Bonnie remembered where she had seen him before, the pictures of Bob Medeiros and Sheryn Hawkins that were on the walls of Mary French’s Studio.
The next day Bob Medeiros and Bonnie danced a Bolero for the crowd. She had never experienced anything like Bob Medeiros before in her world of dance and now she was spoiled for life.
Bob Medeiros, The first official United States International Latin Style Champion in 1971. Bob was a natural, so fluid, authentic and innovative in his choreography and rhythms.
Bob, who was now based out of Miami, came to NYC to coach myself & Mr. Diaz, where he skillfully guided us to become the First World Champions for the United States in Mambo.
Later in years Bob and Bonnie danced together in shows and performances. It was a magical time, a surreal experience. Bob was her mentor, coach, confident and friend. Outside of dancing, they would go to the theatre and horse back riding as often as possible.
Unfortunately, Bob Medeiros died in 1993.
After many hours of research, emails and phone calls, Bonnie was able to get hold of Bob Medeiros’ personal Super 8mm Films of his Competition Dancing days with his partner Sheryn Hawkins. These two were a Match Made in Dance Heaven, they stood out from the rest of the field.
The Super 8mm Films were sent out to be converted to Digital Video files, edited, with a Music Sound Track and Narration added. Now everyone can see how talented Bob Medeiros was as a Dancer, and learn from his innovation.
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