Garry and Rita Gekhman took first place in the International Standard category of the North American Dancesport Championships. EAST BRUNSWICK – Ballroom dancing is much more than a hobby for two township couples.
Garry and Rita Gekhman and Jean Paulovich and Iryna Pinihina are professional ballroom dancers. All four competed in the North American Dancesport Championships, held in Cherry Hill this summer.
Highlights from the event, which attracted some of the best dancers in the United States and Canada, have been airing on the CN8 Comcast network, and the broadcasts will continue Saturday night.
Dancesport is the official name given to competitive ballroom dancing. It was officially recognized by the Olympic Committee in 1997 but has not been approved as an event for the games. The competitions are typically divided into four ballroom dancing styles – international standard, American rhythm, American smooth, and international Latin.
“Ballroom dancing is very popular with the young, in Europe and Russia,” Paulovich said. “Here, people tell us this kind of dancing is for old people, but then we show them what we can do and they know it’s not just for old people.”
Jean Paulovich and Iryna Pinihina, professional ballroom dancers, will be featured Saturday on CN8 in the International Latin category of the North American Dancesport Championships. Paulovich and his wife, Pinihina, competed in the Latin-style dancing, which includes the cha-cha, rumba, samba, paso doble and jive. He started dancing in Russia when he was 10 years old and won a national championship at 16. As for Pinihina, she has a bachelor’s degree in dance and a Master of Sport Dance title.
The two met in college, and later Paulovich came to the U.S. to work as a dance instructor. Pinihina soon followed. The two are married nearly a year and have been dancing together for three years, with great success.
Paulovich said there is no hazard in having professional dancing partners be spouses.
“It’s fine if you have the right person,” he said.
In addition to competitions, the couple teaches at The Peach in Somerset and the Emerald Ballroom in Edison. They also do exhibition dancing at social dance clubs and schools, and have performed on TV and in commercials.
While Paulovich doesn’t usually watch shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” he hears about it from his students and feels that it inspires many people to get interested in ballroom dancing.
“My students see the show and they want their own dancing to improve,” he said.
Paulovich and Pinihina teach professional dancers and amateurs at all levels.
“Some people come in and they are very self-conscious and they say, ‘I have two left feet.’ We consider them a challenge. I tell them if they have two legs and want to learn, we can teach them to dance,” Paulovich said. The couple will be featured on CN8 the International Latin category at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Those interested can get in touch with the couple through their Web site at www.jeanandiryna.com.
For the Gekhmans, it’s all about dancing.
“Dancing is our life and our professional life as well,” said Garry Gekhman. “It’s really a different world, filled with beautiful people and travel. And then there is the spice of the competition. You always want to get better.”
Garry and Rita placed first in the International Standard competition, performing the waltz, Viennese waltz, the fox trot, quick step and tango.
The two met in Israel and have been dancing together for 12 years. They have won many awards including the 2006 U.S. Professional Classic Show Dance Championship.
Garry feels the secret to their success is simply their drive.
“We practice seven days a week and we travel to England five times a year, so we can learn from the best,” he said.
Dancing is also a family affair. Rita’s son, Tal Livshitz, 16, a junior at East Brunswick High School, is a U.S. Youth National Latin champion.
Rita has a master’s degree in math and at one time was a math teacher. Now she is using her teaching skills bring out the talent in her dance students. She and Garry coached the ballroom dance team at Princeton University, and they now run Champions Dance Center in Old Bridge, where they teach both professionals and amateurs. Their students have placed in the finals of competitions in the U.S. and Canada, including the preteen and youth category.
Their Web site, www.garryandrita.com, features videos of their performances, including one called “Robot Dance,” which reflects a style that Rita personally enjoys the most.
“I enjoy show dancing because it allows for the most personal expression, and you can really be creative,” she said.
While their segment initially aired on Sept. 15, fans can catch their performance when the series runs again on Oct 20, 27 and Nov. 3.
The performances can also be viewed online at www.CN8.tv, and Comcast Digital Cable customers can also watch the performances on demand at no charge for up to two weeks following their broadcast.