Polish duo wins at Ohio Star Ball

By Dean Shipley

Dean Shipley - Staff

Polish couple Marzena Stachura and Slawek Sochacki danced nearly flawlessly Saturday evening to repeat as World American Smooth Champions at the Ohio Star Ball. They placed first in all dances, waltz, tango, foxtrot, Viennese waltz and the show dance.

Marzena Stachura and Slawek Sochacki successfully defended their title of World champion in American Smooth Saturday evening in Columbus. Taking their places on the floor with five other top contenders in their event, the Polish couple danced nearly flawlessly to convince the judges they were deserving to repeat.

They placed first in all dances in Professional American Smooth: waltz, foxtrot, tango and Viennese waltz. They also won the show dance in American Smooth.

“We won it all,” she said following the performances. “We’re so happy.”

Stachura said “It was the most challenging show we’ve ever done and it really went well. She said in addition to being happy to win it all, she and partner Sochacki “were happy with their performances.”

Their coach and choreographer, Toni Redpath was floorside watching their every move. “They danced brilliantly,” Redpath said. “They were dominant.” By winning the show dance in addition to placing first in the four dances comprising American Smooth, Redpath called it “a huge night for them.”

Madison County has another connection to The Ohio Star Ball in Adelle Faulkner.

By day she is principal of London Academy. In the evening she puts her dancing shoes on at Dance Plus Studios.

Faulkner said after her shift as an usher was complete the evening of the finals she has been dancing for two years.

“It’s something I always wanted to do,” she said.

She danced at the bronze and intermediate bronze levels in dances across the ballroom spectrum with professional partner Neil Duncan of Dance Plus studio. Her best finish was second in Viennese waltz. She also danced to third places in mambo, east coast swing and bolero.

She saw the Stachura/Sochacki performance and called them “amazing.”