Hall of Fame

The Honor of a Lifetime.
To celebrate and honor all competitors that have received a DCDC Top Award throughout the years. The competitors listed here and their dancing are a very special part of DC Dance Challenge history. The list is organized by year and level. Special Awards are explained on our Awards and Prizes page (link is HERE!)

2023 XV Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS

Top Newcomer Bronze – Diahnn Thompkins (Ballroom U)
Top Pre-Bronze – Sarah Hobgood (Ballroom U)
Top Bronze 1 – Bernedette Lindemer (Ballroom U)
Top Bronze 2 – Anita Laumann (Ballroom U)
Top Open Bronze – Gina Palmer (Ballroom U)
Top Pre-Silver – Zack Old (The Ballroom Dance Center)
Top Silver 1 – Gwen Schukert (The Ballroom Dance Center)
Top Silver 2 – Meg Philips (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Open Silver – Diane Gaffigan (The Ballroom Dance Center)
Top Gold 1 – Jamee Plockmeyer (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Gold 2 – Sharon Ziesnitz (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Open Gold – Mary Dalsimer (Dancing with Friends)
Top Amateur Couple – Andrea & John Sheffield (Ballroom U)
Top Senior – James Dalsimer (Dancing with Friends)
Top Overall Student by Points  – Elena Yakovleva (Forever Dancing Ballroom)

Highest Smooth Score – 2 Way Tie –
Elena Yakovleva (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Katrea Howard (The Ballroom Dance Center)
Highest Standard Score – 3 Way Tie –  
Caitlin Miller (DC Dancesport Academy)
Ahsen Uppal (Passione Italiana Ballroom)
Paul Haffey (Elegant Dancing)
Highest Rhythm Score – Laura Castro – Forever Dancing Ballroom
Highest Latin Score – Caitlin Miller & Kirk Sigmon (DC Dancesport Academy)

Top Studio – Ballroom U
Top Teacher – Fabio Bonini (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Dancing with the DCDC Stars Winner 2023: Sarah Hobgood & Robert Wright (Ballroom U)

2022 XIV Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS

Top Newcomer Bronze – John Schmidt (Dancing with Friends)
Top Pre-Bronze – Bernadette Lindemer (Ballroom U)
Top Bronze 1 – Laura Castro (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Bronze 2 – Pam Pippin (Dancing with Friends)
Top Open Bronze – Jay Howard (The Ballroom Dance Center)
Top Pre-Silver – Mallory Bernard (The Ballroom Institute)
Top Silver 1 – Ellen Mohr  (Ballroom U)
Top Silver 2 – Meg Phillips (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Open Silver – Louise Jenkins (Ballroom U)
Top Gold 1 – Jamee Plockmeyer (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Gold 2 – Sharon Ziesnitz (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Open Gold – Augusta Takeda (Passione Italiana Ballroom)
Top Amateur Couple – Andrea & John Sheffield – Ballroom U
Top Overall Student by Points – James Smith (Dance Makers)
Top Senior – Loretta Staal (Dancing with Friends)

Highest Smooth Score – John Sheffield (Ballroom U)
Highest Standard Score – Gentleman – James Dalsimer (Dancing with Friends)
Highest Standard Score – Lady – Lisa Carchedi (Dancing with Friends)
Highest Rhythm Score – Julie Mulvihill (Dance Makers)

Top Studio – Ballroom U
Top Teacher – Fabio Bonini (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Dancing with the DCDC Stars Winner 2022: Sharon Ziesnitz and Fabio Bonini (Forever Dancing Ballroom)

2021 XIII Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS

Top Newcomer Bronze- Pam Pippin (Dancing With Friends)
Top Pre-Bronze- Laura Castro  (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Bronze 1- Andrea Sheffield  (Ballroom U)
Top Bronze 2- James Smith (Dance Makers)
Top Open Bronze- Michael Birch (Dance Makers)
Top Pre-Silver- Cammie Bright (Ballroom U)
Top Silver 1- Meg Phillips (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Silver 2- Thora Davis (Elegant Dancing)
Top Open Silver – Jamee Plockmeyer (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Gold 1 – Mary Dalsimer (Dancing With Friends)
Top Gold 2 – Fran Abbott (Bluestar Ballroom)
Top Open Gold – Anne MacArthur (Capital Ballroom)
Top Amateur Couple – Michael & Kathey Birch (Dance Makers)
Top Multi-Level Male Student– Michael Birch (Dance Makers)
Top Multi-Level Female Student– Kathey Birch (Dance Makers)

Highest Smooth Score – Deirdre Lewis (Ballroom U)
Highest Standard Score – James Dalsimer  (Dancing With Friends)
Highest Rhythm Score – Lauren Dravis (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Highest Latin Score – Ginny Raviotta (Bluestar Ballroom)

Top Formation – Elegant Dancing
Top Studio – Dance Makers
Top Teacher – 1st Place – Fabio Bonini

Dancing with the DCDC Stars Winner 2021: Andrea and John Sheffield (Ballroom U)

2020 DCDC was Canceled due to Pandemic COVID-19
The honors goes to all that contribute to control COVID-19 and save lives during the pandemic

2019 XII Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS

Top Newcomer Bronze- Bea Paras (American Dance Centers)
Top Pre-Bronze– Heidi Gross (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Bronze 1 – Peggy Schnoor (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Bronze 2 – Joyce Howard (The Ballroom Dance Center)
Top Open Bronze – Marilou Maccaro (21 Jam Street)
Top Pre-Silver – Cammie Bright (Ballroom U)
Top Silver 1– Phyllis Flaherty (Elegant Dancing)
Top Silver 2- Jamee Plockmeyer (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Open Silver – Erci Stern (Elegant Dancing)
Top Gold 1 – Debbie Cowan (Dance Annapolis)
Top Open Gold– Lilibeth Reyes (21 Jam Street)
Top Amateur Couple – Linda Roodal & Sebastian Tomkouski (21 Jam Street)
Top Multi-Level Students– Meg Phillips (Forever Dancing Ballroom)

Highest Smooth Score – Jeanne Burlingame  (DANE)
Highest Standard Score – Nobue Young (The American Dance Center)
Highest Rhythm Score – Alma Medina (Arlington Ballroom)
Highest Latin Score – Marie Lou Angulo (21 Jam Street)

Top Studio – 21 Jam Street
Top Teacher – 1st Place – Fabio Bonini

Dancing with the DCDC Stars winner 2019: Omnia El-Hakim with Nick Pasch and Fabio Bonini  (Forever Dancing)

2018 XI Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS

Newcomer Bronze- John Polisky (Ballroom U)
Top Pre-Bronze- Gwen Schukert (The Ballroon Dance Center)
Top Bronze 1 –Jeremy Furnier (Ballroom U)
Top Bronze 2 – Cammie Bright (Ballroom U)
Top Open Bronze – Celia Abraham  (21 Jam Street)
Top Pre-Silver – Jo Abbot (Simply Ballroom)
Top Silver 1– Meg Phillips (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
TopSilver 2- Kimberly Oberkirsch (The Ballroom Dance Center)
Top Open Silver – Ginny Raviotta (Bluestar Dance Academy)
Top Gold 1 – Jamee Plockmeyer (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Gold 2 –Mary Dalsimer (Dancing with Friends)
Top Open Gold– Lilibeth Reyes  (21 Jam Street)
Top Amateur Couple – Andrea & John Sheffield (Ballroom U)
Top Multi-Level Students– Gwen Schuckert  (The Ballroom Dance Center)

Highest Youth Score– Daniel Joseph Neri  (21 Jam Street)
Highest Smooth Score – Ashley Chase (Ballroom Dance Clubs of Atlanta)
Highest Standard Score – Judith Lemire (Dancesport VA)
Highest Rhythm Score – Ksenia Ivenchenkova (Bluestar Dance Academy)
Highest Latin Score – Russell Marasigan (21 Jam Street)

Top Formation – Presanta Chandra (21 Jam Street)
Top Studio – The Ballroom Dance Center
Top Teacher – Joshua Griffin (The Ballroom Dance Center)

Dancing with the DCDC Stars winner 2018: Sasha & Zeki Maviyildiz  (BlueStar Dance Academy)

2017 X Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS 

Newcomer Bronze – Suzanne Zantop (Dancing with Friends)
Pre-Bronze – Sara Schwalenberg (Dancesport VA)
Bronze 1 – Aylina (Blue Star Dance Academy)
Bronze 2 – Sasha (Blue Star Dance Academy)
Open Bronze – Prasanta Chandra (21 Jam Street)
Newcomer Silver – Kimberly Oberkirsch (The Ballroom Dance Center)
Silver 1 – Meg Phillips (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Silver 2 – Phil Schaenman (Dream Team Ballroom)
Open Silver – Ginny Raviotta (Blue Star Dance Academy)
Gold 1 – Jamee Plockmeyer (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Gold 2 – Laurie Sisson (Studio One of Alexandria)
Open Gold – Russell Marasigan (21 Jam Street)
Junior – Patricia Fernandez (21 Jam Street)
Youth – Sabrina Peralta (21 Jam Street)
Multi-level Male student – Frank Maceron (Dance Annapolis)
Multi-level Female student – Brenda Kapros (Zabor Dance)
Smooth Female – Julie Noble (Dancing with Friends)
Smooth Male – Phil Sisson (Studio One of Alexandria)
Standard Female – Lynn Moore (Dancing with Friends)
Standard Male – Brian Byers (Dancing with Friends)
Rhythm Female – Alicia Holt (Dance Annapolis)
Rhythm Male – George Maldonado (Ballroom U)
Latin Female – Celia Abraham (21 Jam Street)
Latin Male – Kyle Minoza (21 Jam Street)
Adult Amateur Couple – Joey Anne and Louie (21 Jam Street)
Top Studio – 21 Jam Street
Top Teacher – Zeki Maviyildiz (Blue Star Dance Academy)

Dancing with the DCDC Stars winner 2017:  Deirdre Lewis & Austin Moon (Ballroom U)

2016 IX Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS

Newcomer Bronze – Linda Grout (Nolens Dancesport)
Pre-Bronze  – Veva Daugherty (Dance Makers)
Bronze 1 – Paula Baldridge (Forever Dancing)
Top Bronze 2 –  Cary Funk (Forever Dancing)
Open Bronze – Amarik Singh (My Dance Hub)
Newcomer Silver  – Yvonne Malloy (Forever Dancing)
Silver 1 – Meg Phillips (Forever Dancing)
Silver 2 – Jamee Plockmeyer (Forever Dancing)
Open Silver – Robert Childress (Dance Makers)
Gold 1 – Brenda Armenti (Zabor Dance)
Gold 2 – Laurie Sisson (Studio One of Alexandria)
Open Gold  – Mary Dalsimer (Dancing with Friends)
Top Youth –   Maya Bugnosen (Social Graces Ballroom Dance Studio)
Top Multi-level student – Sasha (Blue Star Dance Academy)
Top Amateur Couple – Kevin &  Michelle Lee (Dance Annapolis)
Top Teacher – Fabio Bonini (Forever Dancing Ballroom)
Top Guest Studio – Dance Makers

Dancing with the DCDC Stars winner 2016: Sasha & Zeki Maviyildiz  (Blue Star Dance Academy)

2015 VIII Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS
Newcomer Bronze -Omnia El-Hakim [Arlington Ballroom]
Bronze I -Paula Baldridge [Forever Dancing]
Bronze II – Cary Funk [Forever Dancing]
Open Bronze – Judith Albarelli [Arlington Ballroom]
Newcomer Silver – Meg Phillips [Forever Dancing]
Silver I – Jamee Plockmeyer [Forever Dancing]
Silver II – Phil Schaenman [DK Ballroom]
Open Silver – Brenda Armenti [Zabor Dance]
Gold 1 – Sharon Brown [Forever Dancing]
Open Gold – Christa Mason [Arlington Ballroom]
Top Amateur Couple – Bill & Tricia Herberger [Crown Dance Studio]
Top Male Amateur Overall – Michael Albarelli [Arlington Ballroom]
Top Female Amateur Overall – Kristina Schmitt [Dancesport VA]
Top Teacher – Fabio Bonini [Forever Dancing]
Top Studio – Arlington Ballroom

Dancing with the DCDC Stars winner 2015: Caroline Greenhaulgh & Fabio Bonini  (Forever Dancing Ballroom)

2014 VII Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS
Newcomer Bronze -Brenda Armenti [Zabor Dance]
Bronze I -Kathy Fortner [Affordable Dancing]
Bronze II – Elise Hicks [Elegant Dancing]
Open Bronze – Rhonda McCabe [Elegant Dancing]
Newcomer Silver – Meg Phillips [Forever Dancing]
Silver I – Jamee Plockmeyer [Forever Dancing]
Silver II – Carolyn Kurzeja [The Ballroom Dance Center]
Open Silver – Rosemary Smith [Elegant Dancing]
Gold II – Christa Mason [DK Ballroom]
Open Gold – Jana Hester [Dance Flame]
Top Amateur Couple – Lynn & Chris Moore [Dancing with Friends]
Top Male Amateur Overall – Phil Schaenman [DK Ballroom]
Top Teacher – Fabio Bonini [Forever Dancing]
Top Studio – Elegant Dancing

Dancing with the DCDC Stars winner 2014: Caroline Greenhaulgh & Fabio Bonini  (Forever Dancing Ballroom)

2013 VI Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS
Newcomer Bronze – Tova Sandin [Dancesport VA]
Bronze 1 – Rosie Young [Abe Ballroom Dancing]
Bronze 2 – Yvonne Malloy {Forever Dancing]
Open Bronze – Ruth Frock [Alan Steele Ballroom]
Newcomer Silver – Meg Phillips {Forever Dancing]
Silver 1 – Jamee Plockmeyer [Forever Dancing]
Silver 2 – Carrie Wynne [Studio One of Alexandria]
Open Silver – Hal Vaughn [Simply Ballroom]
Gold I – Sharon Brown [Infinity Ballroom]
Gold II – Anne Macarthur [Dance Flame]
Open Gold – Rhonda McCabe [Dance Factory]
Top Youth – Kaylee Ligon [EVSPA]
Top Amateur Couple – Cheiko & Tetsuji Sakaguchi [Nolens Dancesport]
Top male amateur – Ray Williams [Dancing with Friends]
Top guest teacher – Dmitri Dolgopolov [Dance Factory]
Top guest studio – Dance Factory

Dancing with the DCDC Stars winner 2013: Rie Matsuda & Fabio Bonini  (Forever Dancing Ballroom)

2012 V Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS
Newcomer – Paula Baldridge {Forever Dancing]
Bronze 1 – Mary Ramsey [American Dance Center]
Bronze 2 – Jean Brugh [Forever Dancing]
Open Bronze – Dave Ambrose [The Ballroom]
Newcomer Silver – Rosemary Smith [Dance Masters]
Silver 1 – Jamee Plockmeyer [Forever Dancing]
Silver 2 – Betty Lu [Dancesport VA]
Gold and above – Inez Willoughby {American Ballroom Dance Club]
Top Amateur couple – Don Werner and Cindy Zerfoss [The Dance Space]
Top guest Teacher – Tom Rzepinicki [Dancing with Friends]
Top guest Studio – American Dance Center

Dancing with the DCDC Stars winner 2012: Dave Ambrose & Michelle Kearney (The Ballroom)

2011 IV Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS
Newcomer – Rui Ma [The Dance Space]
Bronze 1 – Scotti Kramer [Forever Dancing]
Bronze 2 – Rie Matsuda [Forever Dancing]
Open Bronze – Dave Ambrose [The Ballroom]
Newcomer Silver – Yoshiko Ramirez [American Dance Center]
Silver 1 – Jamee Plockmeyer [Forever Dancing]
Silver 2 – Sharon Brown (Infinity Ballroom]
Gold and above – Cindy Zerfoss [The Dance Space]
Top Amateur couple – John Gonzales and Diana Cheng [Palisades]
Top guest Teacher – Jose Zuniga [The Dance Space]
Top guest Studio – American Dance Center

2010 III Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS
Newcomer – Yoshiko Ramirez [American Dance Centers]
Bronze 1 – Thora Davis [Fred Astaire Merrifield]
Bronze 2 – Rie Matsuda [Forever Dancing]
Open Bronze -Kate Stewart [That’s Dancing]
Newcomer Silver – Jamee Plockmeyer [Forever Dancing]
Silver 1 – Joy Hernandez [Studio One of Alexandria]
Silver 2 – Shelia Cosby [The Ballroom]
Gold and above Laurie and Phil Sisson [Studio One of Alexandria]
Top Amateur Couple – Arthur and Marilou Padama
Top guest teacher – Dmitry Savchenko [Dance Flame]
Top guest Studio – Dance Flame

2009 II Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS
Newcomer – Patricia Crabtree [Dance Flame]
Bronze 1 – Scotti Kramer [Forever Dancing]
Bronze 2 – Kate Stewart [That’s Dancing]
Open Bronze – Teri Henry [The Ballroom]
Newcomer Silver – Patricia Crabtree [Dance Flame]
Silver 1 – Jamee Plockmeyer [Forever Dancing]
Silver 2 – Cindy Zerfoss [The Dance Space]
Gold and above – Sally and George Winchell
Top Amateur Couple – Don Werner and Cindy Zerfoss [The Dance Space]
Top guest teacher – Dmitry Savchenko [Dance Flame]
Top guest Studio – Dance Flame

2008 I Annual DC Dance Challenge & Showcase TOP AWARDS
Newcomer – Scotti Kramer [Forever Dancing]
Bronze 1 – Shirley Burke [That’s Dancing]
Bronze 2 – Jamee Plockmeyer [Forever Dancing]
Open Bronze – Kate Stewart [That’s Dancing]
Newcomer Silver – Cindy Zerfoss [The Dance Space]
Silver 1 – Sharon Brown [Fred Astaire Merrifield]
Silver 2 – Beverly Lucy [Just Dance]
Gold 1 – Inez Willoughby [American Ballroom Dance Club]
Top Amateur Couple Josh Nelson & Jessica Surace [American Dance Center]
Top guest teacher – Carlos Pabon [That’s Dancing]
Top guest Studio – That’s Dancing