Achievements


2005 World Class Adjudicator, NDCA
2005 National Judge, NDCA
2001 Manhattan Dance Sport Championship - Champion
2001 Philadelphia Dance Sport Championship - Champion
2001 Open USA National Championship - Finalist
2001 Canadian Open to the World- Champion
2001 East Coast Champion
2001 Heritage Classic Championship - Champion
2001 Ohio Star Ball - Finalist
2001 Empire State Championship - Champion
2000 Philadelphia Dance Sport Champion - Champion
2000 UK: Rising Star British Open to the World Championship - Finalist
2000 Manhattan Dance Sport Championship - Champion
2000 Ohio Star Ball - Finalist
2000 East Coast Champion
1999 Philadelphia Dance Sport Championship - Champion
1999 Blackpool: Rising Star British Open to the World Championship - Finalist
1999 Ohio Star Ball - Finalist
1999 East Coast Champion
1998 Given the award "Top Rising Star Couple in the United States"
1998 East Coast Champion
1998 USA Rising Star Competition - Champion
1997 East Coast Champion
1995 Represented the Russian team in Denmark
1994 Israel Open to the world Championship - Champion

GIVING BACK

Eduard (Eddie) Apolonov appreciates where his life in ballroom dance has led him. He feels that he has been trained by some of the best teachers and coaches in the world, so he focuses on conveying to others the knowledge and passion of dance that has grown so strong within him. Eddie helps both professionals and amateurs find their success by supporting and promoting their goals. He has found amazing success in ballroom dance and as the current Fred Astaire Dance Studios’ Regional Dance Director, Eddie is positioned to be a guiding force for many dancers.

The door to ballroom dance was opened to Eddie at the age of 16 when he stopped by a dance studio to meet his friend. As he watched his friend’s dance class, his interest was instantly captured and soon after Eddie started taking classes as well. Eddie had always been attracted to the fine arts; he enjoyed drawing and also took acting classes. Eddie received a degree in Fine Arts with masters in choreography. He had always wanted to follow the path of fine arts, but turned his focus toward his dancing as he felt the encouragement of his dance teachers and coaches. “It is important that when you meet the right people who see something in you and want to push you, you follow their guidance.” One of Eddie’s teachers was his Godmother. She saw something special in him and tried to help him advance quickly. She was like a second mother, so he trusted her opinion and followed her direction in becoming a competitive dancer. Eddie started to teach his own group classes just a year after starting lessons himself. After four years of dance, Eddie had a professional partner and his achievements began to accumulate.

As a competing professional, Eddie thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of achievement. “I am a competitive person, but competing is more than placing first, it’s being able to dance better then the previous time on the dance floor. You achieve something when you compete against yourself to improve yourself. It is not about who you beat, it is how well you can do and how you have progressed.”

Eddie’s greatest accomplishment and most significant moment in dance was placing 4th in the Rising Star British Open to the World Championship, Blackpool. Being ranked one of the top dancers in the world was a life-changing moment. “I was shaking; it was so unbelievable and so incredible!”

During Eddie’s 14 years of being a professional competitor, he has learned valuable lessons and passes on his insight to other competitors: “It’s not about the politics, it’s about the respect for others who have also worked hard and may have been around for years. Have a goal. Then have a strategy. Commit and go for it!”

Eddie has a very unique approach to his teaching and coaching; it is both heartfelt and systematical. He loves people and getting to know people, so learning about someone’s personality is step one: understanding how someone communicates, how one thinks, and how one learns. Eddie then evaluates the student’s dancing by finding all the positives in their capabilities and identifies their skills. He combines a student’s psychological approach to learning with their physical abilities and he selects a level of dance as their goal. Eddie keeps it realistic, but is very encouraging to help his students reach their utmost potential.

“There is so much to gain from ballroom dance: great health, social communication, development of a well-rounded personality and improved confidence. With dance, you train your brain to be aware of so many things at once (technique, timing, partnership, lead/follow, etc.) and look like you are having fun! You’ll keep your brain active to avoid future ailments such as Alzheimer’s. Dance is time and money well spent.”

Eddie’s goal for the future is “to do more and to do it all”. He plans to continue to improve himself, help all those he can to achieve their goals, and eventually become a FADS National Choreographer. Eddie is fully supported by Wisconsin Fred Astaire franchise owners, John Gates and Stephen Knight. “I have been in Milwaukee for 5 years as of this October. I was hired by Gates and Knight and I feel that they are behind me every step of the way. They really care and they want me to succeed. They have promoted me and helped me to grow.”

It is clear that Eddie Apolonov is grateful for his career in dance; he recognizes the value of having great people around him that were willing to guide him and to be a support to his goals. Eddie in turn is using his talent, knowledge, and passion and giving back to the ballroom dance community.