Celebrity Ballroom Wins Top Studio at the 2026 Tampa Bay Classic
Celebrity Ballroom Dance Studios enjoyed a memorable trip to Tampa from September 25–28, 2026, filled with learning, laughter, outstanding dancing, and plenty to celebrate. From a dinner cruise to a full day on the competition floor, the Tampa Bay Classic gave our students and teachers a wonderful opportunity to spend time together and celebrate the work they have put into their dancing.
A Beautiful Start to the Weekend
We flew into Tampa on Friday, September 25, and checked into the fabulous Hilton Tampa Downtown, conveniently located near the Tampa Riverwalk. That evening, our group enjoyed a dinner cruise aboard Craft. Sharing a meal out on the water was a wonderful way to settle in, enjoy Tampa, and kick off our weekend together.
Workshops, Costumes, and VIP Fun
Saturday, September 26, was all about learning and preparing for the competition ahead. We enjoyed workshops covering everything from the mental side of competing to movement and footwork in American Smooth. Throughout the day, we practiced both Smooth and Rhythm, gathering ideas to take onto the competition floor and bring home to our lessons.
That evening, we joined the Tampa Bay Classic VIP participants for the dinner gala. This year’s theme was Famous Duos and Groups, and Celebrity Ballroom embraced the fun by dressing as the Addams Family!
A wonderful dinner, entertaining games, and plenty of laughter made it a memorable night with our studio family. We also enjoyed two beautiful performances by Alexander Elsbury and Grace Gallagher—a special treat before our own day of dancing.
A Full Day on the Dance Floor
Sunday, September 27, was our competition day. Our group began dancing around 8 a.m., starting with American Smooth. After a very quick lunch, we returned to the floor for an afternoon of American Rhythm, finishing around 6 p.m.
It was a full, exciting day of dancing and cheering one another on. We were proud to watch our students put their preparation into practice and support their fellow Celebrity Ballroom dancers throughout the competition.
That evening, we traded our competition attire for evening wear and gathered for the VIP awards banquet. Alexander Elsbury and Grace Gallagher returned with three more beautiful performances, providing a wonderful finish to a day filled with dance.
Celebrating Our Tampa Bay Classic Awards
Celebrity Ballroom had so much to celebrate! Our students and teachers earned the following Tampa Bay Classic honors:
Top Newcomer Male: Vinay Thomas
Top Newcomer Female: Michele McMahon
Top Newcomer Amateur Couple: Zay and Holly Risinger
Top Bronze Amateur Couple: Bill and Holly Welsh
Top American Style Male: Bill Welsh
Top American Style Female: Holly Welsh
Top Overall Male: Bill Welsh
Top Studio, First Place: Celebrity Ballroom Dance Studios
Top Teacher, Second Place: Josh Crenshaw
Top Teacher, Third Place: Milly Elkin-Crenshaw
We are so proud of every student who represented Celebrity Ballroom. These awards reflect the time, effort, and dedication that went into preparing for this event, and it was a joy to celebrate those accomplishments together. Bringing home First Place Top Studio made the weekend even more special!
More to Celebrate
Our Tampa Bay Classic trip brought together so many things we love about ballroom dancing: opportunities to learn, the excitement of competition, friendships, and shared celebrations.
Congratulations to our dancers and teachers, and thank you to everyone who helped make this such a wonderful weekend.
Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we will recap the entire Florida Classic Series and share our series awards!
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