Dancing with the Stars 2009: New Comers Include Chelsie Hightower and Melissa Rycroft
Hightower, the spunky 19 year old from Orem Utah, danced her way to the Top 20 of last year's "So You Think You Can Dance" Stars," lasting 8 weeks in the finals before bowing out. Among her most memorial performances were a Hip-Hop number danced to Leona Lewis' hit single "Bleeding Love" as well as an Argentine Tango danced to "Mi Confesión" (http://www.dipity.com/timeline/Chelsie-Hightower); Taken together the dances showed off the versatility of this talented fresh face competitor who has been trained in all styles of dance. Having said that, Hightower's specialty is Ballroom Dancing, where her training with a vast array of current and former world champions have helped her develop into an international competitor who has represented and medaled for Team USA in past years.
Like Hightower, the Russian born Dmitry Chaplin, was a Top 20 finalist on the same show two years before, coming back on the show as a guest choreographer. Crossing paths with Chelsie, Chaplin choreographed a second Argentine Tango for Hightower (and her then partner Joshua Allen), during last season' show. The Dance was well enough received to keep Chelsie safe through week seven of the Finals.
A dancer of a totally different background than Ballroom professional's Chelsie and Dimitri is Melissa Rycroft (http://www.buddytv.com/melissa-bachelor13.aspx) , the 25 year old Texan who was dumped on national television this year in the 13th edition of ABC's "The Bachelor." Not a total stranger to dance, Melissa is a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader who has had classical dance classes in the past. Entered as a last minute replacement, Melissa's second chance at a Reality show should provide for a much happier ending; for now she remains poster child for what can go wrong on Reality TV.
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Published by Rolando Cruz
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