Harmony High team dances with the Stars

Mark Pino |Sentinel Staff Writer

HARMONY - Time to get your fox trot on.

A team of high-school dancers is riding the forefront of a ballroom-dance frenzy, fueled in part by a hit TV show. Harmony High's ballroom-dance team will be high-stepping this weekend with two of the professionals, Tony Dovolani and Elena Grinenko, from ABC's Dancing With the Stars.

"Most people were completely clueless about ballroom dance before Dancing With the Stars," said Christian Bastian, who coaches the team with his wife, Hillary.

"We used to tell our kids to take that as an advantage. Nobody knows if you're doing it right or wrong, so just go out there and smile real big; they'll think you're great," Hillary Bastian said.

This year, the Bastians had to turn away kids who tried out for the team. That's what a national championship, four years of shuffling your feet around the country and the TV competition that partners celebrities with professional dancers can do.

Now, Hillary said, "It has become a little more difficult because people know what it is supposed to look like."

Those who attend shows Friday or Saturday or a series of Saturday workshops will get an even closer look at how Dovolani and Grinenko strut their stuff.

Dovolani and Marissa Jaret Winokur, who originated the role of Tracy Turnblad in Broadway's Hairspray, were eliminated from the TV show Tuesday. Although she's not competing this season, Grinenko has partnered with Tucker Carlson and Clyde Drexler in past seasons. The success of pro athletes such as Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Jason Taylor has widened the appeal.

There's no doubt that the show has helped expose the pastime to millions, and several high schools in Central Florida -- including Seminole, Lake Mary and St. Cloud -- offer classes or clubs.

The teens at Harmony say dancing is a good way to make friends.

"When I first started, I didn't know about the ballroom program," said Dennys Garcia, a junior. "I think it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I didn't know any dancing. I barely could walk. It was something new."

Former Harmony Principal Dan Parker was looking for something different to offer when the school opened four years ago.

"I thought as kids got involved with it and had fun with the program, it would probably grow," Parker said. "If a good person is behind the program, it is going to be successful and provide what kids want. Obviously, it has done that."

Early on, Parker remembers some dances in the cafeteria and was amazed by how many people attended and how much fun they had.

Kevin Gonzalez, a senior, watched his brother and found it interesting. He says some of his friends tease him about dancing, but "I really don't care about their comments because I love doing dance."

Hillary and Christian Bastian danced at Brigham Young University, where they met. BYU is a powerhouse at the college level, they said, and many surrounding high schools field competitive teams.

When the couple started at Harmony, 16 kids signed up. Christian said boys can be reluctant at first. But once they realize that contact with girls is involved, they eagerly join.

"I just like that I get to make a lot of friends," said junior Codi Justesen. "It's something you can do that is enjoyable at school. Dancing is just really fun."

Dennys and Codi won first-place titles at nationals last year. This year the team has danced at a State Department event, at universities and Union Station in Washington, D.C. The 32 members of the squad spend hours practicing.

"It's like our second family," Dennys said.

The Bastians hope to raise $10,000 this weekend to support the program, which is not funded by the school.

Appearances by Dovolani and Grinenko should help. Team members met the pair in September, when they performed at the same Tampa event. The team and the professional dancers met again in December, when the pair invited the team to perform at the Walt Disney World Christmas parade.

"We are all so excited about it," said senior Erica Wiese.

"Like Mr. Bastian said, 'They are like the Michael Jordan of ballroom dancing.' "

Mark Pino can be reached at mpino@orlandosentinel.com or 407-931-5935.