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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 11, 2007 - 39 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2007 By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 39 Partner for the stars will dance up a storm Oakville is Dancing with the Stars. A two-season veteran of the popular ABC show, which partners professional dancers with Hollywood stars and lets the audience vote on who has the best moves, is performing in Oakville. Two-time American Ballroom Champion Nicholas Kosovich ­ actress Vivica A. Fox's partner last season on Dancing with the Stars ­ is coming to town on the invitation of local dance studio, Arthur Murray's. Along with his wife and dance partner, Lena, the pair won't just be performing ­ they're also going to be teaching at the studio on Monday. "The students are looking forward to it," said John Karakis, Arthur Murray's of Oakville studio director. "It's exciting for them because everybody watches Dancing with the Stars." Nicholas is well-known for partnering with Fox last season and Tatum O'Neal the season before that. The long-time professional dancer also earned a reputation on the show. "They started referring to him as the 007 or the James Bond of Dancing," said Karakis, "because he does a performance to the music of the James Bond theme." Nicholas and Lena will provide the main entertainment Saturday at a gala dinner, dancing and awards event for Arthur Murray's students. On Saturday the pair will also be involved in a side of Dancing with the Stars Nicholas never got to experience ­ the judging. "Our students have routines that they've been working on, I guess similar to what you see on Dancing with the Stars. They'll do a presentation, and it's critiqued by the adjudicators, in this case Nicholas and Lena," Karakis explained. "In the later evening the students will receive an award for their participation." The cocktail party and main event ­ the nered with football legend Jerry Rice, while Roberts this season was dancing with Heather Mills, Paul McCartney's ex-wife. The pair were one of just five standing until they were recently voted off. Roberts was in the studio coaching students just three months ago. "Our students love it, they enjoy it," Karakis said of the instruction by Dancing with the Stars professionals. "It's very concentrated, what they do, and they're sort of like specialists at what they do. "They come into the studio, and they coach some of our students. They basically spend the day in the studio." It helps that every student at his studio is a big fan of the show, too. "I think everybody that's involved with the studio, they either tape it and watch it or they watch it at home. It's a big show," said Karakis. The studio's director said he was able to get the dancers to perform in town because they're all friends of his through dance. "Often at our events we will have a guest couple coming in and performing, and it seemed like a great idea to get these dancers in as our guests," he said. Arthur Murray's has been around for 90 years, instructing dancers all over the world. The local chapter began 21 years ago and now boasts more than 100 full-time dancers and couples. The studio teaches social and ballroom dancing ­ essentially anything that requires a partner, Karakis says. Arthur Murray's of Oakville is hosting its showcase at the Park Plaza, 360 Oakville Place Dr., on Saturday, May 12 along with special guest performers, Nicholas and Lena Kosovich from Los Angeles. The public is invited to attend the evening portion of the dinner-dance gala. Tickets cost $90 each and can be purchased by calling the studio at 905-849-0707. The evening includes a cocktail party, dinner, dancing, awards show and a performance by Nicholas and Lena Kosovich. DANCE PARTNERS TO THE STARS: Dancing with the Stars dancer Nicholas Kosovich and his wife, Lena, will be performing and giving dance lessons at Arthur Murray's of Oakville. professional dancers ­ will also be happening later at night. Nicholas and Lena will head to the Arthur Murray's studio on Monday, May 14 to coach students. It's not the first time the local studio has hosted a dancer from the popular show. Three months ago, Jonathan Roberts and Anna Trebunskaya were invited to perform at a show and visit students at Arthur Murray's of Oakville. Trebunskaya part- "Our students have routines that they've been working on, I guess similar to what you see on Dancing with the Stars. They'll do a presentation, and it's critiqued by the adjudicators, in this case Nicholas and Lena." John Karakis, Arthur Murray's of Oakville studio director 2007 Pre-Election Report on Ontario's Finances For more information about the Pre-Election Report on Ontario's Finances please call 1-800-263-7965 or visit www.ontario.ca/pre-electionreport Paid for by the Government of Ontario