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Boardman’s Dobson auditions for dance show
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Neighbors | Submitted.Ballroom dancer Kristin Dobson (left) swayed with her partner Travis Manero during a local ballroom dance competition. Dobson's fringed dance outfit is the same she wore during her "So You Think You Can Dance" New York audition.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Although dancer Kristin Dobson (left) was eliminated during the semi-final rounds of "So You Think You Can Dance," she'll be perfecting her skills with partner Travis Manero (right) in local dance competitions and trying out again in the future.
By SARAH FOOR
Boardman ballroom dancer Kristin Dobson and her partner Travis Manero have traveled around the world sharing their passion for dance, including touring the Ohio circuit of ballroom competitions and sailing around the world as cruise ship entertainment.
On June 1, Dobson’s always-moving feet brought her to New York City to audition for the television dance competition, “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Dobson has studied tap, jazz, ballet, gymnastics and hip-hop during her career as a dancer, but only began ballroom three years ago.
“I’ve been really investing in my skills in ballroom, and I knew this was the year. I wanted to see where I could go with this style, and it went better than I ever could have hoped,” Dobson shared.
Dobson’s New York audition was featured in its entirety on the show’s preliminary rounds episode. Sharing a behind-the-scenes perspective, Dobson said the experience was a lot different than how it looked on television.
“You have to dance in front of producers for many rounds before even facing the judges for an audition. There is a lot of sitting and waiting, which is stressful in its own way. It was the waiting that made me nervous, but when I got on stage, I felt at home like I always do, and I was confident,” the dancer shared.
The show’s judges praised Dobson for her mastery of ballroom dance in only three years and sent her forward to the semifinals in Las Vegas on June 8. Dobson made it through two dance rounds there before being eliminated.
“I was happy with my performance, but the producers said that I had more growing to do. I’ll be keeping that in mind for next time,” Dobson said.
Dobson hasn’t decided when she’ll try again, but she’ll be sharpening her skills at local dance competitions and as a teacher at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Boardman.
Her partner, and owner of Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Travis Manero, thinks that Dobson’s persistence will be her strength.
“She got so far in the audition process that it would be silly not to try again. The show wants to see that persistence and passion, and they will with Kristin,” Manero said.
In the meantime, Dobson hopes her success is an inspiration to others from the Mahoning Valley.
“With my appearance, I wanted to bring awareness to our area and show that there is talent here. No matter where I travel, this is home. I reached for something big, and I’d love to see others do the same,” she shared.