Celebrity Judge
Stanislav "Stas" Datsenko
Professional Dance Coach and Former Ukrainian Latin Dance Champion
Mr. Datsenko was born in Poltava, Ukraine and began dancing at the age of 6. He competed and won several youth Dancesport Competitions, becoming the Ukrainian Champion and four time finalist in the Czechoslovakian Open as well as a finalist in the Poland Open. He has a certification as a history and geography teacher from the University of Ukraine and graduated at the top of his class in 1995. Stanislav has owned several Dance Sport clubs and many of his students were finalists in a number of Dance Sport Open Championships.
In 2000, he became well-respected and renowned for his incredible talent of the dance sport, particulary Latin Ballroom Dancing. He was named President of the Poltava Region and held the highest level of judging credentials. In 2003, he received the "Master of Sport" award in Ukraine and worked diligently as a coach throughout the region. In 2002, Mr. Datsenko partnered with Natalia Laubert. The duo became official representatives of Ukraine in all National and International competitions. They took first place in the National Ukraine Closed Competition. By 2003, they placed ninth (the best ever for a Ukrainian couple) in the European Championship held in France. They also placed 16th in the World Championship and took first place as the Rising Star professionals in the La Classique Du Quebec as well as finalist in the Open Professional Championship. They placed eighth out of one hundred and twenty couples at the Stoppford's Cup held in Blackpool, England. In 2004 they placed second at the Falls Premier Ball in both Rising Star and Open Professional Latin Championships.
In 2004, Stanislav came to the United States as the Dance Director for A Social Affair Dance Studios. In the last five years, he has coached and grown many couples in the competitive world of ballroom dance. In 2005, he competed in A Social Affair's very first Jacksonville's Dancing with the Stars with TV commentator Julie Watkins, where they placed first in their very impressive Paso Doble. In 2006, he prepared four amazing routines for our own ASA Dance Team and performed in the 65th Anniversary USO Military Anniversary Show held at the Times Union Moran Theatre.
Mr. Datsenko continues to personally compete with his own students as well as coach couples, who have placed first in many local and national competitions. In January of 2008, one of his couples, won first place in the dance off competition when the ABC TV show "Dancing with the Stars" Local Tour came to Jacksonville. We are honored to have Stanislav as our esteemed "dancing" judge for the evening.