The 8 Rising Stars of Ballroom You Need to Know About

December 12, 2018

It’s almost 2019 and the ballroom dance scene is positively booming! From prestigious world championships to TV shows, kids are at the core of all this hip-shaking action—and we’re so here for it. These eight up-and-comers in particular are shaping the field. They’re the next generation of superstars to make the leap from technically exquisite ballroom-ites to bona fide celebrities.

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Stephanie & Ezra Sosa

Photo by Joe Toreno

Siblings Stephanie and Ezra Sosa are on the road to becoming the next Derek and Julianne Hough. And like the Hollywood A-listers did before them, this brother and sister pair train at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem, UT.

“We’d love to be the next Derek and Julianne,” says 19-year-old Stephanie. “But more specifically, the Latin-American version!” The children of immigrants born in Mexico and Argentina, the Sosa siblings (including their oldest brother Tristen, who teaches ballroom at Bunker Dance Center in Las Vegas) have the root of Latin dance built into their DNA. “Whenever we compete, people always tell us that our movement quality is so entertaining and that our dancing feels really authentic,” 18-year-old Ezra says. “That’s because dance is such a huge part of our culture. We just naturally have good rhythm and hip action.”

That feeling especially comes in handy for Stephanie when she’s competing her specialties: rumba, paso, jive, samba, or cha-cha. “She’s a very natural dancer,” says teacher Sasha Altukhov. “She feels the rhythm of the music very well. She’s confident and she’s sassy. You simply can’t miss her on the floor.” He’s not exaggerating. Stephanie’s a two-time U.S. National Amateur Pre-Champ Champion and, just this past summer, her fiery footwork and fierce attitude helped her stand out in the Top 20 on Season 15 of “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Ezra’s known for his control, power, and speed—and especially for cha-cha. He’s a U.S. National Youth Pre-Champ Champion and recently competed with The Pulse on “World of Dance” Season 2, placing 5th overall for all junior team acts. And while tall dancers typically find their footing in the standard ballroom world, Ezra’s lanky 6-foot frame is more unusual in Latin dance. “Tall dancers are often slow and lyrical,” says Altukhov. “But Ezra is an exception. He stands out on the floor with control and precision.” Altukhov attributes this to Ezra’s decision to cross-train in other styles. Stephanie does, too, and the two regularly score top titles at national comps, including The Dance Awards and Radix Dance Convention.

As far as their professional futures go, they hope to soon land spots as pros on “Dancing with the Stars.” But beyond that, Stephanie says, “I see us working together, doing shows, and creating our own kind of empire.” Watch out, world: They just might.

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{“product_info”: {“caption”: “Buy Now”, “product_price”: 0, “product_vendor”: false, “linkout_url”: false, “product_compare_at_price”: 0}, “headline”: “Ruby Castro”, “credit”: “”, “description”: “u003cpu003eFifteen-year-old Ruby Castro and her partner Jonas Terleckas stunned fans across the country with their performances on “World of Dance” last summer. Their chemistry was electric, and their footwork was flawless. Having danced together since they were 8, Terleckas and Castro’s connection played a major role in racking up high scores and charming the celebrity judges. “Our greatest strength as a couple is our bond,” says Castro. “We’ve worked together for so long, and we know each other so well, our dancing is totally connected.”u003c/pu003eu003cpu003eLast summer wasn’t the first time Castro has stolen hearts. In fact, she’s been a respected fixture on the ballroom dance and contemporary convention scenes alike. Castro placed 4th at Blackpool Dance Festival, competed on Season 8 of “America’s Got Talent,” was a Top 10 finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 13, and was a U.S. Junior Latin Ballroom Champion. Oh, and she has nearly 68,000 Instagram followers. u003c/pu003eu003cpu003eCastro credits her diverse training to her parents, Manny and Lory Castro, the owners of Dance Town in Miami, FL. As veritable ballroom stars themselves, they’ve put Ruby on the road to success. “Ballroom is so exciting,” she says. “I love that everyone is on the floor at the same time, and that there are a million different things happening. But in the moment, all that fades away and it’s just you and your partner thinking fast and working together.”u003c/pu003e”, “caption”: “u003cpu003eRuby Castro (left) has been performing with partner Jonas Terleckas for more than seven years. (courtesy NBC/”World of Dance”)u003c/pu003e”}

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A version of this story appeared in the January 2019 issue of
Dance Spirit with the title “The Rising Stars of Ballroom.”