Tony Meredith

Overview

Tony Meredith started to dance as a toddler while growing up in Samoa, surrounded by the sounds of drums, guitars, and ukuleles. He credits American Bandstand and Soul Train for helping him to hone his skills and to keep up with the latest moves.

He met Melanie LaPatin in 1981 and the two subsequently formed a professional partnership, traveling the world representing the United States 12 times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships, and eventually moved to New York to train and open a studio. Tony and Melanie married in 1989, but divorced amicably following the opening of their studio. With Melanie, Tony captured over 100 first place trophies and in 1995, won the professional Latin division of the U.S. Dancesport Championships. The couple retired from competitive dance in 1998.

Meredith currently serves as the Dance Director at Danceville, U.S.A. in Columbus, Ohio. He is the co-organizer of "Chicago Crystal Ball", "Aloha Ball", and just recently founded ICON DanceSport, held the 2nd week of October in Columbus, Ohio.

Currently, Tony serves as a ballroom dance competition adjudicator, coach, and choreographer, and possesses a wide range of versatility: from cha-cha to swing, tango to hustle,mambo and salsa to american rhythm and blues.

TV and Film

Tony Meredith has been behind the scenes as appearing in films, TV shows and Broadway, including feature film performances in "Dance with Me", The Thomas Crown Affair, "Let It Be Me" and "The Last Days of Disco". He has co-hosted seasons 1 and 2 of the PBS series "America's Ballroom Challenge" with Marilu Henner, and more recently.

Meredith and LaPatin have appeared fairly regularly as guest choreographers on the Fox dance competition reality show So You Think You Can Dance. Meredith just finished filming Season 5 of the PBS series America's Ballroom Challenge with Mary Murphy.

Accomplishments

• Representing the United States 12 times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships
• First place in "U.S. Dancesport Championships"
• Director and Owner at Danceville, U.S.A. in Columbus, Ohio
• "Chicago Crystal Ball", co-organizer
• Aloha Ball, co-organizer

Dance Partner

• Melanie LaPatin

Entrepreneurship

• Danceville dance studio Director , Instructor
• Adjudicator
• Choreographer
• "Chicago Crystal Ball", co-organizer
• Aloha Ball, co-organizer
• Health and fitness coach