Tony Meredith

Overview

Tony Meredith began 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 discovered Ballroom Dancing after replying to a newspaper advertisement seeking dance teachers. His cousin taught him how to Hustle in the garage which ignited his love of dancing.

In San Diego, California, in the year 1981, Tony met Melanie LaPatin. The two subsequently formed a Professional partnership which has lasted over 30 years, traveling the world representing the United States 12 times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships. They 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.

Tony Meredith currently serves as the dance director, instructor, and choreographer at Danceville, USA, a Ballroom Dance studio in Columbus, Ohio. He is also the co-organizer of the Chicago Crystal Ball, Aloha Ball, and has just recently founded ICON DanceSport, his own competition held the 2nd week of October in Columbus, Ohio which made its debut in October of 2015.

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", "Take the Lead", "The Thomas Crown Affair", "Let It Be Me" and "The Last Days of Disco". He has also co-hosted seasons 1 and 2 of the PBS series "America's Ballroom Challenge" with Marilu Henner.

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

Accomplishments

• United States Professional Latin Champion
• Represented the United States 12 times in the Professional World Latin-American Dance Championships
• Over 100 first place trophies
• Worked behind the scenes in films, TV shows and Broadway, including feature film performances in "Dance with Me", "Take the Lead", "The Thomas Crown Affair", "Let It Be Me" and "The Last Days of Disco"
• Co-hosted seasons 1 and 2 of the PBS series "America's Ballroom Challenge"
• Filmed Season 5 of "America's Ballroom Challenge"
• Appeared regularly as a guest choreographer on "So You Think You Can Dance"

Dance Partner

• Melanie LaPatin (1981-1998)

Entrepreneurship

• Adjudicator
• Choreographer
• Instructor
• Possesses a wide range of versatility in Dance and Dance Instruction: from Cha-Cha to Swing, Tango to Hustle, Mambo and Salsa to American Rhythm and Blues
• Royal Caribbean Productions, Choreographer
• Danceville, USA Dance Director, Instructor, Choreographer
• Chicago Crystal Ball, Co-Organizer
• Aloha Ball, Co-Organizer
• Health and Fitness Coach